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Hamilton County Bluegrass Band in Whitianga for NZ Music month performance

Hamilton County Bluegrass Band in Whitianga for NZ Music month performance

KN Kat Neilson-Jones Updated May 11, 2021

Since the late 1960’s, New Zealand Bluegrass icons The Hamilton County Bluegrass Band (HCBB) have been a unique part of the Aotearoa music scene. In May the band will visit Whitianga for a one off concert as part of NZ Music Month.

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Delighting audiences for over 30 years

The Hamilton County Bluegrass Band have been delighting audiences with their vibrant, fast-paced music based around a driving banjo sound and complemented by rich vocal harmonies since 1962.

Featuring two original members of the HCBB - Alan Rhodes (guitar) and Paul Trenwith (banjo), the concert will celebrate New Zealand Month and a new exhibition at the Waikato Museum in Hamilton.

They’ll be joined by Pam Findlay on vocals and guitar, long-time friend Keith MacMillan on mandolin, bass player/tenor singer Tim Trenwith, Jeremy Trenwith on guitar and Victoria Trenwith on fiddle. With special guest Pippa Le Lievre performing both solo and with the HCBB.

The concert is proudly presented by Dave Rhodes Productions and Korimako Creative, with in-kind support from Mercury Bay Pharmacy

Waikato Museum Exhibition

Over the last 50 years the band have maintained a high standard of musicianship, with occasional changes of band members introducing exciting new additions to their repertoire. The Waikato Museum in Hamilton is currently honouring the HCBB with a two-month exhibition displaying much of the band's memorabilia, a homage to their musical prowess and longevity.

The exhibition contains a wide range of memorabilia from the bands long career, and runs from 8 May - 29 August 2021. Entry is free.

Hamilton County Bluegrass Band History

The Hamilton County Bluegrass Band was founded by Paul Trenwith and Alan Rhodes in Hamilton in 1962 and over time the original line up grew to include Colleen Bain (fiddle), Dave Calder (mandolin), Len Cohen (guitar, mouth harp) and Sandy McMillin (upright bass).

The band became an overnight success in New Zealand as the house band on weekly country and western music series ‘The Country Touch’, hosted by Tex Morton from 1968 - 1970. Each week they would perform one of their own songs and as backing musicians for Tex and other New Zealand singers.

More event information

All About Whitianga is proud to sponsor online promotion for this upcoming music event. For ticket and venue information about this event go to the related link below.