Live music
Kit Bray at the Mussel
Kit Bray, formerly from Ligar Bay, is celebrating releasing his album The Time He Waits with a gig at the Mussel Inn on Wednesday 21 December. The album marks Kit’s progress as a musician and song-writer.
“I’ve gained a lot of experience while I’ve been away from the Bay. Since I decided to concentrate on my music full-time I’ve played lots of gigs and had time to think about so many more things to do with music. I’ve produced the album myself and I’ve learnt a lot about composition. I think you become a better songwriter because you learn about yourself and life. The experiences you have make you wiser so the songs are better.”
Kit says his particular vibe is “very guitar-driven”, though he has been playing in various line-ups with a drummer, a bass player and even a horn section at times.
“My show at the Mussel next Wednesday is just me, solo. A man and his guitar and his songs. They will be stripped down a bit from the album which was produced in a big studio and so on, but I’ll use a looping device to create a band sound by myself.”
Kit says he straddles a few genres like roots, indie and upbeat folk and that he is really looking forward to performing in his home town.
“Performing live means putting a lot on the line. You don’t really know that the songs work until the moment that the you connect with an audience. I guess I’ll feel a bit more pressure showcasing my new material at home to my friends and family.”
Golden Bay boys Ben and Sam Cole
Ben and Sam were born in Hobart, Tasmania but grew up in Golden Bay. For the last four or so years both of these guys in separate acts have been full-time musicians.
Ben has been playing bass in Melbourne-based pop/rock band The Overview who recently recorded with award-winning producer Lindsey Gravina (Living End, Grinspoon).
Samuel Cole & The Mornings is a Hobart-based indie/Folk six-piece. They recently returned from the first leg of an Australian tour and are set to play at this year’s Falls Festival on New Year’s Eve alongside acts including Artic Monkeys, Fleet Foxes, The Jezabels and The Kooks.
Ben and Sam recently started writing together for a new project and in preparation for this, the brothers will be performing some intimate acoustic shows involving new material and stripped back versions of songs from their individual acts.
They are returning to Golden Bay for the Christmas period performing a special show at The Brigand in Takaka. They will be joined by fellow Collingwood Area schoolfriend Sven Adams performing an acoustic set as well as other local guests.
See The Cole Brothers Live on Saturday 24 December, 8.30pm onwards. Free entry. Check out their music at:
http://www.myspace.com/theoverview
http://www.myspace.com/samuelcolemusic
African Marimba Music back again
African marimba band Chimuka will be performing at the Mussel Inn on Friday 23 December. Based in the Ngatimoti area in the Motueka Valley, this will be Chimuka’s first gig at the Mussel Inn.
The group’s leader, Russell Matthews, was also musical director for Golden Bay marimba band Mweya, who played their farewell gig at the Mussel Inn four years ago. Russell says, “Chimuka played as a band in their own right alongside Mweya for many years, and are now filling the hole in the Nelson region that Mweya left behind with their retirement.”
Chimuka’s dance music has been adapted for marimba from the mbira (thumb piano) of the Shona people of Zimbabwe, who have developed the intricate polyrhythmic melodies of their music to a high degree of sophistication.
The group cut their first CDs last April, producing two at the same time. Russell says, “The production value of these CDs is higher than the Mweya recordings and the quality of the sound is superior. We are very happy with the results.”
Chimuka were a hit at the last two Mardi Gras in Takaka and will be playing there again next February. They will also be playing an outside performance at Fairfield House in Nelson on Friday 6 January.
