Country Music Rocks the Regent
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An audience of 250 expected a fun night out with rocking country music on Friday at the Hokitika Regent Theatre, and they were not disappointed.
The crowd were warmed by their own cheerful spirit but were also the first live audience to experience the Regent Theatre's new heating system in operation. Three acts entertained the crowd. First up was local talent Katie Thompson. Katie sang her own original songs, and played guitar using a foot pedal to add special effects, which sounded as though she was her own backing vocals. Katie was in fine lyrical vocals, singing quite soulful country ballads, with a bit of raunchiness. My favourite was a new, unrecorded number about saying 'yes' when you should have said 'no'. TC Wells accompanied Katie with some fine guitar work, including some fancy picking. Al Hunter, accompanied by Des Hetherington was next. Al Hunter is a well-known and road travelled country troubadour with smokey bush fire and whiskey voice. Again the numbers were originals, often with a West Coast inspiration such as Black Diamonds, a song a bout coalmining. Al brings lots of life experience ad character to his songs. I especially love the crowd favourite Cold Hard Winter, and Walking, which was about a West Coast character, a modern highway man. |
These songs had a complex charachter, making them a very satisfying experience. Des Hetherington played some great guitar and also backing vocals, and was part of a tight musical unit.
The Johnnys are a three-piece Johnny Cash tribute band featuring Suzi Fray on lead vocals and guitar, Jo Taylor on bass and vocals, with Hokitika's own Liala Gianstefanie on drums and doing some backing vocals. The Johnnys rocked out a very polished and crowd pleasing, entertaining set with real showmanship from the all-girl band. They covered a few lesser known songs such as Stripes but mainly the big numbers such as A Boy Named Sue, Ring of Fire, etc. While being faithful to the essence of Johnny Cash's music they had less focus on a lead voice and more on the total instrumental performance of the band. Local gal, Liala, had plenty of fans in the audience and they would have been impressed with her assured musicianship. The evening wrapped up with the other performers joining the Johnnys on stage for a final rocked-out performance of Folsom Prison Blues. The crowd danced and sang. Hokitika Guardian |
Katie Thompson nominee in National Country Music Awards
Katie will be travelling to Hamilton to attend the awards night alongside fellow nominees Aly Cook & Kylie Austin. “I’m thrilled to be a nominee in this year’s awards. I’ve had an exciting & busy year and really appreciate the support & acknowledgement! Thanks to everyone who voted!”
The National Country Music Awards will be held in Hamilton at The Founders Theatre - Saturday 11th of August, 2012. Tickets for the Awards night can be purchased on here http://www.kiwiproamcountrymusic.co.nz.
Read full article here.
Katie will be travelling to Hamilton to attend the awards night alongside fellow nominees Aly Cook & Kylie Austin. “I’m thrilled to be a nominee in this year’s awards. I’ve had an exciting & busy year and really appreciate the support & acknowledgement! Thanks to everyone who voted!”
The National Country Music Awards will be held in Hamilton at The Founders Theatre - Saturday 11th of August, 2012. Tickets for the Awards night can be purchased on here http://www.kiwiproamcountrymusic.co.nz.
Read full article here.
_Oamaru perfect for star's music video
Kiwi songstress Katie Thompson was in Oamaru filming the music video for her latest single Cruel to be Kind in the Victorian Precinct at the weekend.
Kiwi songstress Katie Thompson was in Oamaru filming the music video for her latest single Cruel to be Kind in the Victorian Precinct at the weekend.
_ Katie Thompson (middle) hangs out with actors Nathan Moore and Sade Jones during a break in the filming of her music video in Oamaru’s Victorian Precinct. The video was shot during three days, with Oamaru chosen as the perfect location for the video by director Logan Mcmillan, of Gorilla Pictures, who said he wanted every location to have an olden day feel.
‘‘I chose Oamaru because I’ve been wanting to film down in the Victorian Precinct for a while now,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s such an amazing location that could double for many European cities. It doesn’t look like anywhere else in New Zealand.’’
It was Thompson’s first time visiting Oamaru, and she said she had a lot of fun looking around.
‘‘We first filmed in a forest just out of Christchurch on Friday. On early Saturday morning we travelled to Oamaru, where we visited the train yard,’’ she said. ‘‘There were also a couple of scenes shot on Harbour St in a beautiful old car and another scene at the airport.
‘‘[Oamaru’s] really cool to get to have a look around, amazing place I can’t wait to see the finished product.’’
A massive thank you was expressed to members of the Oamaru Steam and Rail Society, who were involved in the filming.
‘‘The guys and girls there were awesome,’’ Mr Mcmillan said.
The video could be viewed on Youtube, Facebook, website (www.katiethompson.co.nz) and on New Zealand music channels.
