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Eli Wolfe to perform at SurfAid's 'Surfing Suits' event

Surf Aid News

Eli Wolfe reaches halfway point on ‘Community Australia Tour’

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 15 July, 2010 : - - Eli Wolfe is carving a name for himself as one of the country’s most distinct troubadours on his tour of community Australia. Now midway, he’s notched up nearly 50 shows since March and has an upcoming debut album on the way. It’s Eli’s extensive ‘Community Australia Tour’, and he’s already visited remote and regional towns in WA, SA, VIC, TAS, ACT and NSW, offering truly original groove-based and hypnotic songs that tell a story, along with impressive instrumentals.

With an opportunity to contribute further to community spirit, the Maton-endorsed artist will soon make a quick visit back to Sydney for a special performance at SurfAid International’s flagship fundraising event ‘Surfing Suits’ on Wednesday 21 July at Hugos in Kings Cross. The event brings together surfers and supporters from the business community to celebrate SurfAid’s achievement of 10 years in humanitarian work off Indonesia’s Sumatran coast.

It kicks off at 6.30pm with complimentary bites and beers sponsored by Corona, and a live auction featuring custom painted surfboards, a luxurious WA getaway, Surfing World magazine subscriptions, and more. Tickets are $20 with all sales going towards SurfAid International. The fundraiser will be Eli’s key performance in Sydney before he drives the tour van he painted with his own brightly coloured artwork north to Lennox Pub, Lennox Head (Sun 25 July) and The Great Northern, Byron Bay (Sun 1 Aug).

From there Eli he’ll continue on to Queensland, across the Top End then down the west coast to Perth, completing a full lap of the country by October. It’s all part of the musician’s grass roots approach, which sees him connecting with people in small towns and travellers by booking his own shows at local venues.

Eli is playing songs from his forthcoming self-titled album, which he has co-produced alongside 2009 ARIA-nominated producer Tim Powles. The album is based on Eli’s impressive timbered vocal melodies and captivating acoustic sound, with a release expected later this year. Eli said that to challenge himself creatively, traditional drums, bass and electric guitars were deliberately not used.

“Instead I had fun discovering and playing with percussive sounds and textures from the likes of a washing machine, a marching drum and cement rendered walls,” he said. ‘She’s like an ocean’ is the first single from the album and has just been released to community radio to mark the tour milestone.

Live, Eli becomes one with his 6 and 12-string guitars, creating a dramatic wall of sound upon which his poetic lyrics soar. His powerful voice is at times intensely raw, and at others achingly tender. It’s an engaging solo performance that has oft been taken for a three-piece band. The artist has endeared himself to many new fans along the way, with audiences sensing a familiarity with Eli’s music but challenged to identify a single genre from where it stems.

Eli said he’s met a lot of amazing people on the road, from all corners of the country. “You get to see the diversity of the people and the common thread that runs through us all; that’s the beauty of it. It’s great being able to contribute to the community by playing original music, inspiring others and being inspired by others.

“I found a similar vibe in India last year trekking south from Delhi to Goa, in that people are always ready to offer a spirited hand or smile. “We rode camel back to a remote desert music festival in Rajasthan where well over 7,000 people from villages and far away cities and Indian tourists were celebrating their culture through song and dance,” Eli said.

You can catch Eli Wolfe at a live show where you can pick up a special album pre-release tour CD and enjoy some great original music. For tour dates, music, art and poetry visit ww.eliwolfe.com or say hi to Eli on Facebook and Myspace About the single: She’s like an ocean 'She’s like an ocean’ is the first single from Eli Wolfe’s upcoming self-titled album.

It’s based around the instant connection sometimes felt when two people meet each other for the first time, and the ponderings on why this may be so. The track features Eli playing a nylon guitar and stomp, accompanied by cello and harpsichord. The song provides an insight to some of the sweeter sounds on the album, which will also feature mesmerising groove-based songs to create a dynamic listening experience. …all tour dates on following page

Eli Wolfe Community Australia Tour 2010
Upcoming NSW shows
Fri 16 July, time 8.30pm Town Green Inn, Port Macquarie
Sun 18 July, 1.30pm Caves Beachside Hotel, Caves Beach
Wed 21 July, 6.30pm SurfAid International ‘Surfing Suits’, Hugos, Kings Cross, $20
Sun 25 July, 5pm Lennox Pub, Lennox Head
Sun 1 Aug, 8.30pm Great Northern, Byron Bay

The journey so far March/April WA: Perth, Margaret River, Ravenswood and surrounds (18 shows)
• incl. top venues Perth Blues Club, Mojos, X-Wray Café, Settler’s Tavern,
Bootleg Brewery and Blues ‘N’ Roots Fringe Festival
April SA: Adelaide, Barossavale, Ceduna, Port Elliot (5 shows)
• incl. Adelaide UniBar and Gibson Wines
April/May VIC: Melbourne, Geelong (8 shows)
• incl. The Vineyard, The Espy and The Wesley Anne
May/June TAS: Hobart, Launceston, Burnie, Queenstown and surrounds (8 shows)
• incl. Hobart UniBar, Launceston UnBar, Bridge Hotel in Forth, home of one
of Tassie’s premier blues and roots festival, and The Royal Oak in
Launceston
June NSW: Wagga Wagga, south coast (5 shows)
• incl. Home Tavern, Great Southern Hotel, and See Change Winter Arts
Festival Closing Event in Jervis Bay
The trip ahead
July NSW & ACT: Sydney, north coast and Canberra
• incl. Caves Beachside Hotel, Commercial Hotel, Dorrigo + more tba
August QLD & NT: Brisbane to Cairns, Darwin and Alice Springs
Sept/Oct WA: Broome to Perth and Margaret River