Breezing through the backblocks

It's been almost two decades since Greg Johnson invaded the New Zealand consciousness with heartfelt songs like the hit single Isabelle.
In the intervening years, Johnson's gone on to be one of the country's most loved and best singer/songwriters, with 10 very good studio albums and a couple of superb collections.
Now living in Santa Monica, he's heading back to his homeland next month for a tour of the country, but this time it's going to be a little different.
Johnson's Small Towns and Ball Gowns Tour will see him playing in eight small towns in May and June, before the final show in Wellington on June 12.
The tour kicks off in Whangarei at Salut on May 26 and hits Harrington Hall Theatre, Pukekohe, on May 28; Nelson School of Music on June 2; Riverton Arts Centre on June 3; Queenstown's Prime Waterfront Restaurant on June 4; Ascension Winery in Matakana on June 5; Mill Reef Winery, Tauranga, on June 10 and Black Barn Vineyards, Havelock North, the following night.
Johnson said the tour was designed to shift away from the normal touring circuit.
Using Air NZ's grab-a-seat to get from show to show will see him performing in airport lounges along the way, playing acoustic sets to departing passengers.
"That will be quite a different way to play and probably quite a bit of fun, so good on Air NZ for putting up with me."
Johnson's starting the tour in Whangarei after enjoying his last show in the town a year or two ago.
"Salut is a great little venue up there so I thought I'd go back because I had such a good time," he said.
"And I've never played in Havelock North before. I've drunk plenty of Reef Mills (wine) before so I thought I'd finally go and visit the place in person.
So no difficulties guessing what's going to go on the rider at that gig then, eh Greg?
"Ha ha, no, I suppose not. A nice few bottles of sauvignon please."
In another twist, the internationally-acclaimed singer/songwriter is giving the chance for solo performers or duos in each of the towns the tour plays in to perform on stage as his support act.
"I thought it would be a good idea to give solo acts or duos in the places we are playing a chance to show what they could do, too. And I figured there will be plenty of such acts in those towns who would love to get up and do a 20 minute set," he said.
"I really wanted to give something back as well I suppose and this is a nice little way of doing that. And if we discover some great musicians as well then even better.
"There's three producers in the band so they will be playing in front of some people who know what they are on about, so it will be good exposure."
So what can we expect on this big tour of small towns? Lots of new stuff and only concentrating on the latest album?
"No way. It's going to be a bit of everything, with lots of songs that everybody knows," he said.
"There'll probably be something from Vine St Stories, stuff from Sea Breeze Motel, Here Comes The Caviar and Seven Day Cure. And, yes, Isabelle will no doubt make a showing at some stage.
"There's 10 albums worth so there's plenty to choose from. Also, there's four of us in the band and we all sing so there'll be plenty of four-part harmonies a la Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. We'll have banjos playing and all sorts of stuff going on.
"It'll be a lot of fun for everybody I'm, sure ... especially us."
Any solo act or duo keen to be the opening act for Greg Johnson at one of the shows should upload one of their songs to www.gregjohnsonmusic.com before April 30.
Johnson will then personally select one local support act to warm up their hometown audience for 20 minutes before he takes to the stage.