Creative Mercury Bay's Art On Tour show is bringing an acclaimed folk singer and a celebrated Samoan/Welsh comic to Whitianga to offer an evening of entertainment like no other.

James Nokise and Mel Parsons will be combining their considerable talents to bring music and comedy to Whitianga town Hall on September 19.

Celebrated Samoan/Welsh comic James Nokise and acclaimed folk singer Mel Parsons will be combining their considerable talents to bring an evening of music and comedy to Whitianga town Hall on September 19.

The two-hour intimate live, cabaret show called ‘Beauty and the Bro' will see James, who has returned from the UK stand-up comedy circuit to perform ‘Soso Gangsta', give his hilarious and slightly true take on New Zealand gang culture.

Meanwhile, Mel will be presenting new work, plus a variety of songs from her first two albums – ranging from rollicking country numbers to heartfelt ballads, and accompanied by multi-instrumentalist Gerry Paul.

Creative Mercury Bay's Jan Wright says this is the sixth Art On Tour show the organisation has brought to town and is a totally new act with neither performer showing in Whitianga before.

'The standard of the performance in every single case is stunning – they are really high quality performances, whether dance, drama or music,” says Jan.

'This act is going to be absolutely marvellous because they have been chosen from hundreds of acts and performers who have applied to us.”

Acclaimed folk singer Mel Parsons is heading to Whitianga this month to team up with Samoan/Welsh comic James Nokise for Creative Mercury Bay's next Art On Tour show.

Jan says this Art on Tour event is different in that it focuses on music and comedy in a cabaret form.

'So we're going to set up the town hall as much as we can like a cabaret – it'll be a bit different with tables and chairs rather rows of chairs.

'And we'll be encouraging people to buy a table and get a group of people together to come and see the event,” says Jan.

'And we hear James, the comedian, is incredibly good – and I like the fact it is a light look at a gang life in NZ.”

James – a Fred Dagg Comedy Award nominee and two-time Billy T Comedy Award nominee – has carved out a reputation in NZ going after everything from gangs to politicians to Pacific Island stereotypes.

He's also performed at the Edinburgh and Adelaide Festivals, guest-lectured at universities, been a member of the award-winning Puppet Fiction crew, written Wellington's popular political satire series, public service announcements, all while being a regular host at Wellington and Auckland comedy clubs, and a commentator for Radio Live and 531PI.

After growing up on the West Coast, Mel now calls home a hotel room and a suitcase, building her fan-base the old-fashioned way, winning over audiences on the live circuit.

Mel – a two-time NZ Music Award finalist for Folk Album of the Year – has received accolades for her 2009 debut record ‘Over My Shoulder' and for ‘Red Grey Blue' released in 2011.

Last year she toured Australia, UK, Ireland, Germany and New Zealand as a solo artist and joined the cast of ‘Fly My Pretties' for the sold out 23-date ‘Homeland Tour'.

Mel is currently working on her third album, due for release in early 2015.

‘Beauty and the Bro' is on Friday, September 19, from 7pm at Whitianga Town Hall, Monk St, Whitianga. Car bar opens 6.30pm.

Tickets cost $15 from Whitianga Paper Plus. Email [email protected] or call 07 866 5698

Peninsula SunLive has two tickets to ‘Beauty and the Bro' to give away to a lucky reader who can tell us: Where Mel Parsons grew up?

Enter online at www.sunlive.co.nz under the competitions section.

Entries must be received before Monday, September 8.