Bringing back music’s old days
Waipukurau musician Cougan Renata says he had no idea when he created The 10 Guitars Show a year ago that it would take him all over the country.
Featuring his four-piece band, Revival, the The 10 Guitars Show will celebrate its first birthday with a performance on August 25 back where it all started — the Leopard Hotel in Waipukurau.
“We threw the concept out to The Leopard Hotel a year ago and since then it has taken us successfully all over the country,” he said.
“I think it’s a massive success for a band that was founded in our community, so celebrating where the show was born is our way of saying thank you for the support we have received,” he said.
After playing gigs as far south as Christchurch and all across the lower North Island and the East Coast, Cougan said he and wife Rhea had started their own company, C & R Entertainment Ltd, because of the success of the show.
“It’s taken off a lot more than we ever thought it would,” said Cougan, who is the lead guitarist and vocalist.
Though there had been some changes to the line-up since the first show, Cougan and fellow local, vocalist Tash Godinet, remain original members of the band. They have been joined by drummer Layton Gemmell from Wairoa, and bassist Boo Phillips from Dannevirke.
Described as a nostalgic covers show of songs by artists including Prince Tui Teka, Tom Jones, Dr Hook, The Doobie Brothers and more, Cougan said the fun show was named after the 10 Guitars compilation CDs that were released in New Zealand a few years ago.
“The show’s about celebrating that old-school Kiwiana ‘party in the shed’ type of vibe,” he said.
Another CHB local, lighting engineer Zeke Anderson, was in charge of the light show out the front of the stage, which Cougan said would be transformed for the first anniversary show at The Leopard.
“We are going to go all out for the birthday show and use lots of props and dress up the stage like an old shed,” he said.
He encouraged people to come to the gig dressed in Kiwiana theme, and promised the crowd lots of opportunities to sing along to some of their favourite songs.
“We really encourage it,” Cougan said.
■ Tickets for the gig at the Leopard Hotel at 8pm on Saturday August 25 cost $15 and available now from the venue now, or at the door.