We continue the occasional series wherein Winston expounds on things that currently make him happy. And this week, once again, it's gigs, gigs, gigs.

Big gigs, small gigs, gigs this weekend, gigs next year, gigs in Tauranga, gigs all over, serious gigs, funny gigs. Get out your calendar and pay attention at the back. And no giggling.


Ekko Park headlining at Brewers Bar.

124) Gigs This Weekend. Pt 1! There's a whole lotta shakin' goin' on at the Brewers Bar on Saturday night (October 25). Ekko Park are headlining and are just back after shows in Dublin, Belfast and London. They've had two songs reach the top of the iTunes NZ Rock Chart and are currently flying high. They play along with Fire At Will, Flirting With Disaster and Tauranga alt-rockers Enercia who have a new single 'Long Goodbye”.

It's a two gig tour – the bands head to Auckland for a second show at The King's Arms on Sunday. Doors open at 8pm and tickets are $15.

125) Gigs This Weekend. Pt 2! The Tauranga Acoustic Music Club have decided its time for an outdoor concert. That's what they'll be doing - weather permitting - on Sunday (October 26) at McLaren Falls Park. They'll be on a deck stage in front of the information centre, and there's a grassy knoll for lounging about listening. Music will run from 11-3pm, a semi-spontaneous line-up of Acoustic Music Club performers.

126) Gigs This Weekend. Pt 3! I wrote about it last week so why not a quick reminder: Derek 'Nine Mile Stone” Toner's Tuner Band plus Brendan Mccarthy and Megan Sidwell play Rosie O'Grady's at The Mount on Saturday (October 25). Music starts at 9.00, tickets $15.

And there's a family day of some sort down at the Historic Village on Sunday (26 October). There are markets and a stage with an open mic and some theatre and a French movie on a big screen. And, no doubt, lots more. The music includes the local Daughters of Ally and a Wellington trio called The Cosmonauts who appear to have absolutely no footprint on the interweb. Consequently I know nothing about them. Things kick off at 3.00 and run through till 10pm.

127) Gigs This Weekend. But not here! Perhaps you're not in Tauranga this weekend. Or perhaps you're a jazz fan. Both of those things could mean that you're in Auckland enjoying the Auckland Jazz Festival, which comes to a busy end over Labour Weekend. Here are some of the shows you could catch.

On Saturday: Sam Taylor Trio at The Portland Public House, 4pm (koha); The Voodoo Set at Orleans in Britomart, 8pm (free).

On Sunday: Old Greenhorn at Ostro, 1pm (free); Ruckus at Hellertau, 1pm (free); the Allana Goldsmith Group at Tom Tom, 2pm (free); Alex Ward Trio, Storehouse, Harry Himself and various DJs at The Golden Dawn, 5pm ($5); The North Harbour Big Band at East Coast Bays RSA, 6pm ($10); and the Festival Finale Jam at The Golden Dawn, 9.30pm (free).

Sounds like a good time for jazz cats in the City of Sails.

128) Gigs in the future. Here and not! Just this week there have been announcements of the line-ups of two big gigs next year, the One Love Festival taking place somewhere in Tauranga in February and WOMAD, which returns to New Plymouth in March.

The One Love Festival kicks off on Waitangi Day and is planned for February 7 as well. It has a stunning line-up of reggae talent including The Original Wailers, Rebel Souljaz, Spawnbreezie, Katchafire, The Black Seeds, 1814, Sons of Zion, Stan Walker, Tomorrow People, Sammy J, Swiss, Paua, Awa, Majic, L40 and Three Houses Down. Tickets start from $75.

And as to WOMAD. Well, the line-up announced so far just makes you want to go Wow! Sinead O'Connor! Richard Thompson! Rufus Wainwright! Youssou N'Dour! Bombino! And a billion other acts who you've never heard of and I've never heard of who will be brilliant just the same. That's the way it goes at WOMAD! March 13-15. Earlybird tickets are now available at $205. Full price will be $255.