WAIRARAPA MUSICIANS HEAD BACK TO THEIR ROOTS 

Two young Wairarapa musicians, moving up the national charts, are heading back to their roots next month for an intimate concert at Martinborough’s Luna Estate.

“It’s exciting to come back,” said Conway Jeune, lead singer of Tunes of I, a six-piece band, whose members studied at the famed New Zealand School of Music.

The former Kuranui College student grew up in Featherston and is well known locally for his numerous pub gigs at The Martinborough Hotel and The Pukemanu. “This was where I really experimented and found my musical formula,” Jeune said.

Tunes of I – or TOI- was orginally a three piece but they’ve spent the last four years expanding their repertoire and members into an ensemble featuring a solid backbone of drums, bass, vocals and guitars, complemented by one of Wellington’s finest three piece horn sections.

They’re now well-known in the Wellington music scene for their original, tight and refreshingly dynamic live performances.

Mild Orange, has gone from student gigs in Dunedin to touring the United States.Some of the band’s “melting melodies” boast more than 800,000 hits on Spotify.

“I’m really looking forward to playing a home town show, particularly as it’s in such a unique environment,” said the band’s guitar virtuoso Josh Reid, from Carterton.

Formed at Otago University, Mild Orange is  preparing to record their second album in March next year and before that they’re performing their biggest show to date, a New Year’s Eve billing on the

Rhythm and Vines main stage before an expected crowd of 20,000.

The concert, “Friday Drinks at Luna Estate” is taking place in the natural amphitheatre at Luna Estate, set among the vineyards and rolling hills of Martinborough and at the site of numerous sell-out concerts over the years. This show’s vibe is quite different, according to event organisers, Limitless. “This is a small, intimate and chilled event which we hope to keep going and which we’re sure the community will be keen to support,” said Angus Tylee, who is into his second year working on the Gisborne event, Rhythm and Vines.

“We’re keen to keep the scene fresh and the standard high,” said Limitless partner Hamish Todd. “Luna Estate doesn’t only provide top shelf wines but they also have a stunning venue,” he said.

Tickets to “Friday Drinks at Luna Estate” are on sale now. Tickets $40 for the 400 capacity concertGates open 4pm 16 November 2018

https://fridaydrinksatluna.eventbrite.co.nz