Te Awamutu Courier

Blues & BBQs coming up

Inaugural event an action-packed day of classic cars, vintage tractors and live music

- Jesse Wood

Pirongia Rugby Sports Club will host the inaugural family-friendly Bonnets, Blues & BBQs event on Saturday, February 17. An action-packed day of classic cars, vintage tractors, motorbikes, live music, food, drinks and prizes.

Local car enthusiast­s Lewis Mellsop, Kane Mason, Cameron Coombes, Peter Jones and Bill Reymer came up with the idea to include the community.

Mellsop says there will be a good variety of vehicles, food and entertainm­ent suitable for the whole family.

Any unique vehicle is welcome to be included in the show although the organisers would prefer to see classic cars pre-1990s build. Scrutineer­ing will be held on the day.

Vehicle owners can skip registerin­g in advance. Just show up on the day and pay an entry fee of $5 per person.

General admission is also $5, while an additional $10 can be paid to enter into the blues festival and licensed area.

The blues festival will have several performers including Theory 89 (Rotorua); Tina Turley and Kiwi Blues Connexion; JT&Agnostics; The Dirty Tones with guest Seam Lurman; Taranaki Slim; Hillmen Hunters; Goulash; More Gain & Blues Refrain as well as Tina Turley and Jera Murray.

Turley joins the event from Huntsville, Ontario, Canada.

She has had internatio­nal success with all four songs in her first EP charting in the top five and top 20.

Turley’s songs received number one status on various stations throughout Europe and the United Kingdom including Germany, Scotland and Ireland to name a few.

In New Zealand, Turley has performed at Pirongia Blues Festival 2023, Cambridge Autumn Festival, Frankton Thunder, The Woolshed in Cambridge, Davy’s Cottage in Titirangi, Tauranga, Rotorua, Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Taupō, Huntly and Hamilton.

Hamilton-based former Te Awamutu resident Sean Lurman will guest star with The Dirty Tones.

At only 16, Lurman has demonstrat­ed mastery of the lead/electric guitar. Last year, he represente­d New Zealand in the World Championsh­ip of Performing Arts (alongside a couple of other entries).

Lurman won several medals and was recognised as the overall winner for guitar.

Gates will be open to cars and display vehicles at 9am followed by the public between 11am and 8pm.

The organisers encourage the community to support this great local family event geared for all ages “with a passion for everything country and automotive”.

For more informatio­n and updates, visit Bonnets Blues & BBQS Facebook page and event page.

 ?? ?? The inaugural Bonnets, Blues & BBQs event will take place on February 17 in Pirongia.
The inaugural Bonnets, Blues & BBQs event will take place on February 17 in Pirongia.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from New Zealand