Strike and Warren Maxwell Play Soundstage October 17th

Strike and Warren Maxwell- Wellington music icons give a sneak peek at their collaborative work together.

Strike and Warren Maxwell together, many would say an impossible combination. How can you meld Strike's trademark intricate percussion and Warren's soulful stylings? Impossible is obviously not in their repertoire as they have cooked up a rich brew of tribal rhythms and psychedelic hooks.

The result of a collaboration towards a full length show that is due in 2012, this Soundstage is a sneak peek at some of the musical language they are developing together.

Audiences can look forward to a preview of some of their new compositions, plus fresh interpretations of Strike and Little Bushman classics. Strike Artistic Director Murray Hickman says that existing fans of Strike and Warren Maxwell can look forward to a mixture of familiar and new experiences born from their work together. "Having Warren on board has meant some of our familiar tracks now have his distinctive vocal harmony over the top - and now I can't imagine the pieces not having that element".

Likewise Warren has had to pick up a pair of drumsticks through the experience. Downstage Associate Producer, Angela Green visited the rehearsal room earlier in the week and witnessed a new composition where Warren plays as a percussionist. She describes it as "... a six person composition that has its roots in death metal, and it was described to me as ‘math metal' because of its intricate and precise style. I have to say, I enjoyed it!"

Strike Percussion need no introduction, having performed at Downstage numerous times over the years as a resident company. They are a high energy drumming group made up of New Zealand's most outstanding percussionists, specializing in movement-based, choreographed percussion. Pacific, classical and contemporary musical influences, combined with a movement and theatre-based presentation, make Strike unique in the world of percussion music.

Warren Maxwell is the driving force behind many musical projects and is the front-man for psychedelic blues quartet Little Bushman and iconic roots band Trinity Roots. Born in 1970, Warren grew up in Whangarei and went on to study jazz at the Conservatorium of Music, Wellington, where he has also taught.

Don't miss this one-off, intimate Sunday evening performance.

Strike and Warren Maxwell @ Soundstage

17 October @ 7pm

Tickets: $35

Book online www.downstage.co.nz or by phone (04) 801 6946. Downstage is proudly sponsored by BNZ.

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