We continue the occasional series wherein Winston expounds on things that currently make
him happy...

70) The high Kiwi dollar! So this may seem odd and it's certainly a bit of a bugger for exporters. But the high New Zealand dollar is one reason that so many international acts are visiting the country during March and April. Rodriguez, Taj Mahal, Black Sabbath, Paul Simon, Bonnie Raitt, Neil Young, Steve Miller, Santana, the list goes on...
Because such artists like to be paid in American dollars it means that promoters here, collecting dosh in Kiwi dollars, can more easily afford them.

71) Byron Bay Bluesfest! So it's in Australia but the Byron Bay Bluesfest is on again at Easter and – along with the previously mentioned Kiwi dollar – is the other reason so many great touring acts are currently visiting. It's much easier to make the trip if you're already going to Australia.
And the Byron Bay festival really is extraordinary. At the risk of boring you with a long list of names you can see there, here's a long list of names you can see there: Paul Simon, Robert Plant, Ben Harper, Santana, Iggy Pop, Steve Miller, Counting Crowes, Wilco, Rodriguez, Chris Isaak, Bonnie Raitt, Status Quo, Jimmy Cliff, Rufus Wainwright, the Tedeschi Trucks Band, Trombone Shorty, Taj Mahal, Robert Cray, Shuggie Otis, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Mavis Staples, Alan Toussaint, Joan Armatrading, Bette LaVette, Wanda Jackson, Tony Joe White, Luka Bloom, Shawn Colvin, and even the riotously entertaining Tav Falco and The Panther Burns.
OK. Pause for breath... that was just a small selection. It's an incredible festival and no wonder so many people are decamping for Easter and heading across the ditch.

72) There's music here too! So it may not include the names seen above but there's – in case you didn't realise yet – a pile of music here over Easter as well. But, if you can't wait, there're also some fantastic sounds coming your way for free at the Mount this weekend (Saturday 23 March). There's a Twilight concert kicking off at 5.00pm in Coronation Park and it's free. This is the final of the very enjoyable 'Summer Series” organised by Mauao Performing Arts Centre supremo Aaron Saxon and features the Trevor Braunias Trio, Hurricane Tilly, Luz Marina, 12 Noon, and Aaron & Ecila Jazz. Things run through till around 8.00pm - take a picnic and have a good time! Aaron restarts his programme with the 'Winter Series” at the end of April.

73) Tuis is Tauranga! So Tauranga is the home of the Tuis, not the avian variety but the Tui Award for Best Jazz Album of the Year. For the past three years the National Jazz Festival has had the honour of presenting the Jazz Tui at a concert during the festival. This year there's an exceptional line-up of finalists includes Whirimako Black, for her album Late Night Plays, Nathan Haines for The Poet's Embrace and new-comer Jennifer Zea for The Latin Soul. I imagine this will be one of the stand-out shows of the festival. All three finalist will perform, supported by the Phil Broadhurst Quartet. Expect world-class jazz. It's on Sunday 31 March, 1pm, at Baycourt's Jazz Café. For more info check www.jazz.org.nz

74) Gay Marriage! So the likelihood of gay marriage moves ever closer in New Zealand – and England and America – and some unlikely bedfellows (excuse my choice of words) have been thrown together. Leaders of conservative parties here and the UK are for it. Even a senator who ran for the republican nomination at the last US election (Rob Portman) is for it.
In the opposite camp: two local MPs, Simon Bridges and Tony Ryall (is this the first time Mr Bridges has ever disagreed with John Key?), the new Pope and – kinda surprisingly – singer Michelle Shocked who stunned fans at a recent San Francisco concert by saying 'When they... force priests at gunpoint to marry gays, it will be the downfall of civilisation, and Jesus will come back.” She wasn't being ironic either. Shocked is a born-again Christian, though her opinion to me seems muddled at best (isn't Jesus coming back meant to be a good thing?).