There are – and it is hard to miss it – a helluva lot of festivals at this time of year.
And, so far, every one of them seems to have struck it lucky with the weather. It seems to be just that sort of year. I remember a couple of summers back when it rained at damn near every outdoor event. Snakes and Ladders.
And it can be a tricky position, being a columnist writing about music, when local events come up. I tend to write whatever I want and have an almost pathological desire to say what I think. This used to land me in even more trouble than in does these days. Because when people ask you to write about their event they aren't really looking for analysis.
No, what promoters want is a gushing piece encouraging as many people as possible to buy tickets.
So what happens when you personally happen to think that the event has real problems and that is more likely than not to go completely pear-shaped?
Well these days I just ignore it. There are plenty of other things to write about, and I realise that the organisers of even the most disorganised event put their blood and sweat into it, so I'm not going to kick them in the teeth by putting the boot in in advance.
Such was the case last year with the Marchwood Music Festival.
Normally a blues event would have been something I jumped all over to help promote, but last year - being the organisers first bash at it – there seemed to be a number of dubious decisions and I couldn't, in all good conscience, recommend it.
The main problems I had were that the tickets were way too expensive ($50), and that the acts, esteemed though they were in specialist circles, wouldn't raise a flicker of interest in the general population. As it happens, the festival was deemed a success, though I suspect there were fewer paying punters than generally reported.
And while it's easy to be stubborn, you have to admire people who learn from their mistakes. This year the organisers have fixed pretty much everything that concerned me and the newly-revamped Marchwood Blues Picnic, happening this Saturday, should be a simply fantastic event.
For a start, the name change points out clearly that this is a day of blues – come and sit on a blanket in the sun with the family and a picnic and enjoy some of the best blues in Australasia. And the re-priced tickets this year are very reasonable (I would even say cheap). This time they're $25, and the list of artists on display is even stronger than before.
Topping the bill, as they did last time, are two veritable legends from across the Tasman – the Midge Marsden and Hammond Gamble of Australian blues if you like – Dutch Tilders and Phil Manning. These guys, both guitar-playing singers, are absolute legends and their playing and performance live up to their reputations. I suspect many here (and this was a problem last time) have never heard of them. Trust me, they are sensational.
I'm also happy to describe Jan Preston, 'Australia's Queen of the Boogie Woogie Piano”, as sensational (particularly since she's actually a Kiwi!). I've seen Jan many times and she's never less than a blast. And rounding out the bill are Rotorua bluesman Mike Garner, who brings with him US/Aussie harp player Doc Span, and locals The Self-Righteous Brothers Blues Ensemble (some members of Kokomo in 'old blues” mode) and newcomers Blues Animals (acoustic guitar and harp duo Pete Archer and Chris Smart).
That's a great line-up and should make for a great day. The festival takes place at 316 Youngson Road in Whakamarama, running from 1.00-8.00pm, and tickets are available online (or from Baycourt) via TicketDirect, assuming there are any left.
And, assuming that the organisers have sufficient portaloos (and I have no reason to think they won't) and the sun keeps shining, I have no reason to think it won't be a brilliant time. If you're uncertain, check out the website – www.bluespicnic.com – where, in a smart move, you can even watch video clips of the artists.
watusi@thesun.co.nz