Old News

The Darlings are New Zealand singer Jackie Clarke and singer-songwriter Callie Blood with drummer-to-the-stars Wayne Bell, here mostly playing acoustic guitar -- which makes them somewhat of a Kiwi supergroup given their long pedigrees in various band and studio sessions.

Together they make "grown-up pop", which is a very apt description given the classy and classic harmonies here (think Beatles, girl groups, Bacharach) and tinges of alt.country brought into memorable songs which could have stepped out of the mid 60s (or mid 80s when pop melodies reclaimed the ground from post-punk)."long on pop hooks and songs which grab after a first hearing."
Graham Reid reviews The Cicada Sessions, the debut album of The Darlings

"...lyrical wit and melodic savy"
Nick Bollinger, The Sampler, Radio New Zealand.

NEW Photos and review by NZBlues


Wellington Jazz Festival - March 2009

Jubilation in Wellington Town Hall

Jubilation are performing in the Wellington Jazz Festival on March 3rd. For full info see Eventfinder

International Jazz and Blues Festival Christchurch - 13 - 19 April 2009
Eventfinder.co.nz

NEW VIDEO release
Lastest Windy City Strugglers video - The Old Gods

AUCKLAND

Sunday 8th March 2009 - Blues in the Park - a free Auckland event Eventfinder.co.nz - full details

Cool Jazz Hot Blues - March 22nd - Eventfinder.co.nz

AUCKLAND Just Been

January 22nd 2009 - AUCKLAND Leonard Cohen played to a full house at Auckland's Vector arena. The crowd was extremely warm toward the 74 performer, especially his gospel hit Hallelujah - it achieved simultaneous #1, #2 and #36 at Christmas in the UK charts. It was an excellent show well received by the audience and critics.
colours



New Zealand musician Eddie Rayner has just announced his new website where you can find his own music.

Jennifer Ward Lealand

Jubilation fans (and actors) here is video by the president and members of Actors' Equity.



Sad news, Jerry Wexler died at 91. "As a reporter for Billboard magazine in the late 1940s christened black popular music rhythm and blues, and who as a record producer helped lead the genre to mainstream popularity, propelling the careers of Ray Charles, Wilson Pickett, Aretha Franklin and other performers, died on Friday at his home in Sarasota, Fla." NY Times

NZ Blues Photo selection

A photo of Jubilation performing at the Auckland Town Hall has been selected on the historic buildings page for the Auckland Town Hall with a blurb that says the Town Hall is "...regarded as one of the finest concert halls (acoustically) in the world, and has hosted circus acts, formal government dinners, weddings, music awards and rock concerts." See Schmap.com.

The Vital Trivia section

Did you know: the Windy City Strugglers song "Desert Road" was top of an online poll for music month (published in the Dominion post 12 March 2008). Congratulations.

Another great entertainment hub from the people who brought you event finder - The HIVE.

A great new entertainment hub EventFinder.co.nz is now listing our events. See the Jubilation event listed here. You can join event finder and get information on just about any event in New Zealand. Highly recommended.

Split Enz play the Vector Arena - Friday show had sold out and Saturday is the last on their NZ tour. Watch out for a review here.

Blue Stone Room - Jubilation

Jubilation event in the The Blue Stone Room by all reports was very successful, sold out before the event in this historic venue in Duram Lane, Auckland City.
Links: Jubilation page | event promotion

Rick Bryant - Album update

Rick Bryant is recording his next album - it is huge - many new songs - a few have been previewed at the Rick Bryant Trio performance at Dogs Bollix last year - videos feature songs Countdown and Cruel But Fair - on the Rick Bryant Trio page.

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