Due to popular demand, Australian icons Vika Bull and Debra Byrne have announced a string of regional tour dates in celebration of Carole King’s 1971 classic Tapestry. The homage show has already played a swag of sold-out performances throughout 2016, with shows throughout New South Wales and Victoria, including a special residency at the Arts Centre, Melbourne. Received favourably by fans and critics, Tapestry: The Songs of Carole King is a beautiful celebration and interpretation of a seminal album.
Released in 1971 Tapestry was Carole King’s sophomore album. It picked up four Grammy Awards in 1972 – including Album of the Year – and came in at #36 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time in 2003. It was #1 on the Billboard 200 Chart for 15-weeks and sold over 25-million copies world-wide. Produced by Lou Adler (The Mamas & The Papas), it is still considered one of the greatest selling albums of all time, even 45 years after its release. It was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998.
Classic tracks include I Feel The Earth Move, You’ve Got A Friend, (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman and Will You Love Me Tomorrow. An iconic singer-songwriter, Carole King has been re-imagined and covered by some of the biggest names in pop music, including James Taylor, Martika, Quincy Jones, The Shirelles and Aretha Franklin to name a few.
The Tapestry album is timeless and unsurprisingly, it holds a very special place in Vika and Debra’s hearts. “Since I was a 13-year-old girl I have loved the music and lyrics of Carole King,” says Debra. “On Young Talent Time I requested to sing her songs. On one of our early Young Talent Time albums I even recorded Its Too Late. When I was asked to take part (in the tour) I truly jumped at the invitation, and especially knowing I would share the experience with Vika Bull was a big bonus!”
For Debra, Carole King’s music resonates on a different level. “Her songs have been a life saver, she has spoken to my heart when it has broken and helped me regain my strength through songs such as You’ve Got A Friend,” she says. “My favourite of all her compositions is Up On The Roof. Tapestry the album continues because of its authenticity, honesty and love. A true singer-songwriter Carole King doesn’t write to get on the radio; she writes because it’s all coming from her heart. That is why I love her.”
When Vika was asked to be part of the project with Debra, she was nervous, the two having never worked together before, but it was an opportunity that didn’t take much persuasion. “I was worried if our voices would blend,” says Vika. “Luckily, once we sang together, it was great. Debra is so professional, so experiences and I have learned a lot from her. I love singing these songs with her because is she such a fan of the music, and she is an exceptional singer.”
Tapestry: The Songs of Carole King is an authentic re-imagining of one of the biggest selling and most revered albums in the pop music canon. Vika and Debra’s performances pay homage to the timeless voice of Carole King, performing a diverse number of ballads universally recognised and adored. After an incredible series of sold-out metropolitan Melbourne shows, it made sense to take the live tribute out to the musical heartland of regional Australia.
“People in regional areas love Carole King too,” says Vika. “I am just so happy that I get to do something I love and travel to wonderful places and meet wonderful people. I am just in awe of the fact that Carole wrote so many wonderful songs that I still love so much today. I was only discussing her the other day with some friends and we were all shaking our heads at her song list and couldn’t quite believe it. Her songs don’t date – she can write a wonderful melody, she is awesome.”
For Debra, there is something special about performing outside of the metropolitan centres. “I love performing in regional areas,” she says. “To take Tapestry far and wide will be a joy. The opportunity to continue working with Vika and our band was not to be missed.
Formidable household names, Vika and Debra are revered for their vocal styles. Vika is a multi-platinum artist and has been known to transcend genre in her versatile and emotionally-driven performances. She smashed onto the music scene in the late 80s, singing back-up vocals with her sister Linda in the blues-rock band The Black Sorrows and has since forged a diverse pathway into soul, gospel, blues, country and the island music of her Tongan ancestry. She has released eight albums with her sister – Linda – as well as collaborating on studio and concert performances with a veritable who’s who of the industry, including Paul Kelly, John Farnham, Kasey Chambers and John Butler, to name a few. She has also been an integral member of the incredibly successful show At Last – The Etta James Story, which has been performing to packed houses since 2013 and recently completed a highly successful tour of the UK.
Debra is an original cast member of Young Talent Time and has performed in a variety of musical theatre productions, including Cats, Jerry’s Girls, Sunset Boulevard and Les Miserables. An Australian music icon, she has been in the industry since she was 14, and was only 16 when she won a Logie and was named Queen of Pop. She has released three solo albums, an autobiography and has appeared in numerous Australian television productions, including Fat Tony and Co.
Tickets for the regional run of Tapestry: The Songs of Carole King are on sale from Monday 19th June 2017.
Friday 4th August 2017
Geelong Performing Arts Centre [Costa Hall], GEELONG VIC
www.gpac.org.au | (03) 5225 1200
Saturday 5th August 2017
Her Majestys, BALLARAT VIC
www.hermaj.com | (03) 5333 5888
Wednesday 16th August 2017
COPACC, COLAC VIC
www.copacc.com.au | (03) 5232 9418
Friday 18th August 2017
Esso BHP Billiton Wellington Entertainment Centre, SALE VIC
www.ebbwec.com.au | (03) 5143 3200
Saturday 19th August 2017
Kernot Hall, MORWELL VIC
www.latrobe.vic.gov.au/lpawhatson | (03) 5176 3333
For more information, please visit www.facebook.com/TapestryTheSongsOfCaroleKing
