Category Archives: news

Concert news – friends performing include

gigs, news

Come alongs for new songs and friends – the remains of the day….Artists performing on Satirday August 6th include…

1. Marcus Sellwood

mwMW (Marcus) Sellwood is an Auckland blues artist. He’s played under many guises in cafes, clubs, pubs and widely on the street for the last 20 years. His exciting electric guitar grooves and wry vocal style combine for a fresh take on blues music in the new millennium!

2. Basant Madhur

Basant Madhur is a widely acknowledged tabla player and a much-respected artiste in the arena of Indian Classical Music. On account of his versatility and pleasing disposition, he is the most sought & creative artist in the realm of Indian classical music in New Zealand and Australasia as a whole.

Born into a family of musicians, he took early training from his elder brother Deepak Madhur and received expert guidance from Punjab Gharana tabla maestro, the late Pt. Pawan Kumar Verma. During his college period, he received numerous awards at state, zonal & national level youth festivals. At the same time, All India Radio & Television approved him as a performing artist at AIR & television in Shimla. Madhur moved to New basantZealand in 2002 and established the “Sargam School of Indian Music.” By 2006, he had trained more than 300 students- some of which at a very high level. In 2008 he received the Award of Appreciation for his contribution to the field of music by GOPIO (Global organization of People of Indian Origin New Zealand).

Basant has had the honor of accompanying some of the stalwarts of Indian Classical Music such as Grammy winner Pt. Vishwa Mohan Bhatt in New Zealand and USA, Pt. Ronu Majumdar in New Zealand & Australia, Pt. Rakesh Chaurasia, saxophone genius Dr. Kadri Gopalnath and mridangam player Patri Satish Kumar to name a few. He has also collaborated with several western musicians such as John Ellis, Luke Hurley, Murray McNabb, Frank Gibson Jr., Jon sanders and Prosad Freeman in fusion music. Other then being a regular feature in many music festivals in New Zealand, Basant is known to perform in India, Australia and USA on other occasions.

ALSO HAVE A LOOK AT:

www.sargamschoolofmusic.co.nz

3. Duncan Gillies and Angel Gordon

Angel_DuncanDuncan Gillies and Angel Gordon have been playing together for six years. Duncan is a songwriter of some considerable repute, writing and performing his own material who explores God, love, loss and everything inbetween, while Angel is master musician who adds depth and atmosphere to their songs.

 

 

 

4. Steven Hood

stevieLauded by the media as “One of the brightest new things on the New Zealand music scene” (New Zealand Herald) New Zealand singer songwriter Stevie Starr’s (now performing as Steven Hood) debut album “We Hope In All Things New” continues to received acclaim by critics and audiences alike. Press described the album as “Like Sigur Rós if they hung out with Radiohead in a Horowhenua forest.” (The Sunday Star Times) and Rip It Up noted Starr as an “Act to Look Out For”. Steven takes inspiration from his expeditions, hitch-hiking around NZ and Europe, playing gigs at the Starclub in Hamburg, meeting Maori tribal elders at Waitangi, dossing with crab farmers, and drinking with locals on the road, hoping one might offer him a refreshing beverage in exchange for a tale. Currently Steven has been working on his follow-up LP, due for release next year. “We Hope In All Things New” is distributed by Border Music and DRM.

5. Luke Hurley

Luke Hurley’s music has been described as a blend of finely honed edgy lyrics and minimal inimitable guitar. Luke sings about topics finely tuned to the times.
His music has influenced a generation with songs like “I’m in love with the Mona Lisa”, “First Civilian”, “Make Room” and “The Sound”. His music has featured in movies like “The Insatiable Moon” and “Broken Hallelujah” he has made albums like “Make Room” and “High Risk” that have influenced bands and numerous solo artists.
He tests everything he writes on the street and has hugely influenced the busking scene in Auckland. His material is fully realised before it makes it to the show.

To get tickets online go here or rock up with cash on the night. Thanks.

The show on Saturday includes not only me but also

STEVE. MC. SONGWRITER
BASANT. TABLA
MARCUS. BLUES GUITAR
DUNCAN AND ANGEL.  SONGS FROM THE DEPTHS

I WANT TO WEAVE BETWEEN THE SLOTS AND THEN CONCLUDE THE EVENING ON MY LONESOME FROM 8:30 TO 10

ITS GOING TO BE CONVIVIAL AND LAIDBACK
BE THERE OR BE SQUARE
ANY QUESTIONS? CALL ME 02102592919

Before the War – concert 6th August

gigs, news, Song Stories

Before the war is a song I co wrote with Ardy who wrote the lyrics in response to his experience fighting in the Iran / Iraq war in which more than a million people died . As with most wars the given reasons for the conflict probably had nothing to do with the publicised reasons.

At a crossroads it was observed that military supplies for both sides were in a long line originating at the same source turning right or left at the the intersection according to which side was being weaponised. We wrote this song some time ago.

