Everyone's going back on holiday I guess. Why not?

Two long weekends in a row. That rocks as far as I'm concerned. Forget work in between and just take 10 days off. The doctor is in and that's his prescription.

I'm sure you already have plans for this weekend, maybe one of the gigs that we looked at last week, so let's pop ahead to Waitangi Day, next Saturday (or Day Eight of our holiday if you prefer) when the Maketu Kaimoana Festival is celebrating its ninth year at the Maketu Sports Ground.

Actually, last year they weren't there – they ended up down the road at the Te Puke A&P Show-grounds. When organisers went to set up the site at the Sports Ground they were greeted by a bunch of patched folk preparing for a gang funeral and were told – in no uncertain terms – to leave. In such instances prior bookings count for little. They relocated at the last minute and had a terrific day anyway.

But this year it's back to the Maketu Sports Ground.

I realise a lot of people in Tauranga haven't actually made the trip down to Maketu, close though it is, and I'd highly recommend it. I first discovered Maketu two ways. First there were the pies. Even 20 years ago they were legendary. Never eat an Uncle Ben's when you could have a Maketu Pie. And there was a local artist, Tony Warnes, who painted many a seascape of the wild coast off Maketu. Even before I visited the place it was imprinted on my mind.

What better place to enjoy Waitangi Day than a small seaside village? Things kick off at midday and run through to 6pm with music all day as well as bouncy castles, face-painting and more for children. It's a family day.

But most of all this is about the kaimoana, the fantastic seafood that we get to enjoy here in the Bay of Plenty. There'll be snapper and kahawai, scallops and prawns, oysters, mussels, whitebait - more seafood than you can shake a crabstick at. They also promise 'landfood” in the form of burgers, tacos, sausages, and and even vegetarian bites. I guess not everyone likes seafood. Excellent! More for the rest of us...

But, let's get back to the music for a minute. B-Side Band guitarist Simon Elton has again been in charge of selecting the entertainment and with families in mind has kept it deliberately mainstream. He's also mixed it up, with acts from Whakatane, Rotorua, Tauranga and Auckland.

Stave are one of the many bands who will be performing at the Maketu Kaimoana Festival next weekend.

The 'main attraction” is the Auckland one and it's perennial favourite Shane, who along with the Shazam Band will energetically trot through hits of the 1960s and 1970s. As a special treat no doubt he'll give everyone the chance to laugh again at his ghastly dirge 'Saint Paul”. It certainly gladdens the heart to think that a Kiwi performer has such a great entry for the 100 Worst Songs of All Time Award.

Also on the bill are Chris Gunn and his band Gunshy, Uncle Reuben from Whakatane, and Rotorua six-piece Stave who feature sensational female harmonies and mix soul music with a bit of country. And, of course, Tauranga's B-Side Band, who have been back in the studio recently recording songs for an upcoming EP.

But Simon reconfirms what the main attraction is at the festival: 'It's not a music festival,” he says. 'This is a food festival with entertainment. There's not just local food, but kaimoana coming from all over the country. There are even a couple of stalls on their way from the South Island.”

Sounds like a bunch of happy healthy low-calorie fun. Tickets are $20 (under 17s are $10, under 5s free) from any outlet of Paper Plus or on-line from Eventfinder.

watusi@thesun.co.nz