Strange Universe - Mei Semones + Phoebe Rings

BANISHED MUSIC, STRANGE NEWS & 95bFM PRESENT
STRANGE UNIVERSE - WINTER
FEATURING…
Cass McCombs (USA)
Tuesday 26th May – Double Whammy w/ Holly Arrowsmith
Dry Cleaning (UK)
Presented in partnership with I Oh You & MG Live
Wednesday 3th June – Hollywood Avondale w/ Womb
Cate Le Bon (UK)
Presented in partnership with Susie Says!
Friday 5th June – Powerstation w/ Mainard Larkin
The Black Angels (USA)
Saturday 6th June - Powerstation w/ Arthur Ahbez*
The Circling Sun (Aotearoa NZ)
Friday 12th June - Pitt St Methodist Church w/ Yolanda F Fagan*
Mei Semones (USA)
Tuesday 16th June – The Tuning Fork w/ Phoebe Rings
Kelly Moran (USA)
Wednesday 17th June – Kahui St David’s w/ Motte
Acid Mothers Temple (JP)
Friday 19th June – Double Whammy w/ Half Hexagon
Stereolab (UK/FR)
Thursday 25th June – Powerstation w/ Glass Vaults
The Veils (‘Fragile World’ Album Release)
Saturday 27th June – Powerstation w/ Jazmine Mary
Tickets from www.banishedmusic.com
Even though Banished Music and Strange News are smack bang in the thick of Strange Universe Autumn, it’s been so dang fun they’ve decided now is the perfect time to reveal their first plans for Strange Universe: Winter! Set to ramp up the stakes and take over all of June and a tiny little bit of the end of May*. This first line-up announcement has everything you could set your hearts on and more, and is happening across some of Tāmaki Makaurau’s most beloved venues.
Strange Universe: Winter features the most welcome return of retrofuturist pop heroes Stereolab, Welsh chanteuse and producer extraordinaire Cate Le Bon, and the Fragile World album release show from brooding babes The Veils, all taking the stage at the mighty Powerstation. Hollywood Avondale plays host to droll indie darlings Dry Cleaning, while Double Whammy sets the scene for Japan’s psychedelic legends Acid Mothers Temple and one of the great American singer-songwriters Cass McCombs and his band. Finally, we’re adding two new venues to our list this time around, with the bilingual bossa nova of Mei Semones at the Tuning Fork, and breathtaking Warp Records favourite Kelly Moran at the exquisite Kahui St David’s.
“Putting on shows is really easy, so we decided to do heaps of them all at once”
- Matthew Crawley, Executive Director - Strange News Touring
The combined daydream of promoter pals Banished Music and Strange News, Strange Universe is the show series banner designed to celebrate the city’s brilliant venues, and give us all a little something to look forward to. The full line-up for this wintry Auckland fun-fest is coming soon, and we’ve got news for our Wellington pals shortly, but this first drop should be enough to make you wish that mittens season would hurry up and get here. It’s going to be brrrr-illiant.
MEI SEMONES - TUES 16 JUNE - THE TUNING FORK
With a sumptuous blend of indie rock, bossa nova, jazz, and chamber pop, accomplished guitarist and songwriter Mei Semones is set to make her long-awaited Aotearoa debut at Strange Universe: Winter. Brooklyn-based Mei writes songs in both English and Japanese, celebrating a passion for life, family, music, and more, sentiments which can be heard on her sublime debut album Animaru. Described by Clash Magazine as “a potent talent”, Mei Semones is more than just one to watch, she’s one to become a devoted fan of. SputnikMusic swooned over the songs of Animaru, calling them “as gorgeous as can be, and undeniably triumphant”. Now, it’s your turn to swoon.
*Yes, we know May isn’t in winter, but what were we supposed to do, say no to Cass McCombs?