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40 years ago, HIGHWAY‘s self-titled album, from country rock to complex layered progressive pieces, became an underground legend (HMV Studios, 1971). Now, an important part of NZ’s music legacy, it’s back in the stores.

Band members then were: George Limbidis (Freshwater); Phil Pritchard (Retaliation); Jim Lawrie (Inner Sound, The Urchins, Serenity Lane); Bruce Sontgen– Highway vocalist (The Wildcats, The Boddys, The Layabouts Tom Thumb); last to join Highway was George Barris.

According to George Barris, the lineup on the night will be different. “George Limbidis, the original bassist, passed away in 2000. So I will be playing bass (I was on guitar originally), and Phil Pritchard’s son Mark will be on guitar”.

Opening for HIGHWAY will be Del T & The Midnight Ramblers – originals
and covers to rock yer soul.

Del Thomas – vox /guitar;
George Barris – bass;
Phil McLaughlin – guitar;
James Shanks – drums;
John McDonald – keys

Mojo Mama serves up “Blues with Swamp ‘n Sass”. Laura Collins sings with “heart on sleeve” and “tongue in cheek” in equal measure with Cindy Muggeridge on smokin’ boogie keys. Add to this mix some “Guitar Swamp Blues” from Bullfrog Rata, one hell of a bluesman with buckets of soul and a freight train of rhythm and groove; and the classy engine room of Earl Pollard on drums and George Barris on bass.

Expect a rollicking good time.

Laura Collins – guitars/vox
Cindy Muggeridge – keyboards
Bullfrog Rata – guitars
Earl Pollard – drums
George Barris – bass

NZ’s legendary bluesman and songwriter Hammond Gamble is here to party! Hammond has a new album out called Ninety Mile Days: “new originals from McCartney-esque pop songs, gentle soulful ballads, to full-blooded blues rock songs ringing with Gamble’s lead guitar”. Hammond will be playing a solo acoustic set as he recently did last April for none other than blues giant John Mayall, and then a couple of sets with the tasty house band:

Hammond Gamble – vox, guitar;
Elliotte Fuimaono – bass;
Bob Smith – keyboards;
Richard Te One – drums;

Shayn Wills has a voice, a guitar style, and a harmonica soul to blow you away. Since 1992 Shayn has played support gigs for: Albert King, Junior Wells, Robert Cray, John Hammond Jnr., Canned Heat, and Duke Robillard! Not to be missed.

Shayn Willis – vox, guitar, harmonica;
Ian Parker – drums;
Tim Jaray – bass;

Solid wall-to-wall Peter Green and early Fleetwood Mac blues, enjoy some of the very best of the British Blues Boom.

Del Thomas – guitar/harp/vox;
Phil McLaughlin – guitar;
Sean Dolan – bass;
James Shanks – drums

Last December the fabulous Brilleaux rocked the Bristol off its socks! From Tauranga, Brilleaux take their lead from English R&B bands such as Dr Feelgood and Nine Below Zero. So expect some up-tempo, hard drivin’ dance music from

Graham Clark – vox/ harp/guitar/theremin;
Brian Franks – bass;
Bruce Roland – guitar;
Ian Gilpin – drums

Jam Night is the last Thursday of each month ~ no one can predict what’ll happen on stage! It’s a great opportunity for those wanting to perform with a professional house band, so bring an instrument and see the MC for a spot.

Guitar amps kindly supplied by Peter Matich.

Raise a toast to the welcome return of Kayte Edwards, a long-serving blues club member and ex-president. Kayte leads Paekakariki based band The Green Parrots. She is accompanied by:

Gilbert Haisman – keys,
Aden Mackay – guitar
Elliotte Fuimaono – bass
Jack Cromie – drums.

Kayte is a singer-songwriter best-known for her blues-based band Kayte and the Barflies and her album Emergenc-ee. The band will perform songs from blues and country singers like Louis Jordan, Tom Waits, Hank Williams, Billie Holliday, Memphis Minnie, plus Kayte’s originals.

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Tom delivers swampy versions of the blues and promises “bizarrely entertaining, intense, dance-floor-friendly shows”. How can one resist?

From the UK, but often performing Down-under, Tom’s musical reference points include slave-era spirituals, Alan Lomax field recordings, calypso music, and all varieties of mean blues. Yeah.

Tom’s intention is “to do justice to this music and communicate the range of emotions and integrity it carries. The feeling is the only real content.” Bring it on.

www.donburnham.com

From West Coast USA, guitarist and vocalist Don Burnham is the bandleader of LOST WEEKEND, internationally recognized as one of the leading contemporary Western Swing bands.

In 2005, Don was inducted into the Western Swing Hall of Fame.

Along with his kiwi wife Sarah Dee (Duckworth), who was treasurer of Capital Blues Inc for many years, Don is touring New Zealand with his album I Dreamed Count Basie was a Cowboy, which features a good kiwi song called “Fern Frond Boogie”.

Opening for Don is local bluesman Dave Murphy.

Don Burnham – guitar/vox:
Sarah Dee – vox:
Simon Burgess – bass;
Richard Klein – fiddle.