Music legends come home for the ultimate ‘Kiwi Konnection’
SIMEON and the Solid Snakes will be performing their ‘‘Kiwi Konnection’’ concerts at the Mayfair Theatre this weekend.
The Melbournebased funk, soul, blues, rock, and jazz band features one of the world’s greatest rhythm sections, consisting of Roger McLachlan, original bassist of Little River Band, and the phenomenon Gerry Pantazis on drums (Tommy Emmanuel). They’re led by 26yearold Bulgarian/Cook Islandsborn selftaught guitarist Simeon Boyadjiev, with the aesthetic voice of Mae Parker, and the legendary talent of Richard Tankard on keyboards.
The shows will feature a broad range of hits by music idols such as Little River Band, John Farnham, David Bowie, Stevie Wonder, Toto, Michael Jackson, Santana, Pink Floyd, Steely Dan, Amy Winehouse and many more.
Enriching the performances, the band will collaborate with Dunedin’s finest musical talents, unifying some of the greatest New Zealand names based ‘‘across the ditch’’ for the ultimate ‘‘Kiwi Konnection’’. Tickets are on sale now for $50 from Beggs Music Works.
Originally hailing from Invercargill, bassist extraordinaire Roger McLachlan first found fortune and fame in the early 1970s, as the original bass player for Little River Band, playing on their first two albums. Both became multiplatinum sellers, with the debut Little River Band spawning such hits as Curiosity
(Killed the Cat) and It’s A Long Way There.
Joining highly acclaimed jazz/fusion supergroup Pyramid, he toured Europe and performed twice at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1983.
Roger then recorded on John Farnham’s
Whispering Jack album, embedding his signature bass tone and touch to worldwide hits including You’re the Voice and Touch of
Paradise. He was also a touring bassist for worldclass acts including Cliff Richard and Billy Cobham, and recorded on the Crocodile
Dundee film soundtrack.
Legendary drummer Gerry Pantazis is the other crucial element of the rhythm section. As one of Australia’s most soughtafter drummers, Gerry’s incomparable talent on the instrument led him to record and perform for artists including Tommy Emmanuel, Guy Sebastian, Stylus, Richard Marx, Larry Carlton, Peter Cupples, and many more.
Guitarist/vocalist Simeon Boyadjiev will be familiar to Dunedin audiences, having lived in the city between 2009 and 2013. During that time he performed with the Oxo Cubans band and others, before relocating to Melbourne and forming Simeon and the Solid Snakes.
‘‘It left a longing in my heart to come back and visit this beautiful place and people,’’ he says. ‘‘I then thought why not do a few shows combining my dearest friends and greatest musicians residing in Australia with the beautiful musical family back home in Dunedin.’’
Also on display will be the powerhouse ‘‘satin’’ voice of the renowned Mae Parker, and the legendary versatile talents of Richard Tankard on keys.
Dunedin’s vastly talented musician ensemble will feature the immaculate John Meddings on guitar, the ‘‘silk’’ smooth voice of William Davidson, and multiinstrumentalist Tony Stephens, all from Dunedin’s supergroup Bare Essentials.
‘‘For us it’s always been about sharing our souls on stage and with our audience,’’ Simeon says. ‘‘A feeling taking us to realms outside our daily lives. It’s a zone where musicians and the audience become one entity.’’