(From left) BOP Blues Club president Terry Oldham, committee member Paul Verney, musical director Paul Hindrup and festival director Di Riddel at the Social Club. Photo / Andrew Warner
(From left) BOP Blues Club president Terry Oldham, committee member Paul Verney, musical director Paul Hindrup and festival director Di Riddel at the Social Club. Photo / Andrew Warner
Blues will be resonating around the city as bands and performers come together for the Rotorua Blues Festival.
This Labour Weekend, from today to Sunday (October 23 to 25), 30 bands and solo performers will
perform at the Social Club, Rotorua Citizen's Club, Eat Streat and a one-off event onthe Lakeland Queen, in a mix of free and ticketed events.
Among the line-up is the Michael Barker Experience, Hybrid Blues, Jan Preston, Fiona and the Holy Pocket, Kokomo, Theory 89, Nikau and the Natives, B Side Band and Hammer On.
Organiser Di Riddel says she is looking forward to getting all the bands and fans together.
Di says Rob Powley is also holding a youth workshop today
at Rotorua Intermediate, where pupils can go with their guitars, and Hybrid Blues' Roy Hudson will be helping with guitar tuition and songwriting.
"I think it's wonderful and the kids absolutely love it."
She encourages the community to get behind and check out the festival.
"It's important for people to see live music. It would be great to have support from the public because it's been a long, hard road for the festival this year due to Covid."
Di says it is fantastic that the festival is able to go ahead for 2020.
"We're so happy we didn't cancel completely and just postponed. It's such a great thing for Rotorua and brings in a lot of people from all over."
The Blues Busters performing in last year's Rotorua Blues Festival. Photo / File
BOP Blues Club president Terry Oldham says the many acts are a great reason for the community to check out the festival and "rock on down".
Musical director Paul Hindrup says it is a way people can support local as wel as out-of-town music.
He says the festival is normally held on Queen's Birthday Weekend, but because of Covid-19 it had to be postponed.
There are day pass ticketed shows at the Rotorua Citizens' Club on Saturday from 1.30pm until late ending with a Bumper Concert, and again on Sunday afternoon plus the grand finale at that venue on Sunday night.
The Lakeland Queen Blues Cruise with the Mike Garner band is on Sunday between 3pm and 5pm.
