Just as the Rugby World Cup comes to a close in October, the Tauranga Arts Festival kicks off and it is offering something for everyone.

Like all good arts festivals, it covers a whole bunch of ground culturally; from photography and literature to music and dance, to those unusual shows – so essential to such festival – which just leaves you shaking your head and thinking ‘what the hell is that?'

But, before examining some of the acts at the Arts Festival, I'd like to make mention of the Tauranga Acoustic Music Club, which is about to host its one big concert for the year (not including February's very successful Acoustic Music Festival, which supporters will be glad to hear, is happening again next year).
On Friday, September 30, up-and-coming Australian ‘Nu-Folk' band Lucy Wise and The B'Gollies will be performing at the Village Hall at the Historic Village.

They have just released their self-titled debut album and are on their first national tour of New Zealand.

Lucy, who grew up playing in the Wise Family Band, and The B'Gollies, are made up of Chris Stone on violin, Holly Downes on double bass and accordionist Mischa Herman.

Lucy, the singer/songwriter of the group, plays guitar, ukulele, fiddle and Appalachian dulcimer.

The music itself is a melding of Celtic, American, European folk and classical music influences and the band has been playing to great acclaim at such events as Australia's National Folk Festival and Fairbridge Festival of World and Folk Music.

If you want to find out more or have a listen, check out their website at www.lucywise.com.au. Tickets are $15 from Creative Tauranga on Willow Street.

In the meantime, if you need a folk fix, the Acoustic Music Club has regular blackboard concerts on the second Sunday of every month at 1pm and the fourth Tuesday of every month at 7.30pm, all at the Bureta Trust bar/café.

And back to the Arts Festival, which I will be returning to again a couple of times before it happens.

There's so much good stuff on and one has to commend festival director Greg Latham for his decision to make no tickets more expensive than $40, with the added bonus of a 20 per cent discount if you have a TECT card.

I find that quite remarkable given the level of talent on display and now that I've bought a pile of tickets – yes, these are honest recommendations as I don't get comps to plug shows – I'm happy to let you know the bits that stand out for me.

First of all, let me say that there are a couple of good-looking dance shows on offer. Personally I don't get dancing at all. Just one of my little blind spots. But, for those who do, Ngai Tahu 32 from Atamira Dance looks stunning, as does Hullapolloi from the Footnote Dance Company, which just about makes in into the ‘what the hell is that' category by virtue of the fact that the dancers appear to be dressed in full-cover fluorescent green body suits. Even as a non-dance-appreciator these look impressive.

Definitely in the ‘what the hell is that' category, and a must-see I reckon, is Berlin Burlesque, which promises to fuse circus skills with theatre and live music in a story inspired by mentalist Eric Jan Hanussen. Set in 1920s Berlin, one of the most titillating times and places in cabaret history, this carries a warning that: ‘Nudity and offensive material may be present, so please come with an open mind.' Warning? I take that as a recommendation – bring it on!

And if this sounds a little over the top for you, Jennifer Ward-Lealand and Michael Houston are bringing a show of an altogether different nature.

Rita & Douglas tells the story of the relationship between painter Rita Angus and composer Douglas Lilburn through Angus' paintings and words, and letters and music from Lilburn.

Ward-Leland is a commanding actress and Michael Houston about as good a pianist as New Zealand has, so the combination and their exploration of two of the country's greatest artists should be fascinating.

And we haven't even got to the music yet – there's a lot of it and it's very good. More to come…