What do you get when you mix the winner of this years’ Tui Award, a Silver Scroll nominee and the winner of an International Songwriting Competition?

A divine and potent cocktail called “Saints and Sinners”.

Internationally acclaimed female songsmiths Tami Neilson, Lauren Thomson and Jackie Bristow will be swapping songs and stories in front of audiences on a 12-date national tour in February 2010.

This writers-in-the-round show will be an intimate acoustic evening, three solo artists joining forces on stage and sharing the experiences that inspired their songs, from opening for Johnny Cash and Art Garfunkel to touring from Canada to Europe, the USA to Japan. Drawing comparisons with Emmylou Harris, Gillian Welch, Patty Griffin and Roy Orbison, these women bring 3 unique voices together for a rare collaborative show.



Thursday 4th Feb...HAMILTON, The Academy of Performing Arts
Friday 5th Feb...RAGLAN, Orca
Saturday 6th Feb...AUCKLAND, Juice Bar @ Windsor Castle
Sunday 7th Feb...WHANGAREI, Salut Bar

Thursday 11th Feb...WELLINGTON, Mighty Mighty
Friday 12th Feb...CARTERTON, The Lounge
Saturday 13th Feb...PETONE, Wellington Bluegrass Society
Sunday 14th Feb...CHRISTCHURCH, Harbourlight Theatre, Lyttleton


Tuesday 16th Feb...DUNEDIN, Chicks Hotel, Port Chalmers
Wednesday 17th Feb...MOERAKI, Fleurs Place
Thursday 18th Feb...GORE, The Little Theatre
Friday 19th Feb...INVERCARGILL, The Repertory Theatre

All shows start at 8pm

Buy Your Tickets Today at: http://www.undertheradar.co.nz/utr/tour/id/736/title/Saints_and_Sinners_Tour:_Tami_Neilson,_Lauren_Thomson_and_Jackie_Bristow_.utr

"The Kitchen Table Sessions" Album Review...

"It's a curious thing that in New Zealand where country and alt.country of various persuasions has become increasingly popular that an album like this slips past most people. It slipped past me until very recently, although I'm pleased to note her previous one Red Dirt Angel, didn't go around the judges at the 2009 music awards who picked it as the country album of last year.

Without having heard the other contenders for next year I'm prepared to bet this will be pretty far ahead the rest of the pack. It shifts easily from being moving to upbeat fun, delightful to raunchy . . .

Canadian-born Neilson grew up in a family of musicians and was part of their traveling band (a country music Partridge Family, she jokes) but has moved to this far side of the world.

While back in Canada seeing family they were sitting around the kitchen table swapping songs and so the idea of an equally informal album was born.

That's not to say these 16 songs (among them some terrific originals, more of that soon) are lo-fi and aw-shucks. These are smart and sensitively produced songs, just tune in to the aural clarity and early Cowboy Junkies-like guitar sound on her cover of Dream with her brother Jay. Beautiful.

Recorded in Canada with various Neilsons (Marian Burns' fiddle part was recorded in New Zealand), this one also takes some serious chances: a banjo-driven version of Sam and Dave's sexual steamer Hold On? A bluegrass take on Dave Dobbyn's Slice of Heaven? The old Salty Dog Blues?
Only the most confident of talents would take those chances -- and Neilson certainly has that self-assurance. (She was "Amy Winehouse" on a Stars in Their Eyes show which is ample evidence for me.)
She opens with the alarmingly good original Cry Myself to Sleep which works those dramatic Roy Orbison/Gene Pitney emotions: "I wave hello and my smile is bright, I am so gracious, so polite each time you pass me on the street, and then I cry myself to sleep. And when I'm laughing with my friends, they say they're glad I'm on the mend . . ."
This exceptional song is co-written with Jay, and their writing partnership forms the backbone of this album (six of the 12 Neilson family originals here) and is about as good as it gets in country music.
When she and Jay merge their voices (be it on the gentle ballad Full of Moon or the uptempo tunes) real magic sparks.
And these songs have classic country emotions being pulled apart: "You want to kiss and pretend that we've never met" on the aching I Fall to Pieces; "I didn't believe my eyes until you waved goodbye" on the haunting Girl on the Moon; "You say my name when we enter a room with your hand on the small of my back" on the lovely My Name . . .
There's also the raunchy Six Months Married which would rock any bar, let alone a kitchen.

