We must be getting close to the end of the year – gigs are starting to wind down.

Not the gigs themselves of course, but as December arrives they get sparser. It’s always tricky promoting stuff so close to Christmas as at any given moment – half your audience will probably have another pre-Christmas function to attend.

Today we’ll take a tour of November shows that have piqued my interest. Look upon it as a sort of annotated gig guide. With a playlist.

On Facebook

Just on that subject, I’ve been meaning to mention that as well as the playlist I have a Winston Watusi Facebook page. It’s pretty much what’s in these columns with the odd extra musical post whenever inspiration strikes. Come be my friend if you fancy.

Okay. Gigs. I thought we’d start with this weekend, something I normally avoid as many of y’all like a little lead-in time to arrange dog-sitters, stretch limos and other essentials required for attending concerts...

Ryland Moranz, playing at the Jam Factory. Photo: supplied

First up a young chap who’s coming to the Jam Factory from Canada this Saturday, November 23, with a bunch of acoustic instruments. Ryland Moranz is a seriously good banjo player and acoustic guitar picker and sings authentic care-worn folk songs in the vein of John Prine or recent visitor Matt Joe Gow.

Next day, Sunday, November 24, there’s a feast of cool retro-grooves at the Mount’s Totara St from, you might have already guessed ... Retrogroove.

Retrogroove is a big fun project, an octet assembled by Hamilton drumming legend Neil Reynolds to play soul, R&B, funk and more, with the lead vocals of longstanding Tauranga musician Chris Gunn. Sharing the singing is Georgia Brill.

Neil Reynolds, who drums with Retrogroove. Photo: supplied

A problem…

Now I have a problem, since every member of the band merits a full column. They’re a pretty damned accomplished bunch. Chris alone, for instance, played with Salty Dogg, Human Instinct, Larry Morris and Ritchie Pickett amongst others. The list for Neil – who started with Mandrake and the original Dragon – is ridiculous. So I’ll just name the members; take their impressive CVs as read.

Chris Gunn, who sings with Retrogroove. Photo: supplied

Grant Mason is on trumpet and flugelhorn, Bill Forest on saxes, Gary Verberne plays guitar, Carlos Pla bass, and Daron MacDonald on keyboards. You can catch them 3.30pm with support from the Trevor Braunias Blues Band.

Also on Sunday afternoon let me mention again that local hardcore band Threat.Meet.Protocol, armed with a new single The Cure, are hosting Americian doom-gazers Spotlights – with whom they’re currently touring the North Island – at a gig under the harbour bridge. Entry by koha. It could be spectacular.

On to next weekend, which is what I was aiming at all along. On Friday, November 29, Hamilton band Static play the Mount’s Voodoo Lounge, promoting new single She Lied To Me, with support from locals Somacaine and Dead Empire. Meanwhile, Ladi6 is down the road at Totara Street.

Next night, November, Saturday 30, recent Rockquest finalists, the cool and confident Unit 51, return to the Jam Factory with support from wonderfully-named BlahBlahUhHuhBooHoo.

Next week: let’s look at December...

Hear Winston’s latest Playlist: