The Classic Hits Acoustic Church Tour, 2012

Anika Moa, Boh Runga & Hollie Smith: Together in Concert

This year’s 2012 Classic Hits Acoustic Church Tour presents an exciting collaboration of three of New Zealand’s most talented and versatile female singer/songwriters: Anika Moa, Boh Runga & Hollie Smith: Together in Concert for the first time ever.

Collectively they hold some 16 RIANZ Tui Music Awards, have had numerous number 1 hit singles and many more top 40 radio hits including Youthful, Dreams in My Head, Falling in Love (Anika), Violent, Part of Me, All It Takes, Evelyn (Boh / Stellar*) and Bathe in The River, I Will Do  (Hollie/Mt Raskil Preservation Society).

The talented trio and good friends have spent the last few months writing and recording together and have just released their first single to radio - Be Mine - a sticks-in-your-head pop gem that showcases their songwriting talents and their inimitable voices singing in harmony. Be Mine is the first single from what will be the debut album for Anika, Boh & Hollie, expected to be released early in 2013.

On tour, they will be performing a selection of their extensive back catalogues of hits – on stage together throughout the whole show – as well as new material from the upcoming album, all arranged specifically for the unique church venues.

Now in its fifth year, The Classic Hits Acoustic Church Tour boasts 13 shows in 11 cities including, for the first time, Rotorua. The full run is Napier, Palmerston North, Wellington, New Plymouth, Hamilton, Auckland, Tauranga, Christchurch, Dunedin & Invercargill.

Boh Runga, no stranger to the Acoustic Church Tour concept performed alongside Greg Johnson in 2009 and is looking forward to showing her fellow band mates the uniqueness of the acoustics in some of New Zealand’s most spectacular churches, chapels and cathedrals.

Says Boh, "I've had the best time writing with Hollie and Anika. They are so freaking talented and getting to be part of their creative process is what being a musician is all about. Vibe- ing off of each other, laughing, learning our strengths and dynamics in our relationship, brilliant fun. To tour and explore the country with them will be the icing on the cake."

Anika Moa is equally enthused about the Tour:

“Doing what I love everyday is an amazing feeling, now I get to tour with two other brilliant, beautiful and amazing singer/songwriters too. I've looked up to Boh since I first became a muso and I've known Hollie a long time and sometimes wish I could have her voice as mine! This is going to be so fun cos were all so zany!”

Hollie Smith agrees:

“If being in a room writing with these two awesome ladies is anything to go by, the Church tour is going to be an incredibly funny & an inspired time on the road. We are all looking forward to sharing what we've created and see it coming together properly live.”

Civic Events co-promoter Brent Eccles is thrilled to have the girls on board for the Tour and says concert-goers are in for a real treat.

"The line-up for this years Classic Hits Church tour has all the elements I think you need for a landmark tour - talent, personality, camaraderie, all bound by great songs".

The Classic Hits Acoustic Church Tour is a show in two halves. The first half will feature only the three artists in a more acoustic format, and in the second half, Anika, Boh & Hollie will be joined by their band members.

The 2012 Classic Hits Acoustic Church Tour launches at St John’s Cathedral in Napier on Thursday 4 October and concludes at First Presbyterian Church in Invercargill on Saturday 20 October.