If this is meant to be an occasional series then why is Winston doing it two weeks in a row? Because he's just so damned happy that's why! This week: blues, blues and internet TV. Are they connected? No.

Does Winston care? No, he's too happy for that.

They're playing our blues over there! Tauranga has new resident bluesman and he's off to Japan next week for a promotional tour. Mike Garner, long-time stalwart of first the Hamilton then the Rotorua blues scene (he was a founder member of the thriving BOP Blues Club), completed his mid-North Island trifecta by moving to Tauranga just before Christmas.

He was at the Jazz Village on Easter Monday but, if you haven't come across him before, Mike is a terrific singer, fine acoustic guitarist (with a nice line in slide) and one of the country's most respected blues songwriters. He's been kicking around for a while and can claim 40 years of playing experience including some remarkable gigs in various exotic international locations, from New Caledonia to the Kathmandu Blues Festival (the latter jaunt was immortalised in a documentary by filmmaker Costa Botes).

If you did catch Mike at Easter you'd have seen him playing with a remarkable harmonica player, Wellington's Neil Billington. Neil is something of an anomaly amongst blues harp players in that he can also rip it up on a chromatic harp; that much harder version of the instrument championed by the likes of Larry Adler. Which means that Neil can also play jazz and has featured with the likes of Rodger Fox's Big Band.

A couple of years ago Mike started sitting in with Neil's band in Wellington, and since then they have been invited to various festivals: the jazz fest here, Wellington Capital Blues Festival, the Rotorua Blues Festival. Now, after a year of planning and with the help of a Japanese blues enthusiast (Mike's CDs have been sold in Japan since 1999) they're off on Saturday to play at six blues clubs in Tokyo, places with evocative names like Blue Heat, Rooster Northside and Crawfish. Tokyo being Tokyo it has dozens of such clubs – blues and rock ‘n' roll are big over there.

Mike and Neil will do two sets each night, the first as an acoustic duo, the second with a Japanese support band. It sounds like a wild and weird time! I'll update on how it went after the intrepid duo return.

Bringing the blues to the Bay! I know I write about Brilleaux a lot in this column. There's a reason for that. It's because they do a lot of stuff! The band – another Tauranga act to tour overseas, with last year's 13-date UK jaunt – is currently recording songs for a new album at the Colourfield in Welcome Bay and are about to host the second of their 'An audience with...” shows at Drivers Bar in the 11 Avenue Plaza.

A couple of months back it was legendary Hello Sailor frontman Graham Brazier, this time it's the equally legendary Hammond Gamble, singer, songwriter and, of course, guitar player. You gotta love Hammond, he''s a real sweetie, never having quite lost his depressive Northern English persona but matching it with an equal share of dry humour. The show will feature both Hammond and an unplugged Brilleaux and, in that intimate setting, should be a blast. It's at 8pm on Saturday May 17 and tickets are $20 from the bar.

They're playing our TV everywhere! Soundtree Live, the Bay's very own internet TV broadcast is going from strength to strength and has just started its third series. The first show should be live online this weekend. Still coming up in May: Eric Tricklbank, Emilie Amber Barton, and Heathen Eyes. But there are still spots left.

In my opinion this is simply the best deal for any local band with their act together. For this season bands must pay $100 towards filming costs. Which is nothing – $100 for a broadcast-quality filmed live recording – best deal in town. To watch bands from season two, or to contact Soundtree, go to www.soundtreeproductions.com/live