We're favourite for country

Barry Saunders has, in the words of the country song, been everywhere - his quarter-century long musical career has taken him throughout New Zealand and back and forth to Australia.

But, for The Waratahs frontman and beloved country balladeer, when it comes to playing live, there's no place like home.

In the wake of their successful new single Silver Day and 25th anniversary album, the Waratahs are currently embarking on a seven-date Mid Winter Tour, stopping in at Masterton's King Street Live on Friday.

Saunders, currently based in Greytown, is looking forward to playing live in his Wairarapa stomping ground.

"I've always enjoyed playing in the Wairarapa," said Saunders, who penned some of the Waratahs' biggest hits, such as Hands of My Heart and Maureen.

"It's a great music crowd out here. It's a good feeling place, really - people seem to be receptive to all sorts of music.

"And people here know our songs, which helps."

For the Mid Winter tour, The Waratahs have so far played in Picton and Nelson, and will then head to Havelock North, Masterton, Wellington and the Kapiti Coast.

Saunders said the band would be playing in some smaller venues on this tour, including cafes, eateries and pubs.

"This will be our cafe tour," he said. "But we'll be doing some bigger places as well. We like mixing it up a bit.

"We just play wherever feels good."

For seasoned fans of New Zealand music, Saunders and The Waratahs need little or no introduction.

The band first formed in 1987, gathering to play live covers of Hank Williams and Johnny Cash at the Cricketers Arms Hotel in Wellington.

Eventually, The Waratahs began writing their own tunes, a blend of country, folk and 50s rockabilly, and recorded their first album, The Only Game In Town, which featured the ever-popular Hands Of My Heart.

In 2013, eight more albums and 86,000 album sales, a Silver Scroll nomination, a Songwriter of the Year award, shows with Sam Hunt, Billy Joel and The Highwaymen and hundreds of tours later, Saunders and his team are still a solid crowd favourite.

"I think it's because no one sounds quite like us," said Saunders, who has also recorded solo material.

"There's a lot of alt-country around today, but we're a combination of that and old-time country. We've just become part of the New Zealand landscape."

Part of The Waratahs enduring appeal, he said, is their ability to surprise the audience with new sounds every time they play live.

"We've always got something new, however small. I like to think our stuff still has that music dynamo. On this tour, we'll be playing at least five new songs. It's not the retro tour just yet."

Even the band's 25th anniversary collection, released last year, had a few different twists.

"For example, we did a acoustic version of Hands Of My Heart - that was lovely, really quite gentle.

"And we also had our new song, Kupe's Tears, which was different again - very guitar driven."

Once their Winter Tour is wrapped up, The Waratahs hope to record another album and embark on a tour in November this year.

"I've got a few ideas for new songs," he said.

"But they haven't really reared their heads yet.

"They haven't quite let me know who they are."

In the meantime, he and the band are looking forward to hitting Masterton.

"King Street Live is such a great venue. I'm looking forward to being a part of it."'

The Waratahs will be playing at King Street Live on Friday July 19, supported by Bear Bailey and John The Baptist.

Tickets are available at $25 from www.dashtickets.co.nz.

Doors open at 7.30pm.