That subtitle "Volume 1" just makes you want them to get together in the Neilson kitchen again real soon. Excellent album. "- Graham Reid, Elsewhere

New Album & Website Launch!

We are proud to announce that Tami's new CD "The Kitchen Table Sessions" is being released to stores on 19th Oct! So, we thought, what better way to celebrate than to go all-out and launch a brand new website? It's pretty fancy- more music, media clips and better access to the online store where you can buy both the new "Kitchen Table Sessions" as well as Tami's first Tui-Award winning album "Red Dirt Angel". Be sure to join Tami's mailing list on the home page to keep up with all the upcoming shows (like her album launch party coming up soon!) and just plain old juicy gossip ;)

We hope you enjoy!

About "Tami Neilson- The Kitchen Table Sessions":

"This project was recorded on a visit back to Canada over the Christmas holidays in Jan 2009. while sitting around my brother's kitchen table, various Neilsons dropped in, playing instruments, stomping their feet, singing along to old songs, writing new ones, knitting, cooking, laughing and reminiscing. We drank vast amounts of Tim Hortons hot chocolate and feasted on my sister-in-law's southern fried chicken to keep warm and cozy while the winter snow piled up on the doorstep outside.

I love making music with my family. It used to be our way of life, what we did everyday for a living. It was just "normal"...(if normal was the Partridge Family). Now, living on the other side of the earth, it has become something special and rare and precious. So, it was fun to capture that feeling of going back in time for a little while, back to when it was no work and all play with my siblings and parents. A holiday from being a grown-up.

So, pull up a chair at our kitchen table and feel free to join in if you like!"

-Tami Neilson Auckland, New Zealand

Tami's "Red Dirt Angel" is Air New Zealand's Top Pick of the Month!

I always say that I've spent so much time and money over the years flying back and forth from Canada to NZ on Air New Zealand that I should have shares in the company...well, it looks like they're showing me some sweet airline love, choosing me as their Top Pick of the Month for their in-flight entertainment magazine "Kia Ora"! Woot woot! So, if any of you are flying Air NZ, please be sure to watch the safety video and note the exits, then recline your seat and tune in to some Red Dirt Angel.

Thank you for flying with us :)

The Canadian Tour

Howdy Folks!

Just wanted to let you know that I am having a GREAT time so far on my Canadian Tour- fresh off the plane, I played to a crowd of 2000 at Kempenfest's outdoor Mainstage, accompanied by my fantastic "Neilson Boys"- my Dad (Ron) and brother Jay- and got a standing ovation! A great way to kick off 6 weeks of summertime shows!

ALSO, for my Kiwi Peeps, you can win a copy of my first album "Red Dirt Angel" online through M2Woman magazine. You can enter the CD draw today by clicking the following link:

http://www.m2woman.co.nz/win.php/winid/win-tami-neilson-s-red-dirt-angel

...and if you REALLY miss me, you can tune in to Pacific Beat St this Saturday morning on TV3 or Saturday evening on Maori TV for a cheeky interview and performance.
Now I'm off to nurse my wee sunburn- ah, the struggles of summer!

Love,
Tami :)

New Videos on YouTube!

Click on the links below to watch Tami's live performances of 2 new tracks off of the soon-to-be-released "The Kitchen Table Sessions". Live on TVNZ Good Morning Show (at a time of the day when the only place anyone should be singing is in the shower, not on National television. Hehe.)

"Cry Myself to Sleep" (nominated for APRA Best Country Song 2009)-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHIieciMzIM
"Hold On, I'm Coming"-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIxAk6gRSZU

Be sure to leave a comment and let us know what you think :)

Tami Neilson Wins Best Album Tui!

Aucklander Tami Neilson walked away with the 2009 Recording Industry Association of New Zealand Best Country Music Album award at the St James Theatre, Gore, last night.

Heralding the business end of the week-long Gold Guitars Awards in Gore, which culminate tomorrow night, the New Zealand Country Music Awards ceremony also included the Australasian Performing Rights Association Best Country Song award, won by Wellington singer-songwriter Jess Chambers.

Neilson, a Canadian who has lived in Auckland for the past three years, claimed the Tui for her album, Red Dirt Angel, released in April 2008.

