Haua singin’ the blues with new ‘Explosion’ band

SMASHING IT OUT: Grant Haua on stage. He has been to Gisborne before but said of his gig at Smash Palace that it was the first time he had brought a band. Picture supplied

Tauranga blues musician Grant Haua and his band’s explosive performance left the audience at Smash Palace wanting more when they played last month.

The Grant Haua Explosion is a three-piece — former Swamp Thing rocker and lead solo acoustics Haua, his band brother Michael Barker on the drums and Hurricane band member Elis Brain Franks on bass.

On the set list was “This is the Place” which Haua says is one of his personal favourites.

“It’s about my home and had my family involved in its production as well,” Haua said.

The bluesman said like most musicians he grew up in a musical household. While his mother liked tuning into Motown-themed songs, his father liked rock music.

“We had a good mixture. For instance my mother grew up listening to Stevie Wonder and soul artist Sam Cooke. My father was more inclined to keep up with the Rolling Stones.”

Haua says most of his uncles also had taken to music and played in different bands.

“From an early age I used to go out and watch them play and think ‘that’s pretty cool’.

“So I first started to write my own songs in my 20s and have been writing for over two decades now.”

He credits his brother as his biggest influence.

“He pretty much got me into playing the guitar and he’s still a great player to this day. I’m still a fan of his.”

Haua said in a few months he was going to release his new album called Dixie Frog and expects to perform it first in France where he tours this September.

“Keep your ears tuned in for the newest addition.”