Winston Watusi Music Plus

Easter is over. The Jazz Fest is done. But there's always more music around the corner...

First of all though, hats off to the organisers of the Jazz Festival. What a splendid event, fully fitting of a 60th anniversary. We try to look ahead here at The Sun so I won't dwell at any length, but a big hats off to Marc Anderson, the festival director, and to Liam Ryan, who corralled the biggest contingent of youth bands to ever attend the festival.

While the main event was celebrating 60 years, and the Rodger Fox Big Band 50 years – yes, Rodger was a mere teenager when he started it – the Youth Band Competition quietly turned 45 and had to be extended to an extra day to accommodate the glut of entrants.

One factor in this increasing success is the very inclusive decision to reduce the registration fees for those attending. This allowed for much greater participation from lower decile schools, who proved that lack of funding in no way means lack of talent.

But music never stops, and rarely even pauses, so let's glance ahead at next weekend...

Next Friday, April 21, at Totara Street sees Salmonella Dub Soundsystem finally making it to Tauranga after an elaborate tour meant to celebrate 30 years was destroyed by Covid-19. Now Salmonella Dub originator Andrew Penman, AKA DJ Rude boy, is bringing Tahoe soul diva Whirimako Black to lift the roof with the Mighty Asterix and Salmonella Dub's horn section.

This tour launches ‘For All Things Alive', Salmonella Dub's long overdue double digital album.

Delays

The band started writing material for it in January 2012, the week of their final Kaikoura Roots Festival; it was finally finished, with the last vocal take from Troy Kingi, in Whakatu on the day of the September 2021 lockdown. The plan was to launch ‘For All Things Alive' at the end of 2021 off the back of a 37-date tour. The tour ended up being cancelled after three shows.

So this album has taken 10 years to make and three years to release. It should be a magnificent show: tickets are $40 (early bird) or $45; things happen at 8pm.

The following night AutoMatic 80s return to Tauranga for the eighth time. I have been told this is consistently the most popular touring show at Totara Street. They 'deliver the smash hits of this unforgettable and exciting musical era”.

Well I bloody hate the eighties. Take your big hair, padded shoulders, and eye-straining fabric colours and as far as I'm concerned stick them where the sun don't shine. However, if you disagree, tickets are $45; the show starts at 7.30pm.

Meanwhile, over at The Jam Factory there's a whole bunch of music being released.

Thursday April 20's double-header sees retro rock band Zephyr Love team up with American-born singer/songwriter Jennifer K. Austin. Both acts have recently recorded at The Lab Studios in Auckland; Tauranga is stop number six on their nationwide tour.

In Jennifer's case it's an EP and single called ‘Cards', with Zephyr Love it's an album called ‘Homage', the title track of which has even sneaked into the charts. I'd describe both of them as 'radio-friendly mainstream rock”. Tickets are $10, doors open at 7pm.

Soloist

The following night, Friday, April 21, local outfit We Will Ride Fast releases new album ‘Army of Invisible Zombies'. We Will Ride Fast is in fact psychedelic post-punk solo artist, singer/multi-instrumentalist, Kyle Sattler. The 10-track album, is out digitally and on 180 gram red 12 inch vinyl and is a follow up to 2021's gloom rock album ‘Emotional Molecules'.

This is interestingly strange and eccentric music and, with support from Edward Gains and Doubler, it could be a night to remember. Tickets $15, show, 7pm

And one last local show. On Sunday afternoon at Jack Dusty's Ale House in Bureta, The TJS Blues Band is playing. They are Trevor Brainiac (guitar), Stefan Brainiac (drums) and Julian Clark (bass). Together they play classic electric blues from New Orleans, Texas, Chicago and Britain. Trevor is as good a blues guitarist as you could hope to hear and it's free. What's not to like? Music kicks off at 3pm.

Salmonella Dub. Photo: Supplied.