Blues and Roots on 35 Festival this weekend

ART WITH MUSIC: Tupara Gallery owner Nick Tupara and artist Phil Berry have curated work by about a dozen artists to exhibit at the Blues and Roots on 35 Festival at the Outdoor Theatre tomorrow. Picture by Liam Clayton

Musicians and artists often rub shoulders in this region so the Blues & Roots on 35 Festival at the Outdoor Theatre this weekend will include an exhibition of work by 12 artists.

“This is a group show that involves a lot of artists, all from Tairawhiti,” says exhibition co-organiser Nick Tupara.

“We will have textile work, ceramics, weaving and paintings.”

The success of a pilot art show at the blues festival last year inspired organisers to hold a bigger one this year.

Artists and musicians are joined together in a region like this, says Mr Tupara.

“We enjoy art and we enjoy music and decided to put it together.”

Opens tomorrow nightThe Blues & Roots on 35 Festival kicks off tomorrow night at the Dome Room with Gisborne’s Richard Alexander and Grant Haua of Swamp Thing.

Mr Alexander describes his sound as blues based but not limited to 12 bar blues.

“What excites me about the blues is there’s always room for improvisation,” told the Gisborne Herald’s Guide.

“There are points you have to refer to but it’s open to interpretation. How you play that changes all the time depending on your mood.

Mr Haua says his music is a blend of soul and blues but “I don’t stick to blues and souls numbers”.

Blues had a significant hand in the evolution of rock music but, with the popularity of genres such as reggae and rap in New Zealand, there is less rock around, he says.

“There’s still a huge catchment of people around the country who love blues though.”

A good number of those people are likely to make their way to the Outdoor Theatre on Saturday to see acts that begin with Toni and Lawrence at noon and winds up shortly after 7pm with Brilleaux.