Again this year there will be three separate music stages and the sounds will range from young singer-songwriter Coral Pitcher to the full-on attack of the Vegas Brown Band. There will be entertainment from some of New Zealand's most respected performers as well as a chance to hear one of the country's finest guitarists.

Tim Armstrong.

All up eight acts have been announced for 6 September, ranging in style from gun guitarist Kara Gordon, who has been described as 'the white Hendrix”, to the boisterous music of Waikato's The Great Brain Robbers.

One of the festival's most experienced artists, travelling from Hamilton for the second year in a row is singer and guitarist Tim Armstrong. Tim is already a favourite in Whitianga, having played regularly at Smitty's Bar, and is excited to be back at this year's festival.

'I travel round a lot and always have fun but the Scallop Festival is one of my favourite events,” he says. 'I love to be at places where people really want to have a good time and the Festival brings out the best in everyone. Maybe it's the chance to eat all those scallops...”

Tim was born in Birmingham, England, but moved to New Zealand when he could barely walk and has been a professional musician here since his first gig at the tender age of 13. He became known in the eighties after playing in top Waikato band The Politicians, who were a regular feature on Shazam and Radio With Pictures.

During the years Tim has performed alongside numerous singers, from Frankie Stevens to Marc Hunter and Graham Brazier, as well as having his own songs feature on Shortland Street and other television shows. He has also won best Blues guitarist in the Waikato Music Awards.

These days Tim divides his time between solo work and the Tim Armstrong Band as well as playing the part of John Lennon in the Abbey Road New Zealand Beatles Show.

'I've always loved The Beatles,” he says, 'so the band is a way of reliving their music and sharing it with others. And I usually find a way to slip a couple of their songs in when I'm playing solo.”

Tim plays at 12.45 on the Boundary Road Music Stage. For full programme details see the festival website (www.scallopfestival.co.nz).