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Damn. Turn your back for a minute and a month disappears: there goes January.
That’s the way of the world. Without further ado let us turn to February’s music, or at least the second weekend in February. There’s a lot on.
Before we even get there, though – if you missed the One Love festival there’s another chance to bathe in reggae vibes: head to the Cornerstone Bar on The Strand on what would have been Bob Marley’s 80th birthday, on Waitangi Day, February 6. Here Auckland band Tribal Conexionz will provide a Marley tribute show from 9pm. Note that advance tickets are cheaper than at the door.
On to the weekend and it’s just a matter of where to start. Perhaps in Katikati where on Friday, February 7, the local folk club welcomes South For Winter to The Arts Junction. They are a trio of two New Zealand guitarists and a Nashville cellist, creating new Americana and winning awards wherever they go. Their new album, ‘Of Sea and Sky’, is making waves and this annual tour back to their homeland is selling out wherever they go.
South For Winter. Photo: supplied
European blend
That same night, February 7, in town at The Matua, Joanne Melbourne and Mike Garner present vintage acoustic blues; while at the Historic Village’s Jam Factory there’s an eclectic European blend who go under the name Lucas and Friends.
This is pianist Lucas Kewell with musicians he met through his studies in Switzerland: Zoltan Fekete from Hungary on drums and Slovenian vocalist Neza Ozinger. They are joined by local duo Toby Barrett on sax and bassist Tyler Diprose. The group will present original music blending jazz with influences from contemporary classical and film music.
D4 back for more
Meanwhile, at the Mount’s Totara Street, one of New Zealand’s legendary punk-alternative bands have re-formed. The D4 played the recent Smoke Festival and are back for more. Their original second album, ‘Out Of My Head’, is being released on vinyl that very day – so expect wild volume and extreme extremeness.
And perhaps you want to warm up to one of those events with a morning concert? Look no further than the Holy Trinity Church where Operatunity presents ‘Thistle and The Shamrock’: a fiddler, an accordionist and singers romp through a bunch of Irish and Scottish ballads, jigs, jokes and patriotic songs. Just what you need at 11am.
The D4. Photo: supplied
Twilight time
That’s just Friday, February 7. Consider these two for Saturday, February 8: Albi & The Wolves and Sarah Spicer are playing a twilight concert in Katikati; and the extraordinary Beacon Bloom, a duo playing live electronica who have under their belt a set at Burning Man and two US tours, are at Totara Street.
There has also been action on the recorded-music front. Shane Davis, of Soundtree Productions in Whakamārama, has released ‘Silence’, a 16-track album that I’ll return to when I have more time, and local singer-songwriter Weston and producer Paulie have teamed up with guitarist Regan Perry to reshape their 2024 single ‘Low Life’ into a summer anthem with ‘Low Life (Beach Cut)’. It’s quite a groovy transformation.
This week’s Playlist:
