Touted as "Australia's best blues singer", Toni Swain and her band will be bringing some soul to The Jam Factory on Friday.

The band will also be honouring their guitarist and close friend Roy Payne who recently passed away.

'We have continued with the tour, as Roy would have insisted,” says Toni.

This is the band's seventh tour to New Zealand.

'Roy has family here in Matakana and Mount Manganui who were looking forward to seeing him again. They came to Australia for his funeral last week.”

Toni says Roy passed away unexpectedly in hospital after a cut on his leg became infected.

Prior to that, the band had been working on a new album.

'I received the new album from the printers last Friday,” says Toni.

'Roy never got to hear the finished album. And it's called "Destination", which takes on a whole new meaning for me now.”

Toni Swain with Roy Payne. Photo: Supplied.

The album is nine tracks, and of course features Roy's guitar throughout; he was a big part of it.

From groovin' soul to latin infused toe-tappers, Toni's eclectic original style is stylishly carried through with her big, bold and beautiful soulful voice.

'We are playing Auckland, Tauranga, Rotorua, Hamilton, Leigh, then onto the Bay of Islands Jazz and Blues Festival.”

Toni says they are playing the first few gigs as a four-piece band.

'And on Monday Ray Beadle joins us. Ray is a premier guitarist, a virtuoso of blues guitar, also one of Roy's favourites. So when I'm on stage and look over to my right hand side everything is going to be alright...I won't miss Roy so much, because I know he would have loved this line up.”

Also on board with Toni are drummer Hamish Stuart, cosmic on keys George Bibicos and off-the-charts bassist Auckland's own Hal Tupaea.

Hamish has played with Ayers Rock, Marcia Hines, Billy Fields, Doug Parkinson, Jackie Orszaczky, Mike Nock, Barry Leef, The Catholics, Lucie Thorne, Jade MacRae, Don Walker, and holds the number one rank as Australia's top session and live drummer.

Following up on Friday night's performance, Tauranga locals can enjoy a drumming masterclass with Hamish on Saturday morning.

Drummer Hamish Stuart will be running a drumming masterclass on Saturday August 5. Photo: Supplied.

Known for his musicality, versatility, reliability, wit and delivery, the hang, and always creating beautiful sounds on any drum kit, Hamish will be sharing some techniques in the drumming workshop and no doubt a few stories with the lucky attendees at this one-off master-class.

Tribute to Roy Payne

'Not only was Roy my guitarist, I was Roy's closest friend, - long distance girlfriend?! - I also played guitar in his bands too,” says Toni as she reflects on the bittersweet tour ahead and what it means to no longer have Roy with them.

Roydon Titian Payne aka "Big Daddy Roy" was born in Henderson, Auckland on June 19, 1968, and died on July 16, 2022.

'He left in his 20s, and played in many bands in Australia including Don Walker 2005 - present (Cold Chisel), rockabilly Sydney band The Whiteliners, Gleny Rae Virus, Jeremy Edwards, there are too many bands to mention really.

'Roy was a professional musician, guitar his first instrument but then would practise anything until he became absolutely proficient at it, to a performance level. And his standards were very high! He played push button accordion - he loved zydeco, cajun and creole music - and later violin, which he learnt particularly so he could sit in with other cajun trios and not play accordion for a change,” says Toni.

Toni says Roy had just finished handmaking his third cajun accordion.

'He was aiming for a run of 10. They are complete works of art, he calls them "Bontiki" accordions. His mother is Fijian, and he had a love of the South Pacific Islands.

Roy Payne. Photo: Supplied.

'Not only was Roy a fabulous musician to have on board, he was also very funny, generous with his time and, when in your band, he gave it 110 per cent and would immerse himself in the project,” says Toni.

'We all miss him very much.”

Toni Swain Gig: 7pm, Friday August 5. Doors at 6.30pm

Drumming master-class: 11am, Saturday August

Venue: The Jam Factory.

For more information go to https://www.eventspronto.co.nz/toniswain