Vortex Tribe & The American Tango Tour with Special Guests

How did Vortex Tribe come about? Blame it on the passions of a passionate industry, shifting alliances, or plain old good luck. Yates dreamed up the concept of the Tribe in 2005 while playing in a Latin-jazz-funk group, layering her haunting flute melodies over a driving bass and rhythm section. Members of that first band drifted, but the concert crystallised. Meanwhile, Jon Mulvey, Jerry Marotta, and Prairie Prince started jamming in a series of "super session" in 2008. They forged strong ties, and when Mulvey teamed up with Yates later that year, those musical relationships provided the first solid platform for Votex Trib's current shape and sound. Musical mastery is a given among these players, but youth and fresh interpretation are essential elements.

Hailing from Los Angeles, Daria Johnson brings hip-hop, dub, and soul influences to her drums, and New Zealand native Pete Riley funks it up with reggae, dub and just play groove. Also joining this New Zealand tour is percussionist Alan Burden from Wellington.