New NZ Festival

The inaugural three-day Okere Falls Festival (Jan. 25-27) will focus on singer-songwriters.

One of its organisers, Michael Barker, a new local resident, was drummer with Australia’s John Butler Trio.

“I’ve played a fair few festivals in my time and want to share that experience,” Barker says.

To be staged at the Okere Falls Store, the bill includes Tim Finn, Maisey Rika, David Bridie, Minnie Marks, The Bads, The Kryptonites, Alice Ecila,  Aaron Saxon and Barker’s own band, Swamp Thing.