Now that the World Cup is reaching its conclusion – go Holland! – the days of sleep deprivation are nearly over and everyone can go out to gigs again.
Which is good timing because there is a lot coming up over the next couple of weeks in various styles of folk, jazz and rock. I'll take things in chronological order – see if there's something you fancy.

First up is a gig I mentioned last week, the annual Tauriko Hall party, which starts at 7.30pm on Saturday, July 10 at the aforementioned hall. There is a $5 cover charge to hear four bands playing original music: the Mellow Drops, Dakota, Carolyn and the Elements, and All Due Respect. There's also a free sausage sizzle.
If jazz is more your thing, this Sunday is the monthly get together of the Jazz Society in the back bar of the RSA (formerly Fahey's) at Greerton. Traversing the Kaimais from Hamilton to play is Peter Fuller's 'Dear Little Band”, a traditional outfit which has been over for the Easter jazz festival on a number of occasions. There'll also be an interlude with Abbie Smith from Tauranga Girls' College.
Moving forward to Wednesday evening (July 14), it's time for the Tauranga Acoustic Club, which assembles upstairs at Merhaba restaurant on The Strand and have a special attraction in the shape of Wellington singer/songwriter Sean O'Connor, who is launching his first solo album, The Real Me.
Although this is his first outing under his own name, Sean is no newcomer to recording, having released five duo albums with his partner Amanda O'Connor, who be accompanying him on Wednesday. He describes his music as ranging from acoustic balladry to folk-pop with country and Celtic tinges. It has been likened to that of Damien Rice.
Back in 2005 Sean spent time living in Nashville (where a couple of the album's songs were written) and the duo went on the road in the States for six weeks, playing everywhere from Tennessee to California. Gigs included the iconic Bluebird Café in Nashville where they featured in both the ‘Showcase' night and the prestigious ‘Sunday Best', earning high praise from host Jeff Pearson, who said: 'I have been hosting The Bluebird for 16 years, and I know unique when I hear it. The O'Connors' music is not just unique it is honest, beautiful and uplifting. Their harmonies are truly moving.”
Sounds good to me. There's a $10 entry fee for the night and you can check the duo out further at www.theoconnors.co.nz
There's more folk next weekend, on Friday (July 16) to be precise, out in Katikati at the Folk Club, which now holds its meetings at the Bowling Club on Park Road.
As I keep saying, the Katikati Folk Club is really one of the musical gems of the Bay, punching far above its weight by hosting a remarkable slate of national and international artists (later this year they have both Coolgrass and Eric Bogle – the man who wrote 'The Band Played Waltzing Matilda” – coming).
On Friday, however, they present Catgut & Steel, a duo comprising Anna Bowden and Mike Moroney, who combine tight vocal harmonies with fiddle, banjo, mandolin and guitar on an eclectic repertoire that ranges from Celtic tunes to klezmer and country music. They have performed at festivals and clubs around the world since they first got together playing in the now-defunct Pioneer Pog ‘n' Scroggin Bush band. Mike also plays in the internationally-renowned acoustic showband, The Chaps. You can find out more at www.catgut.kiwifolk.com
Things kick off at the Bowling Club at 7.30pm with a charge of $20 for non-Folk Club members or $15 for members. There are bar facilities available and halftime tea, coffee and bikkies.
And, glancing forward towards next week's column, I'll be looking at Wellington's premier swing cats, Hot Club Sandwich, which has just announced that they will be coming to Tauranga for a gig at Mills Reef on August 1.
They're one of my favourite bands in the country so I will be plugging them mercilessly – you can get tickets before that though, they're on sale at the winery now.