Rotorua band ready to take sound nationwide

Rotorua band Strangely Arousing is about to embark on its first nationwide tour.

The members of Rotorua band Strangely Arousing are taking their talents across the country for their first nationwide tour.

The five-piece band soared to success after taking out the Smokefree Pacifica Beats competition and has since shared the stage with such names as Damien Marley at the Raggamuffin festival and most recently Kiwi band Fat Freddy's Drop.

The band also released a song and video clip, entitled Kupenga, which has amassed more than 100,000 views on YouTube.

Made up of former Western Heights High School students Lukas Wharekura, Shaun Loper, Oliver Prendergast, Forrest Thorp and Liam Rolfe, the band is now about to embark on its first New Zealand tour.

Sponsored by Spellbound Harbour Radio and Smokefree Pacifica Beats, the tour will involve the band performing in 20 cities around the country in the next two months.

Wharekura said he was stoked to have the opportunity to perform around the country.

"New Zealand is so beautiful but there's so many places we haven't seen so this will give us the chance to see them as well as get our name out there."

He hoped the tour would help the band generate more exposure and increase their fanbase.

"Hopefully people come to our shows and go away wanting to listen to more of our music."

He said the tour was a step closer to their ultimate goal - to tour internationally and perform alongside the world's biggest music stars.

Thorp said the tour was already getting interest.

"Everyone we've mentioned the tour to so far has been both interested and excited."

Band Brendon Thomas and the Vibes will play alongside Strangely Arousing for some of its performances.

Strangely Arousing will perform at Rotorua's Okere Falls Store on Saturday March 14 and at Reporoa's Woolshed Tavern on Sunday March 15.

Tickets will be available from McLeods Booksellers, Music Works and the Library Cafe Store.

The band will also make an appearance at the mountain biking festival, Crankworx, in Rotorua on March 28.