We continue the occasional series wherein Winston expands on things that currently make him happy. And, once again, this week he's very happy. Why? Gigs. Yep, music makes Winston happy.

As William Congreve wrote: 'Music has charms to soothe the savage breast”. And we don't want a whole bunch of savage breasts roaming around unsoothed, now do we?
The Mermaidens will play at The Bach this Saturday.

170) A Friday Gig! I always hesitate to write about events occurring on a Friday night because, as must be patently bleeding obvious to everyone by now, The Weekend Sun is a Friday paper. But, for all you folk who have just grabbed The Sun straight from your letterbox this Friday night – this gig's for you. Oh, and it's in Katikati...

Once again I can't help but sing the praises of the Katikati Folk Club, which tonight (Friday, April 8), has a double bill featuring three fantastic musicians.

The evening will start with Robbie Laven and Neil Finlay, an extraordinary duo who form a core part of old-timey revivalists The Remarkables.

Neil is an Aucklander who has been on the country/blues scene for decades. He sings well, plays a very good guitar and an even better blues harp. Robbie is local and plays pretty much everything – guitar, mandolin, washboard, fiddle, sax, harp, flute, saw, et al.

Then it's on to visiting Australian Nick Charles, a not infrequent visitor to this country, who has 13 albums to his name as well as a slew of awards. He tours the world playing classic folk blues. In 2014 he was awarded Australia's highest folk accolade, the Port Fairy Folk Festival Artist of the Year. All of that is pretty high cotton, whoever you are, and Nick certainly lives up to it.

Show kicks off at 7.30pm at the Katikati Bowling Club. Cost is $20 or $15 for folk club members.

171) A Saturday Gig! This one might be easier to get to. 7.30pm, Saturday, (April 9), at Totara St – the performance venue at Mauao PAC. There are three bands, all of which promise to be fun.

The headlining pair are Derek Toner's original folky/rock outfit Tuner, and the Velvets, fronted by singer Tara Watson, who are just beginning to add original material to their tough soul/rock covers.

The plan is for Tuner to play a full set and then the Velvets.

After that they join forces to bring all seven musicians onto the stage for a big joint finale.

They're calling the show FightNight. Derek explains…'The idea behind fight night is that each band challenges each other to bring their best and be as sharp as they can. This gig at Totara St is the first gig to see if audiences enjoy the collaboration. If it works the plan is to take it on tour. We have a support act too with the T Jazz Collective so for $20 music lovers are getting over three hours of music.”

And – special offer alert! The first two people on the night with a copy of this article will get two free tickets.

172) Another Saturday Gig! This one is small, exclusive and sounds like a bunch of fun.
It's in the tiny back bar – The Bach – at Imbibe Bar at the Mount and is the album release for Wellington trio Mermaidens, launching their new long-player, ‘Undergrowth'. It's a fine alternative pop album, female vocals, harmonies, chirpy and aggressive guitars, well worth checking out. They'll be supported by the alt-country of Tauranga's Edward Gains and the Human Remains as well as the indefinable but increasingly essential Threat.Meet.Protocol. Things probably kick off around 8pm and cost $10.

173) A Sunday Gig! The Entertainers Club keeps up the quality with a visit from one of Wellington's finest woman blues singers. Laura Collins fronts up at the Citz Club on Sunday, (April 10), at 5pm, along with the Back Porch Blues Band, a crack team of blues purveyors including Wayne Mason on keyboards and George Barris on bass.

Laura's been to town several times now playing at the Te Puna Hall and always does the bizzo. Door sales only for Sunday. Tickets $10.

watusi@thesun.co.nz


See Laura Collins and the Back Porch Blues Band at the Citz Club.