- The Oamaru Mail
‘‘I chose Oamaru because I’ve been wanting to film down in the Victorian Precinct for a while now,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s such an amazing location that could double for many European cities. It doesn’t look like anywhere else in New Zealand.’’
It was Thompson’s first time visiting Oamaru, and she said she had a lot of fun looking around.
‘‘We first filmed in a forest just out of Christchurch on Friday. On early Saturday morning we travelled to Oamaru, where we visited the train yard,’’ she said. ‘‘There were also a couple of scenes shot on Harbour St in a beautiful old car and another scene at the airport.
‘‘[Oamaru’s] really cool to get to have a look around, amazing place I can’t wait to see the finished product.’’
A massive thank you was expressed to members of the Oamaru Steam and Rail Society, who were involved in the filming.
‘‘The guys and girls there were awesome,’’ Mr Mcmillan said.
The video could be viewed on Youtube, Facebook, website (www.katiethompson.co.nz) and on New Zealand music channels.
- The Oamaru Mail
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Kiwi songbird finds perfect setting
Kiwi singer Katie Thompson says Oamaru provided the perfect backdrop for the music video of her song Cruel to be Kind, which was released on Friday. With close to 700 views on YouTube since its release, the West Coast-based singer said she hoped it would reach 1000 views by the end of the week. She has submitted the video to several New Zealand music channels, including C4, and is hoping it will soon receive some screen play so the nation can get to know her - and Oamaru - a little better. |
_ON TRACK: Katie Thompson's latest music video, Cruel to Be Kind, which was filmed in Oamaru, was released online on Friday.
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The video was shot over three days at the end of January, with Oamaru chosen as the perfect location by director Logan McMillan, of Gorilla Pictures, who said it provided a backdrop unlike anywhere else in New Zealand.
It was Thompson's first visit to Oamaru, and she said the town was "beautiful". Scenes were shot around the harbour, in the Victorian precinct and at the airport. "It was really cool to get to go to Oamaru, amazing place, I'm really happy with the finished product, I've had a really good response" she said.
A massive thank you was expressed to members of the Oamaru Steam and Rail Society, who were involved in the filming of the video, made possible through an NZ On Air video grant.
Thompson released her debut album, Tall Poppy, in 2009, followed by a second album, Impossible. She opened for Elton John last year. The video, and a behind-the-scenes clip, can be viewed on YouTube, Facebook and Thompson's website (www.katiethompson.co.nz)
- The Oamaru Mail
It was Thompson's first visit to Oamaru, and she said the town was "beautiful". Scenes were shot around the harbour, in the Victorian precinct and at the airport. "It was really cool to get to go to Oamaru, amazing place, I'm really happy with the finished product, I've had a really good response" she said.
A massive thank you was expressed to members of the Oamaru Steam and Rail Society, who were involved in the filming of the video, made possible through an NZ On Air video grant.
Thompson released her debut album, Tall Poppy, in 2009, followed by a second album, Impossible. She opened for Elton John last year. The video, and a behind-the-scenes clip, can be viewed on YouTube, Facebook and Thompson's website (www.katiethompson.co.nz)
- The Oamaru Mail
Elton John News
2 August 2011
A West Coast songstress will open for international pop star Elton John in Dunedin.
Singer-songwriter Katie Thompson won the opportunity to open for John at his only New Zealand show this year, to be held at the new Forsyth Barr Stadium, November 25.
"It's pretty big. I'm very very excited," she said. The 24-year-old beat 50 entrants to take out the Open 4 Elton promotion, giving her the chance to play for up to 40 minutes in front of more than 30,000 people.
The Press
Otago Daily Times
Classic Hits
_Coast singer opening for Elton John
West Coast singer songwriter Katie Thompson will share the same stage as Sir Elton John tonight.
Thompson's first major concert sees her performing in front of over 30,000 people as the opening act for Elton at the new Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin.
She beat 70 entrants to take out the Open 4 Elton promotion, and will perform for 45 minutes accompanied by her brother Chris on guitar.
''I never imagined I would win the spot as there is an amazing amount of talent here in New Zealand but I always try to put myself forward for these things because if you're not in you can't win.
"When I was called and told I was in the top four I was completely blown away. The winner out of the four was left to voting,'' Thompson said.
Thompson said she felt confident with the songs she has chosen.
''I'm performing some of my old and new songs including Good as Gold and Monteiths on Tap. That was a special request by the concert promoter, Phil Sprey after he heard me perform it in Wellington.''
She said she was more worried about meeting John than performing to tens of thousands of people.
''Thinking of the massive stage and number of people in the audience is a little daunting so I'm focusing on the amazing sound and lighting and hopefully the new fans I could possibly make. The only thing that is really getting the butterflies biting is the thought of meeting Sir Elton John himself.
