After a riveting solo blaze across the motu on his debut NZ Tour ‘Fightin’ Words and a Girl Named Mercy’ in August earlier this year, Canadian Poet Musician C.R. Avery returns to Aotearoa for a nationwide tour this Nov/Dec with his band, The Storm Collective, to celebrate the upcoming release of the soundtrack album to his original motion picture, THE BAR WITHOUT A NEON SIGN.

Delivering a world class live experience featuring humour, music, and words, upfront & personal, Avery’s August tour shows impressed local audiences and critics alike, receiving reviews including:

“F*** me! Mind Blown!!! … (C.R. Avery’s performance) is something truly exceptional, that will stretch your expectations in the finest of ways.” – Rob Harbers, Ambient Light (NZ)

“There is magic in what he does… Gig of the year.” – Jeremy Roberts, Hawke’s Bay Radio (NZ)

Prepare to be blown away by C.R. Avery’s solo opening set of old and new material before he is joined live onstage by Jazz Pianist, Shannon Scott and Bassist, Ross Fairbairn performing together as The Storm Collective.

“Storm warning! New Zealand is not ready for what poetry approaches that’s tied to dynamite sticks of musicality and God willing will explode in a town near you.” – George Honesty (Record Producer)

About C.R. Avery
Hailing from Smiths Falls, Ontario, C.R. Avery has made a world class impression at the forefront of the international spoken word scene, having shared stages with the likes of Tom Waits, Ani DiFranco, Utah Phillips, Sage Francis, and others.

He has relentlessly toured the world for the last 26 years, from Europe to Australia and New Zealand, to the United States in Oakland to Boston, and at home in Canada from Powell River to Halifax, stopping in every small town and big city along the way.

He has recorded 17 studio albums, published four books of poetry, written & directed 6 epic theatrical hip-hop opera productions mounted in theatres from South central Los Angeles to the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. Most recently he has written & directed his first two feature films, his 3rd will begin production in October 2024.

Whether Avery is backed by a 12-piece orchestra with strings and brass or his mighty trio, The Storm Collective, to burlesque & breakdancers or “with gigs neatly planned for a poet and a one-man band”, C.R. Avery serves up a spectacular fusion of spoken word, singer-song writer, and beat-box dosed in the mojo of Chicago blues that guarantees a captivating, and uniquely breath-taking live performance experience - every C.R. Avery show is all or nothing, every night, period.
- George Honesty (Record Producer)

" ...imagine if Neil Young was inspired by hip-hop." – Vancouver Sun (CAN)

" ...his mix of high art & low brow amounted to the ultimate rock & roll show." – Exclaim! Magazine (CAN)

“(C.R. Avery is) …blowin’ my mind.“ – Tom Waits

“Kids In The Hall isn’t the only cool thing comin’ out of Canada.“ – Sage Francis

About The Storm Collective
It’s a special moment when the two slick arrows laced in a mojo’s tornado that are Shannon Scott and Ross Fairbairn, join C.R. Avery to form the all-knowing eye of The Storm Collective.

Performing and recording with C.R. Avery for the last 16 years, Shannon Scott has been bringing C.R.’s street slang lyrical cut-throat vocals to an all-new magic realm where Duke Ellington meets Lou Reed head on with her jazz piano and vocal pro-ness, while leading the charge of harmony and arrangements with C.R. performing headlining festivals, clubs, and theatres across Canada and the United States.

For the last 7 years, Ross Fairbairn’s Scottish rouge vocal delivery has been beautifully blending and rounding out the group’s 3-part harmony, while playing bass and pounding out a snare and kick with his feet, transforming the sound experience from one of a trio, to one of a six-piece orchestra.

Together, C.R. Avery & The Storm Collective form a trio armed to destroy all stages from Chilliwack to Toronto to Auckland to Seattle to remind audiences once and for all what the bar of badass trickery truly is, and what the underbelly meaning of ‘live entertainment’ can ultimately be.

C.R. AVERY & The Storm Collective 'THE BAR WITHOUT A NEON SIGN'

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