Get your weekend started right tonight with some fresh, home-grown original music.

The Bubble Jah Jah Double EP Release Fundraiser, featuring Big.Q, Izzy Bones and Jimbob Hines of three-piece band Salty Dogs, hits The Hop House in Mount Maunganui this evening from 9pm.

Mount Maunganui three-piece Salty Dogs, from left: Izzy Bones, Big.Q and Jimbob Hines, will kick off your weekend in style at The Hop House in Mount Maunganui this Friday night. Photo: Salty Dogs.

Mount musician Izzy Bones says entry to the gig is by koha, with donations going towards the production of Salty Dogs' debut album, which they're aiming to release just before the New Year.

Friday will feature performances from Draq (the musical alter ego of Big.Q), duo Izzy Bones and Big.Q, and Jimbob Hines, before wrapping up with a set from Salty Dogs.

'It should be a real mean gig,” he says. 'We're pretty excited for Friday night. We'll be releasing two EPs as part of the fundraiser, one produced by Draq and the other produced by Big.Q and myself.

'Together and individually we're all pumping out a lot of material under Salty x Dogs Production, so it's all independent and self-produced music.”

Izzy says the Mount three-piece are well over halfway with the production of their debut album, which will feature some 20 tracks covering everything from trap to jazz to soul to reggae, and more.

The band is pleased with their efforts and the sound of the album thus far, he adds, especially given the fact that Salty Dogs have only been together for around five months.

'I'd known Jimbob Hines for years from playing music in and around the city, while I met Big.Q, who moved up from Whanganui this year, at one of the jam nights. 'When those two met, that kinda sparked the inspiration for Salty Dogs.

'As soon as all three of us got together it was just an instant connection, we all had the same drive and the same dream. It just all clicked together and it's been a really productive period for all of us.”

The album's cover will also feature artwork created by Izzy's good friend and Ill Magik founder Theo Stechman, which he says goes 'hand-in-hand with the music”.

'We're stoked with what we've produced and have been really tempted to release a couple of singles, but we're sitting on it. We want to make sure everything is absolutely perfect.

'But it is difficult. We're just really excited and can't wait to share what we've been working on.”

The Bubble Jah Jah Double EP Release Fundraiser featuring Big.Q, Izzy Bones and Jimbob Hines of Salty Dogs is on at The Hop House in Mount Maunganui tonight (Friday) from 9pm. Entry by koha.

For more information, or to download the Bubble Jah Jah and Draq Eps, visit Salty x Dog Production's Bandcamp, SoundCloud or Facebook webpages.