OK. This week – gigs. Lotsa them. Saddle up and I'll try and avoid becoming too listicle-like...

We're looking ahead to next weekend here, to allow for forward planning, but there's one more immediate thing to mention first.

Cybelle Chapman, the 14 year-old singer-songwriter who just released her debut album 'Lesson Learned', is doing a launch show at Totara Street this Sunday (October 8): it's free, all ages, and kicks off at 3pm. She is quite remarkable, her album showcasing an extraordinary inchoate songwriting ability. Definitely one to watch.

On to next weekend.

Swinging jazz lovers will be happy the Nairobi Trio are making one of their rare forays through the Bay, first hauling up at Katikati's Arts Junction on Friday night (October 13) as guests of  the Katikati Folk Club. Members, $20; non-members $25; 7:30 start.

The Nairobis are a classy bunch. They've been at it over 30 years and have toured all over, appearing at major festivals in the UK, Europe, Australasia and Asia. This time regulars Richard Adams (violin/ vocals) and John Quigley (guitar/ vocals) will be joined by newer bass player Aaron Codell, and promise their regular mix of reinterpreted jazz classics and sophisticated original tunes.

Come Sunday (October 15) they'll be in Tauranga at the Sixteenth Ave Repertory Theatre. Tickets are $35; 7:30pm start.   

Between those shows I believe there is some sort of election. More importantly...

At Totara Street (October 14) Matamata-based industrial soul-metal band Newzerror celebrate the release of their debut album 'Behind The Mask', recorded at Neil Finn's Roundhead Studio. With Dee Ellis, Newzerror are one of the few metal bands with a female singer and with their most recent single, 'Alibi', became one of the few bands given permission to shoot a video in Spookers “Scream Park”. 

Doors open at 8pm with the screening of classic hard rock videos before Tauranga alt heavy-goth-rockers The Grand Bazaar kick off at 9pm. They are themselves quite something, which you can see from their extravagantly trippy videos, including a 15-minute one for 'Persona Non Grata' from their album 'Extraordinary Soundscapes Of Mecha Robots And Werewolves Attacking Urban Info Warriors Of The 20 Century'. They wear masks on stage; expect the wild and weird.

Also on the bill are Hamilton’s Rise The Wicked and locals Common Threat. Tickets are $20.

Or if you'd prefer a “pre-results” gig on election night, at 6pm 5-piece locals Creatures Of Comfort present their melodic brand of indie pop-rock at The Jam Factory. Find clips on YouTube. They are supported by The Fuzzies, mentioned recently here and apparently still pretty fuzzy. $20 tickets. 

One final reminder... the Tauranga Arts Festival kicks off on October 19, and it kicks off at the beautiful Carrus Crystal Palace – which will be located on the waterfront, roughly below Wharf Street – at 7pm with most excellent country-folk singer-songwriter Jenny Mitchell, who will be joined by her twin sister Maegan and Nicola Mitchell for a heapin' helpin' of family harmonies. Tickets are $45. 

Hear these bands on Winston's latest playlist:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3FhCTtmm2UTy2FYLW5mSVg?si=d4dcf9eaf22e421a