Displaced by wars

Since we wrote it more than 60million people have been rendered homeless due to wars around the world* …so it’s time to sing this song everywhere. Ask us to play the song to you call me 021 0259 2919 and i will even sing it to your phone and please come to the next concert. *Chart is from 2014 Latest numbers here

“Since early 2011, the main reason for the acceleration has been the war in Syria, now the world’s single-largest driver of displacement. Every day last year on average 42,500 people became refugees, asylum seekers, or internally displaced, a four-fold increase in just four years.”

Luke Hurley & Friends concert. The remains of the day. Saturday August 6th, 5-10pm. The venue address is Western Springs Garden Community Hall, 956 Great North Rd, Western Springs. Entry $20 Tickets at the door or use online ticketing below.

$20 a ticket  P.S click on orange buttons below to buy shopping cart. You will be emailed directly by secure PayPal

Please use the buttons below for concert tickets

P.s if possible please book tickets now to ensure a smoother production. The last show was a cliffhanger and somewhat shambolic due to the last minuteness of it. The Aug 6 gig is gonna be smooth and enlightening. It’s not just entertainment It’s therapy but with a real edge that addresses things the lamestream won’t ever contemplate

Not that we object to mainstream its just that it’s so constrained to please everyone that it pleases no one and tends to mirror society in warped looking glass.

“Let the people have their peaceful lives
Health
Home
Family
Love
A feeling of belongingness
Just like you
Before the war”
Adry.

I will introduce you to Ardy and other friends during the show and an itinery will be posted so you know the lineup the ample running time will accomodate.

Luke-Poster-August

It’s going to be convivial. Feel free to enjoy the remains of the day with us.

Download the A3 version of the poster here. Luke A3 Poster August

 

Luke Hurley Auckland Concert 10th June

Auckland Concert 10th June

news

Luke Hurley Auckland Concert 10th JuneThe last Auckland concert was a great event but many of you missed out so here is a return event at the same venue on June 10th at 7pm.

Concert runs  from 7pm to 10pm at the Pioneer Women’s & Ellen Melville Hall upstairs off Freyberg Place. Tickets $20 each. If you need to know more call me on 021 0259 2919.

Please come or sponsor someone to come in your place. The last show was a break even exercise so lets make this one a thriver. Been a long time since the last blog. Have been preoccupied with getting the right jive on my playing. One young guy told me he likes my “old fashioned American sound” ha ha.

The great thing about a concert where nothing is on sale is the distraction free atmosphere. No one trying to push alcohol food or other product. It’s completely peaceful. You play. People listen. You can talk about your little babies and no one is going to interrupt with industrial stuffications like grinding coffee and wheezing latte fluffers and clinking drinkers talking incessantly.

After all concerts are meant to be reflective and personal and not the province of merchandisers and money changers but it seems most places wanna be all things to all people and the music is just the lure to get people buying anything that meets the expediency of the moment.

The idea is simple. Play like a bastard. Invite people like you the reader to my shows. Thats it. Very simple. By the way big holdup with the new album. It’s loaded into the post production process but the producer is busy on other projects 🙂

Luke will have other musicians playing as well as a great sound system. Poster – Luke 10June flyer on A3.pdf   Or 2 up flyer for printing.

Here are some notes on the last concert  by a friend and a list of songs played in the first set.

  • “Before the War” on Steve Barkman 12 string. New song.
  • “Nobody is Good” also on SB – new song
  • “Pascals Song” on baritone guitar – new arrangement
  • “Woke up this morning what the difference is”.. not sure what this song was called but on baritone guitar
  • “Make Room” -Takoma 6 string. An old song but completely different sounds when played high on fretboard.
  • “Far away” on Fender Strat. perhaps the first song Luke wrote when he was 12.
  • “New York to Paris” also on Strat.

Be there or be square. Note: The Pioneer Women’s Hall is on the corner of High St and Freyberg Place in Central Auckland right near Metropolis.

$20 a ticket  P.S click on orange buttons below to buy shopping cart. You will be emailed directly by secure PayPal

Please use the buttons below for concert tickets

One ticket $20 (NZD)
2 tickets $40 (NZD)
4 tickets $80 (NZD)
Group of 10 -bring 9 of your buddies & you get a free ticket $180.00 (NZD)

Busking is ‘the canary in the mine’ – concert Mar 18th

gigs, music, news

Very grateful for the support subscribers have given the somewhat difficult cause we are currently winning. It’s gone from the hopelessness of being stripped of my tools of trade to complete restitution largely due to your support.

Now it’s time for a celebration concert on March – Friday the 18th at 7pm. Please come along for an informal evening where I play for you and we take tea breaks and just chew the fat like in days gone by. Like in a folk club (but) without the formality and hushed Intensity In this event you are free to talk and take smoko breaks and holler and generally be yourself.

Luke Hurley Concert

Bring some bikkies if you wanna share food and your fav tea bags. Ha ha. We can supply the entertainment and hot water for tea. Venue is the Pioneer Women’s & Ellen Melville Hall in central Auckland – Freyberg Place.

