Nearly 700 people welcomed the Summer Soul Train when it chugged into a Kerikeri vineyard. Aussie diva Renee Geyer was the show's headliner but popular local artists proved hard acts to follow.
Before the soul sister and her band of talented Australian musos got up on stage to close the show, the Kiwi performers in the Summer Soul Train Festival had the audience entranced.
They included show starters, the thumpingly good Juice on the Loose Blues Band, who Whangarei folk can see at the next Blues in the Basin event.
Kiwi guitar virtuoso and festival organiser, Billy Te K Jnr (Billy Te Kahika) and the Groove Shakers, his guest band including harmonica guru Rick Stringer.
Billy TK and the Groove Shakers played originals as well as funked-up blues infused versions of old anthems such as Cocaine and Black Magic Woman. The audience wanted more, and the band was willing to give as much as it had - for about 40 minutes longer than the scheduled time.