NZ Tour
Summer 2018

A funky folky feel good fusion of whatever takes our fancy!

Members of the band are Craig Denham, on Accordion, piano, vocals and percussion, Nathan Torvik on guitar, bass and mandolin and Siobhan Sweeney on vocals and guitar. Craig was born in Taumaranui and his dad Bob used to teach maths at the high-school.

The Back of Beyond is a side project of Beyondsemble who have played In Taumarunui  a number of times in the past. Craig started Beyondsemble back in 2009 and the band has had many different line-ups over the years, played major festivals in the country (Womad, Festival of Colour, Nelson Arts Festival, etc) and toured New Zealand numerous times as well as doing a couple of stints in Europe.

These days Craig is based in Prague 9 months a year and returns to NZ every year to tour and catch up with family. Nathan and Siobhan are based in Cable Bay just out of Nelson and perform as a duo regularly in the area and on cruise ships around NZ under the name of Polly and the Minstrel. All 3 have been friends for a number of years with Craig invariably dropping by the Tovik/Sweeney family home to share tunes together whilst in town every year. Nathan has done a stint with Beyondsemble playing mandolin for the North Island leg of a NZ tour 3 years ago. They'd been talking about touring together for some time and finally this year seemed like the time to do it. Nathan and Siobhan have 2 children and they will be coming on the road with band for a 2 month adventure all around NZ.

The tour is some 2 months long starting with headlining the Festival of Lights in Taranaki on 13th of January and finishing at the Mussel Inn in Golden Bay on the 10th of March. Craig is looking forward to being back in Taumarunui  and introducing the locals to some fantastic new musicians and a bunch of great new tunes and songs. Music ranges from Americana and Bluegrass through to blues, rap, original world/jazz influenced music, gypsy swing and whatever takes the bands fancy on the night.