Review

Held under the marquee at Tauhara Sunrise Lodge in Acacia Bay, this concert also featured a wine tasting from two Lake Taupo vineyards: Martin Watt Wine from Pukawa, and Kuratau River Wines.

Performers were Monica Louis and Sarah Bradley, both very accomplished jazz/blues cabaret singers. Monica has performed in Lima, London, Paris, Monaco, Nice, Cannes & Brussels as well at festivals throughout New Zealand. She studied jazz vocals at the Sweelinck Conservatory in Amsterdam and at London's Wigmore Hall. She has toured Europe with her own trio and band as well as with the Glenn Miller Orchestra.

Sarah spent 10 years in New York City where she studied musical theatre and performed cabaret and jazz at many of the city's hot spots like Don't Tell Mama and Eighty Eights. She loves performing the Great American Songbook. Currently, Sarah hosts the Good Morning show on TV1.

Review

Held on the Marae at Hatepe (special thanks to Bob Morehu), this event drew a crowd of 400. After an hour of eating, drinking and socialising, London got things rolling with his song "Middle Class White Boy Blues" (see video clip - absolutely hilarious lyrics). Early in the second set the crowd slowly made their way to the dance floor and the rest, as they say, is history.

Review

Wayne and Clinton, formerly of the Warratahs and Rockinghorse, performed under marquee at the home of Debbie Anderson to a crowd of 90. The duo had the crowd mesmerised, performing a wide range of Mason's' original compositions spanning a period of 40 years, including his most famous hit "Nature" as well as another of his all-time classics, "Turn your back on the wind."

Review

Monique is an internationally touring kiwi singer/songwriter who had returned to NZ to support Plunket by producing a CD titled "Merry Xmas Baby" and embarking on a national tour. She had recently spent time writing and recording in London with members of Peter Gabriel's band (founder of Genesis). What a show Monique delivered under marquee at Tauhara Sunrise Lodge. She has an incredibly powerful voice and her songs are rich with meaning and delivered with an emotional charge.

Review

Wayne Mason, Andrew London and Rob Winch, each accomplished songwriters from the Wellington region, performed under marquee at Tauhara Sunrise Lodge. Each songwriter took turns to perform one of their originals, supported with harmonies and instrumentation from the other two songwriters. Andrew London, the "ham" of the trio, glued it all together with his ad lib and hilarious banter between songs. We had a contingent from Hatepe in attendance who were so enthralled, they asked if we could organise a similar show for Hatepe over the new year period.