Tim Finn Anthologises

2009 has been a busy year for Tim Finn, commencing with launching the acclaimed stage production Poor Boy (co-created with playwright, Matt Cameron and starring Guy Pearce).  Then it was on to Tropfest in Sydney where Tim played to over 85,000 people in a performance that was broadcast around the country. He performed at  Bluesfest Byron Bay, with two outstanding performances.

Later in the year there was the Sydney launch of Poor Boy (with Matthew Newton taking over the lead role) an appearance on the high rating TV program ‘Random Acts Of Kindness’ and a cameo appearance in an independent NZ film, Predicament, starring alongside Jermaine Clement (Flight Of The Conchords) which will be released in early 2010.

Now Finn announces the release of  North, South, East, West – Anthology (released October 2 This release is all encompassing and career spanning, revisiting his days in Split Enz, Crowded House (he joined brother Neil for the Woodface album and tour) and The Finn Brothers as well as songs from his solo career.

The Anthology contains a few rarities and unreleased tracks as well as some new songs recorded this year (Nothing Unusual and Light Years Away), featuring guest appearances by Missy Higgins, Neil Finn, Liam Finn, Eddie Rayner, Bic Runga and others.

The Anthology will feature an updated version of the Crowded House hits Weather With You (with Neil and Liam Finn) and Its Only Natural with Bic Runga.

There is also a new take of Split Enz Stuff and Nonsense with Missy Higgins and an instrumental version of the Enz classic Poor Boy.

CD 1
1 I See Red
2 My Mistake
3 Poor Boy
4 Six Months In A Leaky Boat
5 I Hope I Never
6 Dirty Creature
7 Maybe
8 Stuff And Nonsense (new recording featuring Missy Higgins)
9 Fraction Too Much Friction
10 Made My Day
11 So Deep (new recording)
12 How’m I Gonna Sleep
13 Not Even Close
14 Many’s The Time (In Dublin)
15 Persuasion
16 Into The Water
17 Nothing Unusual

CD 2
1 Weather With You (new recording featuring Neil Finn & Liam Finn)
2 How Will You Go
3 It’s Only Natural (new recording featuring Bic Runga)
4 Underwater Mountain
5 Dead Man
6 What You’ve Done
7 Subway Dreaming
8 Angels Heap
9 Disembodied Voices
10 Luckiest Man Alive
11 Winter Light
12 Couldn’t Be Done
13 Astounding Moon
14 Straw To Gold
15 Out Of This World
16 The Saw And The Tree
17 Light Years Away
18 Poor Boy (Instrumental)

To celebrate the release on North South East West, Tim Finn embarks on what has appropriately been called The Anthology Tour.

Fri 6 November – Enmore Theatre, Sydney
Sat 7 November – The Atheneum, Melbourne
Fri 20 November – The Quarry Amphitheatre, Perth
Sat 21 November – The Quarry Amphitheatre, Perth
Sun 22 November – The Quarry Amphitheatre, Perth
Thurs 26 November – The Governor Hindmarsh, Adelaide
Fri 27 November – Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre, Nowra
Sun 29 November – Queenscliff Music Festival, Queenscliff
Thurs 3 December – The Tivoli, Brisbane
Fri 4 December – Twin Towns Services Club, Tweed Heads

Neil Finn’s Seven World’s Collide Project Returns

Neil Finn recently announced a follow up to the acclaimed Seven Worlds Collide project, and together with members of the original lineup and other artists, he will record an album of entirely new material in support of international development organization Oxfam.

“Seven years ago I invited a few friends and fellow musicians to do a special series of concerts in New Zealand under the banner Seven Worlds Collide. The concerts were an amazing experience for all of us and we are delighted to have found an opportunity to gather again, this time to expand the concept and the lineup too,” said Finn. “What will make these sessions particularly meaningful is that all the proceeds of this recording will go to support the continuing great work of Oxfam International.”

Taking part from the original Seven Worlds Collide lineup will be Radiohead’s Ed O’Brien and Phil Selway, guitar supremo Johnny Marr, founder of The Smiths and current member of US alternative rock innovators Modest Mouse, Soul Coughing bassist Sebastian Steinberg, songwriter and violinist Lisa Germano, and Liam Finn. Other artists joining the project include Jeff Tweedy, John Stirrat, Glenn Kotche and Pat Sansone from Wilco, and New Zealand songwriters Bic Runga and Don McGlashan. Behind the mixing desk will be master recording engineer Jim Scott. More names will be added to the lineup in the coming weeks.

“We are honored to be working with Neil and so many other talented and committed artists on this project, many of whom have supported Oxfam over a number of years,” said Oxfam New Zealand Executive Director Barry Coates. “At a time when the number of people living in extreme poverty is growing, funds generated from this project will be urgently directed to those in need, providing opportunities and hope for a better future.”

The album will be recorded over the next few months in Auckland’s Roundhead Studios and is due for release in 2009.

While recording, the group will also do a couple of casual and intimate live performances. Monday, January 5, Tuesday January 6th and Wednesday January 7th, 2009 – at The Powerstation, Mt Eden Road, Auckland, NZ.

“Everyone is really excited about coming together again with a few new faces and extending the magic we created with Seven Worlds the first time round,” added Finn. “With such an amazing group of people, I’m excited about the music we’ll be making.”

The first 7 Worlds Collide was a live album released in 2001. It was a live recording culled from a series of five shows from April 2, 2001 to April 6, 2001 featuring Neil Finn & Friends recorded at the St. James Theatre in Auckland, New Zealand. Notable guests included Eddie Vedder, Johnny Marr, Ed O’Brien, Sebastian Steinberg, Phil Selway, Lisa Germano and Betchadupa. The title of this album is derived from the line “Seven worlds will collide / whenever I am by your side” from Crowded House’s 1993 single “Distant Sun.”

Oxfam is an international development organization working to end poverty and injustice – to bring real and lasting change to the lives of people living in poverty and to create a safer, fairer and more sustainable world.

Oxfam believes that poverty is not inevitable. Instead, poverty results from unjust policies, and the denial of basic rights and opportunities. There are 13 Oxfam affiliates working with communities on the ground in over 100 countries. Oxfam puts all their effort and expertise into saving lives, developing programmes that empower people, and campaigning for lasting change.