Tami Neilson, who will also be acknowledged at the New Zealand Music Awards (Tuis) in Auckland in October, is a prolific artist and performer, touring New Zealand three times last year and also completing a 10-day season in Tamworth with New Zealand fiddle player Marian Burns.
She has also appeared on TV1's Good Morning programme and impersonated controversial soul singer Amy Winehouse on TVNZ's Stars in Their Eyes.

New Zealand Music Awards spokesman Campbell Smith said Neilson's award was well deserved. "Tami has toured tirelessly since a child," Mr Smith said. "She is a real asset to New Zealand country music and thoroughly deserves the acknowledgement that a Tui brings."

Neilson's single Cry Myself To Sleep was also a finalist for the APRA Best Country Song Award, won by Chambers for her track, Stringing Me Along, from the 2008 album The Woolshed Sessions, a collaboration with some of New Zealand's most respected independent musicians, including Age Pryor and Lee Prebble.

It's an honor to be nominated...

I've always wanted to say that...and now I can, thanks to RIANZ! 'Red Dirt Angel' has been nominated for a Tui: Best Country Album 2009!

...and if that weren't exciting enough, my upcoming single ("Cry Myself to Sleep") from the new CD "The Kitchen Table Sessions" is also nominated for APRA Best Country Song! Yeeeeeehaw!

For those of you in the Auckland area, please come out this Thursday and celebrate this exciting news at The Kings Arms with me...show starts at 8 pm. Not only will you get to see me and my full band of guitar strumming, banjo picking, bass thumping, fiddle (Marian Burns) and mandolin playing musicians, but, my lovely opening act are fellow nominees "The Heartleys". It's going to be a great show that you won't want to miss at only $10 a ticket :)

News release
May 4, 2009

Country music award finalists announced

Country music is in the spotlight as NZ Music Month gets underway with the announcement of the finalists for the RIANZ Best Country Music Album of 2009 and the APRA Best Country Song of the year.

Both awards are to be presented at the New Zealand Country Music Awards on May 29 in Gore.

Finalists for the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ) Best Country Music Album Tui are Annette & Kim for “Something Between Us”, Kylie Austin for “When It Rains” and Tami Neilson for “Red Dirt Angel”.

Tami Neilson is also a finalist for the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) Best Country Song Award for “Cry Myself To Sleep”, the first single from her soon-to-be-released album "The Kitchen Table Sessions".

The other two finalists vying for the best song are Kayla Mahon, TaylorCairns and Andrea Cruickshank for “Facing The World” and Jess Chambers for “Stringing Me Along”.


So, there you have it, folks- cross your fingers for me on 29 May and I'll let you know how it goes....*crossing my fingers so hard I'm losing circulation* hehe.

FREE Music and Sneak-Preview Shows!!!

Hello Guys and Dolls,

Well, I promised that you would get a sneak preview of "The Kitchen Table Sessions"...an exclusive FREE download for you lovely "Tami supporters", all you have to do is visit www.reverbnation.com/tamineilson to download it!

"Cry Myself to Sleep" is set to be the first single off of my upcoming release and, as I found out this week, is a Top 10 finalist in the MLT Songwriting Awards. (Yay!) Would love to hear what you think of it.

For those of you in New Zealand, you can get a SECRET pre-release copy of the CD only available at gigs on my NZ Music Month mini-tour, hitting Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Oamaru- to name a few (for more details and updates see Show Schedule), it would be great to see you, your support is always appreciated :)

Thank you from the bottom of my wee Canadian-Kiwi heart,
Tami

Something's Cookin' in the Kitchen...

If you think you smell something good coming from the kitchen...that might just be my brother/producer Jay Neilson cooking up our new CD "The Kitchen Table Sessions"!!!

We're really excited about this new project, which we recorded sitting around the kitchen table with assorted members of The Neilson family, singing, picking, laughing and partaking in large amounts of Tim Hortons donuts and hot chocolate, while the Canadian winter snow piled up on the doorstep outside.

Now, when it comes to cooking, we all know Mama gives her young 'uns the spoon to lick as a little treat while they wait, so, to say thanks for being a Fan, I'll soon be posting a Fan Exclusive FREE DOWNLOAD of one of the songs on the new album!

Not a fan yet? (I'm crushed. You've cut me...you've cut me deep.) It's as easy as entering your email address right here! Come onnnn, do it! ;)

See you soon with a free taste!

Tami x