Fat Freddy's Drop - WAIRUNGA (2021) [Hi-Res]

Read all about it. Our new WAIRUNGA album features five fresh Freddy songs and we revisit two classics, all captured during a secret outdoor performance sans audience with wild weather elements playing an important creative role. WAIRUNGA digital release out the gate 20th Aug with vinyl to follow.

We embark on the national WAIRUNGA Album Release Tour this Sept, playing Christchurch Town Hall 10 Sept and Dunedin Town Hall 11 Sept with special guest Harper Finn, Nelson’s Trafalgar Centre 16 Sept and Wellington’s Michael Fowler Centre 18 Sept with Special Guest Deva Mahal, and Auckland Town Hall 23 Sept and Hamilton’s The Factory 25 Sept with Special Guest Rubi Du. Tickets On Sale MON 19 July. Chur.

WAIRUNGA album unleashes 'Coffee Black' cosmic hot buttered soul and cinematic wigged out psyche-blues, 'Shady' an Afro-Acid adventure, ’Bush Telegraph' reggae dub feat MC Slave, and 'Leave Your Window Open' and 'Dig Deep', loose rhythmic experiments with subterranean bass and twisted up melodies. 'Bones' and 'Wairunga Blues' are our rebirth of cool classics, the latter a fitting tribute to this magical place.

Places we roam, Wairunga is located deep in Ngāti Kahungunu country overlooking Waimarama, an oasis of green pasture and native tree-filled valleys that fall away to the ocean below. It's etched into our DNA over the past 20 years; a place to party, relax between tours, even to get married, and yes the inspiration for 'Wairunga Blues' originally released on BAYS album.

Throwing caution to the trade winds, literally, we set up on a grass tennis court surrounded by a bush backdrop. The weather elements ranged from calm to tempest-like bursts of rain and chill winds. We dug deep, lost in the moment. Keeping on the LOCK-IN tip, our WAIRUNGA performance was filmed and a one hour concert film special will premiere free online 31st July and 1st August. Appointment viewing and a taste of the album and tour on the horizon. Arohanui everyone. Stay tuned!!