Hopetoun Brown

It’s been a gale-force twelve months for Hopetoun Brown. The wind-driven pair have parped on stage with The Violent Femmes at the St James, they’ve backed Marlon Williams at the VNZMAs and they’ve played storming sets at Auckland City Limits, the Wellington and Waiheke Jazz Festivals in between stomping round country performing and recording a second album. While their debut was the result of Stewart and Atkinson grafting away alone, this new album Look So Good features a gold-plated line-up of guests. The first single from the new cut is out on September 9th. The song is called Hate I Don’t Love You, a duet between Tami Neilson and Hopetoun lead singer Tim Stewart. The pair have shared the stage numerous times, but this is their first outing in the studio together. The new tune also features Carnivorous Plant Society founder Finn Scholes on vibraphone and organ. Lawrence Arabia drummer Alistair Deverick and bass clarinetist Nick Atkinson hold down a bangin’ rhythm while Tami and Tim scooch about the high notes.