OK. Nearly Christmas. Footloose and Covid-free. This week I have three shows for you.

First up a concert by the most excellent Grant Haua, who has spent nearly two years working on a future that is finally beginning to reap the rewards he deserves.

In that time Grant has recorded a solo album – his third – along with a number of accompanying videos, all in the pursuit of landing an international record label. And that's just what happened earlier in the year, when French label Dixiefrog signed him with the aim of launching his music in Europe, along with accompanying tours and full support.

Except that's all rather tricky at the moment. The people of France are not currently campers in any state of happiness. But at least they have Grant Haua's music to enjoy! He will be playing a show for the good citizens of France, as well as the lucky punters of Tauranga and the rest of the world, on December 20.

I would tell you where it is but there's not much point as tickets have already sold out. And, anyway, it's at a secret location. Because the location is not too important for a live-stream such as this. It's happening on-line at 3pm on Sunday, December 20. Visit Grant's Facebook page for details. As he says: 'From my whare to yours”. His last live-streamed concert a few weeks back garnered something like 11,000 viewers: not too shabby!

And while some deals with overseas labels seem very much to exist in name only, Dixiefrog are already getting right behind Grant. He currently has two singles out from his upcoming album, Awa Blues, which is due for release at the beginning of 2021.

Tough love

First was the raucous blues of Tough Love Mumma with its great video, then the deeply-felt This Is The Place, with Te Reo chorus and Maori imagery, exactly, it seems, what the French are after. And not just the French. It debuted at #1 on the iTunes Kiwi Blues charts.

This is The Place was also reviewed in the French edition of Rolling Stone magazine.

My French is rudimentary and mainly involves food and wine. I can order a meal and a bottle of Chateauneuf du Pape toute de suite, but my review reading is about on par with Google translate so I enlisted assistance from the well-travelled brain of bluesman Mike Garner. Mike not only knows all the food words but a few others besides, having played in such august French territories as New Caledonia. Here is what he came up with:

Grant Haua – This Is The Place (which followed reviews of the new Bruce Springsteen, AC/DC and Bob Mould): A new signing by the respected French label, Dixiefrog, Grant Haua comes straight from New Zealand, a guitarist handling the blues with a Maori Haka. With unstoppable rhythms, 'This Is The Place” has the advantages of an exotic hit with a real artistic background, drawn from the cosmopolitan culture of this southern warrior.

Damn fine! Both this and Tough Love Mumma are on Spotify - have a listen.

More shows

And, moving right along there are a couple of other shows coming up over the next week that will both be well worthwhile.

Singer songwriters Nadia Reid and Hollie Fullbrook (of Tiny Ruins) are coming to Baycourts's X Space this Sunday (December 13). Both are fantastic in their own right and make simply the most extraordinary music together. They recently sang on Jesse Mulligan's National Radio afternoon show and unveiled a simply breathtaking version of Don McGlashan's Dominion Road. You can listen on-line at RNZ. Tickets are $46 from Ticketek.

And next week (Saturday 19 December) Wellington-based songwriter Miles Calder visits The Jam Factory. Four years since his last outings with former backing band The Rumours, he has moved away from folk-tinged rock and gone all psychedelic, inspired by early-70's John Lennon as much as contemporaries like Kevin Morby and Father John Misty.

Miles is bringing a five-piece band and has a new single out, Lake Geneva. Support will be from Chris Armour. Tickets are $20 from Eventspronto.