The Small Hall Sessions Bring Hb Music Month Meeanee Hall

Celebrating Hawke’s Bay’s locally grown music in our local halls, we bring you three extraordinary artists. First up tonight we have Blysshe Blackburn - Local guitarist Bysshe Blackburn presents a small selection of original guitar compositions. Power emerged in the mid-80s from the labyrinth of Liverpool’s abundant musical wealth. Built around the nucleus of Richard Jackman and Mark Lewis. The band scored a recording contract with Arista Records, which had on the roster at that time, Thompson Twins, Whitney Houston, Hall and Oates, Stray Cats to name a few. Also at that time they had a publishing contract with Warner Chappell Music. Whilst signed they released several singles and toured the UK with numerous top artists including their heroes the Temptations. Powers first single Work Hard was A listed by the UK’s premier radio station, Radio one. At this time the video which accompanied, this single had more requests at the bars and clubs in Europe than Bowie/Jaggers dancing in the street. In 1991 Richard emigrated to New Zealand where he has continued to write and perform a NZ version of Power, supporting acts that included The Muttonbirds, Lloyd Cole, Hunters and Collectors. In 2013 Richard returned to England to gig and headlined two notable gigs at Liverpools famous Cavern and London’s Putney Half Moon with a combined Power lineup of his current NZ musicians and some of the original Power members. Richard continues to write, record and perform with Power. Tonight they play a stripped back version of their full band performance. Project Prima Volta is a programme designed to empower rangitahi through training in vocal performance. But it is so much more than that. Its objectives of social inclusion and empowerment offer the opportunity for teenagers to find their own voices, to explore their own identity and potential. The combination of Covid & Cyclone has robbed PPV of many opportunities to perform over the last years, so they are excited to find audiences in remote halls during Music Month. Niva Savaiinaea is one of several PPV students who was mentored by Julia Deans during a songwriting project 2020-2021. Niva will join Caspian Buxton performing her own compositions and some classical repertoire. There will be guest appearances with other PPV students as well. With three great musical acts, a bar offering local wines & beer, inexpensive wholesome meals, and the comradery of your local community, this will be a night to gather together and celebrate what is wonderful about Hawke’s Bay.