I know I go on about valuing your feedback on this column. Which is, of course, exactly what I’d say if no one ever emailed; columnists all want to seem popular and engaged.

But just in case anyone had reason to doubt the sincerity of that statement here’s something I just learnt from a reader, which has made me happy in the indefinable way that collecting obscure information can.

This came from last month’s one-thousandth column, which had the theme of small things eventually adding up to something greater. A friend who had lived in England, in Yorkshire, read it and said to me: “Many a mickle makes a muckle”.

Not only was this an expression I’d never heard before but I genuinely think it is fantastic. It sounds great and it rolls around the mouth perfectly. I looked it up. It comes from 1793 and the definition is: “a lot of small amounts, put together, become a large amount”. Brilliant. Thanks Ken.

And, actually, it gets better. Because the story of how the expression came about is one of those absurd “words changing meanings” stories that seem to litter the English language.

Here’s what the dictionary says: The original form of the proverb was “many a little (or pickle) makes a mickle”, mickle meaning “a great amount”. However, it became corrupted to “many a mickle makes a muckle”, leading to mickle being thought to mean “a small quantity” and muckle to mean “a large quantity”, even though muckle is a variant of mickle and both mean “a large quantity”.

Wow. You gotta love the English language’s weird and wonderful constructions.

Music

Right, on to the something more practical, let’s survey yet another deluge of music, this lot arriving at the beginning of August.

Once again I want to mention Jack Dusty’s Ale House in Bureta. During the last year it has developed into a busy venue, now hosting music four times a week if you include their very popular Wednesday Open Mic nights.

There are three acts each weekend, from middle-of-the-road cover bands and tribute shows – Elvis and The Beatles were recently in the building – to blues and Americana and more. Last Sunday it was reggae with John Michaelz and the Black Brothers Band, which has just released a Dylan Israel (Summer Thieves) remix of their debut single ‘Come On In’ and have an album on the way.

Hans Pucket.

Let me turn over the rest of this column to a sort of ad hoc Gig Guide. It will look like a list but it’s a good way to show quite how much is going on in Tauranga these days...

Thursday, August 3, Wellington trio Hans Pucket is playing The Jam Factory. Noted for their hook-driven indie pop/rock they recently released a second album, ‘No Drama’, recorded at Jonathan Pearce of The Beths’ Auckland studio. Gig starts 7pm, tickets $25.

Indie pop

On Friday, August 4, The Jam Factory sees a visit from Tom Lark, whose latest album ‘Brave Star’ has been flirting with the Independent Music NZA charts. He sounds rather like John Lennon and makes wistful indie pop with layers of electronica. I don’t know what he does live but his songs are really rather lovely, with extra points for being witty.

Also that night at Totara Street there’s a great-looking show. Guitardeon, features Argentinian duo Matias and Bruno, who present traditional music from Argentina, Uruguay and Columbia with guitar, accordion and special guests. Gigi starts 7pm, tickets $20.

Saturday, August 5? Well it’s busy. The Native Poms are on for the afternoon in Jack Dusty’s Courtyard Bar, then Distraction inside at night. No charge. There’s a Neon Latin Party at La Mexica on The Strand; DJs at Totara Street for The Thrift Shop Ball; blues at The Jam Factory for International Blues Music Day; The Civic Choir and pupils from Tauranga Boys’ and Girls’ colleges present the Little Jazz Mass by Bob Chilcott and more at St Peter’s Church; and the Tauranga Big Band celebrate their 60th anniversary at Baycourt.

Regarding that last one: hats off to band leader John Page and everyone else involved. The band originally formed for the Tauranga Jazz Festival in 1963 and is still going strong – damn fine!