Category Archives: music

Luke Hurley - Happy Isles

Happy Isles album Released today

music, news,

Hello friends. Long time no write. I love  this simple direct old school blog way and we are  also linking instagram so it’s soon gonna be possible to add videos and stills to this blog (more easily) including your  input . Follow along on IG

Happy Isles - Vinyl - Luke Hurley

The new album which took two months to record and mix down in Lyttelton and Diamond harbour is now physically in stock and we just pushed the button on the 12 inch record release….

My first record since 1987.  This one is either a good listen or a good investment or both. The skills of producers Jan Bille and Ian McAllister exceeded expectations. Very happy with Happy Isles.

If ya wanna make an album talk to these guys first. Audio Centric IG

OK so here’s the plan. How about I  turn up and play at your place. Big house or small. Anywhere at all. Invite me and  your buddies and  let’s move these records before the bailiffs do. This project took a lot of work and a pile of loans which need to be paid.

In other words. Call me now 021 0259 2919 and invite me to launch Happy Isles at yours. It’s gonna work but only if you guys get behind it. Very confident you will!

Aroha
Luke

Have a listen to the whole album below.

If you live outside NZ we can ship the album to you.  Some notes on shipping over here and bandcamp has a table for the main countries.

If you are in Auckland Flying Out in Pitt St has a small number of the vinyl albums in stock.  They can also help with turntables too. We are hoping to have copies at selected places in Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin too. Pennylane Records at 430 Colombo Street in Christchurch has stock now.

Playing at Mt Albert Market on corner of Asquith and New North Rd till about 12 noon on Sat 29th then at Diablos in Kerikeri on Sat night if you want to see the album hear some of the new songs live. Also on Sunday Morning at Kerikeri markets. Now playing at Eutopia cafe on Sunday 1st of March from 11:30am till 2pm.

If you pickup a copy of the album where Luke is playing and want to pay online this button below is the best way to pay if you don’t have cash. It misses out the delivery fees. Also – once we have your email address we can send you a download code. It still uses PayPal so we don’t see your card details and they are kept safe 🙂

Buy Happy Isles Vinyl $40 (NZD)

Luke Hurley new album Happy Isles

Happy Isles – Pre-Release

music, news,

Happy Days – the new album is nearly ready. Literally at the pressing plant where the new vinyl is being made fresh at Holiday Records in Auckland.

Credits: Captured/ Produced by Jan Bille in Diamond Harbour (Christchurch) August 2019. Post production and mastering by Ian McAllister at Audio Centric Christchurch. September-October 2019. No overdubs.

Cover art by Justin Summerton. Design by Panaita.com
Many thanks to first edition sponsors: Holiday Records, Simon Raby, Chris Rankin, John Appleby, Dorothy Brown, Paul Hurley.

There are 8 songs. On side 1. Happy Isles, Colour of Your Skin and Alba.
On Side 2: Ting Tong, Hamilton Dome, Whero, Green Man and Diamond Friday is the full track listing.

Stay tuned for release timetable for the music and the vinyl. If you are already on the mail list we will know more about release timetable soon. We are thinking it should be ready in the first or second week of Feb but hoping it is sooner.

We are also talking with some record stores which specialise in vinyl and where you can go to see and hear the physical album. The full price is $40 but fine tuning all the logistics now.

 

Have you heard of Pop Up Shows?

gigs, music, news

Dan the pilot affirmed that CDs are far superior. His life depends on checks. Have you checked yet? Listen to your fav track on Cleptofy and then on cd. One will sound like a goat crapping into a tin can and the other will sound vaguely like music. Better still vinyl. But that’s another story.

Taylor Swift hasn’t suffered from withdrawing from Cleptofy. Her latest album is just shy of 5 million in sales. Not bad! 5 million listens on Cleptofy would have earned her squat. She’s real smart. Have to confess I am not familiar with her music though as I don’t plug into mainstream at all at all.

Have you heard of Pop Up Shows?is this a concept unique to New Plymouth? It’s a great idea. You host a show in your own living room Check it out. If you are interested I can ask Anand to explain his idea to you. Get in touch if you are into hosting Pop Ups and I will refer you to him and we can have a rave about it on my next blog. Makes sense to use your house (if you have one) as a venue seeing as it cost a fortune to buy/rent.

