Get cruising and feel blues on water

The Blues Cruise audience can look forward to a lot of original music and well as a few classics while enjoying the ride on the Lakeland Queen. Photo / File

While the BOP Blues Club Blues Festival has heaps of free events all over town, those looking for that little something special can probably find it aboard the Lakeland Queen.

Audiences can see musicians play on the Blues Cruise while they take in lake views and enjoy a glass of wine tomorrow and Sunday afternoon.

Local musician Lloyd Ackroyd will be performing on the boat with his band Fifth Sun on Sunday afternoon. "It's my first time on the Blues Cruise, so it should be pretty cool and pretty laid back."

He said audiences could look forward to a lot of original music and well as a few classics.

"There are two bands playing only about a 45-minute set, so we will play a bunch of originals and a bunch of covers, old standards like Summertime and stuff like that.

"I am looking forward to the festival as a whole, I am really keen to catch a few of the acts, it will be great weekend.

"I played at last year's one, it was really cool last year. We did all originals and two covers last year and right from the get-go we were playing on the main stage. There will be a definite blues tone in the music but we are not a true blues band, but there is definitely a blues sound."

Fifth Sun will play after Andy Phillips and the Engine Room, he said.

The two members of the Engine Room also make up two-thirds of Fifth Sun.

Andy Phillips had a strong following in New Zealand.

"Andy has come over from Australia and he has got a bit of a fan club here. Andy's style is more focussed around guitar playing, mine is more focussed on vocal. There are similarities but a definite difference, but both are equally as enjoyable. Andy is a great entertainer."

Details
What: Blues Cruise on the Lakeland Queen.
When: Tomorrow and Sunday.
Where: Lakeland Queen.
How much: $35, tickets are available from Music Works, 1141 Pukuatua St or online at the website www.eventfinder.co.nz.