SONG WRITING - TOP OF THE LIST

In the last few days, I've been lucky enough to secure a co-writing session with multi award winning Christchurch (NZ) based musician, Phil Doublet. I have admired Phil's sound for a while now (not to mention the fact that the guy is a guitaring legend in NZ), so to be able to knock together ideas with him is wicked. 

As if that wasn't amazing enough, I get to travel back home via Timaru to co-write with the beautiful  young songstress and Toyota Star Maker, Kaylee Bell. 

I'm hoping that all of these opportunities will fatten out my upcoming EP. Even if our tracks don't make it to a recording studio, I'm exciting to mash ideas with some absolute greats in the industry. 

NEW TO KELVINCUMMINGS.COM ... UPCOMING GIGS

To try and keep people up to date on my upcoming gigs, I have included an "Upcoming Gigs" part to the front page of www.kelvincummings.com. All of these are directly "Kelvin Cummings" based performances (not cover bands performances), so these shows are a great opportunity for you to hear all the tracks which have helped make me know to country music lovers within New Zealand, as well as the new tracks getting dropped in all the time. 

HOEDOWN

​At the Silverpeaks Country Music Club's 2016 Hoedown at Wingatui Raceway, Mosgiel/Dunedin, people were invited to perform songs to wrap up the weekend. As well as a special guest spot on the Saturday afternoon, and an impromptu jam session on the Saturday night, I was fortunate to be ask to perform again on the Sunday. To mix things up, I chose to play an acoustically stripped back version of Hunter Hayes' "Somebody's Heartbreak". Big thanks to Bonnie-Lee Jessen for introducing the song to him, at the Tamworth Country Music Festival this year. Thank you to Silverpeaks for the invite to play as well. 

Thank you to all of the people involved in organising the weekend. Additionally, it was awesome to chat with heaps of you who have been following my country music over the last few months.

Please share this song (and his "Kelvin Cummings Music" Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/KelvinCummin...) with all your friends and family. Spread the joy.

You know I like my children fries
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I don't make a habit of stopping off at Burger King in Dunedin, but I've been tempted to sample some of the Chicken Fries that they have on their menu. Great taste of crumbed chicken. I'm not sure it was worth the 20 minute wait for food, but I wouldn't say no to a chip if someone offered. 
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Online show cancellation 
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After a heavy gig season in NZ, accompanied by my long teaching hours, my body had decided to crash on itself. I therefore had to cancel my online show via the "StageIt" website to recover. I'm sorry to the people who signed up. You have all been reimbursed now. I'm drinking heaps of Hot Honey based drinks to get myself back in check. I'm sure with a couple of hours rest, I'll be healthy again shortly. 
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Upcoming Hoedown 

With the Trans-Tasman Entertainer of the Year coming up, I'm going to preview my set at the Silverpeaks Hoedown this Saturday 19th March from 3:30pm at Wingatui Racecourse, Mosgiel/Dunedin. I'd suggest you stick around for the rest of the weekend, as there is a long line of great entertainment. Starts Frday night through to Sunday night. Information at http://www.silverpeaks.org.nz/gigs.php
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Original Music
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I'm continuing to write new music, and am looking forward to playing some of them to you. The next time for you all to hear a track will be at the opening set for Idol Frets at 7pm St Kilda Tavern, South Dunedin, on Saturday 26th March (Easter/Holy Saturday). 

Kelvin Cummings in February/March = Wedding Singer
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After a long week of teaching, I motored off to Methven to play a wedding to a heap of Cantabrians. What a sensational night, with 90% of my tracks being country based. Perfect time to drop in all my Zac Brown, Keith Urban, Luke Bryan, and heaps more. We've already signed up a couple of future weddings out of it. I hope they are just as epic. 

We followed this wedding with another in the Victorian region of Oamaru. It was another great night (my band Idol Frets makes a habit of that). My highlight this time wouldn't be the reception itself, but the hours between setup and performance, where Mike (the other frontman) and I chilled out with a couple of guitars (and beers) at a craft brewery garden area across the road. I tidied up an original track from Aussie that didn't get much air time, and jammed through some original tracks. Awesome. 

You think it'd be over there. We had an informal acoustic show at Ombrellos and a home address in the newly formed Mosgiel/Taieri area to celebrate a couple of close friend's successful wedding proposal. This therefore meant that the harmonies were rich as. I love weekends like this. 

Another country wedding to play on Wednesday in the Catlins. I know that this group are singing and dancing crazy. Wish us luck. 
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For more information about my band Idol Frets, visit www.idolfrets.co.nz or via our "Idol Frets" Facebook page. 

​Camp
 
It’s been a flat out week, with not a lot of songwriting. Most of it because of my teaching responsibilities … taking a group of Year 7 students on a camp at Camp Iona, Herbert, New Zealand. Many early mornings, many late nights, and full on days with activities. I will admit that there was a number of times I went through guitar withdrawls, but I made my way through it. Thank you to all the students for not being too crazy, the parent helps for all your support, and the other staff members for your assistance throughout the week. I look forward to next year. 
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​Wedding Singer
 
Once I got back from Year 7 camp (read above), I got in the truck, and shot up to Cromwell Central Otago for a wedding. I managed to reach the reception venue and accommodation an hour prior to playing, which was really useful (much of this thanks to the energy drinks I drank in transit). The lack of sleep did have an effect on my productivity, as I used the time to restring my guitar. The big issue … I put a full set of electric guitar strings on my acoustic guitar. For those people not in the know, I seriously suggest you don’t do this. Thankfully I had time to get  this restrung and play on time.
 
The wedding itself was an incredible night, with most if not all of the guests dancing and singing along with us throughout the night. It was also a very contemporary country group, which gave me the opportunity to flick a huge number of modern country titles by artists like Luke Bryan, Keith Urban, and Zac Brown.
 
Early the next day, we raced to set up at a venue 30 minutes from home in Dunedin. I punched in the details of the venue into my GPS, and was directed a shorted distance to travel. As we needed to set up early, I took the alternative route. The funny thing was that the road was a dirt track for 90% of my journey, which slowed me down heaps. Sensational views though. I’ll need to take my time with my next journey.
 
After setting up (and a brief afternoon power nap), I made my way back to the reception … feeling a little worse for my efforts. Thankfully I had a voice, and focus to get myself through the gig. The guests were more of a concert type group (watching, singing along, and tapping feet type group), however they did hit the dance floor in force near the end of the night.
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​Music classes
 
With the start of the year well underway, I have music lessons starting for all my High School students this upcoming week. I’m pleased to have a strong orchestral tution staff, however it’s looking like I’m teaching all the additional contemporary instruments myself during my non-contact teaching times (which makes planning for classes and marking etc difficult). If anyone happens to know anyone who is in the East Otago region who can teach guitar, keyboards/piano, drums, bass, etc … please flick them my way. 
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​Online Streamed Concert this Sunday night
 
By popular demand, I am playing another live streamed online concert Sunday week at http://bit.do/kconline. Sign up 5 people to my concert, and I'll flick you a free guest pass (only 10 guest spots available). Free unreleased digital track for my top 5 supporters. You have nothing to lose.