There is, once again, a raft of unusual and interesting shows on the music horizon.

But before moving onto more musical matters, a recent newspaper story has refused to leave my addled imagination. Blessed as I am with a modestly-sized brain and child-like sense of humour, I find it incredibly funny, only made funnier by a completely misjudged reaction when the PR guy weighed in.

It was a story from Australia about Lime scooters, one of those times when you see a headline and know you're in for a treat. This one read: 'Hacked Lime scooters in Brisbane playing offensive messages to riders.”

It really couldn't get much better. I laughed at just that, and the story beneath was indeed equally entertaining.

Yep, hackers managed to get into the audio system of Lime scooters in Brisbane, and scooters then had to be recalled after they began 'playing offensive messages through their speakers.”

There is, apparently, footage of the scooters 'screaming” messages at their riders such as 'I don't want to be ridden”. Fantastic. Sadly that was the only specific message quoted. It's pretty good, but I can think of a few alternatives...

'Danger, Danger, Will Robinson” has a certain appeal, or 'Get off me, Fatty!”. Or the Batman theme, going 'Na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na, BATMAN!”. My favourite idea was 'I'm not a scooter, I'm an alien. You're standing on my testicles.”

Official reaction

But the best bit in the story was the reaction from Lime Queensland's public affairs manager. The poor guy was actually named in the story so has already received due comeuppance.

For him, the incident was 'disappointing”

He offered the po-faced – and incorrect in almost every aspect – opinion: 'It's not smart, it's not funny and is akin to changing a ringtone”.

The problem here, as I think we can all agree, is that it really is very smart, and it really is very funny. As for the ringtone bit, I'm a little out of touch. Is changing a ringtone a big deal or a small deal? It's akin to an irrelevant comparison.

Lime scooters did run into trouble in both Brisbane and Auckland last year and were temporarily banned after some front wheels locked up, sending riders flying over the handlebars. That wasn't very funny. But a scooter screaming: 'Help, he's stealing me!”. I wouldn't be disappointed.

Back in the scooterless Bay of Plenty there are a profusion of gigs next week (see last week's column online for some of this weekend's shows). What impresses me particularly is the remarkable diversity. I'm sure you can track down full details elsewhere so allow me to just offer a list.

Four gigs

Wednesday, May 8: Young alt-folk singer Sophie Mashlan, who has supported the likes of Donovon Frankenreiter, is at the Historic Village's Jam Factory with her just-released debut album, Perfect Disaster.

Thursday, May 9: With a three-piece horn section and four-piece percussion section, Del Pacifico is at the Mount's Totara Street playing classic and modern Latin songs from Cuba, Brazil, Argentina and more, along with DJ Chirinos.

Friday, May 10: The Cattlestops ride into Katikati to the Arts Junction, new home of the Katikati Folk Club. They are James Cameron, Andrew London – well-known from his titular trio and previously Hot Club Sandwich - Wayne Mason (writer of Kiwi classic Nature, dynamite piano player) and Ross McDermott. They play originals and Western Swing covers and have a lot of fun doing it.

Saturday, May 11: At possibly Tauranga's smallest and most intimate venue, Folk, the home of coffee connoisseurs on Durham Street, international traveller, indie artist Graeme James returns to NZ with his latest album, The Long Way Home. Expect Graeme to play electric violin, guitar, bass, baritone ukulele, mandolin, harmonica and percussion, recreating songs in real time with his famous loop pedal.

Four nights, four very different gigs.

Next week: Sean Bodley. One of the most extraordinary guitar players the area has ever produced has new singles on YouTube right now and an album dropping any day. I'll have a review and exclusive giveaways.