THANX AGAIN

Hey everyone,

Just a quick note to say a big thank you for everyone involved in putting on a great show on Friday night.

Our deepest and sincere thanx go out to Pinna, Gus, The Nukes and Superturtle for outstanding performances, we would also like to acknowledge the effort and time put in by Callum, Darren and Thomas and all who helped put on another brilliant night at Tree Tops.

Have included a couple of still photographs from the event and would love to see photos taken by anyone else. We hope to get some video footage of the show onto the site as soon as possible.

Two thirds of the Nukes (sorry to Dave! )

Thanx for coming out, it was great to meet all the Tree Tops first timers and to catch up with you lot who have been before.

Stay in touch for the next thrilling installment...................

FINAL CALL...FRIDAY 20th

Hi y'all,
Just a quick note to confirm whats happening this coming Friday we have every thing in place and now all we need to do is turn down the lights and let the show commence.


The programme times are to be as follows (give or take)


Doors Open - 7.00pm

Pinna - 7.45pm


Gus - 8.15pm


The Nukes - 9.00pm


Superturtle - 10.00pm

As usual at Tree Tops we will provide nibbles and soft drinks, anyone wanting to drink anything else please BYO bottle. It is always use full to bring your own cushion if you have a bony back -side as our supply usually gets used up fairly quickly. Entry is by recommended Koha of $10.00 (or more)

To provide a fantastic venue for artists to perform at we request that noise in the main room is kept to a minimum during performances and if you want to chatter use the deck or move out the front of the building.

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING, TREETOPS IS IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA AND THEREFORE IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO PARK SAFELY TO ALLOW THE MOVEMENT OF LOCAL TRAFFIC.

To get you in the mood we have included below some info on this months artists. This show will be opened by our girls Pinna who will be trying out some new tunes for our pleasure.

Superturtle (Review)

The Groove Guide 24-30 sep Martyn PepperellCategory: Music

....Auckland outfit Superturtle represent one of the smoothest aural and visual presentations of melodic alt-pop I've ever come across in the local market. Combining a warm , analogue production aesthetic with extensive theremin , vibraslap , Hammond organ , mellotron , electric rhodes piano , strings , brass , synths and extensive vocal harmonization over the holy trinity of guitar , bass and drums , Superturtle have definitely come up trumps on this release.When whimsical songwriting and delicate melodic soundscapes come together with a proper sense of musicality it's always a good look , especially if you throw in some soul redolent rhythms into the mix.All Our Friends/Never Came Back represents all these qualities and more.Included in the package is a full length album / multimedia DVD disc which well and truly seals the deal.Superturtle . co-signed , I'm sold.

The Nukes

Performances are always fun and engaging with a line-up which includes: Laingholm resident David Theille, affectionately referred to as ‘Snapper’, together with Ben ‘country boy’ Collier from the wild west of Woodhill, and the ‘Fingers of fire’ himself Dave Parker(founder of the Titirangi Festival of Music). Look to see them around Auckland over the next few months then nationally sometime this year. Audiences never fail to be entertained by this group of Ukulele enthusiasts ‘the Nukes’.

Gus Simonovic

Gus Simonovic has lived in other countries and spoken other languages. Currently he resides in Auckland, writing and performing his poetry inbroken English. Apart from his own poetry collection, "PrintableReality", his poetry has been published in a number of NZ magazines andanthologies. He performs his poetry around New Zealand as well as in USA, Europe and Australia ( most recently at the Parnell Rose festivalalongside Sam Hunt ). He is a Poetry Slam winner and was the runner-up in the 2008 MontanaPoetry Day Slam. Gus writes passionately about eggs and edgily about passion. Expect abrain-dance of honey and spices (may contain traces of nuts).

SEE YOU THERE..SEE YOU THERE..SEE YOU THERE..SEE YOU THERE..SEE YOU THERE..

Donna Dean to play live session on 95bFM

Great news indeed, Donna Dean is going to be playing live on my show 'A Positive Vibration" next week. The show starts at 12 midnight on Tuesday 17th and runs into Wednesday the 18th at 3.30am. Those of you who were at the tree Tops gig back in December last year will remember a beautifully haunting and simultaneously uplifting set that Donna played in fact if your anything like me its probably etched on your brain!

Obviously just for you early birds who need all your beauty sleep we will be trying to get Donna who will be accompanied by Paul Williams to perform in the first hour of the show. Hopefully I will also get time to ask Donna and Paul some questions so if any of you any thing you would like to ask please email me and I will do my best to pass on your thoughts.

A 1997 music festival at the Bay of Islands north of her home town of Auckland, proved significant in the career of New Zealand singer-songwriter Donna Dean. During the festival on a ferry crossing from Paihia to Russell, Dean met a German promoter who, impressed by her music and performance, booked her on a six week tour of Germany the following year. Months after returning from Germany, Dean joined American songwriting legends Jimmy Webb and Dan Penn on their N.Z tour as the support artist. A year later Dean moved to London where she lived for six years touring Europe. She has created a fan base there and continues to tour Germany annually.
Dean regularly played in central London at some of the hottest West End roots music venues including The Borderline, The 12 Bar Club and the Kashmir Club. In 2000 Dean won Demo of the Month in London's Melody Maker Magazine for her self produced 10 track solo album "A Little Faith". The acoustic studio tracks were one take recordings which Dean says are real, not perfect, the way she intended. That same year Dean was a feature artist at a huge Trucker festival in Germany alongside Willie Nelson.
Dean was a guest speaker at the 2003 Mataura Licencing Trust Songwriting Seminar along with songwriters Arthur Baysting and Barry Saunders. Also in 2003 she won two N.Z Tui Awards for Best Country Album and Best Country Song for her self-penned album “Money” recorded in Nashville and featuring Grammy winning Americana band The Amazing Rhythm Aces. A live performance at The Flax Cafe in west Auckland in October 2008 was part of a short film made by Miriama Toms. The music doco film is due to be screened on Maori television and at Lopdell house theatre in 2009. In December 2008 one of her songs from the “Money” album was recorded by award winning American Bluegrass artist Rhonda Vincent whose friends include Alison Krauss and Dolly Parton. Rhonda Vincent/Dolly Parton youtube video
Dean returned to Auckland in 2005 focused on writing new songs and began a search for a suitable accompanist. In 2008 she teamed up with singer-songwriter Paul Williams. Influenced by the diversity of the European music scene Dean was looking for a versatile musician who would add a kind of edge and twist to her music and the multi talented Williams fitted the bill perfectly. The pair have been referred to as the Gillian Welch & David Rawlings of New Zealand with their crossover-rootsy/folk sound. Williams has recorded several albums of original music which Dean endorses and describes as mesmerising and thought shifting. Williams plays Cello, Mandolin, Autoharp and Percussion with Dean. Cello may not be what you expect at a roots music gig but you have to hear and see Dean & Williams play live to appreciate the sound they create together which takes you on a distinctive and memorable musical journey. Williams’ use of the Cello exceeds the norm and stretches way beyond what you think you’ll hear. Dean’s new material is as always, rich with the realisms of life. No syrupy love songs, only real life stories of tragedy and torment, loss and hope. Don’t miss an opportunity to see Donna Dean & Paul Williams live. It’s one of those rare experiences which stay with you long after the music ends.

To listen visit http://www.myspace.com/donnadean8

Announcement 3...

Okay after months of us pestering them, local group The Nukes have agreed to come and play for us here at Tree Tops and we have added them to the bill for the our next show on the 20th February. We are very keen for you to come along and experience the phenomenon that is The Nukes. Loosely described (by me) as the bastard sons of The Beach Boys meets Ivor Cutler with beautiful Ukulele strummed songs and harmonies to die for its likely to be the most entertainment you've had this year. Check out their bio below.

The Nukes
Recently formed to perform a short set at the Titirangi Festival of Music08 and since that time have been working hard creating a set of original songs for their unique line-up of 3Ukulele’s and voices. The second half of last year was a busy one as the Nukes presented a series of concerts which included a thrilling appearance at the NZ Ukulele Festival (where Ben was awarded APRA top Uke song for the year with ‘Peas and Carrots’).
Performances are always fun and engaging with a line-up which includes: Laingholm resident David Theille, affectionately referred to as ‘Snapper’, together with Ben ‘country boy’ Collier from the wild west of Woodhill, and the ‘Fingers of fire’ himself Dave Parker (founder of the Titirangi Festival of Music). Look to see them around Auckland over the next few months then nationally sometime this year. Audiences never fail to be entertained by this group of Ukulele enthusiasts ‘the Nukes’.

Put that date in your calender, dust off your best dancing clogs and iron your favourite disco shirt cos' it's gonna be one hell of a night.

SEE YOU THERE..SEE YOU THERE..SEE YOU THERE..SEE YOU THERE..SEE YOU THERE..