Band still plucking 30 years on

Big Muffin Serious Band founder Graeme Cairns taking the lead.

Nobody thought, when the Big Muffin Serious Band formed in Hamilton way back in 1983, that it would still be going 30 years later. It certainly wasn't the plan.

But as luck would have it this madcap, ukulele-based skiffle band is very much alive, and going strong. And with the recent meteoric rise of the ukulele worldwide, they find themselves suddenly back in the spotlight.

Now based in Te Pahu, original co-founders Jim Fulton and Graeme Cairns, who fired up the combo on a PEP scheme for unemployed artists and performers, still front the band, along with fellow Te Pahuians, Bevan (Baz) Galbraith, James Sutherland and Paul Tregilgas.

While members have come and gone, the Muffin's approach to music and general repertoire has remained unchanged.

They play a mixture of almost forgotten oddball, old-timey 1920s tunes, and loving parodies of more recent popular music, all on ukuleles, hand-made instruments, kids toys and bits of modified junk.

For their 30th year the Muffins have invited past members to rejoin for a series of projects.

These include the release of their third album Itsy Bitsy, the filming and release of their first music video Mr T. Pot (now viewable on YouTube), an exhibition at the Waikato Museum and a series of concerts throughout the year.

Backstage Pass is promoting a concert in Te Awamutu - one of a limited number of the special events to celebrate the anniversary.

The concert takes place at Te Awamutu College Hall at 8pm tonight.

The Big Muffin Serious Band will be joined by special guests.

The concert doubles as a fundraiser for the Te Awamutu College music students planning a cultural trip to America next year, and they will be selling tea (and coffee) and muffins at the event.

Students are also selling tickets to the concert.

Big Muffin Serious Band - Celebrating 30 years of musical mirth and mayhem, Te Awamutu College Hall, 8pm, Friday, September 13. Tickets $15 from Te Awamutu Courier, Te Awamutu College American Tour students and at the door or email deantaylor@wwweb.co.nz