Sally and her husband Mike moved to Rotorua 8 years ago from Hamilton, where they were actively involved in the local Blues scene.  She quickly offered her services to the Rotorua Jazz Club working alongside Keith Garratt as Vice President, but 'defected' after 4 years to set up the Bay of Plenty Blues Club.

Although Sally is not a musician herself, she plays a significant role in supporting the musical career of Mike and his band (with Dave Robinson and Warren Houston), and together they travel to many Blues festivals and gigs both in NZ and overseas.

With strong administrative and computer skills, Sally enjoys the 'organisational' work in the club and offers enthusiastic support to the others on the Committee.

Additional:   Ukulele is not going too well, so Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra is safe for now!

Warren Houston

Warren Houston is an experienced jazz, rock and blues drummer. He has served on the Committee of the Bay of Plenty Blues Club since day one, and was the Club's first President.   He has more recently managed the role of Club Night Captain, and is the driving force behind the Club's monthly jam nights.

As VP, Warren can channel his energy and expertise into the Club for the coming year.

I have lived on and off in Rotorua for most of adult my years.  My parents immigrated to New Zealand in 1967 and since then Rotorua has been my hometown.  Although  I  am not blessed with a singing voice , nor had the opportunity of ever being taught how to play a musical instruments, my love for the rhythms of Blues, Gospel and Soul music established itself when I was introduced to the black American culture in the early seventies.  

Launching the Belgian Bar with PJ in 2004 and having the opportunity to start a Blues Club at this venue was a visualisation I had never dreamed of. In  July of 2008 I commenced a trip overseas that reunited me with my roots and took me to different parts of the world. 

Now back for more than a year I am resettling back  in my hometown.  I look forward in my capacity as Secretary and with the rest of the committee to continue to develop and grow the BOP Blues Club as it has been doing for the last 4-5 years.  We have an amazing talent at our front door and we have been very fortunate to be entertained by some great artist from overseas.  Lets have some more.

Although born and bred in New Zealand, I have spent much of my adult working life in Australia. A School Teacher by profession, I also trained and worked in Hospitality Management both in New Zealand and Australia, moving on to Tourism and Transport Operations and playing a major role in the planning and delivery of Sponsor Transport requirements during the Sydney 2000 Olympics.

I returned to New Zealand in 2004 for lifestyle change, and with the encouragement of some close friends decided that Rotorua seemed like a good place to stay for a while until I got a "real job".  (I still don't have a real job, but do have a great lifestyle!)

I am sadly lacking in any musical talent at all, but enjoy all genres of music and have developed a greater appreciation of Blues since working with Peter and Anita at the Belgian Bar. I am looking forward to my time working with the other BOP Blues Committee Members to provide opportunities for local talent to grow and develop, and to bring some great Blues entertainment into the area.

New committee members elected at AGM 18/7/10

Bill Ward

Bill started playing guitar about 1955, joined Tauranga band 'The Four Fours' in 58. Went to Auckland in 63, playing in the Platterack and Monaco. Toured with the Stones 2nd tour in NZ in 66. Went to the UK later that year, and the band changed names to Human Instinct, stayed 2 years, then quit when all the band gear was stolen. Loves blues, ballads, (some) rock and roll, and writing songs. Races on the Salt Flats from time to time.

Julian Archer

Originally from New Plymouth, Julian moved to Rotorua where he attended Rotorua Boys High School.  Shortly after leaving school, he moved to Melbourne for 7 years where he worked in the movie industry as a grip, making documentaries and commercials. Since retuning to Rotorua, he has worked in the building trade taking on contracts for housing and light commercial work.

Julian has always loved music and is passionate about Blues. Apart from violin lessons at school, he has not yet taken the next step to learning to play an instrument.  He is, however, looking forward to being very active on the Blues Club Committee and assisting with the Have A Go days.  Perhaps we’ll see him on stage very soon!

I am originally from Gisborne, have lived in Rotorua with my family for the past 8 years and been a member of the club for several of those.

Although I have never played an instrument, I have always enjoyed music of many types with a special place for Blues influenced music dating back to listening to the likes of John Mayall, Cream and The Rolling Stones late at night on Radio Hauraki when I should have been doing homework.

Having been invited to stand for the committee, I look forward to helping more on the administrative side of things.

I have always loved music of any kind.

I play the trumpet in the Rotorua symphonic band, and also spend time playing my keyboard. I admire people who have the skill of improvising so enjoy immensely listening to the wonderful musicians at the jam nights playing the night away.

It is great to be part of this club and meeting the many and talented musicians from overseas and our own homegrown turf.

Jimmy has been playing guitar since he was 5, growing up with a supportive family in Murupara.  It was only a few years ago that he switched from acoustic to electric guitar, to try and get the sound of the guitar players he was listening to, people like Jeff Healey, Stevie Ray Vaughan and  Joe Satriani.  He has had a few short lessons but is mostly self taught. Passionate about his guitar playing, he can do all the usual party, sing-along stuff at family BBQs but is also still working hard at developing h his blues style.

Jimmy would like to be a full time musician one day. Judging by the way he has developed, he just may make it!

People usually call me PJ for obvious reasons (try saying my surname). I was born in Brabant, (Netherlands) and came to New Zealand in 1982 for a better lifestyle, which I certainly found. My background is in automation engineering and with this trade I had the opportunity of working in many places in this country. During my engineering career I returned to Europe on many occasions, for work reasons as well as private, which kept me in touch with my culture. Like most people a career change is like a new lease on life. I left the engineering trade in search of something new. With my new partner we decided to bring some of our culture to Rotorua in our newly established Belgium Cafe & Bar in Oct 2004. Also having an appreciation of music, the Blues seemed a great way of entertaining our NZ clientele in our establishment. European food and beverages, good music, great hospitality — what more would a person want except some spare time to enjoy my other hobby, game fishing. Perhaps next season.

There is a saying:  “A person who enjoys their job, never works a day in their life”. And so this is with Noel. 

He started playing music at age 8, and by 14 was playing in dance bands around Auckland as a drummer. By age 16, he was touring professionally around the country with successful artists and groups of the day. This resulted in many appearances on television and radio.

Noel's interest in sound sent him to Australia to do his diploma in “Audio Engineering” which he completed, before returning to New Zealand to build a long run of recording studios and sound systems.

To this day the most successful studio owned and run by Noel is the award winning facility, Villa Productions. Several gold and platinum albums, and various other awards from the industry, have been credited to Noel through this recording studio.

Noel still plays drums professionally around the country with high profile artists, as well as providing live sound and lighting production for shows and corporates.

A keen Rotarian, Noel enjoys all aspects of Rotary, this year seeing him as Club service director and Junior Vice President.

Editor
Mike Garner

Mike Garner is a musician who grew up listening to and playing blues in England and moved to New Zealand in 1988.

Mike has played in New Zealand, England, Australia, Italy and Germany.

His 5th CD was released in January 2007. He toured New Caledonia in August 2007, The Cook Islands in 2008 and at the Himalayan Blues Festival, Kathmandu in 2009.