Blues in New Zealand
[citation needed] The first American blues artist to make a big impact in New Zealand was Stevie Ray Vaughan in the early 1980s.
[citation needed][dubious – discuss] Other blues-related genres such as soul and gospel almost completely by-passed New Zealand audiences, except for a handful of hits from cross-over artists such as Ray Charles.
Darren Watson is a singer, guitarist and music educator in a wide range of blues styles, as well as an international award-winning songwriter.
[7] In 2020 Watson released Getting Sober For The End Of The World, which was critically praised and reached number 23 on the Official Top 40 Album Chart.
[10] Hammond Gamble is a singer and guitarist born on 25 September 1951 in Bolton-le-Sands, Lancashire, Great Britain,[11] who at the age of 12, moved to New Zealand, the homeland of his father.
[12] In 1974 he formed the band Street Talk and within a year the group was fully professional and highly rated within the New Zealand music scene, playing regularly at the Gluepot Tavern in Auckland.
[13] At the time Gamble was noted for his "powerful stage presence" said to have gained the attention of Chris Hillman who saw Street Talk live and late produced their first single, Leaving the Country.
[18] The Windy City Strugglers is a Wellington band whose music is based on the singing, songwriting and guitar playing of Bill Lake and the vocals of Rick Bryant.
Long-serving band members are Andrew Delahunty on guitar, harmonica and mandolin and Nick Bollinger on double bass.
Born on a farm in New Zealand's rural south, Marg began her musical career in the folk café scene that was in full bloom in the late 60s, first in Christchurch, then in other parts of the country.
Since returning to New Zealand in the early 80s she has sung the blues – with side-servings of jazz and folk – throughout the country; at arts, wine or food festivals, in theatres and bars, from community halls to opera houses.
In recent years her regular accompanists have included Windy City Strugglers’ leader Bill Lake, guitarist Chris Prowse, harmonica and mandolin player Andrew Delahunty, jazz bassist Patrick Bleakley and drummer Ian Parker.
The idea for a Wellington blues club was formed in 1995 by musician Pip Payne along with local musos Dougal Speir and Dave Head.
[19] Musicians of note who performed in the early the years at the club include, Midge Marsden, Darren Watson, Doug Macleod (USA), Hammond Gamble, Dave Murphy, Wayne Mason Band, The Windy City Strugglers, The Pauas, Marg Layton, Brannigan Kaa, Kokomo & Kokomo Blues, The Whitireia Blues Experience, Mike Garner, Billy Tk Junior, Neil Billington Band, Julian Dixon And Matt Hay, Kayte and the Barflies, Jan Preston, Barry Saunders And Caroline Easther, Pugsley Buzzard (AUS), The John O’connor Experiment, Shayn Hurricane Wills and the Zephyr Hunters, Tin Pan Alley, Velox Brothers, The Behemoths, Red Dog Saloon Band, Greeny and the Mac, Henpicked, Al Witham Band, London Underground, The Business, Laura Collins Band, Frankie and the Bee, Rodger Fox & The NZ School Of Music, Bullfrog Rata and The Alligators, The Legal Tender Band, The Pickups, Carol Bean & Blue Highways, Pip Payne And Rhythm Method, Blues Buffet With Erna Ferry, Silverline, Adam Waldron & Friends, Bob Cooper-Grundy & Friends, Hutt River Ramble, Strange Brew, The Murray Brothers, El Bastardo Banditos!, Wellington Heads, The Cattlestops, The Kemptones.
