Hey hey, exciting things are on the horizon. Let me tell you about a couple of local events, about as different from each other as you can imagine.

Richard O'Brien, international celebrity and role model for partygoers everywhere, is in town and – for the first time – performing a solo show while he's here. It should be a treat. He's doing it at Mills Reef on Wednesday, February 24. In case it is in any way necessary, let me tell you a little about Mr O'Brien.
Richard was five when his family moved to New Zealand and he lived first in Tauranga then Hamilton before taking his fortunes in a backpack as a teenager and heading back to England. We all know the result of that adventure. Between gigs in London singing on stage in Jesus Christ Superstar he decided to write his own musical, and popular culture was changed forever.
The Rocky Horror Show was a stage phenomenon, pushing boundaries of sexuality and good taste at just the moment when a more open society was ready to don fishnet stockings and high heels and do 'The Time Warp”. Now, more than 30 years later, Rocky is in continual production somewhere in the world and songs and catchphrases from the show have long been part of the popular lexicon.
A film version – The Rocky Horror Picture Show – followed, and created its own indelible mark, virtually starting the tradition of the 'midnight movie” and becoming one of the highest-grossing movie musicals of all time. Richard's irrepressible turn as Riff Raff, alien butler, became so embedded in musical history that they even put up a statue of him in the main street of Hamilton. Now that's fame for you…
In the last few years Richard has been slowly establishing Tauranga as a base, spending more time here each summer between work in the UK. He comes out for about four months each year and construction has just about finished on his house out towards Katikati, a beautiful Scandinavian-style affair which he likes to call 'the biggest one-bedroom house in the world”. It is a strikingly large and handsome creation.
And while here, between the odd party and surprise appearances with local bands, Richard is still working. Another musical of his, The Stripper (though by the time you read this the name may have changed), toured Britain last year and he is in constant touch with producers and his musical partner Richard Hartley, one of the UK's most respected film composers and a collaborator since the original days of Rocky, rewriting bits of songs and sharpening up plot machinations.
But all that will take a break for the Mills Reef show. It's billed as A Night with Richard O'Brien, a mixture of stories and songs. Numbers are limited to about 70 so this will be an exclusive event – tickets are $35 from the winery (ph: 576 8800). And if you fancy a little more razzle-dazzle, there will be prizes on the night for the best dressed members of the audience. Get in quick.
And, as I promised, now for something completely different...
Oscar Laven has made a mark on the local scene in the last year, recording as a session player at the Boatshed Studio and performing with covers band Five O'clock Shadow. Oscar plays an astonishing array of blowing instruments, from various saxes to clarinet and, most unusually, bassoon.
Now he and his mother, Marion Arts, one of the country's most respected jazz and folk singers and a wiz on the guitar, have recorded an album of classical music together at The Colourfield Studio in Welcome Bay.
This has been a labour of love for Marion, who has transposed orchestral pieces by Telemann, Bach and others for solo classical guitar, and guitar and bassoon. It's pretty ambitious stuff, especially when the music includes Vivaldi's demanding Bassoon Concerto. They will be performing together at St John's church (94 Bureta Rd) at 7pm on Sunday, February 14. Entry is $10 and CDs will be available for a very reasonable $15. This is very much a one-off as Oscar is away to study music in Wellington. Don't miss out on a rare bit of culture – expect a night of poise and beauty.