Leigh News & Events

Oct
23
Fri
WHITE CHAPEL JAK – postponed from 14 Aug & 2 Oct @ LEIGH SAWMILL CAFE
Oct 23 @ 8:30 pm

White Chapel Jak at the Sawmill CafeNEW DATE – POSTPONED FROM 15 AUGUST & 2 OCTOBER

Celebrating the end of lock down with a big old tour.
Known for putting an acoustic, funk-groove spin on upbeat songs everyone knows and loves, White Chapel Jak are an infectiously happy, must see live show that regularly sells out. So get those tickets!

FRiday NIGHT
DOORS OPEN 7.30pm BAND ON STAGE 8.30 – 10.30pm
PRESALES $30+b.f at Eventbrite
DOOR SALES availability tbc

Oct
24
Sat
PLUTO – LIVE @ LEIGH SAWMILL CAFE
Oct 24 @ 9:30 pm

Pluto at the Sawmill CafeAfter almost a decade away, iconic New Zealand rock band Pluto are back. Following two explosive album release shows in November
to celebrate the release of their fourth full length album, IV, they have announced an intimate and special performance this Easter Saturday at the Mill, and oh we’re stoked!

Pluto mastered the art of the multi-layered rock sound – sometimes indie, moody and restrained, at other times hook-laden hand-clap pop, often angular, full-energy, anthemic rock. Through the mid 2000’s, Pluto was at their zenith, consistently writing rock songs that traversed the musical landscape combining thoughtful, intelligent lyrics with sonic pop melodies to create evocative, memorable and seductive songs.

Pluto hit the ground running in 2001 with charming debut album “Red Light Syndrome” bringing them to national attention with songs ‘Hey Little’ and ‘She’s Jive’. This was followed up in 2005 with the double-platinum selling ‘Pipeline Under The Ocean’, which featured the critically acclaimed hits ‘Dance Stamina’, and ‘Long White Cross’ which took out Single Of The Year in 2006 at the NZ Music Awards. 2007 saw the release of third studio album “Sunken Water”, after which the band capitalised on their wider appeal and continued touring extensively with their high-energy performances revealing a band at their peak live.

BIG thanks to Banished Music for bringing another fantastic act to the mill

APRIL TICKET HOLDERS: your tickets are valid for this new date

TICKET HOLDERS ONLY from 8pm
PRESALES $30+ b.f at banishedmusic
DOOR SALES tbc

Oct
25
Sun
CAR BOOT SALE @ Leigh Central
Oct 25 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
CAR BOOT SALE SUNDAY 10-12 @LEIGH CENTRAL…actually we have so much stuff we have had to set up shop in the Seaview room…and this is just China and furniture…books, linen, and Christmas items to come.
Good thing is this makes more space In our carpark for you to set up a small stall…text 0274411142 if you want to be part of the fun.
SOAKED OATS @ LEIGH SAWMILL CAFE
Oct 25 @ 8:00 pm

Soaked Oats - Say Hey And Play Some New OnesSOAKED OATS – SAY HEY AND PLAY SOME NEW ONES

Having recently finished the first wave of recording for their debut album, Soaked Oats are taking to the road this October for a string of shows up and down the country. The ‘Say Hey and Play Some New Ones’ tour will see them greeting faces throughout Aotearoa and trying out some new material for the first time. The band will be supported and joined on stage by DJ and friend ‘Hot in the City’ + a few surprise support acts. Dates below:
Soaked Oats are a young four-piece band that percolated into existence in Dunedin, New Zealand in 2017. Catapulted by their infectious and joyful shows and fast-evolving song-writing chops, the band’s profile and fanbase are on a steep rise.
The indie sludge-pop group have become known for endearing live performances, music that has given the band access to tours throughout the UK and America. 2019 saw the release of their most accomplished work to date, the Sludge Pop EP. The band’s single ‘Coming UP’ was discovered by indie-rock icon Sharon Van Etten who shared to her 90 thousand plus fans and lead to sell-out shows across Australasia.
“Soaked Oats rather neatly push the parameters of pop-rock into interesting corners which gently have reference points in alt.country, post-New Wave atmospherics and moody dream-pop.”
– Elsewhere
“A healthy dose of familiar southern jangle, a wry sense of humour and a bold rhythm section.”
– NZ Herald
“There’s something infectious about their sound; it’s happy, it’s relaxed and a little bit cheeky.”
– Pilerats
Oct
28
Wed
CLUB MANOUCHE @ Whangateau Hall
Oct 28 @ 7:00 pm

