Concert from a different era
Show bands used to go from town to town, bringing a following with them and bringing country halls to life.
Sadly that era has been and gone but one Taranaki band and an Auckland singer are bringing it back.
‘‘We started a concept of playing in country halls around Taranaki, that’s just been true to our music, just playing for some of the communities around the mountain,’’ Anand Rose, of The Stove, said.
‘‘It’s been nostalgic to that time in history.’’
Rose and his band The Stove, alongside Auckland-based singer Milly Tabak, are coming to the Eltham Town Hall for the inaugural Arts Fest South Taranaki .
This will be their second town hall concert.
‘‘These town halls ebb and flow in terms of how often they’re used and it’s good to bring the element of what was happening in their absolute prime,’’ Rose said.
The Stove is a ‘‘true Taranaki’’ band that was born out of the desire to document local history.
‘‘The sound can be described as a cross between Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young and The Beatles.’’
The band met Milly at the Auckland town festival.
‘‘She’s a beautiful singer and we invited her down to play,’’ Rose said. ’’She has a voice like Stevie Nicks.’’
The Stove and Milly played their first town hall concert at Inglewood’s Waitoriki Hall in June and it was a sell out.
‘‘That community had a great night, and it’s just going to be more of the same at the Eltham Town Hall.’’
Rose said they intended to make their way round the mountain slowly but surely, playing at a couple halls a year.
The Stove focuses on Taranaki folklore tunes, and came together to create a tribute piece for the Pa¯keha¯ Warrior - Lance Corporal McCalman. McCalman was a pa¯keha¯ who was part of the 28th Ma¯ori Battalion in WWII until he was killed at the age of 28.
Rose said the concert would still have some music the community would know too.
The concert is taking place on Saturday November 4 at 7.30pm and tickets can be purchased online at Eventfinda, or at the door for $20.