The Small Hall Sessions bring HB Music Month Waipukurau Hall

Celebrating Hawke’s Bay’s locally grown music in our local halls, on this, our first night, we bring you three extraordinary artists. First up tonight we have Michael Stodart an internationally seasoned musician and singer/songwriter. He has shared the stage with musical giants such as Van Morrison, Ian Dury and Joe Cocker as well as collaborating in the studio with legendary Elton John producer Gus Dudgeon. After spending 25 years performing, writing, and recording in London, Michael returned to New Zealand in 2015 and established “The Elton John Experience”, a spectacular showcase capturing Elton’s extravagance and musical prowess that has had sold-out shows across the country and performed as a part of massive outdoor events. Michael is midway through recording an album that he looks forward to releasing later in the year. Kitty Day prefers to throw out dark hints rather than spell it out for you. From the wilds of Yorkshire, she's an old-fashioned singer-songwriter owing much to the legendary artists of the 1960s folk scene. Six years in Hawke's Bay have brought a new flavour to her gently disconcerting songwriting. Uncomplicated piano and guitar accompaniments underpin Kitty's lovingly crafted stories of the sublime and the ridiculous. The Phil Edwards Band is the collaboration of Phil Edwards, Adrian Ashdown, Loujean Philander and Timothy William. Their live set brings together elements of blues, funk, reggae and country, all with an honest soulful vibe that's easy to move to and hard to forget. Established in 2008, the band spent four years travelling across Australasia, performing at festivals such as Rhythm and Vines, Melbourne Moomba Water Festival, Blues Brews and Barbecues and the Whangamata Summer Festival. The band's 2010 debut single 'Crash' gained a rotation on More FM and the same year also saw the release of PEB's first album, "Slow Borders", mixed by Dave O'Donnell (John Mayer, James Taylor, Keith Richards). OE's took over and after a short two year hiatus, PEB are back hitting the ground running. As momentum builds for the band, they've been busy in the studio working on their second album and a number of music videos. 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.