Colville Festival 2022
Swing and Blues
A Wonder-filled evening for all in Colville Hall
With twenty-two incredibly talented performers playing on the night and a challenging yet rewarding theme to work with, Colville Sings 2022 was set to be a hit. The performers and audience members alike did not disappoint.
From the moment of arrival, it was clear we were in for a special evening. The stage, covered by a grand black and gold city backdrop, established the mood magnificently from the outset, and the room hummed with anticipation. Colville’s finest musicians were gathering, all dressed elegantly to the theme and exuding a radiant energy, (whether from performance anxiety or genuine excitement it was difficult to tell), a sure sign of their investment in the nights unfolding. Many who attended were also dressed to impress in art deco clothing, the ubiquitous appearance of waistcoats and pinstriped suits, hats and shades, alongside glitzy and glamorous items of clothing and decorative headpieces giving the rise to the feeling that we had stepped into another place and time.
With amusing character appearances by the evenings host, Steve, AKA “Marcel DuPont”, (later making an appearance as “Bad Boy Jack”), the audience were led smoothly through a dynamic interplay between solo performances and the big band numbers, between the soulful, sultry, and sometimes sorrowful repertoire a few musicians gravitated towards, and the upbeat, jiving numbers that had the audience and performers smiling throughout.
Colville has music in its very heart and soul and so, naturally, the calibre of performance was incredibly high. All of the musicians rose to the challenge of the tricky genres and gave memorable performances that shone under the stage lights and the against big city backdrop. There truly were moments where it felt like we were lucky to be witnessing a performance by “one of the greats” in some piano bar in Paris or on stage amongst all the glitz and glamour of New York City. The night was hugely entertaining and awe-inspiring display of talent from start to finish.
The decision to allow those aged twelve and up to perform and attend also created an exceptional difference for this year’s show with a few promising young performers emerging with impressive displays of talent and dressed delightfully to the theme. Among them were Ava, Ezra, John, and Issy, all making spectacular stage debuts.
Ava, who opened the show with the early swing classic Ain’t Misbehaving, set the tone for the evening perfectly in her award-winning outfit of gold (dress fringe notably added by her grandmother Janet). Her sweet and soulful voice, so reminiscent of those heard on records from the era, was supported by effortlessly beautiful accompaniment from her band members including her grandfather, Tom, who completed the magic of the song with his memorable instrumental solo on the flute.
Ezra and John likewise won awards for their dapper outfits fitting to the theme, playing keyboard and drums exceptionally well alongside their talented parents Natasha and Paul for a heartfelt, crowd-pleasing Coromandel rendition of Sweet Home Chicago. Later on in the show, Issy made her impressive debut on keyboard backing her father Richard in his moving rendition of Mr President. Together they accomplished a truly good thing by representing the working class and creating the feeling that those who helped build the mighty Empire State building could be right there in the room with us.
Many bands, newly formed and long-standing, played together on the night, often featuring key brass instruments, drum styles fitting of the genre, and led by soulful singing that characterised a lot of the music from this era. A few talented and on-to-it muso’s including Charlie, Douglas, Karen, Maria, Nathan, Peri, and Seamus, appeared several times to show-case their talents, supporting their band members with their skilful playing and always lifting bringing the performance level to an even higher standard.
Early on in the show Anna starred in front of a smooth band of a five who had come together just for the one-night only performance. Their lively and exciting version of All of Me truly captured the essence of the time, Anna’s bopping and playful singing and dancing bringing the song to its fullest performance capacity on stage.
With the all of the band acts there was a real feel of togetherness and genuine enjoyment from all involved as they demonstrated the unique talent of the individuals that make up the Colville music scene. Keith and Matt appeared early on as a duo to astound us with their soothing harmonies in their rendition of Neil Young’s Harvest Moon and soon after Charlie led his group skilfully and with confident ease his velvety voice complimenting the mood of the song. Steph made an appearance to sing a truly toe-tapping number called Planetary Blues with the “Erics” to support her following their own tight performance of Still Got the Blues for You, and Seamus appeared many times to supply his skilled drumming for different bands, displaying his own outstanding vocals from behind the kit for the song I’m Going Down.
With heartfelt solo performances from many of Colville’s well-known musicians, there was much to admire and appreciate . Lena sang a soulful rendition of a Randy Newman song, capturing all the tones of the original and adding her own flair. A uniquely stylised solo performance came from Ra who made good use of his loop pedal and audience interaction to bring his song Hoochie Coochie Man to life on stage, and Angus pleased the crowd with his “English Folk” version of Sinatra’s Fly me to the Moon.
Teuane’s performance was a dream – she was all glitz and glam in an amazing hand-tailored sequinned blue dress, and her sultry hand-movements and confident characterisation of Don’t Speak, not to mention her exceptional voice, made for an absolutely captivating performance. Ella’s smooth vocal tones and fluent guitar playing took us to Paris heart and soul, while Steve (AKA “Bad Boy Jack”) wowed us with his bluesy song about unrequited love which greatly complimented the soothing timbre of his voice.
