Neilson in King Street finale

Country and rockabilly diva Tami Neilson plays the final show at Masterton entertainment venue King Street Live. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Country soul powerhouse and rockabilly pin-up Tami Neilson -- a multiple award-winning recording artist and performer -- will stage the swansong show at Masterton venue King Street Live.

Neilson, an expat Canadian who was schooled in musical performance as a child touring North America in the Neilson Family Band, said she had played Wairarapa several times at venues including the Carterton Event Centre, the Gladstone Winery alongside the Topp Twins, and the former Lounge Bar in Carterton.

She had been tilting for a show at King Street Live for several years and is relieved to have landed a date -- even though it will be the last before the venue shuts its doors.

"There's been a few tours where I tried to tee up dates with them but there always seemed to be conflicting dates or a gig was already on, so we always tried but the dates didn't happen. Now it does and it's the last one."

Neilson said she was hitting the road with her five-piece backing band and is touring in support of her fifth and latest album, Don't Be Afraid. The repertoire for her upcoming show will include songs from the new album and its award-winning predecessor Dynamite, as well as a selection of her favourite covers.

Neilson has taken the New Zealand Music Awards Best Country album four times since 2009, an APRA Silver Scroll in 2014 for excellence in songwriting and a slew of other awards and gongs.

She said her latest work was released last year while she was on the road with Barry Saunders, of Greytown, Delaney Davidson and Marlon Williams on The Church Tour.

Neilson, who still speaks with a Canadian accent, said her musical roots run deep, thanks to her Dad, through the works of North American pre-1970s artists like Patsy Cline and Hank Williams.

"But even though I steeped myself in that era of music, which seeped into my fashion and dress as well, I do believe my sound has changed just being in New Zealand," she said. "Dynamite has only now been released in Canada, the states and the UK for example, and there have been some wonderful reviews and people are like 'oh she's Canadian, she's one of ours'.

"But you have to leave for that happen, and also, the sound that they're loving and really latching on to, but don't realise, is that my music has become uniquely New Zealand."

Tami Neilson and her Hot Rockin' Band of Rhythm plays the final show at King Street Live next Saturday from 8pm. Tickets cost $30 and are available online at eventfinder.co.nz.