Musos from near and far are fine tuning performances in preparation for a 25th anniversary celebration of the Nor’Westers Muso’s Club.
The two-day event, on February 21 and 22, will feature open mic and jam sessions with musicians from every genre.
President Noel Hanson and past president John Tull, said the club had provided a gathering point for Mid Canterbury musicians, and beyond, since forming in 2001.
They were expecting a large turnout of people, either on the stage or in support, when it kicks off from 2pm each day at the Devon Tavern, Ashburton.
‘‘Ashburton boasts an impressive and diverse pool of musical talent, both young and old,’’ Hanson said.
Musicians who had performed during club sessions included bands, duos and soloists with tunes ranging from heavy metal to soft rock, horn sections to bagpipes and accordion pianos.
As well as folk, gospel and punk.
About 75 people regularly turned out to monthly club gatherings and there had been some great jam sessions, he said.
The first club jam day was at the Collegiate Rugby Clubrooms in March 2001.
It was an overwhelming success.
Since then the club had continued to thrive with monthly open mic sessions at the Devon, with support from publican Nicky Box.
‘‘We cater to all musical tastes, maintain a non-critical environment, and encourage individuals of all ages and genders to either perform or simply relax and enjoy the entertainment,’’ Hanson said.
Musicians, from novice through to professional, have taken to the stage to perform. Among them Chris Moore formerly of Pop Mechanix, Lyttelton band The Eastern featuring Adam McGrath (guitar) and Jesse Shanks (banjo) and Russell McQuarters (keyboardist), who was among those expected during the celebration.
Hanson said there had been many musicians who had played, gone on to join other bands or turned professional.
School bands also used the club sessions for public performance practice, he said.
‘‘Many of our early performers continue to join our jam sessions, with numerous individuals advancing their musical careers both in New Zealand and internationally.’’
Tull said the first meeting proposing the club was attended by 12 enthusiastic musicians; pioneer Simon Blissett, Adrian Kell, Jim Noble, Les McIntrye, Tony Sparrow, Bruce Horton, Grant Hopkins, Kevin Wells, Pete Horsburgh, John McGuire, Darryl Young and himself.
The vision was to establish a music club that embraced a wide range of musical genres, offering a space where likeminded individuals could savour live performances and musicians could showcase their talents in a welcoming and supportive atmosphere, he said.
The first session planned was a Sunday afternoon jam on March 24.
It was held at Collegiate South clubrooms following a gig where instruments remained in the hall.
‘‘The idea for this first event was to be fairly low-key but would be a good starter for us,” Tull reported at the time.
It proved an overwhelming success.
Bruce Horton, on bass, led the way with his band made up of Hank Harrison (lead guitar), Reg Owens (vocals), Jim Noble (drums) and Grant Hopkins (rhythm guitar).
‘‘The boys kicked in with the old Kinks standard Sunny Afternoon. A very apt song with the temperature outside in the thirties.‘‘
The band played five songs and then Hoovers Garage took over.
‘‘They upped the tempo with some rousing numbers.’’
Also to play at that first session were Eddie Hauwai, Trefor Jones and his band Dagger Soup, Dianne Ray-Mackie and John ‘Irish’ McConachie.
Jam sessions followed and wound up with Trefor on drums, playing alongside Tim (lead) and Les Donaldson on bass and vocals.
‘‘These three were the Tour de Force and they hummed,’’ Tull said.
‘‘Rather than playing for the first time together you would have thought they had been playing together for years.
‘‘With one of the best versions of Smoke on the Water I have ever heard, among others, it was a such an amazing way to finish up our first jam.’’
Since then, the club hosts monthly open mic sessions on the last Sunday of every month in Feeney’s Lounge Bar at the Devon. They run from 2pm to 6pm.
The club supplies all the gear, including instruments and sound systems, for anyone to use.
Tull said to mark the club’s 25th anniversary there will be open mic and jam sessions on both days of the special event.
He hoped to see many of the older, wiser faces from the past and present members.
There was also commemorative merchandise for sale thanks to Nicky Box and Braided Rivers Community Trust, he said.
