Sarah Spicer with The Blue Riders

April 28 will see the reprise of a show which was a sell-out at the 2017 Tauranga Arts Festival. Singer-songwriter Sarah Spicer will perform with The Blue Riders at The Lotus Realm, playing all original material.

The Blue Riders is a collective of jazz fusion musicians including keyboardist Liam Ryan (The Narcs) whose electro-jazz solo albums “Mississippi To Mauao” and “Pacific Riviera” form the backbone of the band’s repertoire. After playing an opening set they will accompany Spicer whose sublime voice saw her as a finalist on NZ X Factor in 2016 - she has over 2M views on YouTube.

Ryan and Spicer met in Waihi where both now reside. “ We spent last winter playing twice a week; writing and arranging songs – and now we have an ongoing collaboration which is very satisfying musically and socially for all members of the band ”, says Ryan. “ Both Sarah and myself play a lot nationally but both of us were drawn to the idea of having a local musical whanau we could play with and bounce new ideas off. The Blue Riders have provided us with that privileged opportunity. We feel very blessed to have Wayne Melville (bass) and Jeff Baker (drums) - both very empathetic players.”

Ryan has been out on the road this summer touring with The Narcs and The Midge Marsden Band. Spicer whose impressive musical career includes a decade working in the San Fransisco Bay rhythm and blues scene has also been in-demand playing festivals and summer gigs. Sarah and the band go into Studio 11B in Mount Maunganui to record a new album in May.

“We are looking forward to playing The Lotus Realm – it is good to have a Coromandel venue where the artists are at the centre of things. Where we can play the music we really want to play”, says Ryan.

Sarah Spicer and the Blue Riders performed together in Tauranga to a sold-out standing ovation at the 2017 Tauranga Arts Festival. Expect intimate you-can-hear-a-pin-drop atmosphere, deep grooves and soulful vocals wrapped around uplifting lyrical performances.

Sarah Spicer and The Blue Riders
The Lotus Realm
Sunday April 28 , 3pm
Tickets $20+BF from Eventfinda.

For more information please contact Liam Ryan 021 0421 322