Ōhinehou Lyttelton singer-songwriter Delaney Davidson knows a thing or two about live music
Currently in the midst of a national tour accompanied by his band — Heather Webb, Cass Basil, Alex Freer, and Ryan Fisherman — he discussed the current frailty of Aotearoa New Zealand’s live music scene in a new interview with Rolling Stone AU/NZ.
“It’s nerve-wracking, especially these days… people wait to the last moment to buy tickets,” he told us.
“It seems like it’s separating out, that there’s even more support governmentally for big acts to come and play, and people will just want to go to that. Where’s that support for small venues, for small acts?”
View this post on InstagramLove Music?
Get your daily dose of everything happening in Australian/New Zealand music and globally.
Davidson continued: “I think it’s a conscious time – time to be conscious of where we put our thoughts and where we put our support and where we put our vote.”
But hard-working artists like Davidson keep hitting the road because it’s what they love. “Performing live, going on the road, it’s great,” he added.
One thing fans can expect on his current tour is the return of the ‘Lucky Dip’: ticket holders can choose what they want to pay and receive a surprise handpicked by Davidson himself.
“Is it going to be a candy bar and some false teeth, or will it be a beautiful porcelain figure?” he joked.
Davidson is touring in support of new album Baby Heavyweight, his 11th solo album.
The record came together across several countries, including Switzerland and his homeland, and with the help of a number of longtime friends and fellow musicians such as KOMMI and Marlon Williams.
Read our full interview with Davidson about the album here. Check out his remaining tour dates below.
For his collaborative work with Barry Saunders, Davidson featured in a major Rolling Stone AU/NZ list last year. We named the pair’s 2024 album Happiness Is Near as one of the 80 Best New Zealand Albums of the 2020s So Far.
Delaney Davidson’s Baby Heavyweight is out now.
Delaney Davidson New Zealand Tour Remaining Dates
Ticket information available here
Friday, July 17th
The Boathouse, Nelson
Saturday, July 18th
Meow, Wellington
Sunday, July 19th
War Memorial Centre Concert Chamber, Whanganui
Friday, July 24th
Hanover Hall, Dunedin
Saturday, July 25th
James Hay Theatre, Christchurch
Thursday, July 30th
The Small Halls Sessions, Hawkes Bay (DUO)
Friday, July 31st
The Small Halls Sessions, Hawkes Bay (DUO)
Saturday, August 1st
The Dome, Gisborne (DUO)
Sunday, August 2nd
Ātea, Whakatāne (DUO)
