Maybe it's because it's August. Is it spring already? For whatever reason, the Bay is alive with the sound of music.

Some weeks are a little quiet and I can witter on at a little more length. Other weeks it just the facts – this is one of those weeks.


Tauranga musician Alice Sea in action.

Consider it a public announcement, a little community service from your community newspaper. We've got reggae, folk, blues, jazz and more, that is harder to categorise, all happening between Sunday and Sunday.

Let's start at the very beginning.

This Sunday, August 10, there's another chance to see and hear Alice Sea. I strongly suggest you take it. The duo comprises of Aaron Saxon on acoustic guitar and the extraordinary Alice Foote on all sorts of other stuff: percussion, flute, guitar, didgeridoo, and more.

And she's a fantastic singer. They play everything from radically-rearranged looped covers to stunning originals – the highlight last time was a jaw-dropping Latino instrumental of Aaron's – with great musicianship, harmonies; the full works.

Honky tonk sounds

Also on the bill is high-energy American pianist David Hull, a specialist in honky tonk, boogie woogie, and probably any other rhyming piano style. Things happen at 5pm at the Citz Club and cost $10.

Take a breather for a couple of days, then head down to Brewers Bar at the Mount on Wednesday, August 13, to catch some Hawaiian reggae.

Kolohe Kai is a cheerful six-piece who are currently breezing round the country on their Paradise Tour. Check their website. I suspect they have a Christian component to their music – which might explain that cheerfulness – and they're even advertising on telly.

There are various support acts; things kick off at 9pm and cost $35.

And on to Friday, August 15, when you have a choice of entertainment. If you're in the Katikati area you might fancy the Folk Club, where you can hear Mark Laurent and Brenda Liddiard.

The well-respected duo are both songwriters with their own styles, so the effectively function as each other's backing band. Mark leans towards acoustic rock, blues and reggae, while Brenda's songs tend to be new folk and alt country. As usual the concert is at the Bowling Club, starting at 7.30pm, $20 entry or $15 for members.

Love the blues?

Or perhaps folk music is a bit laid-back for your tastes. How about a shot of Chicago blues? The same night Brew Bar on The Strand is celebrating its first birthday with well-travelled bluesman Mike Garner and his band.

Mike has performed in England, Australia, Italy, Germany, New Caledonia, the Cook Islands and at the Himalayan Blues Festival, Kathmandu, in 2009. He played in San Francisco in 2012 and recently returned from a 10-day tour of Japan.

Accompanying him will be guitarist Stewart Martin, Stuart Lawrence on bass and Warren Houston on drums. Things kick off at 9pm and it's free. And can I just offer a big swoop of the cowboy hat to Brew. Happy birthday; thank you for a year of interesting and varied music – good job!

But it's on Saturday, August 16, with the most potentially interesting thing happening.
At the Historic Village Hall, the Tauranga Film Society is presenting a performance of ‘The Snapper Sandwich' by Wellington film maker Tony Burt. This sounds absolutely fascinating.

Filmed in the Cape York area of Northern Queensland and in New Zealand, the film mixes Tony's own story with others, combining Aboriginal, Maori and Pakeha themes of identity and belonging. Most interesting is that it's accompanied by music including original compositions played live by Tony, who is a very impressive slide guitarist.

This is a great chance to experience a cool and innovative form of live performance documentary. It'll be unlike anything you've seen before and I suspect will be brilliant.
For more information or to reserve your place contact Michael O'Brien at michael.obrien@paradise.net.nz or on 07 576 7575. It happens at 7pm and costs a mere $5.

And I've almost run out of space for the jazz: Australia's Dixie Street Jazz Band is playing at Katikati's St Peter's Church Auditorium on Sunday, August 17, at 4pm. Admission is $25 and includes light refreshments.

(Pause for breathe). Till next week.