For those of you that missed it: The sun was out all day, it was hot, the beer was tasty and the dress code (as noted from the kitchen window..) altered swiftly. You had to be here to see it. I even felt like a swim for a minute! Who knows, if we’re lucky, we might get another quick re-visit.

On the note of quick visits; another dark pelted friend is about to move on to the eternal hunting grounds. This time, so far at least, we’ve failed to find a suitable name for this gloriously looking, ex-Tory Channel, now Koromiko Black Aberdeen Angus Steer with the ominous “lucky” number #28 on his ear. So, instead of spending sleepless nights over it, I thought we could run a little name giving competition. Whoever gets the suggested name chosen (send us your proposed name by e-mail) will win a fat steak of said creature. Fully cooked with sides and all. For the soft hearted people amongst our subscribers- no offence intended!

For the otherwise inclined: There’s music on this Friday 8:30pm $10.-

Johanna Mystery featuring Ben from Hikoikoi (as seen with Hannah Howes last year)

Thanks for your endurance

LCP

Matiu Te Huki featuring Sunny Ray is performing here tomorrow night. Just before he wasn’t going to take no for an answer…..stubborn and persistant as he was…….he scored the gig. He must have followed the same tacticts when scoring a gig playing with Tiki Taane, Fat Freddie’s Drop, Rhombus to name but a few…..and frankly, that’s probably how he got Sunny to come along……

Thursday special at $5.- “R-Word” super deal!

Those of you that have read the news, Michael Fix is playing on Saturday the 11th of Feb. Nick Charles reckons he’s the best guitarist in Australia….

Sell your cat and come on down

LCP

All the planets are lining up for a special performance- some say.

Some say that's it, others say yeah whatever. I say Nick Charles is playing at Le Caf' tonight, whether it rains, snows or hails.

This Australian finger picking Blues/Ragtime virtuoso is sure to thrill. For those of you that have witnessed his craft, I'm sure you remember him rather well.

For those of you that missed him the last couple of times- well here's your chance.

Thursday 26th of January 2012 8:30pm start (unless, of course, it says something completely different on both posters as well as our website- as per usual……sorry about that, I'm sure we'll get the hang of it one fine day….)

Hope to see you here

LCP

A broken monstrosity on a rock, 12 days of 2012 and almost 1 Friday the 13th (but I guess, it is unwise to sell the sausage before the pig is caught- ours get caught on Tuesday next week……we'll introduce them properly, in due course), whales close to the Kaikoura coast, some other, less fortunate whales got so close to land, they met their Farewell Spit….so much going on I don't know where to start!!

Did you know, the outfit that hired the skipper on that Greek wreck (no, I'm not referring to their national economy) "only" saved around $30k by choosing not to install a system, that would've beeped furiously about 10min before impact- just because they don't have to!! How do you spell moral obligation in Greek?? Well, you're right, it could've been a Swiss ship…….theoretically!?

Theoretically, we've flown to the moon and yet some relatively straightforward mechanisms aren't in place! What will it take??

Music is what keeps it all together- for me anyway.

Sunday 15th of January 2012  All the way from Queensland of OZ 

The Barley Shakes (not Sharks, as it was printed in the paper) traditional Irish Folk Family Band 7:30pm start

Monday 16th of January (my grandfather's 124th birthday…) All the way from Wellington: Mara and the Bushkas

More to follow- just catching up on a bit of a backlog!

Sneak preview: Lindon Puffin found his eye all pussy one morning, had to get some serious work done and his engagement here (20th of Jan) is subsequently uncertain. We'll keep you posted on that one!

Nick Charles the Australian Guitar Whizz is back for another mindblowing show 26th of Jan

Feb 2nd Tom Rodwell with more Voodoo Boogie

Matiu Te Huki featuring Tui Mamaki (Mamaku Project) 9th of Feb

Feb 11th Michael Fix from Australia

Shenandoah Davies from Seattle, Oregon USA Feb 14th

Niuseilah- Pacific Reggae from Christchurch 

and many more…..

P.S. All dog owners: you are invited to send your submission to the council, about the revamp of the bylaws about dogs in down-town Picton. