Music Plus with Winston Watusi watusi@thesun.co.nz

It is regularly suggested that because Tauranga is a middle-of-the-road city, I should write about middle-of-the-road music.

The problem is that my musical compass is now so irretrievably broken that I no longer recognise what middle-of-the-road music is.

Are the – now controversially lip-synching – Eagles middle-of-the-road? Is Georgia Lines? What about L.A.B?

How about Irish music? There’s a huge Irish show arriving at Baycourt, though it looks more dance than musical extravaganza. Irish music fell out of favour a while back, after a long love affair with every second bar being Irish-themed and Christie Moore and Mary Black becoming regular visitors. Mind you, it must still have a certain cachet since A Taste Of Ireland offers three shows: Tuesday, July 23 and two on Wednesday, July 24.

How about the country music on the last Sunday of every month at the Mount RSA, next one July 28? Is that middle-of-the-road? Or the monthly jazz jam at the Mount Social Club, next one July 24?

Ravines.

It’s also confusing writing about indie bands. Last week I reviewed Crooked Finger’s debut album - indie pop. But what does “indie” even denote anymore?

It once meant independent as in “not signed to a big record label”, the thought being that signed bands made mainstream music while others produced more adventurous sounds. “Indie” sounds.

But nearly all Kiwi music is “indie” - 99% of bands have to do it for themselves, like it or not, whether creating safe mainstream music or avant garde weirdness.

I don’t know where on the spectrum you’d place the acts at July’s iteration of Satellite Sessions. They sound pretty approachable to me.

They write good songs with proper words and tunes, perform well and don’t do anything that will scare assembled horses.

It’s not Fringe Fest experimentation; it’s not even especially “indie”. Except, as I mentioned, pretty much everything’s “indie”.

The event is this Saturday (July 20) at 16th Avenue Theatre, following a particularly successful Jam Factory bash in April.

Satellite Sessions have been running more or less regularly since 2021, spotlighting local songwriters; they are organised by the remarkable Nick Newman, a multi-instrumental musician and promoter.

It was Nick who arranged the recent Harmonic Resonators tour and was responsible for the Piaf: The Legend show.

Joseph Thomm.

This month’s concert is another winner with, as usual, four acts: there’s Joseph Thomm from wonderful folk duo Joseph & Mia, regular European tourers and Spotify darlings; and Matt Bodman, one of Tauranga’s finest, music boss at Otumoetai College, a splendid songwriter with an endearing penchant for Harry Nilsson, who sneaked out an excellent album last December. He’ll have a five-piece band.

Then there’s Ravines, essentially folky popster Alex Louise, whose latest delicately ravishing release is The Other Family. The final performer is new to me, non-binary Mount Maunganui musician and live looper Wheriko, a high-flyer with 2022 debut single Enby, who has since released two further sultry dancefloor tracks.

Ravines.

Hear them on this week’s Playlist ...

Listen to the week’s Playlist: