A first world problem suffered by musicians is having an hour-and-a-half long set and too many great songs to choose from.

It's a tricky position Black Seeds percussionist and vocalist Daniel Weetman says the Wellington band are happily dealing with ahead of their summer tour kicking off this week.

Next week The Black Seeds along with Katchafire and Sons of Zion embark on an eight stop summer tour that sees them play Coroglen and Mount Maunganui. Photo: The Black Seeds/Facebook

'It doesn't seem that long ago where we used to have short set lists, it was quite a problem,” says Daniel. 'There'd be songs you didn't want to do because you'd played them for so long.”

'Now we have five albums and there's a lot to choose from, so we'll run the songs through the filter of the band, we might have to play paper, scissor, rock for some tunes.”

This week the Black Seeds with Katchafire and Sons of Zion will embark on an eight stop summer tour that kicks off at the Coroglen Tavern on Friday, December 26.

Then they're on the road and heading south to Mount Maunganui where the bands will play Brewers Bar on Saturday, December 27.

The Black Seeds, Katchafire and Sons of Zion are the cream of New Zealand's roots scene and when these three bands join forces you can expect an explosion of good vibrations and even greater tunes.

'The three bands compliments each other and it's going to be a great, positive tour. With bass heavy, reggae, afro-funk music it always leave people with a great attitude.

'When I think of Kiwi reggae I think of Herbs and then Katchafire, Sons of Zion have got the same sort of vibe with their own twist on it, while with the Black Seeds we have our own thing going on.”

This year The Black Seeds have been busy touring across Australia as well as bunking down in the studio working on their upcoming sixth album to be released next year.

Daniel says it's great to have a few gigs under the belt ahead of the summer tour as everyone wants to go out and put on eight amazing shows.

The Black Seeds have pretty high standards for themselves around what they should sound like and the sort of energy they project on stage, he says.

'The pressure comes from within, you always want to put on a good show for yourself and the fans but when you're playing with an amazingly tight band like Katchafire, you want to be up to par.

'Sons of Zion are also a great live band, full of energy, so you don't want to let a lull creep into the show with a lack lustre performance. It keeps you in check.”

Hamilton's much loved roots reggae band Katchafire. Photo: Katchafire/Facebook

This summer tour will see The Black Seeds performing a range of songs that will encompasses their five album catalogue that started with ‘Keep on Pushing' back in 2001.

They'll also be road testing a handful of tunes they've written recently and the band is excited to be offering audiences something old and something new, he says.

A tune he really likes is ‘Bulletproof' off 2008 album ‘Solid Ground' which touches on the messages Daniel's mum instilled in him while growing up, he says.

'It'd also be great to bring out ‘Slingshot' and hopefully [Black Seeds lead vocalist] Barney wants to do it because I really like that tune.

'And you never know, there might be some spontaneous collaborations that go on, we'll be together for over nine days so you never know what will happen.”

Daniel says if you're planning on catching one of the shows this week there's something special Black Seeds, Katchafire and Sons of Zions fans can do for all three bands.

His message is simple: keep safe, stay positive and enjoy the music.

Kiwis like their drink but sometimes we drink a little too much, so just maintain and be good to each other, says Daniel.

'What holds everything together are the fans that come along and there will be a great positive vibe that's going to be put out there, so keep it safe and enjoy the music.

'And for people who've seen us and hung out with us over the years, don't be shy, we're just like everyone else, just come and say hello.”

The Black Seeds, Katchafire and Sons of Zion Summer Tour starts next week on Friday, December 26, at the Coroglen Tavern, 1937 Tairua-Whitianga Rd, Coroglen.

The three bands then play Brewers Bar, 107 Newton St, Mount Maunganui on Saturday, December 27.

Tickets cost $50 and are available at the venue, The Rockshop, and via Event Ticketing's website at www.eventicketing.co.nz

South Auckland boys of reggae Sons of Zion. Photo: Sons of Zion/Facebook