THE SHADZ

"In the Country"

 

FRIDAY-SUNDAY, MAY 10-12, 2013

Karen Davy Band at Bay of Islands Country-Rock Festival, featuring the "rhythm section" of The Shadz (Al, Garry, Graham), working with Karen, Linde Walker (Backing Vocals), Keri Betti (Harmonica-playing frontman of Indigo Blue) and Ken Strong (Lead Guitar, Vocals and Musical Direction). We were comfortably accommodated at the Haruru Falls Resort, checking-in Friday afternoon ahead of our first gig - later that evening at Hotel Tanoa Paihia.

Haruru Falls from the deck

First gig (Friday. May 10, 2013) at Hotel Tanoa Paihia

The weather forecast for the weekend had been "rain, rain, rain" but it was wrong. In fact, after cresting the Brynderwyn Hills, the only weather problem some of us encountered was sun-strike making it hard to see the road ahead to the Bay of Islands.

Saturday dawned sunny and mild as we assembled/set-up in front of the Information Centre at Paihia Wharf for a 2-hour stint (9.30-11.30 am), which went very well. Good audiences all morning, and even a photo-journalist from the Northland Age/Northern Advocate, so we had a photo featured in the papers' website slideshow.

Karen, Ken and Graham at Paihia Wharf (Sat. morning), captured by Northland Age photographer

Karen Davy Band (lunchbreak photo-op) at Paihia Wharf, Sat. May 11, 2013.
Standing, l-r: Graham Gibson, Garry Betti, Karen Davy, Keri Betti, Alistair Taylor
Seated: Linde Walker, Ken Strong

 The weekend's third gig involved driving to Opua, a car-ferry crossing to Okiato and a short drive on to Russell, where we performed at the grand ol' Duke of Marlborough Hotel. Then, all the way back to Paihia to get ready for.
.
...Paihia Pacific Resort Hotel, where we were set to follow that great entertainer Dennis Marsh. Our band really "hit its straps" in this gig - just felt tight-and-right.

Paihia Pacific (Sat. May 11, 2013).
L-R: Alistair Taylor, Keri Betti, Linde Walker, Garry Betti, Karen Davy, Ken Strong, Graham Gibson

 
Sunday evening at the TMO Sports Bar (ex-Cruza Bar) was supposed to be our final gig, but we managed to add one more performance at the "musos' wrap" party at Haruru Falls before joining in the general "jam session". All in all, a great weekend (with splendid weather).

Haruru Falls Resort "wrap party" (Sun. May 12, 2013)