Columns are the opposite of concerts, at least in the order things happen.

In a column, indeed in pretty much every story in this paper, you start with the most important stuff. 'Don't bury the lede” they tell you in journalism school, the lede being the weirdly-spelt first paragraph or sentence. The lede is the most important bit and I've already failed to get to it.

Concerts are different, however. At a concert you get a support band or two first, building up to the main attraction, which sometimes doesn't start till perhaps halfway through the full show. This column is one of those. More yer concert than column.

But even at a concert you know who the main act will be so let me just announce it now: Swamp Thing.

Yep, Swamp Thing are doing a couple of shows in town. They're rockin' it. We'll get back to them.

Because where I finished last week was trying to squeeze in a mention of a concert this Sunday out in Katikati. And that's where we'll start now because, in the interim, I happen to have actually heard the band in question, Australian purveyors of the type of music their name suggests, Dixie Street.

The Aussie six-piece are playing at Katikati's St Peter's Church Auditorium on Sunday 17 August at 4.00 pm. Admission is $25.00 and includes light refreshments. But, if you're into Dixie music, you probably won't care about the light refreshments as these boys are the real musical deal, an absolutely fantastic Dixie ensemble, veterans of the UK and Australian scene, all with a deep knowledge of early New Orleans music.

I saw them last weekend at the Bay of Islands Jazz & Blues Festival and was mightily impressed: hearing the way the trumpet, clarinet and trombone weave their lines around each other when under the control of really good Dixie players was a reminder of how exciting the music can be in skilled hands. I highly recommend them.

And onto the main draw... almost. Firstly a couple of announcements. (This is the bit where we'd thank our sponsors if we had any.)

The International Film Festival starts at the Rialto Cinema on Thursday 21. I'll have a full round-up next week. In the meantime, check it out at www.nziff.co.nz/2014/tauranga/films/title.

And the extremely popular Hot Club Sandwich have announced a couple of shows in Tauranga. But they now have a new bass player and a new name (The Andrew London Trio). Find out more at new Tauranga website www.taurangamusic.com.

And, finally, the curtains pull back and it's time for the column's main event...

Swamp Thing, having recently recorded a third album - a live one this time - are taking over Brew Bar on The Strand next weekend, playing two shows, one on Saturday night and one for the whole family on Sunday afternoon.

I guess we should back up a bit though in case you have no idea who Swamp Thing are. Or should that be 'who Swamp Thing is”? They are a duo. Or perhaps I should say 'it is a duo”. Grammar and band names is a tricky area, a minefield that takes a smarter man than me to navigate.

Anyway, the band is a collaboration between drummer / percussionist / pianist / vocalist Mike Barker - ex-member of The John Butler Trio and various Split Enz line-ups - and Tauranga singer / songwriter / guitar wiz Grant Haua.

They've recorded two studio albums since first kicking things off in 2010 and are about the hardest-working band I know, relentlessly touring up and down the country and frequently heading over to Oz to play festivals or support tours for the likes of Tim Finn and others.

If you haven't heard their music the best description is hi-energy blues rock: great songs from Grant and playing of such jaw-dropping skill that it has to be seen to be believed. The things Mike does on his drumming array are like nothing I've ever seen a drummer do. Swamp Thing, in case you couldn't tell, get my highest recommendation.

Catch them on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24. Tickets are $20, available several places, and there are various support acts. Best to see their Facebook page for full details.