*IMPORTANT UPDATE   19/11/11

The Classic Hits Acoustic Church Tour 2011 shows will run as follows.

7.00PM - Doors Open

7.30PM - Show Begins with Natalia Mann on stage

7.45PM - Intermission

8.00PM - Bic Runga on stage

8.40.PM - Intermission

9.00PM - Bic Runga on stage

9.40PM - Show Ends

Civic Events and Classic Hits announce the
2011 Classic Hits Acoustic Church Tour dates in November

Now in its fourth year, The Classic Hits Acoustic Church Tour has expanded to 18 shows in 11 cities, with Whangarei, Pukekohe, Masterton and Timaru added to the bill for theirst time. The tour will return to Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Napier, Palmerston North, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin and Invercargill.

The Classic Hits Acoustic Church Tour is an acoustic show in three parts commencing with an opening act followed by Bic’s performance in two sets. Doors open at 7.30pm and show concludes at approximately 10.30pm.

The Classic Hits Acoustic Church Tour launches at the City Baptist Church in Whangarei on Thursday 17 November and concludes at First Presbyterian Church in Invercargill on Thursday 08 December. Full dates and venues are listed below.

Tickets are on sale from Monday 03 October through the Acoustic Church Tour website and Ticketek. 


HISTORY
In 2004, Civic Events produced a national acoustic church tour for Bic Runga around New Zealand, the idea springing from a show Bic had played in the Union Chapel in London in 2003. We have some amazing churches in New Zealand, beautiful places built for singing, soloists or choirs of voices. In that environment, perhaps accompanied only by piano or organ, acoustic guitars and percussion, every note is crystal clear, at the front and all the way at the back; the sound is pure and magnificent. The tour was a huge success - the music, the sound, the leadlight and the bar heaters. It was a unique and special tour event.

From the germ of an idea in a serene chapel on a cold London night, through the national sell out success of the first Church Tour in 2004, came the second annual Classic Hits Acoustic Church Tour.

2009 Tour - nine shows nationwide
In 2009 the tour featured a very special pairing of two of New Zealand's greatest songwriting and performing talents - Greg Johnson and Boh Runga. The shows saw both of them on stage together for their whole set, performing their own and each other's songs - together.  Joining them we had Zed front man and solo hit-maker, Nathan King and we introduced you to a bright new talent in young Auckland singer/songwriter Lydia Cole. It was a magical event, as those who attended the shows will attest.

2010 Tour - twelve shows nationwide
Dave Dobbyn headlined last year’s tour. Dave needs little introduction to our audience. He is a songwriter/singer and guitarist of extraordinary talents and in the magnificent Church environment his voice shined bigger and brighter than ever before. Dave performed with percussionist Ross Burge and at times, members of Christchurch band Dukes who were also the opening act.