We continue the occasional series wherein Winston expounds on things that currently make him happy. And this week, once again, it's gigs. Two weekends; four gigs. A light dusting of blues, a smattering of choral jazz, and a dose of Klezmer. No white lines here from riding in the middle of the road: join Winston, heading for the ditch.

The Eastslide Blues duo.

179) Saturday, June 11! Down at Brew Craft Beer Pub, to give it its full name, on The Strand there's music every Saturday afternoon and the next couple of acts are cool and bluesy. Josh Durning's there this week and anyone who's ever tried to fingerpick a guitar should head down to enjoy his dexterity and skill.

Josh plays a mix of jazz, blues and country instrumentals, a whole lot of cool ragtime and swing, great stuff that I could listen to for hours. He makes that acoustic guitar sing. Check it out from 4pm, no charge.

180) Sunday, June 12! Upstairs at the Citz Club two of my favourite musicians in the world are playing as part of the Jews Brothers Band. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the band – they put on a fun show and are never less than a blast. But the true treat of it, I reckon, is hearing Neill Duncan and Nigel Gavin.

I first met saxophonist Neill Duncan 20 years ago when he was with a wild group of neo-Dixie guerillas called the Bluebottom Stompers. But I'd already seen him at the National Jazz Festival here with avant-guard Wellington outfit Six Vaults – best EVER version of the ‘Star Trek' theme!

Neill was a simply fantastic sax player with his biggest asset being an extraordinary musical imagination: he'd take obvious passages and spin them off in directions you'd never have imagined – every phrase became new, fresh and exciting.

Neill's now been living in New South Wales for decades. A week before Christmas in 2012 he lost his left arm to cancer. With the help of a Swedish man, who makes saxophones for one-armed players, and a community appeal to raise the money, Neill was back playing within a year-and-a-half. He still plays just as well, perhaps better, if a little less fast.

Then there's Nigel Gavin. I've gone on about Nigel so many times that I'll keep it brief. Mandolinist, guitarist, banjoist Nigel was a member of Robert Fripp's League of Crafty Guitarists, with which he toured extensively throughout Europe and the US. Add Gitbox Rebellion and the Nairobi Trio. ‘Nuff said. Nigel is a monster musician in the nicest sense.

The Jews Brothers Band.

181) Saturday, June 18! Right, we're back down at the Brew bar again, to give it its common name, on The Strand and a bit of warming winter blues. A couple of visitors are coming to town, a blues duo from down Gisborne way. Eastslide Blues are Doug Snelling and Ernie White who play raw driving blues, two electric guitars with plenty of nods to the likes of Howling Wolf and John Lee Hooker.

They've played at blues festivals in Gisborne and Rotorua and popped up last year as special guests in Mount Maunganui at a Hop House Blues Friday Session and are well worth a look. Kicking off at 4pm, no charge.

182) Sunday, June 19! Jazz in June at Baycourt's Addison Theatre pairs the Tauranga Civic Choir and the Julie Mason Trio from Auckland with Stephen Morton Jones guesting on saxophone to play Will Todd's ‘Mass in Blue', which fuses traditional lyrics (the Latin Mass), classical choral practice and intricate Jazz rhythms.

It is scored for choir, soprano soloist, jazz trio and saxophone. The soprano soloist is Imogen Thirlwall, who grew up in Tauranga, then moved to Wellington and also plays trumpet in the Roger Fox Big Band. To round out the programme Julie's trio and Phil Broadhurst will perform. Phil won the Tui Jazz award this year and can really get around those 88 keys.

Adults $30, Student $15, from 3pm-5pm.

Josh Druning.