The quality of the voices sounding on the night was quite simply near unbelievable. Each performer seemed to have selected the perfect song to complement their own unique vocals abilities and attributes. Among them, Emma’s sweet and sincere acapella performance of On Blueberry Hill brought forth gasps of astonishment as the pure and bell-like quality of her voice filled the room, (and personally had me near to tears). Kaelea likewise, gave a stunning solo performance on guitar of I’ve Put a Spell on You that allowed us all to reveal in her skilful and stylistic singing while feeling immersed in the vibe of the era.
And yes, I too performed. It was a truly joyful experience indeed to join in the fun in full costume and present the song I had been practising to add to the enchanting theme of the night. I’d personally just like to thank everyone who took a moment to share with any of the musicians how much they enjoyed their performance - your feedback means the world to us, and it certainly helps to override many performers’ uncanny and unfortunate ability to remember everything that didn’t quite go as planned, rather than recalling the grander picture of what a truly unique and remarkable thing has been achieved.
The night was brought to a close at last with an eccentric and skilful performance from an exceptionally talented duo. Benjamin made the most of the Colville piano, which was brought on stage just for his performance, while Seamus dazzled us with his expert drumming. These two created a sizzling display of talent in a sort of “music-off” in which they both dramatically put their skills to the test much to the glee of the listening audience.
It was an incredible and wonder-filled night all round, one I am sure many will remember fondly partaking in. A big thank you for all of the performers for making such a special night for everyone, to the welcoming and appreciative crowd who made performing such a joy, and an especially big thank you to Ella and Steve who dedicated so much time and effort to make the show what it was.
Colville Sings Swing and Blues 2022 was truly a night to remember, and a timely reminder that there is so much reminder that there is so much joy to be found in music, and our appreciation of it.
It was an incredible and wonder-filled night all round, one I am sure many will remember fondly partaking in. A big thank you to all of the performers, to the welcoming and appreciative crowd, all the amazing folks behind the scenes, including the Colville Store crew, and an especially big, big thank you to Ella and Steve who dedicated so much time and effort to make the show what it was. Colville Sings Swing and Blues 2022 was truly a night to remember, and a timely reminder that there is so much joy to be found in music and our appreciation of it.
Colville Junction would also like to express their deep gratitude to all the funders — TCDC Creative Communities, Trust Waikato and Lotteries and the sponsors—Four Square Coromandel, Resenes and Lothlorien. A big thank you to the generous prizes provided by Hike and Bike, Umu Café and Drive Creek Railway.
Brooke Dennehy Lakin
Writer, reviewer, and (new!) Pānui Editor
A Wonder-filled evening for all in Colville Hall
With twenty-two incredibly talented performers playing on the night and a challenging yet rewarding theme to work with, Colville Sings 2022 was set to be a hit. The performers and audience members alike did not disappoint.
From the moment of arrival, it was clear we were in for a special evening. The stage, covered by a grand black and gold city backdrop, established the mood magnificently from the outset, and the room hummed with anticipation. Colville’s finest musicians were gathering, all dressed elegantly to the theme and exuding a radiant energy, (whether from performance anxiety or genuine excitement it was difficult to tell), a sure sign of their investment in the nights unfolding. Many who attended were also dressed to impress in art deco clothing, the ubiquitous appearance of waistcoats and pinstriped suits, hats and shades, alongside glitzy and glamorous items of clothing and decorative headpieces giving the rise to the feeling that we had stepped into another place and time.
With amusing character appearances by the evenings host, Steve, AKA “Marcel DuPont”, (later making an appearance as “Bad Boy Jack”), the audience were led smoothly through a dynamic interplay between solo performances and the big band numbers, between the soulful, sultry, and sometimes sorrowful repertoire a few musicians gravitated towards, and the upbeat, jiving numbers that had the audience and performers smiling throughout.
Colville has music in its very heart and soul and so, naturally, the calibre of performance was incredibly high. All of the musicians rose to the challenge of the tricky genres and gave memorable performances that shone under the stage lights and the against big city backdrop. There truly were moments where it felt like we were lucky to be witnessing a performance by “one of the greats” in some piano bar in Paris or on stage amongst all the glitz and glamour of New York City. The night was hugely entertaining and awe-inspiring display of talent from start to finish.
The decision to allow those aged twelve and up to perform and attend also created an exceptional difference for this year’s show with a few promising young performers emerging with impressive displays of talent and dressed delightfully to the theme. Among them were Ava, Ezra, John, and Issy, all making spectacular stage debuts.
Ava, who opened the show with the early swing classic Ain’t Misbehaving, set the tone for the evening perfectly in her award-winning outfit of gold (dress fringe notably added by her grandmother Janet). Her sweet and soulful voice, so reminiscent of those heard on records from the era, was supported by effortlessly beautiful accompaniment from her band members including her grandfather, Tom, who completed the magic of the song with his memorable instrumental solo on the flute.
