Marlon Williams has today announced a very significant tour. It’s one that is truly for fans, and one that also marks a temporary departure from the stage for Marlon himself.
After an intensive time making latest album Te Whare Tīwekaweka and over two years filming the Ngā Ao E Rua - Two Worlds (2025) documentary Marlon has decided to take a sabbatical from the spotlight.
Rest and rejuvenation are on the horizon, but not before kiwi fans get to see him live for a cheerful hurrah, a see you soon of sorts…
Marlon Williams and The Yarra Benders are warming up to bring it all home.
Introducing the Tā te Manawa tour in Marlon’s own words:
I’m gonna take some time away for a bit.
Probably not ages in the scheme of things, but it’s time to take some time!
I’ve been extraordinarily lucky in that my vocational life has always cleaved very closely to my personal aspirations; I’ve always been able to “live my calling”, as it were. For nearly 20 years I’ve explored both the physical and musical world in the company of incredible musicians, songwriters and friends and it’s been an absolute pleasure.
The catch with it is that because it’s such a blessing to do what you love, it can be easy to overlook the toll it can take over time, on body and soul.
The concept of rāhui is central to te Ao Māori and is indeed familiar to most New Zealanders. As Te Aka, the online Māori dictionary defines it, “to put in place a temporary ritual prohibition, closed season, ban, reserve”. Rāhui can be placed by mana whenua on a specific location out of respect of a tragic death in the area rendering it tapu, and they are also put in place in the pure interests of conservation; the idea that resources can be overtapped, and periods of restriction and recovery are essential to the continued wellbeing of those resources. It was this meaning that helped crystallise my thinking about my own personal case; I want to continue doing what I love for as long as possible, and this is the way to do it.
Tā te Manawa (literally “heart at rest”) is going to be the tour before the break. It will be myself and my wonderful band The Yarra Benders playing two sets for you, comprising songs from my last album Te Whare Tīwekaweka all the way back to my humble first album, and bits of everything in between. I would love to see you there.
This is a heartfelt coming together of fans and whanau for Marlon. He invites you to travel through his musical repertoire to date and be in the room before he takes a step back from the stage…. for now.