$20 a ticket will cover venue and other costs. You will be emailed directly by secure PayPal P.S click on red buttons if you make a mistake & need to deduct amounts from the shopping cart.

Also appearing: Basant Madur & Duncan Gilles

Please use the buttons below for concert tickets

One ticket $20 (NZD)
2 tickets $40 (NZD)
4 tickets $80 (NZD)
Group of 10 -bring 9 of your buddies & you get a free ticket $180.00 (NZD)

Please book your ticket if serious about coming but there will be a limited number of door sales on the night.

If you feel like a beer then join us for a few drinks at the mezze bar close by right after the show.

Let’s do something simple easy going and fun and catch up to celebrate a new beginning. If it works we can easily make it regular. A cheap night out and a chance for us all to catch up without having to spend a fortune. Parking is relatively cheap if you use the Victoria St carpark or Downtown carpark.

I would really appreciate seeing all of you there…

Other news
Got interviewed by Vaughn Davis on Radio Live Waitangi Day day 10am to 11am. It’s on line if you wanna hear it.

Also TEDxAuckland posted up my river song. I introduced it with a dig at the mega supermarket that wouldn’t let me busk outside. The manager and assistant manager told me I couldn’t play & I told them I could. With a “we give up” they left me to it and I lost interest anyway. Ha ha

“Busking is the canary in the mine. If we are not allowed to play at the drop of a hat then that’s a sure indication of a dysfunctional operating system.”

“Impression without expression equals depression”

Try it wherever and whenever you can. Just play to people. It’s a benevolent human interchange and a basic human right

Marcus Turner died suddenly I went to his funeral in Dunedin. Very moving. His NHNZ TV colleagues shared some great insights about him. The guy was a genius. It’s hard to find the last album Marcus made. It’s called laid down. If you go to the kiwi folk website you will find a way to procure it. How can an album so great go unrecognised? It’s unbelievable. Find it. Play it. You will be astonished. What a great man. God bless his soul.

Call me if there’s anything I can do for you or if you need to know more about the 18th. 021 0259 2919
Be safe. Play soon. Come along on the 18th and “Save a Canary” 🙂

Luke

To Be Perfectly Honest

news, song lyrics, Song Stories

Honesty is an elusive quality is it not?

“You don’t make money telling the truth”

So what do you do? Confess  to anyone who will listen?

Pray?
Despair?
Deny?

I like the third option. My life in music has been one of a denial of reality in one sense and a keen awareness of it in another. It’s like there are two Lukes. The one who made Make Room and the one who made High Risk.  Working on the new album I discover a hybrid of the two.

The song – Honesty off the Reha album lyrics are below

Well I see you’re pretty young
And you’ve got a fine degree
And you look so beautiful
That you’d make the blind man see

When I saw you – I just knew
That you would be a friend to me
And I would be a friend to you
We could share some honest company

Honesty (honesty) means a lot to me
Honesty (honesty) means a lot to me

Cause a man could fall in love with you
If you gave him half a chance
But I wonder if this love is true
Or is it just romance

Just romance
Just romance

Honesty means a lot to me
Honesty, honesty means a lot to me

Honesty, honestly means a lot to me
Honesty, honestly means a lot to us – yes it does

Yes it does.

I wrote this song in the days when I visited Auckland to get a break from Dunedin. In those days no one busked. One day I was busking in Vulcan Lane  one very quiet mid afternoon in summer. When I say quiet…it was dead and I was playing at the High St end near the hot potato and yoghurt ice cream shop (a very popular lunch spot but it went broke on account of cash being extorted from the business on a daily basis).
A wonderful elderly gentleman was dancing to the music I played one very quiet mid afternoon in summer. When I say quiet…it was dead.

To give you an idea of how conservative Auckland was in those days way back in the mid 80s….The lady in the hot spud shop called the cops and had him arrested. The bottle he had been holding  was confiscated and left with her. She put it in my guitar case probably assuming it was a bottle of turps or something.Taking it out of its brown paper bag I discovered a brand new unopened bottle of Napoleon brandy.

Thank God things have changed. Nowadays you could dance naked  in Vulcan Lane and no one would complain
There was a girl who would often passed by  walking her dog .She was always friendly and appreciated the music. Few there were who did .So  bedazzled was I….and imagined her to be closer to an angel than a human. Young men worship beautiful women and this sometimes inhibits their ability to strike up a meaningful dialogue. Romance was out of the question….her being so perfect and unreachable.Just as well. Probably would hve been big trouble!

In the years since its dawned on me that society rewards  dishonesty. “You don’t make money telling the truth”…and commerce thrives on war.

But I wasn’t to know that then and still feel more drawn to the light than to the darkness but I’m just as much a creature of the night as the next guy…which leads to another song in another blog coming up soon

 

“If you do not tell the truth about yourself you cannot tell it about other people.”
― Virginia Woolf

“The simple step of a courageous individual is not to take part in the lie. “One word of truth outweighs the world.”
― Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

Be safe and please respond if you have a thought for this little guy