At some point Tauranga's music scene changed.
It's hard to spot the exact moment, but some time in the last decade Tauranga shifted from being a place you complained about because there wasn't enough happening to a place where people complain that they don't have time to go to all the available events.
Tipi from the Hipshooters.
This is both a good and a frustrating thing; but it's better to be offered too much than too little. And there is certainly something around to suit just about every taste...
As an example, look at this weekend. Here are three very different acts, all of which I'm sure will pull big crowds as they deserve to.
First up, and I'm particularly excited about this, is some astounding electric blues. I'm skipping straight to Sunday afternoon (November 29), because this is a band that blow me away and I'm definitely heading out to the Funky Lizard for their gig.
The band is The Hipshooters, a Kiwi/Oz combo trio fronted by guitarist Anton Tipi Elkington. The Funky Lizard Cafe is that little joint by the side of the road in Paengaroa on your way to Te Puke. It's very, er, funky.
Tipi is something of a local legend, having lived here in the late 1980s and stomped the terra with Hard to Handle, a band with a short life span but big tail of influence. Tipi's commanding stage presence and extraordinary guitar playing inspired generations of Tauranga guitarists, from Grant Haua to Joel Shadbolt. In those days he was very much seen as a new Stevie Ray Vaughan, but the Hipshooters have developed way beyond those limitations.
Tipi formed them in 1990s Auckland along with bassist Billy Williams, but they quickly departed for Brisbane where they soon became a feature at major festivals such as Byron Bay and picked up two Australian Blues Awards (Best Song and Best Band). They've since released four albums and are currently touring Australia to launch their fifth CD, ‘Broken Man'. Then they come back here.
The official release of the CD is on December 5 at Driver's Bar but they're doing an advance show, 3pm this Sunday at the Funky Lizard. It should be a great afternoon and I'll have a CD to review for you next week.
And those other things. I think I mentioned variety – check out this...
Tonight (Friday November 27) there's a fundraiser for the Waipuna Hospice at the Holy Trinity.
Operanesia is a collaboration between four classically trained singers, all from Auckland via Samoa and Tonga. They perform everything from opera to barbershop, modern tunes and Polynesia medleys and will be accompanied by Claire Caldwell, last seen in Tauranga as pianist and Musical Director for Sol3 Mio. Things kick off at 8pm, tickets are $40.
Then there's the Frank Burkitt Band, a Wellington five-piece led by young English lad Frank, who're storming around the country with an upbeat blend of bluegrass, blues, country, swing, and Scottish folk music. Find out more at frankburkitt.co.uk or check out some live videos on YouTube. They're playing for free on Saturday (28 November), 8pm at the Mount's Hop House and then at the Historic Village for the Tauranga Acoustic Music Club on Sunday at 7.30pm. That one is $20 on the door.
Meanwhile, there's an album launch (Sonic Delusion – folky) at Brew on Friday night, Latino music (Santiago and the Plugs) at the Mount Social Club on Saturday, acoustic blues (Josh Durning) at The Phoenix on Sunday afternoon, jazz (Dovetail) at Greer's later on Sunday afternoon, and that same night at Baycourt the year's finale for the Bay of Plenty Symphonia, a gala concert celebrating their fortieth anniversary year, featuring young piano wizard Jason Bae playing Beethoven's Emperor concerto (and much more!).
Told you it was busy in Tauranga these days...
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