Another week gone and more people seem to be re-embracing live music.

This is nothing but a good thing. Wear a mask, keep your distance, whatever works for you, but get out and enjoy a bit of music – there's certainly plenty of it around.

It's great to see some of the musicians who were put into temporary hibernation by vaccination mandates getting out and playing again. Don't get me wrong, I have no problems with those mandates – in the middle of a global pandemic they were absolutely the correct response. If you chose not to be vaccinated that was your call; choices bring consequences.

But things have changed: wear a mask where you're meant to and don't be an idiot and we should get through this. But absolutely go out to hear music. The jazz festival, with its mingling in bars, didn't lead to a noticeable super-spread so I doubt a regular concert will.

This week we've got a bit of everything: a new local EP, upcoming shows, and a bit of a catch-up with local artists we keep an eye on.

REGGAE RELEASE

First the EP, the debut physical release from reggae purveyors John Michaelz and the Black Brothers Band which collects their three singles in one place along with four dub mixes. CDs are available via their Facebook page and from Record Roundabout, now in flash new Historic Village premises. I just got it yesterday so will be reviewing next week.

Next a quick Grant Haua update since the bluesman has been popping back and forth across the hemispheres with surprising regularity. First he was there – in Europe – performing on Germany's iconic Rockpalast TV show in April; then he was back and played a series of 'Small Hall Concerts” in Hawkes Bay (as did Reb Fountain, Tami Neilson and others). My spies down there tell me that Grant was outstanding.

Now he's back in France, alongside singer DeLanie UtuTaonga (with whom Grant played for many years in the Rotorua band She Jus Greedy) playing a series of concerts. In the interim, they recorded a dynamite performance in the small chapel at the Historic Village, along with bass player Brian Franks and keyboardist Tim Julian, and it looks like the prestigious French label DixieFrog which signed Grant are similarly interested in DeLanie. Meanwhile, that live gig is on Spotify and elsewhere under the name 'Ora Blues At The Chapel”.

Toni Swain

BLUES MUSIC DAY

Talking of the Historic Village, the first weekend of August is going to be a celebration of the blues. On Friday (August 5) Australian Toni Swain, an absolutely terrific blues and soul singer, returns for her seventh tour of New Zealand. She's bringing her five piece band which includes Big Daddy Roy Payne on guitar, or to be more specific on a specially made double-neck guitar. Roy is a show on his own, presenting a 'juke joint style that will lead you along the path of old school Americana roots music, combining the steel guitar twang neck with the blues bopping standard guitar neck.”

The band includes Hamish Stuart, known as one of Australia's top session and live drummers, who will be sharing some techniques the following morning in a drumming masterclass held at 10am in the Jam Factory. (Show - $25; masterclass - $20; both - $40 from: www.eventspronto.co.nz)

And as it happens, the next day (Saturday August 6) is International Blues Music Day. There is a huge celebration of this in Hamilton on Sunday 7 but if you want to stay closer to home you can join local blues favourites Kokomo, who have a new album out now and bluesman Mike Garner for an evening at the Jam Factory promising '100 years of blues”. ($25 from Eventspronto.co.nz)

And a bit more news from the live radar: folk singer Luke Thompson, once a proud local, has just announced a nationwide tour. He will roll into Tauranga on August 20, unusually coming to Remaker on Spring Street, not regularly a concert venue, but a space that self-describes as: 'a social enterprise based in Tauranga New Zealand that seeks to redesign our relationship with resources to create a sustainable community”.