This week it's a gig and a round-up of recent releases. Let's get right to it...

First the gig, which is one I mentioned a few weeks back. More information has arrived since; and it sounds like a most excellent initiative.

It's a new Sunday session running weekly at Totara St called ‘CHUR CHON SNDY'.

First thing: despite the slight religious connotations, ‘Chur' this is not a religious venture as many, myself included, assumed. No. It's all about youth and music.

Totara Street, with its combination of music venue and educational establishment, has always had a particular relationship with young musicians and as the venue's Jay Munro explains: 'The aim is to really try and give original artists a chance to play their songs and get on stage to build confidence and gain experience and get exposure”.

With that in mind, Jay has arranged a ‘House Band' consisting of some seriously heavyweight players such as Max Stowers (keyboards) and drummer Mickey Ututaonga, to provide backing, and each session has been divided into three.

All ages

Doors open at 2pm with free entry. It is a supervised event so younger people can attend with their parents or legal guardian. There's a first set, 30 to 40 minutes, at 2.30pm; then a second at 3.15pm; then the house band plays a set at 4pm.

Jay has been booking upcoming younger artists as the first act and the second slot is for more experienced ones; if you have an original solo or duo act, get in touch with Jay at Totara St. But do remember that word ‘original'.

When I asked Jay about the time-frame he said: 'We are running them every Sunday until the end of October for the first round and then will kick back into them around February/March if all goes to plan. We're thinking we run three, three-month slots each year. This may change but that's the thought.”

If you want an idea of what CHUR CHON SNDY looks like, have a look on YouTube at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtMmtSSk0hQ.

Okay. Moving right along, I thought I'd take a quick glance at new local releases. There've been quite a few recently and I'm sure many of you have missed one or more of them.

Even as I'm writing I'm listening to Sean Bodley's new tune, a guitar instrumental called ‘Sea Of Crises'. This is Sean's usual modus operandi, to release ‘singles' as he creates them and to eventually collect them on an album.

This is as good as any and, unlike the last couple which were slightly more restrained, doesn't shy away from some really crunchy guitar and percussion tones, along with the guitar wizardly you expect from Sean, with serious shredding amongst ridiculously clever harmony lines. Great stuff – can't wait to hear the album! It's at Spotify, YouTube and the usual places.

Easy and free

In fact, that's true of all the things I'm mentioning this week. You can easily and freely listen to them on Spotify and elsewhere.

Last week it was Liam Hagan's new album, ‘Zoonomy'. Liam comes from a musical theatre background and this could almost be seen as a show reel: eight unconnected songs from imaginary musicals, ranging from love songs to hilarious operatic flourishes, Western Swing to piano balladry. It's fantastic stuff. If I were commissioning a musical I'd hire this man right now to write it.

And two local bands have released debut singles. Somacaine is Ryan, Paul, Andy and Chop, who made the national finals of last year's Battle of The Bands and have just released ‘Those Girls', a slice of blues-rock with attitude. And Sorry, Sorry, a slightly more indie four-piece, has released both a single, ‘Waiting Game', and a three-track EP, ‘Rude Awakening', which is very solid, with great-sounding guitars and impressive vocals and production. I'm still not sure what the rather alarming cover depicts.

Factor in the various reggae singles and an EP from John Michaelz and the Black Brothers Band and two albums, post-punk energy on ‘Backchat' from Dead Simple and the contemporary Kiwi blues of ‘Workhorse' from Kokomo and you have quite a good couple of months for Tauranga music!