Laura Collins and The Back Porch Blues Band

Blues with bells on.

Wellington based Laura Collins and the Back Porch Blues Band are heading to play The Old Lodge Theatre, Hokitika on Saturday 10th November. They’ll be loving the blues ‘live’ as always.

This band are dynamic, masterful and all about entertainment.

Laura, who is up front from the very start, with high energy, cheek and vocal strength leads and celebrates her band – and gives them licence to shine. And shine they do, with Wayne Mason, master of boogie ‘burning it up’ on the keys and adding his iconic voice to the vocal mix.

Wayne Mason well-known singer songwriter, also one hell of a fine boogie piano player ‘firing it up’ on their behalf. Think Fats Domino, think Dr John, think Professor Longhair and you’ll be in the right honky tonk.

John O’Connor will be ‘eating it up’ on lead guitar, never self-indulgent – just soulful and astonishing. He’s played with everyone along the way, from BB King to Kiri Te Kanawa.

The rhythm section brings a warm acoustic volume with George Barris on tasty upright bass and Peter Cogswell on the ‘back porch’ drums proving that you don’t need to be loud to groove.

Expect to hear a little Fats Domino, Beth Hart, Bonnie Raitt, Nina Simone, John Lee Hooker, some of Laura’s own and others she can put her stamp on, all with their roots in the blues. Laura says "Blues comes straight from the heart and that’s just how I like it, it’s accessible, joyful, heart full music and not only that it makes me want to move – what’s not to like?”

This band is a combination of ‘old hands’ who have been making music a long time, absolutely revelling in the playing. A night out with Laura Collins and the Back Porch Blues Band is a joyful celebration of why we would ‘keep the music live’.

This gig will be out in the marquee – with the sides up or down – weather dependent!