Let's start in un-bypassed and unlikely-to-ever-be-bypassed Katikati. People must be getting sick of this. Katikati is a beautiful town. Some towns aren't. Some... Read More

Meet the new year - same as the old year? ...And here we are on the other side. Welcome to 2022: brace yourself... If there's one thing I've learnt from the... Read More

A lot of writers are deadline junkies. Perhaps it is just the pleasure of procrastination, but it requires the impending rush of a deadline to unleash their creative... Read More

New albums are piling up thick and fast, so I better start sharing them with y'all. And here's a thought: if you're a Spotify listener (or that of other digital... Read More

I've spent the week in the company of The Beatles; it has been most enjoyable. I've been wading through Mr Jackson's epic look at a month in the life of the Fab... Read More

Another day, another level change, another cancellation. Don't you just love 2021? I must confess that, like pretty much everyone else, I didn't really heed the... Read More

There is a special music night at Jack Dusty's next weekend - a belated tribute to one of the city's best guitar players. Mike Everard, most recently in the spotlight... Read More

I get increasingly sick of today's 'influencers” - mostly fly-by-night narcissists angling for sponsorship and self-promotion. But there are real Kiwi... Read More

Are we still between gigs? Yeah, pretty much, so we'll go elsewhere this week. Sure, there is stuff happening. Jack Dusty's, the Barrel Room and the Hop House... Read More

Two important things are happening this weekend: a farewell and a welcome. The hello is for local musician Brendan McCarthy's debut album, which has occupied... Read More

Musicians around the country have been feeling a bit like James Bond and, like the dapper Englishman, are slowly emerging from hibernation. But often that's not... Read More

I like long, unusual words in songs; there are only so many times you can rhyme 'love” and 'above”. I was reminded of this yesterday as I listened... Read More