April 3, 2023

Caroline Jones & Friends: The Tuning Fork: April 2, 2023

Caroline Jones is an American country singer (and member of the Zac Brown Band) who has found love and happiness in New Zealand. Caroline and her friends gathered at Auckland’s Tuning Fork last night to celebrate love, happiness and music.

With doors open at 6:30, it was a much appreciated early show at the Tuning Fork with Hamilton bluegrass band The Trenwiths first to take the stage at precisely 7:30. Like all the acts performing this evening, The Trenwiths have a special bond with headliner Caroline Jones. Caroline discovered the quartet while locked down in New Zealand and the Nashville-based country singer immediately felt that they were ‘family’.

Also part of that family is Keith Pereira, an Auckland-based country singer who is also on the bill tonight. Keith quickly joined The Trenwiths on stage (as did Caroline) and we were off and running.

There were no lengthy set changes this evening, instead each act just organically switched to the next and just after 8pm Jackie Bristow was up solo and singing a handful of tunes from her vast catalogue beginning with Tennessee Call Me Home. Jackie almost didn’t make it as she had to travel from Queenstown, but after a few hours waiting at the airport, here she is in fine form.

Caroline joined Jackie for some high harmonies on Worried Spirit and then Jackie closed out her portion of the show with her song, Freedom.

Jackie handed the mic over to Caroline and, after a few audio glitches (kudos to Michael, the sound man) we are treated to Caroline’s newest single, Lawless.

Then ‘Keith and the boys’ return for a new song, One Million Little Band Aids and the mood just keeps getting warmer and more charming.

Caroline’s Kiwi hubby, sailor Nick Dana is in the audience but he’s not allowed to sing…although his buddy Trey is.

Caroline Jones It’s that kind of evening…everyone is singing and playing with everyone else. We hear three tunes from the Antipodes album, then a lovely Old Blue that really shows off Caroline’s stunning soprano. Wayfaring Stranger is even better, hitting that sweet spot with banjo, fiddle and voice.

Everyone has a good ol’ singalong to Townes Van Zandt’s If I Needed You and then off we go with the Highway 40 Blues via Route 66.

A little over an hour after she starts her part of the show and Caroline and her Friends are off stage and commiserating with family and friends throughout the room.

It’s barely 9:30 but it feels like a full evening of music, friends and song.

Marty Duda

Click any icon to view a full gallery of images – or Caroline Jones & Friends, plus Jackie Bristow opening the show. Photos by Veronica McLaughlin Photography.