''Everyone has been sure to give me advice and jokes to tell him but I hear he's just had a orchid named after him so I might just ask him about that if I get the chance. Seeing him live will be mind-blowing. Tonight will go down in my history book as one of the best nights of my life.''
Thompson released her self-funded debut album, Tall Poppy in 2009 and it was this album that helped her become one of the fastest artists to raise $50,000 on the crowd funding site, Sellaband.com.
She released her fan-funded album, Impossible, in March and was a finalist for the 2011 Female Country Artist of the Year.
- The Press
West Coast singer songwriter Katie Thompson will share the same stage as Sir Elton John tonight.
Thompson's first major concert sees her performing in front of over 30,000 people as the opening act for Elton at the new Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin.
She beat 70 entrants to take out the Open 4 Elton promotion, and will perform for 45 minutes accompanied by her brother Chris on guitar.
''I never imagined I would win the spot as there is an amazing amount of talent here in New Zealand but I always try to put myself forward for these things because if you're not in you can't win.
"When I was called and told I was in the top four I was completely blown away. The winner out of the four was left to voting,'' Thompson said.
Thompson said she felt confident with the songs she has chosen.
''I'm performing some of my old and new songs including Good as Gold and Monteiths on Tap. That was a special request by the concert promoter, Phil Sprey after he heard me perform it in Wellington.''
She said she was more worried about meeting John than performing to tens of thousands of people.
''Thinking of the massive stage and number of people in the audience is a little daunting so I'm focusing on the amazing sound and lighting and hopefully the new fans I could possibly make. The only thing that is really getting the butterflies biting is the thought of meeting Sir Elton John himself.
''Everyone has been sure to give me advice and jokes to tell him but I hear he's just had a orchid named after him so I might just ask him about that if I get the chance. Seeing him live will be mind-blowing. Tonight will go down in my history book as one of the best nights of my life.''
Thompson released her self-funded debut album, Tall Poppy in 2009 and it was this album that helped her become one of the fastest artists to raise $50,000 on the crowd funding site, Sellaband.com.
She released her fan-funded album, Impossible, in March and was a finalist for the 2011 Female Country Artist of the Year.
- The Press
Country Music Awards Finalist
July 2011
New Zealand's own country music legends Gray Bartlett, Jodi Vaughn, Brendan Dugan andEddie Low will deliver a night to remember, alongside the new brigade of stars Katie Thompson,David Shanhun, Vickie Evans, Harry Hookey, Kaylee Bell, NZ Idol runner-up Nik Carlson andTony Williams. Katie has been nominated for the Horizon Award & also Female Artist of the Year.
- Amplifier
NZ Musician
June/July 2011
It was Jamie Greenslade, aka Maitreya, who really introduced Sellaband.com to New Zealanders, when he raised the $50,000 used to record his album "Close to Home" via fan contribution to the European "online record company". In July last year little-known West Coast country singer/songwriter Katie Thompson repeated Maitreya's feat, mking her the 33rd international artist to do so. The 295 'believers' who made it possible have now received their copies of her album, entitled 'Impossible'.
- Richard Thorne
Online fans fund Coaster's Album
22 January 2011
A West Coast singer/songwriter is set to release her second album, after internet fans funded her recording costs. Read full article here.
- Amy Glass, The Press
22 January 2011
A West Coast singer/songwriter is set to release her second album, after internet fans funded her recording costs. Read full article here.
- Amy Glass, The Press
Katie Thompson 33rd artist to reach 50K!!
21 July 2009
Well, she did it; the flying Kiwi reached the highly anticipated goal of $50.000. Katie thompson's rise really took off after winning the Rabo Idol competition in New Zealand. From that moment she became the Flying Kiwi. It took her a little less than year to raise the total amount. Katie will now enter the studio of her choice and will record an album with the producer of her choice. Exciting times ahead!
- Sellaband.com
Katie Thompson wins RaboIdol
4 June 2009
Singer/songwriter Katie Thompson has been announced as the winner of RaboIdol. The competition, run by online savings and investment company RaboPlus and online album funding site SellaBand, gave two NZ artists; Thompson and Kane Sole, the chance to compete for an investment of $10,000. Throughout NZ Music Month the public were called on to vote for their favourite artist via the RaboPlus website. Read full article here.
- NZ Musician
4 June 2009
Singer/songwriter Katie Thompson has been announced as the winner of RaboIdol. The competition, run by online savings and investment company RaboPlus and online album funding site SellaBand, gave two NZ artists; Thompson and Kane Sole, the chance to compete for an investment of $10,000. Throughout NZ Music Month the public were called on to vote for their favourite artist via the RaboPlus website. Read full article here.
- NZ Musician
