Winston Watusi Music Plus

February is a short but busy month – so much music, so little time.

Foolishly I used last week to mourn recent fallen musicians; unhappy emails have been arriving ever since from people miffed that I neglected to mention their gigs.

So this week it's all gigs. There're a lot. I apologise upfront that this is going to read like a bit of a list. Sorry. But that's kinda what it is. I'll try and squeeze in some jokes... But let's start with this weekend. Right now. Depending on when you read this it could be today. So pay attention!

Friday, February 3, the Frank Burkitt Band returns to the Katikati Folk Club at The Arts Junction. He is now resident in the UK and the five-piece band from a couple of years back, whose last show people still rave about, is now a duo. It's a 7.30pm start, public $25, members $20.

Unusually the club has a second concert this month, with highly-regarded Canadian folk singer Scott Cook coming to Katikati on February 24.

Also this weekend there's a free Saturday night jazz session, on February 4, at The Barrel Room. The Alex Trask Trio is here from Wellington after playing The Jam Factory on Wednesday. The Wellington-based saxophonist, a graduate of the New Zealand School of Music, is joined by Umar Zakaria (bass, 2018's NZ best jazz artist), and Abe Baillie (drums) for what will I suspect be a sensational night.

Aussie blues

Alternatively, that night, Australian Shaun Kirk is playing the blues at The Jam Factory. I've seen Shaun and he puts on a sensational one-man show, backing his singing with guitar, drums and harmonica. Tickets are $25 for the 7pm show. It'll be good.

At the same venue, also very good and playing the blues, is British Columbian Joel Fafard on Thursday, February 9. Joel tells a great story and is a helluva musician, specialising in slide on an acoustic resonator guitar. Cool gravelly singer too. Same price and time as Shaun.

I did warn you this was going to resemble a list and sadly that's how it's turning out. But it's hard not to be impressed by the sheer concentration of music coming to town, and specifically to The Jam Factory. Let's, briefly, look at the rest of February there...

Wednesday, February 15, sees the eclectic arrival of Ensemble Sangineto, a trio bringing arrangements of traditional Irish, Scottish, Breton and Italian tunes, as well as original compositions with hints of classical and folk music, Gregorian chants and Celtic music. There's a harp (not the blues variety) a bowed psaltery (Wow! No space to explain here – better look it up), and three-piece harmony vocals. Cost is $20, starts 8pm.

European jazz

Friday, February 17, it's more jazz, with Europe-based Taranaki saxophonist Hayden Chisholm and his group Unwind, which features a trio of top Wellington talent: bassist Paul Dyne, drummer Julien Dyne and pianist/composer Norman Meehan. Hayden's original music is sophisticated jazz while containing elements of folk, Indian raga, and chamber music. Tickets $30, from 7pm

Next night, February 18, it's back to folk with Chris Priestley's Unsung Heroes. They comprise of singer-songwriter, guitarist and lap steel player Cameron Bennett, virtuoso guitarist Nigel Gavin (Gitbox Rebellion), and singer Sonia Wilson. Together they tell stories from NZ's distant past in song, with introductory newspaper clippings and poems read by actor Peter Elliott and an historic slide show accompanying each song. Tickets $30, from 7pm.

On February 19 English ex-pat folkie Bill Angus celebrates his third album ‘All Night Before The World Began' with his band the Mighty Ways. He has quite a reputation from the UK, purveying easy-listening originals with echoes of Jackson Browne and James Taylor. Costs $20, starts 3pm.

And that's not all...the following weekend sees singer-songwriter Monty Bevins perform on Friday, February 24; then a special local show from Kokomo on Sunday afternoon, February 26.

Remember, The Jam Factory is small, 55 people is full; so you may want to book in advance.

Meanwhile, February at Totara Street features Valkyrie, Big Sima, Revulva, Hot Potato Band (definitely one for me), NZ/DC and the return of Ozi Ozaa.

Busy month, eh! Sorry, forgot the jokes – next time...

Ensemble Sangineto.