Bic Runga Acoustic Church Tour
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The Big Idea were invited along to the preview of Bic Runga's Acoustic Church Tour at the Holy Sepulchre Maori Anglican Church in Khyber Pass this week. Built in 1860, now fully restored, the church has a totally Kauri interior right up to the vaulted ceiling. That Bic Runga has such a light and delicate touch. She came. She sang. She vanished. Maybe she was an apparition - leaving you with a fleeting feeling - reminding you of something wondrous but you can't quite define what it is.The Big Idea were invited along to the preview of Bic Runga's Acoustic Church Tour at the Holy Sepulchre Maori Anglican Church in Khyber Pass this week. Built in 1860, now fully restored, the church has a totally Kauri interior right up to the vaulted ceiling. That Bic Runga has such a light and delicate touch. She came. She sang. She vanished. Maybe she was an apparition - leaving you with a fleeting feeling - reminding you of something wondrous but you can't quite define what it is.According to her website her first name Bic means Jade and Runga means highest point. Definitely one of my high points for the year so far.
SUNDAY STAR TIMES story - 4th April 2004
She's arrived back from rhapsodic reviews in the UK to racism headlines at home. It's no wonder Bic Runga is heading for church, as JO McCARROLL reports.
It was not the homecoming a homesick Bic Runga expected.
www.stuff.co.nz
From her promoters:
This tour will be Bic's only New Zealand dates for some time as her album "Beautiful Collision" is now top 40 in Ireland (Top 10), England and Italy, demanding that she spend time touring the Northern hemisphere.
And who better than the media and music industry to comment on the show as they left a special preview at Auckland's Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The performance was viewed as 'exquisite' and 'breathtaking', and the opportunity to watch the show was seen as a 'privilege'.
Richard Thorne, editor of Musician magazine, described Bic as 'absolutely beguiling' and Pop Idol judge, Paul Ellis, who has watched her perform for 10 years, said "she completely captivated me again'. Rebecca Barry of the New Zealand Herald, rushing to file her review, described the show as 'stunning - .breathtaking'.
" It's an exquisite show. If anyone can play a church and pull it off it's Bic Runga. Magical!" Brendan Smyth, NZ Music Manager, NZ On Air
" Stunning acoustics and lighting perfectly complemented one of New Zealand's best voices. This is Bic at her best. Belinda Henley, senior reporter, TV3 news
" I felt privileged to be sitting in this beautiful church listening to Bic perform."
Michael Flynn, Borders
" Beautiful girl, beautiful voice, in a setting so made for her performance - there are so few people who could do justice to these surroundings"
Paul Kennedy, Medianstrip
"Bic's solo performance is always charming and with the added atmosphere of the church surroundings she is absolutely beguiling "
Richard Thorne, New Zealand Musician magazine
" Like a fine wine, this was a performance of maturity. I have known this artist for 10 years and tonight she completely captivated me again"
Paul Ellis, New Zealand Pop Idol judge
Bic Runga - The Acoustic Church Tour - 4 new dates added
The new shows are
Tuesday April 20 Tauranga Holy Trinity
Saturday May 1 Wellington St John's In The City
Thursday May 13 Auckland The Baptist Tabernacle
Friday May 14 Auckland The Baptist Tabernacle
Bic Runga Acoustic Church Tour Launch
Church Of The Holy Sepulchre, Grafton, Auckland
Tuesday April 6
The Church was a show in itself. Built in 1860, fully restored, totally Kauri, high pitched roof and stained glass windows - the perfect backdrop for Bic Runga's first performance on New Zealand soil for a year.
The gig was a media show to launch her nationwide acoustic Church Tour taking in thirteen cities and some 20 shows during April and May. Prior to her performance it was announced that due to demand on tickets, further shows had been added in Auckland and Wellington and Tauranga.
From the moment the house lights dimmed and the stage lit up to present Bic with acoustic guitar, the audience was engaged. The intensity was broken only by the spontaneity of between-song patter, innocent and endearing. Guitarist Ben Maitland, the only other musician playing with Bic on this tour, joined her for several songs tracking her career to date.
This tour will be Bic's only New Zealand dates for some time as her album "Beautiful Collision" is now top 40 in Ireland (Top 10), England and Italy, demanding that she spend time touring the Northern hemisphere.