Ezra and John likewise won awards for their dapper outfits fitting to the theme, playing keyboard and drums exceptionally well alongside their talented parents Natasha and Paul for a heartfelt, crowd-pleasing Coromandel rendition of Sweet Home Chicago. Later on in the show, Issy made her impressive debut on keyboard backing her father Richard in his moving rendition of Mr President. Together they accomplished a truly good thing by representing the working class and creating the feeling that those who helped build the mighty Empire State building could be right there in the room with us.
Many bands, newly formed and long-standing, played together on the night, often featuring key brass instruments, drum styles fitting of the genre, and led by soulful singing that characterised a lot of the music from this era. A few talented and on-to-it muso’s including Charlie, Douglas, Karen, Maria, Nathan, Peri, and Seamus, appeared several times to show-case their talents, supporting their band members with their skilful playing and always lifting bringing the performance level to an even higher standard.
Early on in the show Anna starred in front of a smooth band of a five who had come together just for the one-night only performance. Their lively and exciting version of All of Me truly captured the essence of the time, Anna’s bopping and playful singing and dancing bringing the song to its fullest performance capacity on stage.
With the all of the band acts there was a real feel of togetherness and genuine enjoyment from all involved as they demonstrated the unique talent of the individuals that make up the Colville music scene. Keith and Matt appeared early on as a duo to astound us with their soothing harmonies in their rendition of Neil Young’s Harvest Moon and soon after Charlie led his group skilfully and with confident ease his velvety voice complimenting the mood of the song. Steph made an appearance to sing a truly toe-tapping number called Planetary Blues with the “Erics” to support her following their own tight performance of Still Got the Blues for You, and Seamus appeared many times to supply his skilled drumming for different bands, displaying his own outstanding vocals from behind the kit for the song I’m Going Down.
With heartfelt solo performances from many of Colville’s well-known musicians, there was much to admire and appreciate . Lena sang a soulful rendition of a Randy Newman song, capturing all the tones of the original and adding her own flair. A uniquely stylised solo performance came from Ra who made good use of his loop pedal and audience interaction to bring his song Hoochie Coochie Man to life on stage, and Angus pleased the crowd with his “English Folk” version of Sinatra’s Fly me to the Moon.
Teuane’s performance was a dream – she was all glitz and glam in an amazing hand-tailored sequinned blue dress, and her sultry hand-movements and confident characterisation of Don’t Speak, not to mention her exceptional voice, made for an absolutely captivating performance. Ella’s smooth vocal tones and fluent guitar playing took us to Paris heart and soul, while Steve (AKA “Bad Boy Jack”) wowed us with his bluesy song about unrequited love which greatly complimented the soothing timbre of his voice.
The quality of the voices sounding on the night was quite simply near unbelievable. Each performer seemed to have selected the perfect song to complement their own unique vocals abilities and attributes. Among them, Emma’s sweet and sincere acapella performance of On Blueberry Hill brought forth gasps of astonishment as the pure and bell-like quality of her voice filled the room, (and personally had me near to tears). Kaelea likewise, gave a stunning solo performance on guitar of I’ve Put a Spell on You that allowed us all to reveal in her skilful and stylistic singing while feeling immersed in the vibe of the era.
And yes, I too performed. It was a truly joyful experience indeed to join in the fun in full costume and present the song I had been practising to add to the enchanting theme of the night. I’d personally just like to thank everyone who took a moment to share with any of the musicians how much they enjoyed their performance - your feedback means the world to us, and it certainly helps to override many performers’ uncanny and unfortunate ability to remember everything that didn’t quite go as planned, rather than recalling the grander picture of what a truly unique and remarkable thing has been achieved.
The night was brought to a close at last with an eccentric and skilful performance from an exceptionally talented duo. Benjamin made the most of the Colville piano, which was brought on stage just for his performance, while Seamus dazzled us with his expert drumming. These two created a sizzling display of talent in a sort of “music-off” in which they both dramatically put their skills to the test much to the glee of the listening audience.
It was an incredible and wonder-filled night all round, one I am sure many will remember fondly partaking in. A big thank you for all of the performers for making such a special night for everyone, to the welcoming and appreciative crowd who made performing such a joy, and an especially big thank you to Ella and Steve who dedicated so much time and effort to make the show what it was.
Colville Sings Swing and Blues 2022 was truly a night to remember, and a timely reminder that there is so much reminder that there is so much joy to be found in music, and our appreciation of it.
It was an incredible and wonder-filled night all round, one I am sure many will remember fondly partaking in. A big thank you to all of the performers, to the welcoming and appreciative crowd, all the amazing folks behind the scenes, including the Colville Store crew, and an especially big, big thank you to Ella and Steve who dedicated so much time and effort to make the show what it was. Colville Sings Swing and Blues 2022 was truly a night to remember, and a timely reminder that there is so much joy to be found in music and our appreciation of it.
Colville Junction would also like to express their deep gratitude to all the funders — TCDC Creative Communities, Trust Waikato and Lotteries and the sponsors—Four Square Coromandel, Resenes and Lothlorien. A big thank you to the generous prizes provided by Hike and Bike, Umu Café and Drive Creek Railway.
Brooke Dennehy Lakin
Writer, reviewer, and (new!) Pānui Editor
