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CubaDupa Blues at the Crossroads of Dixon and Taranaki Streets
Saturday, 30 March 2019 - Sunday, 31 March 2019
Capital Blues Inc will be showcasing the best of the Blues bands from the Wellington Region at CubaDupa 2019, with The Blues Bros all day Saturday, and Lady Sings the Blues on Sunday the 31st.
At a new location for 2019, you can find the best of the Blues in Jack Hackett’s Irish Pub. Sit back, relax and soak it all up.
SATURDAY – THE BLUES BROS
Saturday 12.30 pm – XRay CatZ
Playing the Capital Blues Stage as part of their Saturday Blues Bros line-up; XRay CatZ bring a bit of the 1950’s to CubaDupa.
The XRay CatZ (XRC) are New Zealand’s premiere 1950’s Rock n Roll/Rockabilly band playing fun, danceable 1950’s Rock ‘n’ Roll and Rockabilly. The perfect kick off to a weekend on the blues stage
Saturday 1.30 pm -David Feehan Band
With 60 years of experience under his belt, David Feehan and his 12 piece band are bringing the soul to the Saturday Blues Bros lineup on the Capital Blues Stage.
Late last year David Feehan, in his 60th year of playing live music released his fifth album “5”, which went 7 straight weeks in the NZ Album Charts. He is acknowledged as one of NZ’s finest singers and he, along with his 12 piece band are unmissable.
Saturday 2.30 pm – Red Dog Duo
Red Dog Duo are some of Wellington’s local blues legends and you can catch them at the Capital Blues Stage as part of Saturday’s Blues Bro’s lineup.
If good-time country blues is your thing, then local blues legends Dave Murphy and Dougal Speir are your go to! From old-school Delta blues classics to jump-jive and wailing, down home testifying jive and swing, this is as good as it gets in NZ!
Saturday 3.30 pm – Fabulous Murray Brothers
The Fabulous Murray Brothers are one of New Zealand’s most accomplished, entertaining and energetic multi-instrumental blues bands.
Performing a catalogue of published original songs, brothers Warwick and Stafford shine on harmony vocals, guitar, harmonica, ukulele and banjo. Since their last performance at the Blues Club their album ‘Sing It Chap!’ hit number 6 in the NZ Albums and number 1 in the NZ Heatseekers charts respectively.
Saturday 4.30 pm – Matt And the Makers
Offering quietly astute commentaries on life’s little ups and downs; One part Blues, one part Country, throw in some Americana and we’ve got real blues party.
Matt Hay and the Makers draw influence from the likes of John Hiatt and JJ Cale but deliver Hay’s original songs. Offering quietly astute commentaries on life’s little ups and downs, expect melodies that will stick and choruses you can sing along to.
Saturday 5.30 pm – Bullfrog Rata
There’s nothing like a bit of blues in the weekend, and Bullfrog Rata from the Manawatu has you covered at CubaDupa as part of the Capital Blue’s, Blues Bro’s Saturday lineup.
Bullfrog Rata, one of New Zealand’s premier blues artists (In the style of John Lee Hooker and Elmore James) has notched up support slot credits which include, Tina Turner, Jethro Tull, Taj Mahal, Charley Pride, Junior Wells and Canned Heat.
Saturday 6.30 pm – Guitarzan!
Find Guitarzan! on the Capital Blues Stage as part of their Saturday Blues Bros line-up.
The quartet with more songs up their sleeve than aces on a cheating gambler! Guitarzan! is comprised of the well loved 888 band with the addition of the amazing blues guitarist Deane Hunter. Too much!
Saturday 7.30 pm – Shaken Not Stirred
Shaken Not Stirred bringing more Bluesy magic to the Capital Blues Stage:
Funky blues, swingin’ blues, old blues, bent blues, stinky blues and smokin’ hot freshly scented blues from young gun Jake Stokes, as special guest star. Be prepared to be slapped and then tickled, Shaken Not Stirred, self described as the ultimate in aural pleasure.
Saturday 8.30 pm – Del Thomas Band
The Del Thomas Band will get you dancing into the night as part of the Saturday Blues Bros lineup on the Capital Blues Stage.
