Lake venue favourite for Jamie McDell

The ‘‘picnic type’’ atmosphere and being among the crowd are two of the things Jamie McDell loves most about Matamata Rotary’s Concert by the Lake.

This year the Auckland-based singer/songwriter will return to the pontoon for the fourth time and says being invited back is a very humbling experience.

‘‘It’s something I look forward to and I amgrateful they will have me back,’’ she said.

‘‘It feels like a big picnic, that’s one of the things I love about it.

‘‘You spend your time on stage, and that’s a special experience in itself, but to go and hang out in the audience and watch the other performers in that relaxed setting is really cool.’’

McDell will join jazz band Two Many Chiefs and Tui award winning artist Bic Runga at the annual concert, held on Peter and Ineke Thissen’s rural property.

There each artist will perform on a pontoon overlooking a small lake, surrounded by a natural amphitheatre of cliff face and willow trees.

And it’s this setting that allows McDell to relax on stage and trial some of her new music - as well as honour her earlier songs.

‘‘It seems as if it gives me an opportunity to reinvent my set list and trial some new songs.’’

Last year the young artist trav- elled to Nashville - where she says she really found her roots in music and made a record to be released laster this year. It will be her second independent release.

‘‘For me, growing up listening to country/folk music, Nashville felt like a comfortable place to write songs, meet new people and write music with people.

‘‘I opened myself up to a lot of songs and met great musicians.

‘‘This album is very much me, completely trusting in the way I enjoy writing songs and going fully back to my roots.

‘‘So in a sense these songs like minded should be more comfortable to play than anything.’’

McDell performed with Two Many Chiefs at Concert by the Lake in 2017, but this is the first time she has performed alongside Bic Runga - a ‘voice of her childhood’.

‘‘Bic Runga is very much some- one I really look up McDell.

‘‘Especially when I was younger, I was inspired by female artists who played the guitar.

‘‘The audience is going to get a real treat and quite a diverse range of artists, so it will be one not to miss.’’ to,’’ said