Surviving against the odds
dominating, multimillion-dollar artists and rich property owners.
The Kings Arms operated with the same philosophy as the Sawmill. Its staff used to talk about a ‘‘working pub’’, where gumboots and jandals were as welcome as suede loafers. The music, as well, was just as diverse. From heavy rock to altpop, as long as it has a decent chance of pulling in a crowd, the bands are welcome.
In Leigh, Travan is responsible for booking the musicians. She’s been working at the Sawmill for 16 years, after the Guinness family bought the ageing sawmill and transformed it into a cafe.
It’s an unusual venue, with a piano-topped stage sitting in the centre of the room. Behind it, a raised dining floor with wooden barricades watches over the band. The barricades haven’t stopped a few fans from making stage entrances, Travan says.
Over time, the bar has had to make a few adjustments. There used to be hanging chandeliers, until a few too many punters swung on them. Now, the lights are fitted with rustic oil barrels.
Former owner John Guinness, who died at the start of March, was a big fan of classical music. The piano – which sits centre-stage even when rock bands are performing – was his ‘‘pride and joy’’, says Travan. She will still bring in classical artists and jazz players, when she can find them.
It’s all about building diversity and catering to as many tastes as possible, Travan says. She reckons that’s how you keep a place like this open.
There are times, she admits, when it looks like the Sawmill’s time may be coming to an end. It’s normally mid-winter, when travellers stay home and the locals try to as well.
‘‘Then, you’ve just go to shift your focus and promote the hell out of it,’’ she says. In the quieter months, the Sawmill will host anything from Leigh’s Got Talent to high school jam nights and the Leigh School kapa haka show.
‘‘The fire station has their annual dinner here, and there’s half price pizza night – that always gets the locals out,’’ she says.
Pizza, it’s always a winner. Bands talk about it often.
Alt-pop band The Beths finished up a stellar year at the Sawmill this December.
Having already completed a successful album launch tour, they decided to add in a few more shows at the end of the year. Their final stop: The Sawmill.
Why did they choose this place, far away from most of their fans, to conclude their year? ‘‘Well,’’ says frontwoman Elizabeth Stokes, ‘‘They’re just really nice to you, and they give you pizza.’’
It’s all about the pizza, and the sun. There aren’t too many venues where you can jet down to the beach, in between sound tests and the gig.
In fact, her bandmate seems to think this interview is dragging on. As Stokes talks about pizza, Christmas, and her band’s listing in Rolling Stone’s top 50 for 2018, the rest of her band is getting restless.
Guitarist Ben Sinclair is waiting to go to the beach. ‘‘Are we going,’’ he asks, ever conscious of the time. ‘‘Oh, is this an interview? I guess, maybe tomorrow,’’ he says, somewhat hopefully. At the time, Metservice was forecasting thunderstorms the following day.
It’s understandable, though. With the summer sun beaming down, a swim would be nice. And as we talk more, Stokes reveals a big reason why the band has decided to play their last show in Leigh. ‘‘Lots of our friends will be here tonight,’’ she says.
‘‘It’s almost like a Christmas party.’’
The venue, by comparison to the town it’s in, is huge. But The Beths’ last gig was in Wellington, to a crowd of 500 – that’s more people than live in Leigh! The Sawmill, then, is a pretty intimate affair.
It’s relaxed. Anyone, if they wanted to, could get on stage. You can take a seat, or join the moshpit. You can even get behind the stage and watch from there. After the warm up act finishes, they jump into the front of the crowd.
Taking a walk around the bar’s courtyard, it’s the same for everyone. A dozen men in shirts and shorts are taking selfies at their jugfilled table. It’s their Christmas catch up, a time to relax, listen to music, and hopefully head to the beach.
Everyone at the Sawmill has the same reasons for being here, when you ask. They come for the sun, and the music. But they stay for friends.
It’s like Travan said earlier: even the most successful musicians won’t do well at the Sawmill if they’re ‘‘f...wits’’. They may sell out one show, but that will be it.