No details are known yet, but last night we had a terrible tragedy in Whangateau when the Rodney Rams Club rooms, just across the field from our dear Hall, burned to the ground.

The Rams Club has provided an important community focal point since the closing of the Pub and Top Shop in Leigh. The food provided by the kitchen improves all the time, and has been great on nights when we have events on at the Hall. It is heartbreaking to have lost this community resource.

Hopefully there will be a local effort to rebuild and reopen, and rest assured when there is, the Whangateau Music Hall committee will be there.

This is a Sunday show, so we’re having it nice and early in the afternoon so y’all can get home before dark. Bring a drink and something to eat, we’ll set out the tables and have a nice casual “afternoon tea and a show.” We’ll have tea and bikkies for you at half time as usual. Spread the word, and see you there!

Bill Morris and Hyram Ballard Show.

Because of the proximity to the Tattletale Saints/10 String Symphony show we are hosting this next act at a different venue, but for our purposes we’re still including it with our “music series.”

All the way from Australia, we have Mal Webb and the Formidable Vegetable Sound System!  Their combined sound defies description, but I can tell you it is FUN.  Ukuleles, trombones, beat-boxing like you’ve never heard it, and SO MUCH MORE.  This is going to be a great show, a perfect celebration of all that is summer and joy.  They will be at Heron’s Flight Vineyard, SUNDAY 2 FEBRUARY, the family friendly show starts at 4:00 pm.  $15 at the door, under-14s free.  There will be pizzas, platters, wine and juice available for purchase, or you can BYO picnic.  Don’t forget a rug or lawn chairs!

Mal and Charlie at Heron’s Flight

On Friday, 31 January, we are privileged to have the combined acts of Tattletale Saints and 10 String Symphony playing at Whangateau Hall.  This is going to be an AMAZING night of Folk/Americana music.  Tattletale Saints came out and played for us last April on their album-release tour.  That album has since been nominated for the NZ Tui Folk Album of the Year, and the song “Complicated Man” from the album was nominated for the APRA Song of the Year.  10 String Symphony are a duo from the US, and the combination of the two sounds promises to blow all our socks off.  Tickets are available at the door or through eventfinder.co.nz, $15, under-10s free, show starts at 8:00 pm.

Poster for TTS and TSS at Whangateau, January 2014

Dave Alley is a well known and well respected New Zealand Musician.  Best known for his work as part of Sanders Alley Khan and Sanders Alley Gellig, he is also a brilliant solo performer.

On 11 May 2013, Dave played some solo pieces and was then joined by local musicians Nat Torkington and Jenine Abarbanel.

Dave Alley on slide guitar, Nat Torkington on banjo, Jenine Abarbanel on bass.

For more information about Dave, see his website www.davealley.co.nz

A video of one of Dave’s newer compositions: 4am Train.