Rotorua’s Opening Night Celebrating NZ Music Month

It is the first of May which begins New Zealand Music Month celebrations in Rotorua. Head down to the Social Club (Corner of Arawa and Amohia Streets) to enjoy a mellow evening of music from some of Rotorua’s top artists.

The talented Michael Barker (Swamp Thing) will join forces with Ben Wilcock (The Jelly Rolls) to form Sulphur Jets and kick of Music Month with a bang.

Michael Barker is a New Zealand percussion musician best known for his unique drum and percussion style. Barker has performed with many acts including The John Butler Trio and Split Enz and in 2010 Barker formed the power blues duo Swamp Thing with Grant Haua.

Ben Wilcock is most well known as a band leader for the jazz trio The Jelly Rolls and his work as a sideman with New Zealand soul singers such as Bella Kalolo, Aaradnha and Louis Baker, specialising in jazz and soul. Wilcock is also a music lecturer at Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology in Rotorua.

Michael Barker will also perform a solo set of originals and will be supported by music students from Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology, Rotorua.