Following on from the release of single ‘Tell Me ft. Che-Fu’ and ahead of the release of new single 'Barely Know ft. Kings', Ria Hall has announced her return to the live scene with a run of performances accompanied by a full band. These shows will be in support of the release of her debut album in October.
Rules of Engagement is Hall’s long-awaited debut album, and is also the basis for the album and the live performances. The concept of the album draws on themes of love and war, revolution and change. The key inspiration comes from the letter from Henare Taratoa to Sir George Grey, outlining the manner in which 1864’s Battle of Pukehinahina (Gate Pa) should ensue, and how both parties should conduct themselves during war.
As a descendent of the Tauranga tribes, Rules of Engagement will see Hall bring this to life both live and on record. Featuring performances and production from Tiki Taane, Kings, Che-Fu, Laughton Kora and Electric Wire Hustle, the album will see Hall fulfil her potential as a powerful artist.
Hall will perform five shows across NZ in the coming months, both previewing and celebrating the album release. Polished, edgy and iconoclastic, these shows will be Hall’s first performances with a full band in these cities, incorporating visuals based around the album and its Rules.
Taranaki Arts Festival – Saturday 26 August, Crystal Palace
Christchurch Arts Festival – Thursday 31 August, The Piano
Wellington Album Release – Friday 20 October, San Fran
Auckland Album Release – Sunday 22 October, Tuning Fork
Tauranga Arts Festival – Saturday 28 October, Baycourt Theatre
Each performance from Hall will give audiences a unique experience and preview of her upcoming debut album. Performances at the Taranaki and Christchurch Arts Festivals will see Hall perform live accompanied by a four-piece band made up of Mara TK, Mark Vanilau, Richie Pickard and Andy Keegan.
To celebrate the album’s release in October, Hall will perform three headline performances, performing live with Wellington three-piece powerhouse The Nudge (Iraia Whakamoe, James Coyle & Ryan Prebble), and beginning with shows in Wellington and Auckland.
The final performance at the Tauranga Arts Festival will also feature a stage set designed by award-winning visual artist Tracey Tawhiao, and will coincide with the launch of an exhibition designed by Tracey and Ria. A multi-skilled contemporary artist, Tawhiao is a writer, performance poet and filmmaker, who conveys the breadth of her experience and position as a Maori woman in a European-dominated society through her artwork. Tawhiao will comine with Hall to create not only the Rules of Engagement stage show, but also an exhibition which will appear both in Tauranga and Auckland.
This run of shows represents the first performances by Hall with a full band in her career. Each show will showcase Hall's incredible voice accompanied by some of NZ’s finest musicians.
Ria Hall – Rules of Engagement – Album Released October
'Barely Know ft. Kings' - Single Released Friday August 25
Taranaki International Arts Festival – Saturday August 26th
Crystal Palace – Tickets available now from www.artsfest.co.nz
Christchurch Arts Festival – Thursday August 31st
The Piano – Tickets available now from www.artsfestival.co.nz
Wellington Album Release Show – Friday October 20th
San Fran – Ticketing info & support to come
Auckland Album Release Show – Sunday October 22nd (Labour Weekend)
Tuning Fork – Ticketing info & support to come
Tauranga Arts Festival – Saturday October 28th
Baycourt Theatre – Tickets available from www.taurangafestival.co.nz
ABOUT RIA HALL:
With the release of her debut EP, Ria Hall became a blazing new female force on the NZ music scene. Winning multiple awards and critical acclaim, her sound fused furious hip-hop beats and richly layered vocals in English and Māori, creating an epic soundscape that embraced and challenged multiple genres.
Ria is a powerful live performer, whose sought-after live set has seen her play to audiences of thousands at a number of festivals across Australasia. Playing gigs since she was 16, Ria has collaborated extensively with a diverse range of artists and producers such as Electric Wire Hustle, Fly My Pretties, and Tiki Taane. She teamed up with Stan Walker for the single ‘Like It’s Over’ and collaborated with Stan, Maisey Rika and Troy Kingi to release Te Reo hit ‘Aotearoa’.
2016 saw the release of ‘Love Will Lead Us Home’, Ria’s first new music in over two years. After spending several years hosting Maori Television’s ‘Marae DIY’ and now staring in the play ‘The Beautiful Ones’, the track reintroduced Ria’s incredible talent to the music public. October 2017 sees the release of Rules of Engagement, the long-awaited debut album from Ria.
