Tour news: Simply Red, Father John Misty

Mick Hucknall of Simply Red.

Lovers of 80s pop rejoice, today Simply Red are announcing their Big Love Tour is coming Downunder, which will see them play across New Zealand in February and March. Celebrating 30 years of music, the Englishmen announced the world tour and a new album late last year, and now they're returning to New Zealand for the first time since their Final Farewell Tour in 2010.

The tour reunites Mick Hucknall with five former members (Ian Kirkham, Steve Lewinson, Kenji Suzuki, Kevin Robinson, Dave Clayton) and new drummer, Roman Roth. Hucknall is promising to deliver fans a set full of their many hits.

"We're called Simply Red for a reason. I want to keep it simple. Our fans know who we are. They have been loyal to us. Now I'm ready to go out there and give them what they want."

They'll be playing Vector Arena in Auckland on Saturday February 27, Church Road Winery in Napier on Sunday February 28, TSB Bank Arena in Wellington on Wednesday March 2, Queenstown Events Centre on Friday, March 4, and Horncastle Arena in Christchurch on Saturday, March 5.

Tickets for all shows will go on sale at midday on Monday, September 14.

Father John Misty

Fans of Fleet Foxes have been left wanting since their triumphant Auckland Town Hall show in January 2012.

But today, there is good news - Father John Misty, also known as Josh Tillman, the Fleet Foxes drummer and singer, has announced he'll be performing at the St James Theatre in Auckland on Thursday, December 3.

Father John Misty.

Tillman's two solo albums as Father John Misty have met with adulation and critical praise, combining the soaring, whole-hearted melodic attributes of the Fleet Foxes with wry cynicism and humour, and a knack for diverse, genre-hopping arrangements..

His latest album, I Love You, Honeybear, seems likely to feature on many Best of 2015 lists, and Tillman has this to say of the record:

"The songs are a narration of my experience falling in love, which means different things to different people, but which I found incredibly inspiring, personally and creatively. My personal mandate for the writing herein was to claim the experience for myself without resorting to a multitude of cliches. I believe I have addressed the sensuality of fear, the terrifying force of love, the unutterable pleasures of true intimacy, and the destruction of emotional and intellectual prisons with an imprint that is undeniably my own. Blammo."

He'll be bringing a full (beardy) band to the St James, and if reviews of his live performances are anything to go by, there will be plenty of acerbic wit and sly humour to counter his soulful songs. Tickets will be available through Ticketek on Monday, September 7 at 9am.

- TimeOut