Exponents mature like wine

The Exponents had people singing from the second song at their first three Winery Tour Performances. Photo/Steve Dykes

When it comes to seasoned performers The Exponents are New Zealand music royalty - now they are playing to a third generation of fans during the Classic Hits Winery Tour.

Frontman Jordan Luck said it was a rare chance to engage with such a varied demographic.

"When you are playing the pub circuit, you get one type of crowd but here it's everyone from really, really young ones to people who watched you play 30 years ago."

Since their first gig on Luck's 20th birthday, the band has earned an unparalleled reputation for creating iconic tunes, which had fans in Hamilton, Matakana and Tutukaka singing by the second song.

"We have already played three shows on the tour, it's always a good thing when they start a bit of a chorus, it's been great so far and what I can remember of Hawke's Bay their voices were pretty fine too."

Three years ago, The Exponents celebrated their 30th anniversary, sparking the release of a best of album Why Does Love Do this To Me: The Exponents Greatest Hits and a TV documentary simply titled, The Exponents.

All four founding members will be performing a stage show specifically tailored for the Winery Tour at Church Road tonight and Black Barn in Havelock North on Friday.

"It's been intriguing because it's not like normal touring, we have been doing three days on, four days off, although we finish earlier than we normally would, we have been driving home at about 1am - it's a lot of tripping.

"We go home and it's like 'Sundays are for washing and doing the hoovering'," he says in a sing song tone. "It's still early in the trip, but it's like a holiday, when we hit the Bay we have a few days to get around."

Offstage the artists were getting to know each other, and New Zealand a little better - taking opportunities to explore their surroundings by day.

"In Tutukaka we got a hotel room to shower in after all the hill climbing and surfing we did with the Breaks Co-Op guys. There's been tennis, cricket, swimming, we have nowhere else to be unless we want to hang out back stage."

Performing alongside some of the country's most well loved musicians was a highlight, Luck adds.

"You have got the incredible Breaks Co-Op, the undeniably talented Stan Walker, and, well, the other act's not bad either."

People could expect "sheer enjoyment" from the set, which included hits such as Sink Like a Stone, I'll Say Goodbye and Why Does Love Do This To Me.

Now in its eighth year, the Winery Tour presents 17 shows at 16 spectacular outdoor venues from Tutukaka in the north to Invercargill in the south.

Co-promoter Campbell Smith said it was a unique and unforgettable experience for music lovers, who had the option of getting along to Napier or Havelock North.

"We played our first Winery Tour show at Church Road in 2013 and we loved it, we're excited to be back and happy to be making Church Road a regular stop.

"It's great to have a show in Napier."

One child under the age of 12 will be given free admittance when accompanied by an adult ticket holder.

Tickets are $75 plus booking fee, available from www.winerytour.co.nz or www.ticketmaster.co.nz.