Dragon are bringing a 15-date national tour to New Zealand in April and May 2027 to mark 50 years of 'April Sun in Cuba', with Fur Patrol joining them for every show.
The Invercargill date is April 23 at Civic Theatre. Tickets go on sale at 12pm Thursday November 19.
'April Sun in Cuba' was released in October 1977 as the lead single from the band's fourth studio album, Running Free. It reached number nine on the New Zealand Singles Chart and number two in Australia. The song has since earned 5x Platinum certification in New Zealand and passed 80 million Spotify streams.
Dragon formed in Ponsonby, Auckland in 1972. Their catalogue includes 'Rain', 'Still in Love with You' and 'Young Years'.
Vaughan Hobbs, music director of The Sound, said the song has been with them since the station launched. "'April Sun in Cuba' was one of the first songs we played when The Sound launched 15 years ago, and it's been a mainstay ever since - one of our most enduring songs. Dragon are part of the soundtrack of our lives, and we're proud to celebrate 50 years of a song that means so much to our audience."
Brent Eccles of Eccles Entertainment, who is also a drummer, spoke from personal experience. "Through an unusual set of circumstances, I ended up playing drums with Dragon in 1983 for two months. I can tell you that 'April Sun in Cuba' is as great to play as it is to listen to. That song in particular live, the audience takes control of the chorus, it's absolute magic."
Fur Patrol's debut album Pet spent thirty weeks on the New Zealand Albums Chart, with their single 'Lydia' reaching number one. Their catalogue spans three albums and two EPs, beginning with the 1998 debut EP Starlifter and ending with the 2008 album Local Kid.