Our guests this month are Club Manouche, featuring Professor James Sneyd on violin, Craig Denham on accordion and vocals, Steve (Happy Days) Sherry on guitar and Peter Scott on bass and vocals Club Manouche play a lively set of gypsy swing classics mixed with an eclectic selection of odd sorts. With the tangible camaraderie of seasoned players and long friendships their performances are filled with passion, gusto, a sense of humour and mischievousness and they’re not beyond taking a well known tune down the wormhole of contagious improvisational outbursts to see whats there.

Oct
30
Fri
DEVA MAHAL @ LEIGH SAWMILL CAFE
Oct 30 @ 9:30 pm

Deva MahalDeva Mahal, performing with full band of stand out NZ talent.

Support from the lovely Zoe Moon

Deva Mahal was born with blues in her blood. Beginning from her upbringing in Kaua’i, Hawaii to discovering her voice in Aotearoa, where she solidified her vision of becoming an artist performing alongside Fat Freddy’s Drop, Rhombus, Sola Rosa, The Little Bushman, Ladi6, Lisa Tomlins, Hollie Smith, Anika Moa and Olmecha Supreme.

This is one powerhouse gig you don’t want to miss!

Listen: https://open.spotify.com/track/7mI7TjfK1OSXqeIG8BtKAd

TICKET HOLDERS ONLY from 730pm
PRE-SALES $30+ b.f at underthedarar
DOOR SALE $ and availablity t.b.a

Nov
1
Sun
DUBWISE @ LEIGH SAWMILL CAFE
Nov 1 @ 3:00 pm

eventthumbnailimageDubwise System Sessions

feat. PDC Soundsystem & honoured guests;

D-Low

GraySound

kamal

Free Entry

Nov
2
Mon
BARRY AND THE CRUMPETS @ Whangateau Hall
Nov 2 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Barry and the Crumpets

Bring your dancing shoes for an old-time hoedown at Whangateau Hall with Barry and the Crumpets.

Barry and the Crumpets released their debut album “A Good Keen Band” in September and are touring the North Island for the rest of the year to make sure folk get to hear it live and kicking.

This will be a foot-stomping, barn-romping country dance extravagance of old-time classics, breakneck bluegrass and folky originals to get your toes tappin’.

No folk dancing experience necessary as the band will call you through the dances. If you’ve been to a ceilidh you’ll know what to do. If you haven’t, you’ll have fun learning.

You can find their debut album “A Good Keen Band” on Bandcamp now for streaming or purchase. Check out the Facebook page for dates of the album release tour.

It all started in Wellington when three friends started jamming together with banjo, mandolin and cajon on a dark midwinter night in 2017. As the night wore on, the tunes got stompier, their friends danced faster and before they knew it a band was born.

After 18 months of gigging around markets, bars and house parties in Wellington, a fiddler joined the fray. The band have since been honing their particular flavour of upbeat, old-fashioned mountain music and three-part harmonies with a smattering of Celtic roots.

Barry and the Crumpets are:
Brendan Schenk: Vocals, Mandolin
Rachel Evans: Vocals, Fiddle
Donald James: Vocals, Cajon
Simon Carryer: Vocals, Banjo, Cello Banjo

Nov
8
Sun
JACK PAGE & EMILY C. BROWNING @ LEIGH SAWMILL CAFE
Nov 8 @ 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm

eventthumbnailimageAfter far too many quiet nights at home, Ōtautahi songwriters Jack Page & Emily C. Browning are due to gallivant round this fine nation, playing a string of shows this November.

