R&B icon tells story of music’s original bad girl Etta James

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R&B icon tells the story of music’s original bad girl - Etta James

One Concert Only – Auckland – Friday 28 November
‘A Triumph’ – Sydney Morning Herald
‘Powerhouse performance’ – The Age
‘Lift’s the roof off’ – Adelaide Advertiser
‘Brought the house down’ – West Australian
‘At Last was simply show-stopping’ – Theatre People

Etta James was one of the most influential soul singers of all time and her story is brought to life by songstress Vika Bull for one night only in Auckland in November.

The sensational Vika Bull and her seven-piece band perform At Last – The Etta James Story at the Aotea Centre on Friday 28 November. The two-hour narrative concert telling the story of Etta James’ turbulent life and featuring her best loved songs including Tell Mama, Something’s Got A Hold On Me, At Last and more.

In 1938, the Great Depression was only just loosening its grip on America, a nation ravaged by economic hardship and working-class frustration. It was to this turbulent backdrop that a 14-year-old African American girl gave birth to a daughter named Jamesetta Hawkins, whom the world would come to know as Etta – Etta James.

Bridging the gap between rhythm and blues, rock and roll and pop, Etta James influenced artists as diverse as the Rolling Stones, Diana Ross, Janis Joplin, Stevie Wonder, Christina Aguilera and Amy Winehouse. Yet, her frantic recording and touring schedule collided with her ever-growing addiction demons and, over time, Etta not only sang the blues – she lived them. With respect, this is her story.

At Last – The Etta James Story stars Tongan/Australian music icon Vika Bull and has comes to Auckland following a smash hit Australian tour. Vika brings her heart, soul and funk to tell the story of Etta’s turbulent life and sing her best-loved songs, including ‘Tell Mama,’, ‘Something’s Got A Hold On Me’, ‘Pushover’, the heartrending ‘I’d Rather Go Blind’, her iconic signature song ‘At Last’ and more.

Vika Bull will be joined on stage by the sizzling hot The Essential R & B Band and an Auckland Tongan choir.

At Last – The Etta James Story is at the ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre in Auckland onFriday 28 November at 8pm. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster 0800 111 999www.ticketmaster.co.nz

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About Vika Bull

For 25 years, the voices of Vika and her sister, Linda Bull, have comprised one of the most distinctive, versatile and emotionally charged sounds on the Australian music landscape. Since their multi-platinum conquest of pop radio with the Black Sorrows, whom they joined in 1988, the Vika and her sister have forged diverse pathways into soul, gospel, blues, country and the island music of their Tongan ancestry. Since striking off from Black Sorrows as a duo in 1994, the pair have written and recorded with the likes of Iggy Pop, John Butler and Tim Finn. In 1994, they supported Billy Joel on his Australian tour. Born of a Tongan mother and Australian father, Vika and Linda have been singing together for as long as they can remember. Vika's first band was Fear of Flying in 1984.

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