Winston Watusi Music Plus

I write this hunkering down awaiting a cyclone's arrival; by the time you read it that will be old news.

So I hope y'all got through okay. It has been, without a doubt, the worst summer weather for music that I can remember. So many cancellations. Surely it'll settle down soon.

This week I'm going to pick up a couple of threads from recent columns to highlight some upcoming events – all indoors and in no immediate weather danger.

So let's glance at next weekend. I hate to reveal that yet more folk music is coming, but it indubitably is.

I seem to have written endlessly about touring folkies recently.

But there are also some very groovy Afrobeat grooves and more...

But, yep, first it's definitely folk. On Friday, February 24, there are two folk singers coming to the Bay. One is coming to town at the Jam Factory, one is heading to Katikati's Arts Junction. Both self-describe as full-time touring musicians; one is a Kiwi, the other is from Canada.

Monty Bevins is the New Zealander, whose music I like a lot. It is good, straight-ahead contemporary folk music. He has a solid voice and is confident enough that he doesn't need to show off, which certainly gets points from me. He writes a good song and mainly accompanies himself on guitar.

Travellers

Seven years of solid touring culminated in a 2018 EP, ‘Traveller', and three years later, after experiencing the joys and tribulations of fatherhood, he followed that with the full-length album, ‘Time To Bide'.

That was 2021 and since then he's been through the same difficulties as most musicians, trying to get out and play in Covid times.

I think he's well worth a listen, so perhaps check out his Bandcamp page. It's good honest stuff and very appealing.

Tickets $20; show 7pm.

Meanwhile in Katikati world traveller Scott Cook arrives from his home in Alberta. He first hit the road in 2007 and has since toured the United States, Europe, South Africa, Asia, Australia and here, while releasing seven albums of songs. And he's fantastic. I'd never heard of him till last week but after extensive examination of YouTube and elsewhere you can definitely call me a fan.

Scott's music seems a little more old-school, not as in trad folk but leaning towards Arlo Guthrie and more political sixties styles. He is an extremely engaging performer – again, he sings accompanied by his guitar – and his music has been acclaimed with various awards.

His most recent album, ‘Tangle of Souls', spent two weeks at No.1 on Alberta's province-wide community radio network CKUA and earned Scott his third Canadian Folk Music Award nomination (Songwriter of the Year – English) while its second single, ‘Say Can You See', won the folk category in both the 2020 UK Songwriting Competition and the 2020 Great American Song Contest.

I would recommend him very highly.

Tickets $20 for Katikati Folk Club members, $25 for non-members; show 7.30pm.

Afrobeat feast

Next night, Saturday, February 25, over at The Mount's Totara Street, there's a feast of Afrobeat music courtesy of Ozi Ozaa. Band leader Yaw Asumadu is a master drummer, composer, African flautist, bass guitarist and xylophone player. In 2018 he moved to New Zealand and formed Ozi Ozaa, an 11-piece combining funk and jazz with highlife and traditional African rhythms. They have members who have previously played in bands such as Batucada Sound Machine, Tahuna Breaks, The Scribes of Ra, Ijebu Pleasure Club and many others. Last time they played at Totara Street it sold out.

Tickets are going fast at $25, show-time is 8pm.

Amongst Ozi Ozaa's various percussionists is drummer Paul Hoskin, once of Wellington acid-jazz organ trio Twinset. That band is currently reuniting for a new album and Paul is also filling the drum stool for Bay of Plenty favourites Kokomo while drummer Ian ‘Beano' Gilpin recovers from a torn Achilles tendon.

Paul will be in action with Kokomo on the Sunday afternoon, February 26, at the Jam Factory. Tickets $25; show 3pm.

Simultaneously it's time for Totara Street's monthly Chur Chon Sndy, on February 26 – a free session with accompanying barbecued food kicking off at 2pm. This month will feature Their There, Crooked Finger, Anthony Coulter, Cristy Ana and Crystal Starr.

Yaw Asu madu. Photo: Supplied.

Monty Bevins. Photo: Supplied.

Scott Cook. Photo: Supplied.