There's been a lot of talk recently about a lack of local music venues. This week there's some good news on that front.

A new music venue, or at least a drastically revamped one, is about to become operational at the Mount. It's not exactly going to solve Tauranga's problems but it will attract touring bands and give local acts another affordable decent-sized space that can cater to all ages in a safe and funky environment.

Aaron Saxon is one of the tutors at MauaoPAC.

Because, as far as venues go, a lot of it is about the vibe. I know people who refuse to go to hear rock music or the like at Baycourt because they say the atmosphere is too stifling and you can't dance. Alternatively, I know people who refuse to go to Brewers Bar because the atmosphere is too rough.

What nobody's currently cracked is a venue that will work for all ages – a cool cred space for rock gigs that is at the same time upmarket enough to attract the growing older demographic who still want to go to proper gigs but have grown tired of places where your feet stick to the floor from the remnants of last night's beer stains.

This could be it. It's the new venue at MauaoPAC, the Mauao Performing Arts Centre, and it is simply stunning.

MauaoPAC has been, for a couple of years now, a work in progress. The main focus has been, as you would expect, teaching. They do an impressive job and have an equally impressive list of tutors. Guitarists Joel Shadbolt, Aaron Saxon and Derrin Richards really need no introduction; there's drummer/percussionist Nick Ririnui whose playing has graced so many local bands; there's the extraordinary Alice Sea; and bass player Ara Adams-Tamatea from reggae stars Katchafire.

That's music; there also an excellent theatre department under Dylan Frewin. They'll be joining forces for a musical around Christmas time.

But the big news at the moment is the new 'event room”. This is the town's newest venue and there are many possibilities for it: bands, art exhibitions, theatre shows, dance groups, fashion shows, functions and corporate events, the works. It holds 500 people, has a fantastic stage, full backroom facilities, a bar downstairs, and a bar and cafe on the mezzanine. It has an in-house sound system and lighting, green rooms and bathrooms for acts, and an adjustable stage equally suited to cat walks and big bands.
And the team at MauaoPAC, led by Aaron and Tauranga musical veteran Ross Shilling, have pretty much built it from the ground up.

Ross has long been associated with the music scene. He was once well known as a bass player. I remember him in Beasley Street, Graham (Brilleaux) Clark's first band back in the early eighties. Since then he's played, owned venues and equipment companies, done sound and lights and pretty much everything musical going. Now, along with a team of half a dozen, he's built a venue.

And they've done pretty much all of this off their our own backs, for the community and for their love of the arts. The biggest milestone was the Hurricane Party at this year's National Jazz Festival. Up to that point they received no funding and all the work was done in-house and by friends and members of the community who gave their time, tools and labour. But they hit the deadline for that and the Hurricane party went off with 350 people there.

Since then they've been flooded out and pretty much rebuilt the entire place, floor to ceiling. And done it with some serious attention to detail. There's a recessed 'cupboard” set into the stage which houses a grand piano; the floor of the 'control room” (because the venue will also double as a recording studio) was torn up and re-concreted two feet lower to make a room shape with better sound quality. I visited last week and was blown away.

And it's almost ready to go. Gigs are booked in for next month. The first out-of-town band is coming in mid-November and local acts have been setting up shows. I can't wait to see it in action. there are going to be some great nights at the Mount!