It’s rare for a cafe to go the extra distance and offer live music to the people. You are invited to:

The Meeting Room*, 366 Rangatira Rd, Beach Haven, North Shore this Sunday from noon to 2pm to have a cuppa and listen to me play. Few cafes invest in live original music
Please come. All details below. * Justin past the old blue dairy building by the intersection.

Google map link here https://goo.gl/maps/Khq63x5EZFy

See you on Sunday afternoon?

Let Me Take You By The Hand And Lead You Thru The Streets Of Auckland

music, news, philosophy

You have to visit the Auckland CBD to witness the exponential increase in homeless people

Property investors have had their fun in creating the biggest bubble in history.
While some wait for the bubble to burst with a slump in property values.
Others are experiencing the burst already in terms of not being able to afford a place to live.
And where do many of them head?

Into town or head for the hills.
The hills are better but if they end up in town where do they go?
Well.
The busiest corners and outside supermarkets of course
The giant supers in town have become streetpeoplecentral
Not for one or two but for three or twenty at a time hovering round the main entrances
And you know what?

It’s not my problem
It’s probably not your problem
It’s not the governments problem
Or the banks
Or the landlords
Or the vagrants themselves
You know what
It’s OUR problem
Yes!

It affects everybody who arrives in our 100% clean green commercial capital delusion.
It’s beyond belief that a country that hosts some of the richest people and corporates in the world is happy to tolerate this situation. The rich have a duty to offer real support as only they can afford to build for the poor. And create a building industry concerned with the equitable and not just about equity and instant returns.
No one else can afford to.

One time I was playing outside a super and the manager and assistant manager told me I couldn’t play. I told them I could. See some of that story below and earlier.

That was back in the good old days when all they had to do was shoo away one street musician.
Now they need to move tuneless multitudes.
People with nothing to lose tend to stick around.
And people who can do concerts don’t need to play where they are not wanted.

Anyway. Speaking of concerts – there is one coming up and I am happy to report that Dave Alley has agreed to be wingman.

Check out the this video from Dave.

Dave is dynamic and down to earth and puts on a performance not to be missed.

“Dave Alley is influenced chiefly by Dylan, Bowie, Bukowski et al, Fry, Hendrix, Buddy Guy, Richard Thompson, Waits and the tones of Santana, Dave Alley isn’t sure who or what, musically & lyrically, he is. Ending up being a heavily refracted version of himself most of the time. Dave is a spiritually sonic cluster fuzz of atoms whizzing around and around and around, perhaps a little more so after good fresh-ground morning coffee..”

We have other guests and will keep you posted. Please come to the show and even consider sponsoring others to come in your place if you can’t come!

click here for tickets

All the best for now
Luke. Call me if you want to help with the show. Its only a week away 021 0259 2919

Concert at newly refurbished Ellen Melville Centre

music, news

Was thinking that blogging is very last week and not cool. Then it occurred to me that those  are great reasons to keep going.

It’s amazing how kind you people have been to me   I need to write to you often

The good news is that i have something to write about now that it is possible to return to my fav venue in its hugely improved condition.

The gig is on Friday 27 October in the Pioneer Women’s Hall at the Ellen Melville Centre, Freyberg Square, High Street, Auckland Central.

I have good memories of my first show there. This one is gonna follow that formula. Simple renditions of my best songs old and new. Instrumentals and a bit of a chat. We might even invite a guest or two. Please make this kind of event sustainable and  try to turn up or sponsor someone else to come in your place   tickets are  $20 as before .

Starts 7 pm and finishes late.  Call me if you need more info 02102592919 or feel inclined to be on the sales team.  Let’s get the word out. The more the merrier

Very grateful  to Audrey Van Ryn,  Andrew Howie and Phil Recordon  for without their help this concert would not be possible.  Also Clive for his great insight at times where I had no insight into my own behaviour.

I love both street and stage but the stage is less distracting for me and way more comfy for listeners.

CONCERT DETAILS

Friday 27 October in the Pioneer Women’s Hall at the Ellen Melville Centre, Freyberg Square, High Street, Auckland Central. 7pm until 10pm. Tickets $20

Please think about supporting this one.  It’s gonna be fun

Tickets Oct 27 concert at Ellen Melville Centre – buy online

$20 a ticket  P.S click on orange buttons below to buy. You will be emailed directly by secure PayPal. Tickets will also be for sale on the door – bring cash. Doors open at 6pm.

One ticket $20 (NZD)
Two tickets $40 (NZD)