Sharon Van Etten

Mistletone and 4ZZZ present the first Australian tour by Brooklyn-based Sharon Van Etten. Singer, songwriter, collaborator and incredibly captivating performer, the irrepressible Sharon Van Etten is nothing short of indie rock royalty. Backed by her stunning three piece band, Sharon will showcase her bittersweet songs with all their raw intimacy and dramatic sweep at The Zoo on Wednesday 2 January with special guests Little Scout. Tickets on sale now from Oztix outlets or online here: http://zoo.oztix.com.au/default.aspx?Event=29668

Sharon Van Etten’s arresting voice was first heard in 2009, when her debut album Because I Was In Love was accompanied by the sound of critics fawning the world over. Follow up Epic (2010) and this year’s Tramp (released locally through Inertia Music) have only solidified her reputation. Produced by The National’s Aaron Dessner, Tramp features guest appearances by Zach Condon (aka Beirut), Bryce Dessner (also of The National), Julianna Barwick and Jenn Wasner of Wye Oak, proving that the best and brightest of American indie rock are lining up to get their prints on a Sharon Van Etten record. In three short years, she has played The Hollywood Bowl with Neko Case; at Radio City Music Hall with The Antlers; sung on records by Beirut and Ed Askew; and collaborated with Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon and Megafaun on the Songs Of The South project.

Tramp was called "sublime" by MOJO and "Americana’s best-kept secret... one of the must-hears of 2012" by The Guardian. Just as assured and compelling live, Sharon delivers both power and charm in spades – so make sure you’re there with us this summer, when she brings her magic to our shores.

• "I love Shazza. From the first time I saw her at SXSW earlier this year I was a goner. Sharon Van Etten has a way to cut right through to your heart; those harmonies, her painfully honest lyrics, and songwriting smarts that make you just want to see, and hear her over and over" - Zan Rowe, triple j

• "Focusing mostly on new material, Sharon Van Etten’s syrupy pipes filled the room just like you’d expect them to. Her impeccable, folk-spun melodies were executed with precision and passion. The thing that’s so incredible about Van Etten, is how she’s able to meld harsh and gentle together so seamlessly. At its core, her music is angry, but a gentle approach to that anger yields undeniably gorgeous results. Her lyrics are bitterly heartbreaking, her strums occasionally crass, her energy genuinely raw and powerful. But there’s a sort of delicate beauty to it all" – Consequence of Sound

• "Sharon Van Etten is possessed of a remarkable, arresting voice. Emotive without being naive, Sharon’s music, like her personality, is wise beyond its years. Her songs strike a balance between American and English folk and rock music, and her down-to-earth approach is refreshing after the onslaught of ethereal folkies in the last decade. More Anne Briggs than Vashti Bunyan, Van Etten’s extraordinary talents bode well for our ears" - Pitchfork

• "One of the best confessional singer-songwriters around… A true star" – Washington Post

More info: http://mistletone.net/tours/current/sharon-van-etten/