A rocking blues based set, to keep you dancing into the night. Elliotte Fuimaono and Roger Watkins will keep the beat going, while Del and Dougal Speir spark off one another on vocals and guitar. Featuring material from Del’s three albums.
Saturday 9.30 pm – Bran and Co
Bran and Co. are part of the Blues Bros lineup at the Capital Blues Stage on Saturday the 30th March
Brannigan Kaa is a renowned local singer who has been part of the scene for the last 40+ years. Always striving to evoke your emotion and inviting you to feel the meaning in his music, this guy and his 6 piece band will be giving you their all.
Saturday 10.30 pm – Darren Watson and The Dangerous Experts
Darren Watson is headlining The Blues Bros at The Capital Blues Stage on Saturday the 30th. Find it by Te Aro Park.
Darren Watson has cemented his reputation as the nation’s most original, contemporary blues voice. He has released 6 world class, award winning abums, and is in demand to work with international artists including Dr John and Keb Mo. What a headliner!
SUNDAY – LADIES SING THE BLUES
Sunday 1.00 pm – The Tempests
Kicking off Sunday’s Lady Sings the Blues sessions at the Capital Blues Stage, The Tempests will give you a good dose of Country Americana.
The Tempests are a Wellington based Americana Country Soul outfit featuring the beautiful harmonies of vocalists Jade Eru and Lynley Christoffersen. This duo is transporting, and the perfect start to a Sunday Session!
Sunday 1.50 pm – Carol Bean
Carol Bean has been been acknowledged as one of New Zealand’s women of rock by NZ Musician Magazine, and you can find her at CubaDupa on the Capital Blues Stage near Te Aro Park.
“Carol Bean is amongst our fine women of rock…sassy, seductive rock ‘n country blues at its best”. Liz Barry NZ MUSICIAN MAGAZINE. Three cd’s of originals in and playing festivals all over NZ – come and be sassed and seduced!
Sunday 2.30 pm – The Raven Mavens Quartette
Don’t miss Wellington’s fabulous Raven Mavens Quartette, playing as part of the Lady Sings the Blues showcase at the Capital Blues Stage, CubaDupa, Sunday March 31st.
The Raven Mavens Quartette is a group of talented women, who play and sing to critical acclaim wherever they appear. The mood will range from sensitive to burlesque with story telling and hilarity on the side. All girl blues, what a delight.
Sunday 3.30 pm – Marg Layton
Regarded as New Zealand’s Queen of the Blues, Marg Layton continues to sing with an intensity and integrity that reflects her lifelong immersion in the blues.
For forty years the Wellington-based singer has been impressing audiences up and down the country with her authentic and passionate singing, her encyclopaedic knowledge of and deep feeling for the blues; she has just celebrated her 70th birthday with her magnificent band and as a continuation of that she is sharing them with you here!
Sunday 4.30 pm – Georgie Sullivan
Georgie is gracing the Capital Blues Stage for the Sunday Lady Sings the Blues line-up, joined by harmonica maestro Neil Billington
Georgie is a cracking blues singer with a background in musical theatre and vocal tutoring. She is best known in our world for singing with “Georgie and The Geriatrics”. Pretty much adding class, voice and beauty to that line up!
Sunday 5.00 pm – Neil Billington
On the Capital Blues Stage at 5pm the talented Neil Billington will treat us to some authentic Chicago Blues.
Neil Billington is one of the leading exponents of the harmonica to come out of New Zealand, and combines a rare capacity for both the traditional blues harmonica and the less typical chromatic harmonica.
Sunday 5.10 pm – Two Bluesy Blondes Band
Two Bluesy Blondes are regulars at CubaDupa, and for good reason. Catch them as part of the Sunday, Lady Sings the Blues at the Capital Blues Stage.
Two acclaimed vocalists brought together for high-energy blues, says Stephen Fisher. The pair work together superbly, bouncing off each other in performance, each inspiring the other, revelling in their soulful and down-to-earth blues sound. Awesome!
