Motu :: Oileáin - 2015 New Zealand Tour

Motu :: Oileáin - 2015 New Zealand Tour

One of the most breathtaking collaborations to emerge on the international music scene in recent years, returns to Aotearoa after shining on the global stage!

In November 2014 four of Ireland’s most celebrated musicians travelled to Aotearoa to collaborate with New Zealand’s much loved, platinum selling trio Trinity Roots - opening a contemporary musical conversation which explores the parallels in culture, history and tradition. The project is called "Motu :: Oileáin" which translates to “Islands” in Te Reo and Irish respectively.

In October 2015 The Motu :: Oileáin project will gather again in New Zealand for a series of unmissable live shows. Performing at some of the country’s biggest arts festivals and treasured live venues.

"Our Irish cousins came over last November and we worked on tracks and a concept,” Trinity Roots’ Warren Maxwell reflects. "There is always that fear or risk that these sorts of collaborations will be shallow or token,” Warren admits openly. "You have to make sure you go deep.”

This truly world music collaboration does just that. Marrying evocative melodies with hypnotic grooves, tribal chants with fragile harmony and ancient languages in psychedelic soundscapes. Journey through their relative histories of love, war, oppression, politics and protest, and discover the deep bond between two cultures and seven seasoned musicians. World Reknowed Vocalist, Pauline Scanlon expresses how special the project and its bonds are, “The soul connection shared by ourselves and the Trinity guys has it’s roots in music but it turns out we share much more than that. Humour, history, indigenous language and culture but above all.. rebel hearts”

After highly successful concerts in New Zealand in 2014, ‘Motu : Oileáin’ was chosen to perform at The Celtic Connections Festival in Glasgow earlier this year, to a sell out show in the historic ‘Old Fruitmarket’. The seamless way in which musicians from opposite ends of the globe blended in a nerve tingling performance, struck a chord to all present and paved the way to make this an ongoing affair.

As individuals, all four Irish musicians are well known and respected worldwide, having played everywhere from Carnegie Hall to Glastonbury Festival. From Co Kerry, Pauline Scanlon’s voice is described by the Irish Times as a "superb mix of china cup fragility and steely strength” and she has entranced audiences the world over with her distinctly delicate intensity. Dubliner Alan Doherty is well known as the flute soloist on the Lord of the Rings soundtrack and for his delightful onstage charm. Fiddler, Tola Custy is one of Ireland’s leading contemporary composers/ session musicians and Guitarist and the projects organiser., Gerry Paul has an impressive international touring history, playing with many of the greats in the folk world from Tim O’Brien to Sharon Shannon.

One of New Zealand’s best known and loved bands, Trinity Roots formed while at jazz school in Wellington. The forces influencing their celebrated sound draw from reggae, slow-burning funk, to indigenous waiata. The openness and honesty expressed on their new album ‘Citizen’, described as “sheer soulful” and ‘politically poignant” illustrates exactly why they are so special to so many people.

“Sharing the gift of music is a privilege. It's such a part of being human”, says Trinity Roots’ bass player Rio Hemopo. “As with all art, music celebrates, commiserates, reveals truths, transcends and transports. When done with sincerity and honesty, it is otherworldly. At it's core it sparks a connection, a narrative. There is a proverb in Maori - He aha te mea nui i roto i te ao. He tangata, he tangata, he tangata. What is the most important thing in the world? It is people, people, people.The Motu :: Oileáin project is a celebration of two distinctly diverse and rich cultures sharing a common dialogue. People and music.”

WATCH THE MOTU :: OILEÁIN PROJECT HERE

LISTEN TO THE MOTU :: OILEÁIN PROJECT HERE

2015 Tour Dates:

THURS, OCTOBER 22, 8PM

THEATRE ROYAL, NEW PLYMOUTH (Date TBC)

FRI, OCTOBER 23, 8PM

OLD ST. PAUL’S, WELLINGTON

BOOK NOW AT WWW.EVENTFINDER.CO.NZ

SAT, OCTOBER 24, 8PM

NELSON ARTS FESTIVAL, FOUNDERS HERITAGE PARK

WWW.NELSONARTSFESTIVAL.CO.NZ

BOOK NOW AT WWW.TICKETDIRECT.CO.NZ

SUN, OCTOBER 25, 8PM

KOKOMAI FESTIVAL, CARTERTON EVENTS CENTRE

WWW.KOKOMAI.CO.NZ

BOOK NOW AT WWW.EVENTFINDER.CO.NZ

MON, OCTOBER 26, 8PM

TAURANGA ARTS FESTIVAL, BAYCOURT ADDISON THEATRE

WWW.TAURANGAFESTIVAL.CO.NZ

BOOK NOW AT WWW.TICKETEK.CO.NZ

ENDS

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