Three gigs, that's what we've got this week: business as usual with an extra dose of spring optimism.

And since September and that spring thing starts tomorrow, let's skip this weekend and all those Father's Day shenanigans and look at a couple of acoustic guitar-wielding acts coming to town next week.

Taking things chronologically means starting next Friday when once again those fine folk at the Katikati, er, Folk Club, have got an interesting act coming to town.

I realise I've been mentioning the club a lot recently and it's only because they do keep hosting top quality stuff.

But, as an aside, I'd like to apologise if I offended anyone at the Tauranga Acoustic Music Club or the Folk Club recently when I suggested that acts playing out Katikati could also find a second gig in town.

Apparently, there still aren't the audience numbers for that (what with the KKFC pulling around 140 people on occasion) and anyway the TAMC is not currently looking at putting on visiting artists.

Fair enough too. Clubs change mandates and missions, usually depending on the committee's skill range and their members' desires, which at the TAMC is making music very frequently.

And, bottom line, it's all about making music!

Friday night

Over in Katikati next Friday, September 7, at their usual Bowling Club haunt, the KKFC is hosting Auckland band The Fables. They make wistful indie-folk music and are essentially the brainchild of singer/guitarist Jess Bailey, who writes appropriately wistful songs. Her description of herself gives an idea:

'Jess Bailey was taught by the Mackenzie Hills of the south Kaipara, dredged in the waters of Muriwai Beach then hung out to dry in the plum trees at home.”

Okay. I told you she gets a bit wistful...

Her main collaborator is James Geluk who plays double bass, often bowing it. They have a third ‘surprise' musician in Katikati for what is the first date in a full month of touring, taking them round the whole country to celebrate the release of a new EP, ‘Portraits'.

They did an RNZ session with Jesse Mulligan recently – July 23 to be exact – which you can find on the RNZ website. They are also on Bandcamp and Soundcloud and other digital platforms.

Doors open 7pm, concert 7.30pm. Tickets only at the door, adults $20, members $15, school children are free.

Saturday night

The next night, Saturday, September 8, Australian solo singer/songwriter Michael Dunstan – also on a nationwide tour – arrives at The Incubator at the Historic Village to support his recently-released second EP ‘Partly Cloudy'. He sings sweetly and soulfully and plays pretty intricate acoustic guitar and, once again, I'd like to quote his own notes. I find it always intriguing to hear how people decide to present themselves, and this is how he describes ‘Partly Cloudy':

'The five tracks explore strong feelings of disbelief, the fear of the unknown, gratitude, heartache and the inability to comprehend the depth of our surrounds and everything entailed in day-to-day life.”

And, in case that seems more like an evening of therapy, he also promises 'up-beat foot-stomping grooves”.

His music is actually very pleasant and you can check it out at his website: www.michaeldunstanmusic.com.au

Doors open at 7pm, pre-sales $10 from Undertheradar.co.nz, or $15 on the night.

Later...

And, finally, just a heads up for a concert later in the month since I know people like early warning for jazz gigs. The Tauranga Jazz Society has organised a ‘Swing into Spring' concert of trad and Dixieland jazz at the Hotel Armitage on Sunday, September 23.

It will feature the veteran sounds of The Woody Woodhouse Quartet and Bay Dixie, as well as the Randy Matthews Quintet, a younger band led by the titular American clarinettist, who play easy-listening standards and features notable local singer/songwriter Matt Bodman on guitar and vocals.

Doors open 1.30pm, show starts 2pm, $20 tickets are available from www.Eventfinda.co.nz (Jazz Society members $15, student/kids $10).