Winston Watusi Music Plus

Nearly June already, and it starts with a public holiday: a new public holiday.

For the first time in my life we're celebrating King's Birthday Weekend. Hooray! All that coronation palaver was good for something after all. And it brings a deluge of musical events; let's examine them.

On Friday, June 2, Sydney ghetto-dubsters, Bootleg Rascal, come to the Mount's Totara St with their hip-hop-infused jams and sonic brews.

I could say that the band's main-men are Carlos (Q-Dome) Lara and Jimmy (Vanilla Gorilla) Young, plus Jack (50 Shade) Gray, and Scottie (Sgrillex) Grills. As you can see they all have nicknames. They've been touring since they formed in 2013 and have been remarkably successful.

Bootleg Rascal.

In fact I could say a whole lot about them but is it worth it? I suspect if you're into this music then you know them already and if you're not, you don't care. Lemme just say that tickets are $30 or $40, depending on how soon you buy.

The following night, Saturday, June 3, Mount band Common Threat is at the Jam Factory. They've been busy, supporting Sidewinder, playing Lucfest 2023 and even venturing down to Gisborne's famous Smash Palace.

They are guitarists David Bower and Regan Boocock, Brent Maxton on bass and Jared Beckett on drums, most of whom seem to sing, with Cam Hardcastle on lead vocals. Their music is heavy rock but from what I've heard melodic not metallic. Tickets are $15 for a 7pm show.

Electronica

Sunday, June 4, is when the electronica kicks off. With gigs it's often the old ‘waiting for a bus' story and Sunday is a perfect example.

Totara St has a night of electronica. It features three DJs who are touring together, each reaching different areas of the bass-music spectrum. Between them Truth, Paige Julia and Ashez range from dubstep/140, to jungle, drum ‘n' bass, halftime and breaks. Not only that but there's local support from BLASE and Mufasa. Tickets are either $35 or $40 for a 9pm show.

But like I said about those buses, that same day The Historic Village is hosting the Elektrophoria Festival, from midday to 10pm. There will be two stages, the Amphitheatre/Forest and one in the beautiful old chapel; and 12 DJs from New Zealand and as far afield as Argentina, Chile, Brazil and Italy.

For the record, they are: Dj Carloose, Hooky, Joaco Dibbern, DeepNotic, Nicco, Zeca, Chris Silva, Euphoria, Aromat, Vness, Mcgamma, and MarisolBang. And in case you thought the only thing on offer at such an event is music, allow me to quote the festival's mission statement:

'Throughout the festival, you will connect with the energy of the forest and its complex roots, giving you unique and authentic ancestral knowledge. You will also connect with other dimensions, evoking the energy of your inner self and the multiverse. Our festival offers the perfect opportunity to emancipate the respect and protection of Mother Earth while feeling the vibrations of music, the heartbeat of life's transitions, and the calm and peace that comes from the church granting us life after death.”

Gobsmacked!

Well colour me gobsmacked! There's a whole bunch of different philosophies in that short paragraph. I guess this isn't exactly the same church my Mum and Dad used to attend...

Perhaps more relevant, door sales are $92.40 and come with this proviso: 'If there is poor weather, the event will be postponed and not cancelled. In this case, you will not have the right to a refund, but you will be entitled to resell your ticket”. Hmmm...

On to Monday – Chuck's ‘birthday' – and a gig named after it: the King's Birthday Blues Revue, at Totara St on Monday, June 5.

Darcy Perry Blues Band.

This sees the long-awaited return of the Darcy Perry Blues Band along with singer Petra Rijnbeek. Darcy has been laying low for a while so it'll be great to see him on stage again. They'll be joined by Auckland's top blues outfit the Flaming Mudcats whose last album, ‘Forever And A Day' was one of the most impressive in NZ blues history and, from the Bay, Robert Lock's Loaded. Things kick off 2pm, tickets are $35; and Under-16s, supervised, $20.