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Ex-Mahu student and DJ, Tina Turntables, will join Love Square at the Sawmill Cafe.
Leigh Sawmill Cafe favourites Nick Atkinson and Finn Scholes are back with a new band and a new sound with a Sunday afternoon session on July 12 from 4pm.
The new trio is called Love Square, with drummer Karen Hu joining Hopetoun Brown and Supergroove sax player Nick, and Carnivorous Plant Society’s horn player and pianist Finn.
“I saw Karen pumping the kit behind a 12-piece Afro-jazz band in Kingsland and I was astonished how calmly and groovily she kept all those horns on the rails,” Nick says. “After the show I went straight up to her and got her contacts. I knew I’d found the key to unlock our new sound.”
Since then, Love Square has been shaping its sets with a range of global influences, from Ethiopian jazz to the music of the Caribbean. Scholes and Atkinson takes turn composing and selecting tunes for the trio to play and during live shows it can be a merry-go-round at the keyboards.
“Finn is an outstanding pianist and it’s always a thrill to see and hear him light up the grand piano that graces the Leigh Sawmill stage,” Nick says.
Other instruments that will be gainfully employed include trumpets, saxophones, a “warm and fizzing” Juno 106 synthesiser and a vintage Rhodes electric piano, just like the one played by Ray Charles.
Joining Love Square will be Auckland DJ Tina Turntables, who grew up in Puhoi and went to Mahurangi College, and now plays soul and rare groove records on 95bFM every Sunday afternoon.
“We’re thrilled to be able to pull her away from her Back On The Good Foot radio show for a roady up to Leigh. She’ll be spinning her records before and after our sets, which will be so choice,” Nick says.
Families are encouraged to attend and children aged 12 and under get in free. Tickets cost $20 from undertheradar.co.nz and table bookings are recommended on 422 6019.
Ticket Giveaway
Mahurangi Matters has a double pass to see Love Square and Tina Turntables to give away. To enter, email reporter@localmatters.co.nz with Love Square in the subject line, plus your name and contact details, by Thursday, July 9.
