Leigh News & Events
We cant wait to celebrate level 1 with all our lovely locals – and what better way than with an Open Mic Night – hosted by local legend the lovely Lindsay D
Always SUCH a great night!
Come enjoy an evening of community with some very talented local muso’s
$5 koha greatly appreciated
SOJØURN are back bringing their east coast blend of psyche-surf rock & reggae dub to the Mill. The 6 piece had a hissing summer playing shows and festivals across the North Island. Lockdown gave them an opportunity to write a bunch of new tunes, and after a stint back in the studio in May, the boys are back and fired up for some live shows.
Joining SOJØURN on the night is AKL Dub / Loop master Leighton Fairlie performing his blend of dub, roots, hip hop, drum and bass and acoustic. Smoking hot tunes.
Also super excited to have our very own MC for the night – DJ SuLu (Daniel Weetman / The Black Seeds) playing his best Funk, Reggae, Ska, Afrobeat, Hip Hop. Good times.
TICKET HOLDERS ONLY from 8:00pm
EARLY BIRD PRE-SALES $10+ b.f at undertheradar then $15
DOOR SALES $20 – availability t.b.a
Join this collection of uber-fine musicians and your favourite 95bFM DJ for an afternoon of hip shaking niceness!
As you waltz into the Mill you’ll hear the sumptuous sounds emanating from Tina’s turntables. Next to her on stage you’ll see the Mill’s grand piano unwrapped, ready to come alight. It’s neighbour, a vintage Rhodes seventy-three key electric piano.
Expect a musical journey from Africa to Aotearoa via the Caribbean!
TICKET HOLDERS ONLY from 3:30pm
PRE-SALES $20+ b.f at undertheradar
DOOR SALES TBC
Celebrating the release of her country / pop EP “Before” recently recorded in Nashville.
Featuring 5 original country-pop songs, Grace’s new EP reveals a true talent not just for catchy choruses but also for honesty and telling it like it is through great story-telling, which as any lover of country music knows, is key.
Grace burst onto the scene after a remarkable opportunity set her on an epic path of amazing experiences in a very short period of time. 2019 was a whirlwind year for her, with Californian city San Jose choosing her song ‘San Jose’ as their theme song and pushing her into the limelight. The song has now hit over 50,000 streams on Spotify
Following on from the release of ‘San Jose’, the momentum also started building rapidly on the live front, with highlights from last year including opening for country music giant and television personality Blake Shelton, and being able to perform on the same bill as country music singers Eric Paslay, Phil Barton and Taylor Swift’s songwriter Liz Rose.
Grace’s songs are heavily influenced by the Nashville music scene and her love of county/pop music, and at still just 17 years old, these passions are providing her with a backdrop to share her coming of age life experiences. Having now recorded several times in Nashville, the EP ‘before.’ features some of Nashville’s most talented musicians: the 2019 CMA Musician of the Year Jenee Fleenor – Fiddle and Mandolin (Blake Shelton), T Wild – Guitar (Carly Simon); David Northrup – Drums (Boz Scaggs); Steve King – Keyboards (Keith Urban), and Jim Riley – drummer (Rascal Flatts).
Check out the video for Grace’s song “That Girl”
Joining Grace is acoustic, finger style guitarist Nicholas Brightwell
We are thrilled to announce this rescheduled date
Paul Ubana Jones described as one man with guitar, sounding like a whole band. With a voice that is as husky as it is evocative, with intoxicating rhythms leaving nobody untouched.
With 8 albums and 3 major music awards to his credit, he is described as a Kiwi treasure, a legend by many that have followed his career. A must to see!
APRIL TICKET HOLDERS: your tickets are valid for this new date
TICKET HOLDERS ONLY from 7:30pm
PRE-SALES $30+ b.f at undertheradar
DOOR SALES $30 from 730pm
After all this time locked in our houses it’s time to get out and play some music.
FRED return to the Mill to release their new upcoming single – ROLLERCOASTER!
Fred just wanna dance all night with you – so get those tickets when they’re on sale and get hydrated because this is certainly shaping up to be a goodie!
Tickets on Sale from June 17th.
We can’t wait to play for you all X
TICKET HOLDERS ONLY from 8pm
Deva 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!
TICKET HOLDERS ONLY from 730pm
PRE-SALES $30+ b.f at underthedarar
DOOR SALE $ and availablity t.b.a
Back to the 80’s with it’s neon lights, big hair styles and crazy outfits.
But be prepared – you will dance and sing all night!
Frisky Business will be playing songs from some of the most iconic and influential bands and artists of the 80s live… Michael Jackson, Prince, Wham, David Bowie, Tears for Fears, Eurythmics, Cameo and many, many more. Warm up your dance moves, get your 80’s outfit out of the storage and join us for a great night!
MARCH TICKET HOLDERS: your tickets are valid for this new date
TICKET HOLDERS ONLY from 8pm
PRESALES $15+ b.f at dashtickets
DOOR SALES tbc
Don’t miss this intimate show from the young Australian born, Nashville based virtuoso recently described as ‘the finest guitar player of this generation’
Daniel has been selling out shows around the world and we’re thrilled to be a stop.
WHAT THE PRESS SAY
“The word Prodigy seems to entirely fall short of this soft-spoken young man’s skills, he coaxes sounds and melodies out of his instrument that literally drop jaws.” The Calgary Herald, CANADA
“Watching Daniel Champagne perform is a once in a lifetime experience. He is a true prodigy that plays like no one else could possibly play unless they spent at least two lifetimes studying the art.” BW Review, NEW ZEALAND
‘Daniel Champagne exudes a natural ease on stage, as he sings poignant lyrics and beautifully crafted melodies that invariably whisk the heart up with grand romanticism. Coupled with an exhilarating guitar talent that transcends mere acoustic playing to replicate a whole band, Champagne is just magical’ Themusic.com.au, AUSTRALIA
Best get a ticket!
TICKET HOLDERS ONLY FROM 5:00pm
PRE-SALES $20+ b.f at eventbrite
DOOR SALES $25 if not sold out prior
Celebrating 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!
NEW 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
After 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
SOAKED OATS – SAY HEY AND PLAY SOME NEW ONES
– Elsewhere
– NZ Herald
– Pilerats
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.
Deva 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
Dubwise System Sessions
feat. PDC Soundsystem & honoured guests;
D-Low
GraySound
kamal
Free Entry
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
After 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.
What a special intimate show this will be, at the Leigh Sawmill, featuring Kendall Elise as Bic’s support on the night.
Leigh Fishing Contest
Saturday March 7th
Art Open Day
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/