Eb and Sparrow are on their way here
A Kiwi band with a special connection to Manawatu will play their first gig in the city this week.
Eb and Sparrow is winging its way to Palmerston North to perform as part of New Zealand Music Month.
Lead singer, song-writer and guitarist Ebony Lamb said her band had its own unique sound, knitting together country music with indie, folk, and, at times, soft rock and roll.
Friday’s gig will be the first time the mostly Wellington-based band has performed in Palmerston North, despite having a song named after the Manawatu town of Kimbolton.
‘‘We have really dear friends who actually live in Kimbolton and actually we got to spend a summer in their house when they were away,’’ Lamb said.
That summer reminded her of idyllic childhood summers and thus the song Kimbolton was born for their second album, Sun/son.
The album was nominated at the New Zealand country music awards, as well as their song Hungry Little Town.
Lamb said the band toured the country in 2015 and 2016.
Despite performing big shows in front of thousands of people and opening for big Kiwi names, Lamb said some of her favourite gigs have been in the provinces.
‘‘We played a show in Okarito, where there are 32 people that live there and 35 people came to the show.’’
Okarito is a tiny town on the West Coast of the South Island. Lamb said it was a great feeling getting a community to come together to listen to them play.
Eb and Sparrow will be performing at Joseph Street Kitchen at 8.30pm on Friday. Food will be available from 5.30pm. The event is BYO. Tickets are available online for $20 or $25 at the door.