Great blues tunes to boogie to

Fans of the Marchwood Blues Picnic better get their tickets quick as 2015 will be the biggest and best picnic to date.

Headliners for next March's concert will be American singer-songwriters Tony Joe White and Big Daddy Wilson, joined by Auckland blues outfit Flaming Mudcats and local talent Josh Durning.

Marchwood Blues Picnic organiser Peter Archer (harmonica) says the 2015 picnic will be the biggest the Bay has ever seen. Photo: File/Thickskins.

Born out of Pete's love for the blues Marchwood began eight years ago and has been held annually ever since.

There are only 1000 tickets available for the afternoon concert and organiser Peter Archer says sales have already started off strongly.

'I'm picking we're going to be well sold out by March next year, tickets are going out in lots of ten and more at a time.

It's a busy time for Peter as he goes about preparing for next year's picnic and says he's still on the hunt for an amazing female artist to fill the last remaining slot.

Of the headline acts for next year, you won't find a man happier than Peter at the moment.

'Tony Joe White is like God. He's often out here to do trout fishing and next march he's doing a roundtrip as he'll be playing Byron Bay in Australia.

'And Big Daddy Wilson was a big stroke of luck as he happens to be touring the country at the same time. That was really fortuitous.”

Louisiana's Tony Joe White is best known for penning the 1969 hit ‘Polk Salad Annie', also recorded by Elvis Presley and Tom Jones, plus ‘Rainy Night in Georgia', later made popular by Brook Benton in 1970.

He also penned both ‘Steamy Windows' and ‘Undercover Agent for the Blues' for Tina Turner in 1989, which were submitted by her producer at the time and Joe's friend Mark Knopfler.

North Carolina's Big Daddy Wilson discovered the blues in Germany while serving in the US Army from 1979 to 1986.

Starting in a small, smokey club in Northern Germany, over the next 20 plus years he has toured all over Europe playing clubs, theatres, festivals, radio and TV.

Peter says it's quite the task getting big acts to perform in New Zealand but once the stage is set, the amps are cranked and people get their groove on it was all worth it.

'The 2015 Marchwood Blues Picnic is going to be the biggest concert we have ever thrown and I can't wait for next year. '

Peter says ticket holders are more than welcome to bring their own picnic hamper and drinks, but there will also be food and beverages available too. On site facilities are also be available.

And don't want to drive home after the festivities? Well you're in luck because there's camping spaces available, you just need to contact Peter and book a space before the concert.

The annual Marchwood Blues Picnic takes place on March 7, 2015, at 316 Youngson Rd Omokoroa, Tauranga. Gates open from 10am, the concert runs from 12pm to 8.30pm.

Tickets cost $80 each and can be purchased by visiting www.bluespicnic.com

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