Whiskey business adds spice to musical feast

The Kaipara Music Festival at Tara Lodge promises a musical feast of entertainment. The line-up of musicians covers a wide variety of styles - something to appeal to everyone.

One of the groups in the line-up is 'Whiskey Business', a new band on the entertainment scene. All five group-members are seasoned musicians, and the group boasts four lead vocalists. They perform a range of styles including bluegrass, country, rockabilly, cajun, soft rock and blues.

Joan Brown on accordian is classically trained - her father was Ben Emmett, a noted music teacher in the Kaipara, who taught Kevin Friedrich, the world-famous accordian maestro. Joan has a wide range of music tastes and does a regular DJ stint at Big River Radio in Dargaville.

Jen Calthrop - guitar, vocals and accordian - is an experienced performer, arranger and composer with a prolific background in both music and theatre. She is most recently known as one of the Manic Opera trio, an à capella comedy act that performed both nationally and internationally.

Davey Godman - better known as Davey G - is a virtuoso on the harmonica with many years of performing under his belt. He is also an experienced vocalist and percussionist. Davey comes from a background of blues but enjoys playing
in a range of styles.

Peter Flower on mandolin, guitar and vocals, is well known for his involvement with the Otamatea Repertory Theatre in Maungaturoto, both directing and performing. He has been the guitarist for the last four years with his wife in the Maura Flower Trio.
Maura Flower, vocals, flute and percussion, is the solo vocalist in a trio aptly named the 'Maura Flower Trio', singing easy-listening jazz and latin standards. Maura is a regular performer at the Otamatea Repertory Theatre and is a singing teacher with many private pupils of all ages.

Local rising star, Karam David, and his band 'Hard to Handle' who did well in the Northland Rock Quest Regional Finals, will be playing country rock.
Karam is a talented young songwriter and entertainer and some of his own compositions are included in his set list.

The Joe Carbery Swingtet with Carol Power, are well-known in the Kaipara for their classy, traditional jazz, featuring Joe Carbery on saxophone and Julian Russell on piano, together with the sassy vocals of Carol Power.

The Black Swamp Project is another upcoming local band - based at Black Swamp Road in Mangawhai. The group covers toe-tapping bluegrass music and the group's accomplished line-up includes vocals, fiddle, guitars, bass,
mandolin, banjo and sometimes cello.

Lochiel Wines will be available for purchase at the festival. Make sure you bring a picnic basket of goodies to eat as there will be no food available for purchase.
The event is to be held on Saturday January 9, 2010 from 2pm to 7pm in the beautiful grounds of Tara Lodge, 631 Tara Road, Mangawhai which is well-known for hosting fabulous entertainment. There is plenty of parking available.

Tickets are available now on www.iticket.co.nz and also at Bamma's in Mangawhai, Mangawhai Books, Kaiwaka Cheese Shop and Tony's Lotto Shop in Maungaturoto. Pre-sales are $20, with sales at the gate, on the day, at $25 Children under 12 are free.

Whiskey Business is a new band on the local entertainment scene