Man on a mission

INSPIRED BY LOCKDOWN: Multi-instrumentalist Shaun Kirk is bringing his Holding Onto Hope Tour to Smash Palace next month. Picture supplied

World-class entertainer and Australian musician Shaun Kirk is ready to woo Tairāwhiti with his blues/soul at Smash Palace.

Following his sell-out Worth the Weight tour and mammoth eight-month Holding Onto Hope tour across his homeland, the alt blues/soul singer songwriter is bringing the tour across the ditch.

Inspired by the tumultuous events of 2020, his latest single, Holding Onto Hope, which dropped in July, marked the one-year anniversary of the commencement of Melbourne's (Kirk's home town) endurance-testing 112-day lockdown.

He describes the lockdown as “one of the most confronting and challenging times of my life”.

Holding Onto Hope has captured hearts across the globe with its message of aspiration and optimism in a world that has felt absent of it in recent times.

Kirk's live show, which features the talented multi-instrumentalist on vocals, guitar, drums and harmonica, was recently described by three-time Grammy Award winner Fantastic Negrito as, “one of the best one-man shows I have ever seen”.

Holding Onto Hope, Smash Palace, Wednesday, February 8, 7pm. Smash Palace. Tickets from undertheradar.co.nz