Winston Watusi Music Plus

OK. Let's look ahead this week, since there's a bunch of interesting music seeing out May.

And someone mentioned I've been neglecting the Mount recently so let's start there...

Firstly, to celebrate NZ Music Month, Mount Mainstreet have been putting on free music sessions every Friday in May from 12pm to 2pm. Good on them. The final one on May 28 features rapidly rising local (now relocated in Auckland) singer/songwriter Georgia Lines who suddenly seems to be everywhere and collaborating with all sorts of people. I'd highly recommend checking her out if you're in the area.

Like previous weeks this will take place in the council-built skate park that was once a car park and never quite became green, 137 Maunganui Rd.

Coming to popular tequila and taco dive bar The Voodoo Lounge on May 29 is Dead Favours, formed in 2016 by Steriogram's Jared Wrennall's who did a Dave Grohl and moved from drums to frontman. They topped the charts with debut single Dig and are now touring to celebrate the release of second album Riffing & Yelling and new single Move On. Amiably thrashy punks Dead Beat Boys will be in support. Tickets are $22.50 on Eventfinda; stuff happens after 8pm.

Over in town you can pay $10 for a ticket to the Jam Factory on May 28 to hear Marmalade Skies, 4-piece pride of the Mount's surf rock scene. Hot off the excitement of their debut EP, Nautical Nectar, the boys are releasing a music video for the single, Mount Girls, and are premiering it that night along with a show of course and even support acts. At 7pm.

SOLD OUT

On Saturday, May 29, there I should just mention that Derek Toner has sold out which is very cool since he's a very cool songwriter and singer and generally entertaining fellow on stage. Good to see local music popular. Still available are $15 tickets there for Sunday (30 May) when the fifth ‘Satellite Session' will take place after a sold-out number four. This time the impressive line-up of singer/songwriters features Joseph & Maia, Tukana Kaya, Regan Perry, and a solo set from Dee, lead singer of Stellarize. That's at 4pm.

But undoubtedly the gig of the weekend is taking place at Jack Dusty's in Bureta on Saturday night and it's free as well.

Tauranga has been abuzz for a while now with rumours of Electric Universe and the success of the first couple of singles and videos from a planned album, Timeless. They are an eight-piece classic rock/metal band who congregate at lead singer Shane Davies Whakamarama recording studio Soundtree Productions. Now, with the addition of an ANZAC Day song there have been three songs released from Timeless and on May 28, the album gets launched into the world with the first of half a dozen launch shows around the country throughout June.

HENDRIX

The Tauranga show will kick off with an act that claims the title of New Zealand's premier Jimi Hendrix Tribute band, Jimi Kara and the Bluesos. They'll be playing all the Hendrix favourites and have studied the man's sound and music. Expect them to be shredding their way through Purple Haze, Foxy Lady and Voodoo Chile and many more.

Jimi Kara will also be playing at the band's upcoming Thames show while Black Sabbath tribute band After Forever play in Auckland and Hamilton and Electric Universe join Psyc Riff-heads Stonehurst, dark prog rockers Elidi and trance inducers Via Kaleidoscope for a big bash in Christchurch.

At Jack Dusty's Electric Universe promises 'a classic rock revival show that will take you back to the timeless era of 70s rock 'n' roll; when the guitars soared, the drums pummelled, singers swaggered and the audience partied like there was no tomorrow”.

With the serious line-up of musicians the band boasts they should be able to do just that. At the core are three members of now-legendary local metal band Black Rose: vocalist Shane, guitarist Michael ‘Mutt' Furness, and bass player Patrick Hawkins. They have been joined by guitarist Baz Mantis, Patrick's daughter Jana Rose Hawkins and Mantis's partner Mazi Star on backing vocals, and Kokomo's Nigel Masters on Hammond organ.

Things kick off at 7.30pm; it could get wild!