Every so often a week arrives that challenges even the most hardened music lover.

You can liken it to waiting for a bus and then two arriving at once (not a problem you're likely to experience in Tauranga) or use the old famine and feast metaphor.

Whichever way you look at it, starting next Saturday, April 21, there are a helluva lot of gigs in a short period of time...

But first of all I wanted to give everyone a heads-up that the new season of Tauranga Film Society films has just started. The society do a splendid job of presenting films both old and new, a chance to see things that never made it here, or to finally catch an old gem that is impossible to access.

There are two films a month, shown at the Rialto, and a 12-month membership costs $90 which takes in around 20 films. That makes it great value, given I paid $17 for a day session of the new Spielberg film.

The mix of films is eclectic and interesting. There are a couple of peerless black and white oddities: Orson Welles' magnificent, if flawed, ‘Lady Of Shanghai' is a sweaty cauldron of backstabbing brilliance with Rita Hayworth, Welles himself, and a never-better Everett Sloane; and ‘Seconds' sees Rock Hudson try to start a new life through plastic surgery from a sinister corporation.

It's Hudson like you've never seen him and director John Frankenheimer – ‘The Manchurian Candidate', ‘Seven Days In May' – was at his absolute peak.

International fare

Those are personal favourites but there's also a terrific Marlon Brando documentary, ‘Listen To Me Marlon', a number of films from France, as well as films from Germany, Iran, Brazil and all over.

Get the details at: www.nzfilmsociety.org.nz/tauranga

And onto those gigs. Brace yourselves...

Like I said, we're starting next Saturday, April 21 when The Melting Faces bring their unique brand of psych-rock-folk-funk from Wellington to The Historic Village's Jam Factory. The four-piece band has been together since 2011 and has an entertainingly DIY indie ethic. In 2015 they recorded a song called ‘Thundercats' with all proceeds going to the SPCA. And they were all wearing animal costumes in the video which makes them Ookay with me! ($10, cash only).

That's Saturday. Take Sunday off, you're going to need it...

On Monday, April 23 Taite Prize finalists Hopetoun Brown are coming to Baycourt's X Space along with virtuoso trumpeter Finn Scholes. The duo, once the horn section for Supergroove, comprises Nick Atkinson (bass clarinet) and Tim Stewart (voice, trumpet, trombone, percussion) and cleverly blend soul, jazz, blues and electricity-free hip-hop. If you have any reservations that this will be a fantastic night, just Google the lads.($24.90).

Morning concert

On April 24 they're still at it at Baycourt, this time in the main theatre where at 10.30am there'll be a special ‘Morning Melodies' concert. The Mayor, Greg Brownless himself, will be MC for the variety show, which will feature Lee Cameron – probably still the best classical pianist Tauranga has produced – on the Steinway, Alan Dadson on Wurlitzer, and solo performances from Alice Sea and Ingrid Wicksteed, as well as dancers, jazz and snippets of musical theatre ($15).

On April 25 head over to Totara Street at The Mount where you'll find Wellington's Timeliners, long-time blues buddies who are making their first trip from the capital to Tauranga. They are Neil Worboys, Maurice Priestley and Stephen Carlyle, and they're taking a 'plugged acoustic rootsy bluesy trio” version of the band's previous incarnations (which has sometimes included horns in almost a big band) on the road.

You might know Neil from 70s outfit ‘Bulldogs All-star Goodtime Band' and he brings the same sense of infectious fun to the Timeliners ($20).

And finally, on April 28, head back to The Jam Factory for ‘Those Lethals' and support from local singer Ash Laforteza. Those Lethals are a five-piece alternative folk band from Auckland fronted by singer Elizabeth Cameron. They take inspiration from the likes of Lianne La Havas, Lake Street Dive and Alabama Shakes, and include an upright bass and a trumpet. Good enough for me.($10, cash only).