 |
Music Plus with |
Festivals are tricky; Tauranga’s jazz one is well-established, but Rotorua has struggled with the blues.
Having hosted two splendid Blues & BBQ events in 2022 and 2023, there was surprise when Rotorua’s festival organisers pulled the plug last year. Could that be the end?
Well, no. It’s just been a hard time for festivals, especially those featuring international acts while the New Zealand dollar is still tanking. But rejoice! It’s back with a fantastic line-up, last weekend in November.
Fortuitously, one of the headline acts are touring New Zealand to support their new album, calling in at the Mount’s Tōtara Street next weekend, on July 19; and Rotorua’s Citizens Club on July 17.
Australian ban 19-Twenty. Photo / Supplied
I’m talking about Australian band 19-Twenty, a high energy trio who really blew away the Rotorua Fest when I saw them. As is often the way at blues bashes, hard-liners argued over whether “they’re really blues”, but everyone agreed they were absolutely sensational. The album is ‘Call It What You Want’.
Australian ban 19-Twenty. Photo / Supplied
Music fusion
The band themselves describe the music as “a fusion of blues, roots, rock, and a touch of folk”. I completely agree. But the overarching thing is those two words I mentioned earlier: “high energy”. They’ve got a great singer and a serious guitarist and the rhythm section drives with a passion, but they also have a whole bunch of fun on stage which is infectious.
I’m not alone thinking this. They were People’s Choice Award winners at the Blues At Bridgetown Festival two years in a row and after this year’s Byron Bay Bluesfest were voted sixth-most-popular live act, behind Crowded House and just before Gary Clark jnr. Not bad.
The band also have a groovy new single out ‘Life Is Good’ – a collaboration with American singer Aloe Blacc, born out of a chance meeting during lockdown. It’s a stomping blues rock anthem and gives a good idea of the band’s energy levels.
At Tōtara Street, they’ll be supported by five-piece all-woman band Piece of Cake and a local duo comprising Rehaab singer Roy Baker and 18-year-old Waikato guitarist Sean Lurman, who won an astounding four gold medals at the World Champion of Performing Arts competition in Los Angeles.
Blues day
Should you require further blues fixes, International Blues Music Day – first Saturday in August – sees local favourites Kokomo playing two celebratory shows along with bluesman Mike Garner and sensational singer Joanne Melbourne: Friday, August 1 at Katikati’s Arts Junction; and Saturday, August 2, at The Jam Factory.
Kokomo. Photo / supplied
In other blues news, recent visitors BB & The Bullets have a new single out, a take on the Beatles I ‘Want You (She’s So Heavy)’. Their previous single ‘High Tide’ just hit number seven in Australia’s Top 50 Song Chart.
Singer Joanne Melbourne and bluesman Mike Garner. Photo / supplied
Plus, 19-Twenty, Kokomo, and Mike and Joanne will be at the Rotorua Blues & BBQ Festival, along with Human Instinct, Texan guitarist Elija Zane, The DeSotos, Sonorous, Recliner Rockers, Dave Tewi Teka Band, The Kaos Blues Revue, Flaming Mudcats, Tina Turley, Jolly, Karen Clark, and whole pile more. Maybe save that weekend…
Hear Winston’s latest Playlist: https://tinyurl.com/2xu6sfpd