Xylouris White, the duo of Dirty Three drummer Jim White and Cretan lute player George Xylouris will make their debut New Zealand performance with a show at Auckland’s Tuning Fork on Wednesday 8 March 2017.

With a personal and musical history going back 25 years they formed four years ago, and have released two albums; Goats (2014) and Black Peak (2016). Both records were recorded predominately in New York and Crete with Guy Picciotto of Fugazi producing. Goats topped the Billboard World Music Chart, and Black Peak has been celebrated worldwide as a triumphant album.

Xylouris White have toured the world many times in their short history, and been hand selected to tour with Swans, Kurt Vile, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, PJ Harvey and Jonathan Richman, amongst others.
 
If the talents of singer and lute player George Xylouris seem otherworldly, even God-given, it is hardly surprising. To hear Xylouris play his long-necked laouto and sing songs of love and liberty in his passionate, distinctive voice, is to experience heritage at its finest; a tradition that hails from Crete, where Xylouris is a member of a clan long-regarded throughout Greece as musical royalty.

Xylouris’ sound has taken him around the world to festivals and concerts throughout Europe, North America and Australia. He splits his time between Melbourne, absorbing influences from the city’s thriving live rock scene, and in Crete, where he spends time teaching, playing in village communities continuing his family’s heritage. 
 
Jim White first commanded international attention in the mid-1990s with the acclaimed Australian instrumental trio Dirty Three. Now the New York-based virtuoso is the go-to guy for alt-A-list vocalists with collaboration in mind. Those who’ve worked with him – and all those he’s mesmerised as he plays - testify to his deft way with a rhythm, a downbeat, a jazz-fuelled wig out. White formed a post-punk band Venom P. Stinger and has worked with artists such as Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, PJ Harvey, Nina Nastasia, Cat Power, Smog and Nick Cave.
  
White’s intuitive beats and singular approach have created sparks in his collaborations with George Xylouris thus forming Xylouris White. When White is playing, he is right there, present in the most inspirational sense. Together and individually they are unique.

Xylouris White
 
Wednesday March 8th: The Tuning Fork, Auckland 

Tickets via Ticketmaster