Award-winning artist Tami Neilson and her band, along with special guest, Jay Neilson, today announces three very special concerts Neilson Sings Nelson in honour of her friend and music legend Willie Nelson.
Tami will perform her favourites from Willie’s songbook including his mega hits Always on My Mind and Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain as well as I Never Cared For You, Sister’s Coming Home, and their hit duet Beyond the Stars. Tami will also perform a selection of her own classics, as well as share stories of what it’s been like working alongside one of the world’s greatest music icons.
The Neilson Sings Nelson Tour coincides with the release of Tami’s new album of the same title, recorded at Willie’s Pedernales Studio, Texas, and featuring her brothers Jay and Todd on backing vocals, guitar, bass and drums. The recording came after she and Willie became long distance friends during Covid and recorded – remotely – the hit song she’d written with Delaney Davidson, Beyond the Stars.
“When I met Willie Nelson in person for the first time, we hugged hello, then rehearsed our duet Beyond the Stars. It was one of the most magical moments of my life,” recalls Tami.
“I performed with him at Luck Reunion 2022, and at the end of that year, returned home to a very scary turn of events. I was admitted into ICU with life-threatening sepsis and spent a month in the hospital. During the long recovery, I thought about creating something healing — a simple and joy-filled project. I wanted to record a love letter to Willie and his music to give to him for his upcoming 90th birthday. This idea was something I could focus my mind on, a goal to get better.
“When I hear Willie’s music, I can feel the olive green shag carpet of my childhood living room between my fingers, playing with my little brothers on the floor, his music deeply embedded in our DNA. Fast forward 40 years and I’m playing with my little brothers once again, standing in Willie Nelson’s studio lined with shelves of reel to reels labelled Red Headed Stranger while we sing Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain. Surreal doesn’t even begin to describe the feeling. But, my hope is that this album has given you a small taste of it.”
Tour details:
WELLINGTON: 11 October, Opera House – Tickets
AUCKLAND: 18 October, Town Hall – Tickets
CHRISTCHURCH: 19 October, Isaac Theatre Royal – Tickets
