2009 sees hip hop pioneers De La Soul mark the 20th anniversary of their career, and to celebrate the group are undertaking their most comprehensive antipodean tour to date.
The 20th Anniversary tour is particularly special in that the group will perform in live format, for the first (and last) time ever in Australia. The 13 piece live show is made up of a hand picked selection of the best players and session musicians in the USA, and presents Dave, Mase and Pos on stage with a 10 piece band performing the classics in spectacular live format from the ground up.
The tour will be accompanied by the release of a limited edition 6 track EP of new material, produced in cooperation with Nike to mark the group’s 20th year in hip hop.
The 10 members of the live band assembled to back the group represent a hand picked selection of the crème de la crème of west coast funk and soul players. Members of the group have performed and / or recorded with artists such as Justin Timberlake, Outkast, Breakestra, Macy Gray, Black Eyed Peas, Dakah Hip-Hop Orchestra, Connie Price & the Keystones, Orgone, Roy Ayers, Christina Aguilera, Nikka Costa, Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals, Quantic, Madlib’s Sound Directions, War, Weapon of Choice, Too Short, Everlast, India, Arie, Brand New Heavies, David Holmes, Antibalas, and Lily Tomlin to name just a few.
This is a once in a life time opportunity to see one of the most influential hip hop groups in history perform in a never before seen format, as they re-create the classics from the ground up, 100% live. The live tour has been assembled as a one time only affair to mark the group’s anniversary.
Several profile international guests are slated to join the tour in the coming weeks, details will be released as they come to hand.
The 13 piece live set will touch down in the following cities only; Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney.
In addition to the live sets, the group will also take in several shows in the original, 3 piece format, while in Australia, including the Groovin The Moo festival dates. Tour itinerary is as follows:
Friday, April 26 – METRO CITY – Perth
Friday, May 1 – THE ESPLANADE HOTEL – Melbourne
Saturday, May 2 – GROOVIN THE MOO FESTIVAL – Lou Lister Park, Townsville
Sunday, May – 3 BRISBANE BIG TOP (pending approval) – Brisbane
Tuesday, May 5 – METRO THEATRE – Sydney
Friday, May 8 – THE SHORES COMPLEX – Adelaide
Saturday, May 9 – GROOVIN THE MOO FESTIVAL – Newcastle Showgrounds, Newcastle
Tuesday, May 12 – SFBH – Wellington
Wednesday, May 13 – LAKE KAWANA CENTER – Queenstown
Thursday, May 14 – THE BEDFORD – Christchurch
Friday, May 15 – THE POWER STATION – Auckland
Saturday, May 16 – GROOVIN THE MOO FESTIVAL – Bendigo Show Grounds, Bendigo
