SOULFUL COUNTRY MUSIC STAR SET TO ENTERTAIN
Headlining the Kāpiti Food Fair’s inaugural Night Gig is internationally acclaimed country music sensation Tami Neilson. Neilson, most recently winner of the 2023 APRA Best Country Music Song Award for Beyond the Stars, a duet with Willie Nelson, has won multiple country music awards over the years.
Born in Toronto and now calling New Zealand home, Neilson’s musical journey began at a young age, performing alongside her family in the renowned Canadian country music band, The Neilson Family Band.
She comes from humble beginnings, having busked the streets of small-town Ontario with her family at a young age to put food on the table and perform gospel concerts for prisoners.
Her extraordinary talent has seen her share stages with legends like Kitty Wells and Johnny Cash, and she has left a lasting impression on audiences worldwide with her booming vocal power and striking personal approach to country, rockabilly, and soul. Neilson’s latest album, Kingmaker, has received widespread acclaim, solidifying her status as a game-changer in the industry.
Her captivating talent and empowering message in her music have made her a role model and a powerful wāhine voice for positive change within the country music industry. Her unmatched voice has been described as a ‘fire-breathing R&B belter’ by Rolling Stone magazine, capturing hearts and souls with every performance. Having won numerous accolades since 2009 — Neilson continues to be a dominant force in the country music scene. She will be supported by talented local act, Jodie & the Stowaways, starting at 7.15pm, to get the audience into the perfect mood for Tami hitting the stage at 8.45pm. The Stowaways passion for 90’s pop makes their live shows a hit with audiences looking to have a good time!
Tami’s 2020 album, CHICKABOOM! was internationally praised, with No Depression declaring, “Neilson’s phrasing is impeccable…she gets inside the song, turns it inside and out, and makes it her own. She can soar on the rockers, she can deliver the heart-rending ache of a ballad of lost love, and she can capture the playfulness of a schoolyard rhyme with a joyous seriousness.”