Somehow it seems like summer has arrived since last week – the sun is shining and the little birds chirping.

Or maybe it's the smell of horse manure. Yesterday I got up close and personal with a bag of the stuff and all I can say is that gardening may not be my life's vocation.

Pony poo

Not if it involves spending much more time with pony pooh...

But I had outdoor speakers blasting out over the neatly manicured lawns of the Watusi Country Club and even the odoriferous nature of muck spreading couldn't detract from the pleasure of hearing some new music from the Bay.

It's that time of year I guess, when bands and musicians finish off projects they've been working on through the year, or at the very least try and cobble something together for whatever Christmas market might exist out there for CDs.

There's a debut CD from second generation Tauranga musician Eli James and a second CD in six months from guitarist Sean Bodley. Expect reviews soon. There's also a grunty platter from the boys of B-Side Band, their first with a new drummer in place.
And I hear word that Tim Julian, head honcho at the Colourfield studio in Welcome Bay, is putting the final touches to the album he was threatening to finish nearly 12 months ago in our New Year's Resolutions column.

So it is, as they say, all good.

And there are a couple of dynamite gigs coming up next weekend so clear those calendars!

Actually, the first one's on Thursday, November 20, which I officially declare as the start of next weekend. Take Friday off. Tell your boss it's Winston's fault. You'll need it because you'll be totally exhausted from the pleasure of hearing The Eastern at the Tauranga Art Gallery.

Working band

The Eastern come from Christchurch and describe themselves as New Zealand's hardest working band, which may be true given that they always seem to be on the road.

This time they're bringing their unique blend of folk, country and general down-home musical styles to town in support of a new album and are planning a tour that includes an astounding 70 shows around New Zealand before they head to Australia and the rest of the world.

The new album is called ‘The Territory' and fans will want to grab it immediately. In a bit of charming retro action they're releasing it both as a single CD or a double LP on vinyl (180gm in a gatefold sleeve for you vinyl-heads out there!).

And, as a special treat, singer songwriter Reb Fountain, who was at the gallery a couple of months back, is also on the bill. Find out more about the band at www.forteastern.com. Tickets are $25, from the gallery. download code.

And after you've taken Friday off take a trip out to Te Puna on Saturday to the Memorial Hall where Laura Collins and the Back Porch Band are winging their way in from Wellington.

Laura has been to Tauranga before a couple of times in the company of Wayne Mason, Andrew London and Rob Joass as part of the Too Many Chiefs touring show but this'll be the first time she's brought her own ensemble, or at least one of her two ensembles.

Laura indeed has two bands. One is strictly a blues band and the other isn't (though it can whip up a pretty decent blues tune or three).

This is the other one, which mixes its blues with songs from alt-country territory, so as well as Laura's original tunes you can expect to hear songs from the likes of Gillian Welch and John Hiatt, B B King, perhaps Etta James and Muddy Waters and many more.

Wellington's finest

The Back Porch Band features some of Wellington's finest, including ex-Warratah Alan Norman on accordion, legendary bass man George Barris and the extraordinary Paddy Burgin on lap steel and mandolin, who is also a luthier and a singer and songwriter with several albums to his name.

Doors open at 7pm and you can get $20 tickets on the night or in advance from Rosie at redruth@vodafone.co.nz. There'll be refreshments at half-time. Find out more about Laura at www.lauracollins.co.nz.