Emily C. Browning, raised on small town humour and big town music, has tapped into a vocal-heavy sound that’s inherently irregular and satisfying. With her successes solo, in her duo Why The Face and in female supergroup Her Songs, Emily has gained millions of streams across multiple singles and EPs.
Jack too has garnered a humble collection of attention since his debut release ‘The Days, Pt. 1 (EP).’ In an over-saturated music industry inundated with trite lyrics and tired metaphors, he decided to take a new approach to songwriting and write about more original topics like love and heartbreak.
Playing a mixture of intimate shows and bigger venues backed with a band, this is not a night to miss.
Nov
14
Sat
BIC RUNGA – 2020 SPRINGTIME TOUR
Nov 14 @ 7:30 pm

eventthumbnailimageWhat a special intimate show this will be, at the Leigh Sawmill, featuring Kendall Elise as Bic’s support on the night.

Some people baked bread during New Zealand’s first lockdown; others learned how to knit. In addition to homeschooling and mastering the art of the slow-rise boule, Bic Runga created a lockdown soundtrack; started a side project (King Sweeties) that has already been nominated for a Silver Scroll Award; and wrote songs for her next record, to be released mid-2021.
This spring, the internationally heralded pop songstress is excited to tour select New Zealand locations, celebrating both the warming of weather and the freedom to perform. With Bic on this tour is her all-star band, comprised of Kody Nielson (Silicon, Opossum, UMO); Cass Mitchell (Tiny Ruins, Carnivorous Plant Society, King Sweeties); and Michael Logie (Opossum, Silicon, The Mint Chicks).
Bic’s performances are an elegant treat, a musical journey of songs that span her career, including reimagined favourites, rarities, te reo Māori interpretations and new tunes.
Lockdown quite literally cleared the air, offering respite from auto emissions and an opportunity to consider the importance of our impact on the environment. Because touring is a resource-intensive activity, a focus of this run of shows will be measuring and offsetting the tour’s carbon emissions. To help us achieve this goal, Zilch, New Zealand’s all-electric car sharing company, is sponsoring vehicles to enable emissions-free car travel.
Nov
15
Sun
MIA JAY @ LEIGH SAWMILL CAFE
Nov 15 @ 5:00 pm
eventthumbnailimageMia Jay and her incredible band are embarking on their second nationwide tour 💥 Mia’s 2nd EP ‘Stalled On a Highway’ is about to hit the streets and aims to explore the inner thoughts of an “absolutely lost puppy” in her own words. With music that centres around vivid lyricism while shaped by different musical influences, this gig will be one to chuck in the diary.
If you enjoy LIVE music, LOCAL music and AWKWARD STAGE BANTER please come and join us for one of these nights on our NZ tour. Means a lot <33
“Mia is arguably a staple of the Dunedin pop and acoustic music scene” – Radio1
“Mia’s voice is smooth, clear and a good background to chill drinks, or study, or crying in your room (or all three)” – Critic (Te Arohi)
Nov
16
Mon
DOWNUNDERDOGS @ Whangateau Hall
Nov 16 @ 7:30 pm

The Downunderdogs perform a three-part harmony and instrumental blend of bluegrass, old-timey, country, and swing, mixed with originals penned by guitar players Jack MacKenzie and Peter Dyer. Supplying the heartbeat, extra cheery smile, and third vocal part, is Cathy Dyer on bass.

Like one of those old radio show taglines they are likely to chorus that they’re not happy until we’re happy, and it is hard to imagine any other outcome when you hear them perform.

They are genuine, made-in-America imports, and this will be a show not to be missed!

