The Star: January 10, 2019

The Star Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
Thursday January 10 2019 23
Selwyn Sounds
Rare homecoming for Stevens
One of New Zealand’s most successful musical exports Jon Stevens will perform in
the country for the first time in four years at Selwyn Sounds. Matt Salmons caught up
with him about coming home and supporting rural Australia
JON STEVENS will not be
in his homeland long for his
performance at Selwyn Sounds –
but his first New Zealand gig in
five years will recharge him, he
says.
The Upper Hutt-born rocker
will fly out the day after Selwyn
Sounds, which takes place on
March 2, to meet commitments
at the Red Hot Summer Tour
in Australia. Stevens said the
Australian tour organisers had
tried to convince him to pull out
of Selwyn Sounds.
“I said ‘no way’. I’m not going
to opt out of a New Zealand show,
sorry boys,” he said.
As well as a “frantic” live
performance schedule this year,
Stevens said he started work on
his 11th album in January, with a
view to release it in mid-2019.
It will feature his latest song,
ON STAGE: Jon Stevens will
perform at Selwyn Sounds
in March.
Rain Down On Me, released on
October 26 to support droughtstricken
farmers in Australia.
He also performed at the Hay
Mate concert on October 27,
which raised money for Australian
charity Rural Aid.
“It was great to be a part of it
and help people,” Stevens said.
He said the song, written in
January, fitted the situation as it
spoke of a struggle, but also of
hope on the horizon. All proceeds
from the song go to Rural Aid.
“I’m just going to give it to the
farmers and they can have every
single cent that comes from it.
That’s my way to help.”
Although he visited family in
Queenstown last year, the last
time he performed in New Zealand
was 2013 when he opened for
Aerosmith in Dunedin as part of
the Global Warming Tour.
Stevens said he was most
looking forward to “recharging”
himself by reconnecting with his
homeland.
“Just putting my feet on the soil
again, you know?”
The youngest of 11, Stevens said
he had “whanau for days” and
hoped to fit in a catch-up.​
“I’ve got a few cousins in
Christchurch, so I’ll catch up with
them, get a boil-up going. I’ll be
sweet.”
Stevens’ career took off at the
age of 16 in 1980 with the release
of Jezebel, which topped the New
Zealand charts at the time.
Since then, the performer has
released 10 studio albums, including
band and solo work, working
alongside some of the most wellknown
names in the music industry.
Stevens said he found it “cute”
that New Zealand fans still asked
to hear his early releases “from
my teenage era” and planned to
keep his set list fluid and respond
to the crowd.
“Of course, we’ll play what the
people want. I might play one new
song. I’ll cross that bridge when I
come to it,” he said.
•Selwyn Sounds will be
on Saturday, March 2, at the
Lincoln Domain.
•Tickets are available at
www.selwynsounds.co.nz.
•Jon Stevens’ latest
song Rain Down On Me
is available on iTunes. All
proceeds go to Australian
farmers through Rural Aid.
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2 MARCH
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In partnership with
And generous funding from
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