Well, I'm not what anyone would call a monarchist, but just once a year I'm happy to raise a glass to the old dear to whom we are apparently all subjects.

Alice Sea.

Holidays, even if for only a single day, are a wonderful thing – and if the excuse happens to be some bizarre bureaucratically-mandated birthday then so be it. Many happy official returns, Ma'am.

But of course it's not only the anniversary of Her Majesty's fictitious New Zealand birthday – she has different ones all over the place, don'tchaknow? There are also real birthday anniversaries being celebrated, and after raising a holiday glass to the royal one – 'Bye, Prince, we still miss you” – I'm planning to head out and join birthday celebrations down at Mount Maunganui's Hop House.

Yes, the Hop House has made it through the first year of business, no small achievement in a town where more than a few hospitality ventures have crashed and burned before most people even noticed they existed.

Izzy Bones.

The Hop House has interested me from the start because there's something nice about people who revel in an artisan product. It arrived along with a bit of a wave of craft beer bars – just as Irish pubs were once all the rage and Mexican and Asian street-food is currently hot – started by Brew on The Strand, which is owned by the folk from Rotorua's Croucher Beer. There's also the Mount Brewing Company Bar, showcasing beer from its titular makers, and others.

The Hop House is independent with a constantly-changing beer roster; owner David Stanway was first at Brew Bar before striking out on his own.

The other thing – more pertinently for this column – about the Hop House is that right from the start they planned to have music. There is even a stage. Dave likes music, and not just in a 'sell a few more beers” way. He likes and knows his music. You can talk to him about music like a real person. He's had all sorts of interesting stuff there through the year, from touring folkies to Auckland hipsters and regular jazz. Even some very alternative locals. It's been a cool mix.

The regular Blue Friday Session there, a monthly night of blues and Americana, has featured a slate of top musicians from around the country. Eastslide Blues from Gisborne; Wellington harp maestro Neil Billington; locals Trevor Braunias, Graham Clark, Grant Bullot, Robbie Laven, hosted by Mike Garner and Derek Jacombs. It's recently gone on hiatus for the winter, but there's a lot else going on and it's good to see them still here and planning for a big Queen's Birthday weekend.

Each day features a mix of covers and original music (something else Dave has always done – he's a fan of something original and different).

Trevor Braunias.

Saturday, June 4, sees local acoustic duo Shotgun Tuesday play from 5pm-8pm. They're the day's cover outfit, running from Springsteen to Nirvana to Kings of Leon. After that it's time for the latest band led by a man who seems to have a coupla dozen of them, the multi-tasking, multi-monikered Izzy Bones, a.k.a. Dylan Israel, Nesta Israel, etc. His new outfit is The Dead Recipe, a cool guitar-riffing band with some great songs and music that could possibly be described as surf-rock-garage-funk. It could possibly be described as a lot of things but that's what we're going with...

Sunday, June 5, is the Hop House Winter Birthday Beer Fest for which they have apparently gathered a collection of some of the greatest beers known to the human race on tap. As a rank amateur in the ever-expanding world where beer gets crafty, I wouldn't possibly know.

Musically, this time covers come courtesy of the immaculate jazz of the Trevor Braunias Trio from 4pm-7pm and then another new band, this one the brainchild of the multi-talented, multi-instrumentalist and singer Alice Sea. Alice is simply remarkable, a great stage presence as well as a terrific musician. And her music is never less than interesting. Expect weird instruments, percussion, loop pedals and almost anything, but expect to have a smile on your face.

watusi@thesun.co.nz