Nov
20
Fri
THE PHOENIX FOUNDATION @ LEIGH SAWMILL CAFE
Nov 20 @ 9:30 pm

eventthumbnailimageCelebrating the expansive new album Friend Ship; a post-apocalyptic love letter from the future to the present and the soundtrack to the swirling oblivion that is 2020.

The Phoenix Foundation have lived many lives. From high school distortion addicts to indie folk trippers to masters of motorik dream pop. It’s been five years since GUYD but that down time has been spent writing, recording, touring with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, creating the acclaimed soundtrack for Hunt For The Wilderpeople, building shrines to light, creating scores for VR, producing other bands, baking sourdough.

Slowly, when they could, the six old friends found time to work together in studios, garages, forests, and sheds around New Zealand to put together the concise ten song set of that is Friend Ship. Featuring Nadia Reid, Hollie Fullbrook (Tiny Ruins) and Anita Clark (Motte) their 7th album is both a classic collection of Phoenixy songs and a new palette of sounds and characters.

Oh we are so excited to have them at the Mill!

ONSALE 9AM 14/8 at banishedmusic.com

 

Nov
21
Sat
REB FOUNTAIN @ LEIGH SAWMILL CAFE
Nov 21 @ 8:30 pm

Reb Fountain at the Sawmill CafeAward winning New Zealand singer-songwriter, Reb Fountain, announces an extensive 10-date tour in celebration of her upcoming self-titled album, her debut for Flying Nun Records, and we are thrilled to be one!
Pulling out all the stops for this collection of noir punk-folk songs, Reb is taking her band the length and breadth of the country to deliver these news songs, and some old favourites, in full glory.

The tour announcement coincides with the forthcoming album Reb Fountain release, due out May 1st on Flying Nun Records.
In the wake of praise for her recently-released indie anthem ‘Samson’, Fountain has shared new single ‘When Gods Lie’ featuring supporting vocals of friend and musical collaborator Finn Andrews.

Worldwide appreciation for Reb Fountain:
“…reminiscent of Lana Del Rey and Tom Waits all at once.” Undertheradar
“[Samson] has Nick Cave running through its veins.” The FADER
“Reb Fountain is to be counted among our finest songwriters whose imagery is both personal and universal, and her command of a melody and a song transcends genre.” Elsewhere.co.nz
“[Samson is] a brilliantly constructed song that is testament to Fountain’s remarkable musicality.” Women in Pop

TICKET HOLDERS ONLY from 8pm
PRESALES $34.90+ b.f at banishedmusic
DOOR SALES tbc

Nov
28
Sat
ADAM HATTAWAY & THE HAUNTERS @ LEIGH SAWMILL CAFE
Nov 28 @ 9:30 pm

eventthumbnailimageOne dark night, beneath the glow of a gas heater, Adam Hattaway and the Haunters

(A.H.) emerged with a Bob Dylan record in one hand and a glass of cheap red wine in the other. They’ll take you back to the good old days when heartbreak wasn’t just something you learned about in the movies.

Based in Christchurch, A.H. has been building an international reputation in the new order of alt-rock’n’roll. With sweltering hooks and raw emotional narrative, their sound says ‘put your arm around the one you love and remember that they won’t be there forever – but maybe that’s a good thing.’
In celebration of their new single, ‘WASTING OUR TIME'(OUT OCT 2ND), Adam Hattaway and the Haunters are setting out of their third national tour!
Doors: 8.00
Music: 9:30

Support: Ryan Fisherman (DUO)

Pre-sales: undertheradar.co.nz
R18
SUFFER!
Nov
30
Mon
DIANE PONZIO @ Whangateau Hall
Nov 30 @ 7:00 pm

Diane was born and raised in New York City, and honed her skills playing folk clubs on Bleecker Street after graduating from The “Fame” School (the prestigious High School of Performing Arts) and earning a BA in Mathematics from Brooklyn College.

In 1985, she was chosen as a global ambassador for The Martin Guitar Company by C.F. Martin IV to perform on their behalf worldwide. There are two Martin Guitar models that bear her name. Diane’s songs feature meaningful lyrics woven with memorable melodies, laid over her percussive guitar style, and brought home with her saxophone like vocals.

