It was only a few columns back that I was writing about the unheralded popularity of country music here – and it turns out to be true!

Next week's country hoedown at Mills Reef, the Tales of Tennessee show featuring Hamilton County Bluegrass Band fiddler Colleen Trenwith, Hot Club Sandwich's Andrew London and country rock duo Legal Tender, has proved so popular that the winery have moved the evening into their aged wine cellar.

This means tickets are back on sale for July 12 ($30 from Mills Reef) and to sweeten the night still further they have added local duo The Self-Righteous Brothers (who have a new album about to be released) to the bill. Book a table now, and practise your ‘yee-haws' immediately.

Further treats for country fans include the confirmation that award-winning country singer Tami Neilson is coming to the Katikati Folk Club later in the year. Canadian-born Tami has won the Tui for Best Country Album three times in the past four years and I'll remind everyone about this closer to the time.

Next month, however, the KFC have The Remarkables coming from Auckland (July 13) who play what they describe as 'bluegrasscountryswing”. I haven't heard the band but I know the individual musicians from other outfits and imagine they will be a blast playing together. See the club's website for details.

And, still on the country front, if you happen to be passing through Huntly, and – let's face it – if you happen to be in Huntly then passing through is probably the best thing you can do, you may want to pop your head in to the Waikato Coalfields Museum.

That's not something I'd ever envisioned writing in this column, but the Coalfield Museum is hosting an exhibition called 'Six Strings and Politics” focusing on the life and times of Huntly's favourite yodelling sisters Jools and Lynda Topp. Including rare posters and costumes from the TV series, the exhibition traces the twin's relationship with North Waikato and no doubt ponders the mystery of how two politically subversive lesbian singers from the home of coal could become internationally recognised and celebrated.

Meanwhile, following up on last week's column, John Michaelz' album launch for his new CD So Far, So Good…kicks off at 7pm tonight (July 6) at No. 1 The Strand and John has been going all-out to give value for the $12 door charge. In addition to his current band The Usual, the launch will also include guest appearances from Porina McLeod, Grant Haua, and members of Brilleaux, the Hip-Shooters and Kokomo, making for a package so tasty you'll want to eat it twice. Yum.

And since we've ended up on something of a random events trawl this week, let's continue on the same path.

The Tauranga Jazz Society has its monthly club night in the back room of the Greerton RSA - which is much nicer than that sounds - this Sunday (July 8). Porina McLeod will again be singing, this time along with guitarist Tim Cooper and sax-playing singer Kiriwai Poroa in 3's Company.

Also on the bill are Tauranga stalwarts Bay Dixie, with a ‘proper' old New Orleans line-up featuring tuba from Hans D Beer, Brian Geogan's cornet, John Nicholson on clarinet, Dave Proud on trombone and Jeff Baker behind the drums. And John Gillett on banjo. How could I forget the banjo? With the rise of the ukulele, banjos are in danger of becoming cool again. We like that. After being much maligned for decades banjos, deserve to be cool. Like bow ties.

Things kick off at Greerton at 5pm.

And, looking ahead to next month, one of the big surprises on the 2011 calendar is returning. The Tauranga Mid-Winter Christmas Market at the Historic Village is back for a second year, giving folks here a real taste of those cold-but-wonderful northern hemisphere Christmases. Last year was simply wonderful, with fairly lights, snow machines, Christmas food and mulled wine, and some five thousand people turned out to celebrate. Tickets this year have been kept at a very reasonable $10 for adults, $25 for a family, and are available now. Check out their website at www.taurangamidwinterchristmas.co.nz – it's on July 21. [email protected]