Marlon Williams & The Yarra Benders

Marlon Williams and The Yarra Benders return to New Zealand next March to play their very first headline show at Auckland's Powerstation!

This week he has been announced as a five-time nominee at the upcoming 2015 Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards and he is fast winning over the hearts of New Zealanders. Nominated categories at this year's awards include Album of the Year, Single of the Year (Dark Child), Best Alternative Album of the Year, Best Male Solo Artist and Breakthrough Artist of the Year!

Marlon has also just been nominated for Best Blues and Roots Album at this years' ARIA Awards in Australia and was recently nominated in NZ for the APRA Silver Scroll Award.

The next few months will see Marlon Williams undertake an intense touring schedule. He is currently performing a variety of industry gigs at the CMJ Festival in New York, then some solo shows in the UK and Europe before returning to Australia for an extensive 20 + date band tour including some A Day On The Green shows with Paul Kelly and Lucinda Williams. He is next in New Zealand for the first McLaren Valley Festival in January performing with his band The Yarra Benders.

The Yarra Benders consist of a stellar group of skilled musicians including Dave Khan on various instruments, Ben Woolley (Marlon's high school friend) on Bass Guitar and Gus Agars from Melbourne on Drums.

Also just announced is Marlon's signing to Dead Oceans, an American record label.

"Dead Oceans is delighted to announce New Zealand-born Marlon Williams will be joining its roster and releasing a new album in early 2016. With one of the purest voices in modern music, and the charisma, individuality and superior stage presence to match, the 24-year old singer, songwriter, and performer will radiate boldly alongside a roster that includes The Tallest Man On Earth, Phosphorescent, Ryley Walker, Julianna Barwick, Kevin Morby, Bill Fay, and more. He is bound to be one of the most talked about new artists of 2016."

Dead Oceans release Marlon's debut self-titled album in America in early 2016 and it's certain his international story is building in a skyward direction.

Outside of music, Marlon William's is also becoming a screen name. He has just completed two acting roles. The Beautiful Lie, an ABC production that goes to air in Australia on October 18 where Marlon plays a musician, and the feature film of Eleanor Catton's first book The Rehearsal where Marlon stars alongside James Rolleston and Kerry Fox and plays a young drama student. The movie is set for release in the first half of next year.