Her music moves your heart, your thoughts, and your feet!  Diane regularly tours in Europe, has released ten full length CDs, and enjoys seeing her friends all over the world.

Dec
4
Fri
WHITE CHAPEL JAK – postponed from 15 Aug – SOLD OUT @ LEIGH SAWMILL CAFE
Dec 4 @ 8:30 pm

White Chapel Jak at the Sawmill CafeCelebrating the end of lock down with a big old tour. Known for putting an acoustic, funk-groove spin on upbeat songs everyone knows and loves, White Chapel Jak are an infectiously happy, must see live show that regularly sells out. So get those tickets! FRIDAY NIGHT DOORS OPEN 7.30pm BAND ON STAGE 8.30 – 10.30pm PRESALES $30+b.f at Eventbrite DOOR SALES availability tbc

Feb
13
Sat
Guardian Singles w/Dick Move+Memory Foam @ LEIGH SAWMILL CAFE
Feb 13 @ 8:00 pm

Auckland post-punks Guardian Singles continue their nationwide 2021 tour.

They are joined by their good friends and Auckland party-punks:
DICK MOVE
and 5-piece noise-rockers:
MEMORY FOAM

 

Guardian Singles’ hectic live shows have earned them the reputation of one of the best bands in Aotearoa. Their anthem-packed debut album enjoyed widespread success through NZ college radio, and has been picked up internationally in places as far as Denmark, Italy, and Colombia.
Band members Fiona Campbell (Vivian Girls, Coolies), Thom Burton (SoccerPractise, Wilberforces), Yolanda Fagan (Na Noise, Echo Ohs) and Durham Fenwick (Green Grove) will play favourites from their debut, alongside blistering new material that they’re recording for their second album in March 2021.
Check out the link below for the live video of Guardian Singles playing “Midnight Swim” at Gonerfest 2020!
Get your tickets via undertheradar.co.nz or $20 on the door
Feb
19
Fri
Auckland City Scoundrels @ LEIGH SAWMILL CAFE
Feb 19 @ 8:30 pm – 9:30 pm

Auckland City Scoundrels hit Leigh Sawmill!!

 

The boldest and brashest Second Line band in all the land, serving up originals, New Orleans favourites and modern classics straight to your earholes.
The ‘Auckland City Scoundrels’ are Auckland’s newest and tightest second line jazz band bringing the dirtiest and funkiest renditions of your favourite songs straight to your earholes.
Keep your eyes and ears open for the ACS parading through the streets and alleys down town, and mingling through the Auckland bar scene in classic Orleans style.
Feb
23
Tue
Chorus Fibre Network Information Session @ Leigh Hall
Feb 23 @ 11:30 am – 1:00 pm

Chorus are holding a community drop in event. The event is being held so that people that don’t really understand about fibre, can come and ask the Chorus team questions about our work and how to get connected should they wish to. Just for your information, unless the driveway is longer than 200metres then there is generally no cost to install the fibre to the home – other than the typical monthly fee retail service providers charge to have a broadband package.

Leigh Community Preschool Gala

Discover what’s under the sea at Leigh Community Preschool Gala
Leigh Preschool Gala will be an event filled day with magic, bouncy castles, raffles, pre-loved treasures, a photo booth and lots of marine life. Joy for all members of the family with gourmet food, a selection of drinks and live music.
Leigh Preschool is passionate about the marine environment and this year there will be a Marine Discovery Station with interactive displays and a touch tank. The Leigh Marine Laboratory and local artist have come together to create a beautiful under water environment.
Leigh Preschool Gala will be held on the 27th October, Labour weekend Sunday from 10am to 4pm at Leigh School Fields. The money raised will be used to upgrade Preschool’s outdoor space. 
For more information visit: https://www.facebook.com/events/2396867390527765/