We continue the occasional series wherein Winston expounds on things that currently make him happy. And, once again, this week it's all gigs: big gigs, little gigs, free gigs, gigs as far as the eye can see...
102) Arts Festival Gigs! It's sadly almost time to say farewell to the Arts Festival. But what a fantastic ten days it was! Brel! Tattletale Saints! Die Roten Punkte! Shuffle Demons! So much music, so much great drama, so much art, all I can do is humbly salute everyone involved with the organisation and creation of such a fantastic programme of events. What a treat for Tauranga.
But it's not quite over and, particularly for those with a literary bent, this weekend (November 2-3) presents a bag of goodies in the Crystal Palace. On Saturday and Sunday you can listen to Australian author Rob Mundle, Kiwis Steve Braunias (brother of ace local guitarist Trevor), Bill Manhire, Elizabeth Knox, Sherryl Jordan Sir Lloyd Geering, as well as a couple of cool musical events...
The Eastern bring their hard-living bush-band sounds from Christchurch on Saturday (along with the irrepressible Lindon Puffin), and things close out at 1.30pm on Sunday with what promises to be a fantastic collaboration of music, poetry and song as Bill Manhire, Norman Meehan and singer Hannah Griffin collaborate on 'Poetry and Song”. It should be a magical end to a magical festival.
103) Free Downtown Gigs! The various changes in establishments on The Strand and elsewhere in the CBD and throwing up new gigs all the time, often the usual middle-of-the-road covers outings, but some showcasing interesting unusual music. Here are some groovy offerings you might not have spotted in the latter category, all of which come without cover charges or ticketing...
There's music at the Elizabeth St Cafe on Thursday and Friday nights from 5pm to 7pm. It varies. Every second Thursday Marion Arts plays 'beautiful guitar music” while every second Friday Robbie Laven plays an eclectic blend of styles (Latino, Gypsy jazz) and instruments in a duo with Attila (whose surname escapes me). Other weeks' music includes Santi Rebagliati (who's on tonight – Friday 1).
Santi is all over town, including the Flying Burrito Brothers and The Phoenix and, in his very formidable duo Mucho Mungo (with guitarist Derrin Richards) every November Sunday at La Mexica on the Strand from 3pm. They are well worth hearing.
Next door to La Mexica, Brew Bar is keeping up its eclectic range of often blues-based sounds. Singer/guitarist Dylan Israel continues to play cool grooves at midday every Sunday while Saturdays (3pm) feature the impressive likes of Mike Garner and Warren Houston this weekend and Swamp Thing (November 16). Cool music, good to check out.
104) Farewell Gigs! It's time to say goodbye to Bureta Park Motor Inn, home of a thousand memorable gigs over the years, demolished so that people don't have to go more than half a mile to a supermarket. All those memories will be shovelled into the dirt beneath another Australian shopping centre. Yay! But first there are a couple of farewell gigs...
There's a semi-official 'last gig” on Saturday, November 9 kicking off at 7.30pm featuring B-Side Band, Eclipse, and Chris Gunn and Friends, the friends including special guest Brilleaux frontman Graham Clark. Tickets are $10.
Then – because presumably they didn't get the 'last gig” memo – the Entertainers Club are in there on November 10, showcasing the Trevor Braunias Trio, Two's Company and most particularly the multi-award-winning band from Tauranga Boys College T-Jazz, a six-piece who between them at the National Jazz Festival have won awards for best combo, best drummer, best trombonist, best clarinettist, best bassist and best vocalist. Stunning stuff. The show kicks off at 5pm, tickets are $10.
105) Welcome Back Gigs! It seems like ages since they were here last so it's great to welcome back the Nairobi Trio to Tauranga. Thursday, November 14 they'll be up close and personal at the Te Puna Memorial Hall. These guys need no introduction and the hall will be a great place to see them. Show starts at 7pm, there's a bar and a bit of supper, tickets on the door for only $20. And I'll probably remind
you again next week...