Brooke Fraser joins the boys on the wine trail

Opshop's Jason Kerrison, Brooke Fraser and Midnight Youth's Jeremy Redmore hit the bottle early. Photo / Richard Robinson

The annual winery tour keeps getting bigger - and next year the veteran acts which have usually headlined the jaunt are being replaced with a younger set of musicians.

Songbird Brooke Fraser is headlining the nationwide run of shows but joining her will be Opshop and Midnight Youth who, while they do a mighty fine ballad, can also rark things up.

And with 19 dates, starting on February 4 at Matakana's Ascension Wine Estate and finishing a month later on March 5 at Auckland's Villa Maria Estate, it is the biggest tour in the event's five-year run.

The inclusion of Opshop, and especially Midnight Youth, whose debut album The Brave Don't Run spawned hits The Letter and All On Our Own, will probably appeal to a younger audience.

Meanwhile, Fraser, whose string of hits include Better, Arithmetic, and latest single, Something In the Water, has just released her third album, Flags, which debuted at No 1 in New Zealand and No 3 in Australia.

For the 26-year-old singer-songwriter, who has spent many years based in Australia and the United States, the winery tour is a good chance to spend some quality time back in her homeland.

"For me, the winery tour means celebrating summer in some of the most picturesque locations in New Zealand with old friends and new, while enjoying a good drop - I wouldn't miss it."

Tickets go on sale on Monday from here or from Ticketmaster with an earlybird offer of $55 before tickets go up to $65 on December 1.

One child under 12 will get admission to the event for free when accompanied by an adult ticket-holder.

The dates include Ascension Vineyard, Matakana, Feb 4 & 5; Marian Reserve, Tutukaka, Feb 6; Brunton Road, Gisborne, Feb 11; Black Barn Vineyards, Havelock North, Feb 12 & 14; Sentry Hill, New Plymouth, Feb 17; Wharepai Domain, Tauranga, Feb 19; Unison Amphitheatre, Taupo, Feb 20; Mystery Creek, Hamilton, Mar 4; Villa Maria Estate, Auckland, Mar 5.

For full tour dates, go to the winery tour site.

In other gig news, Dane Rumble and all-girl rockers Ivy Lies will be heading out on the Schools Out For Summer tour starting at the Bruce Mason Centre on December 10.

Meanwhile, top reggae acts the Black Seeds and Katchafire join forces for a skanking five-date New Year jaunt kicking off at the Waihi Beach Hotel on December 27.

And on his way to New Zealand for the first time is up and coming American soul man Aloe Blacc who is best known for the song I Need A Dollar from his second album Good Things. He plays Auckland's Backstage (the Studio) on K Rd on January 27.

Calling in for a showcase-style gig at the Rising Sun on K Rd on December 4 are Melbourne indie band British India in support of their single 90 Ways To Leave Your Lover, the band's first release here.

And finally, heartwarming rockers Train return to Auckland on February 9 to play at the Bruce Mason Centre.

-TimeOut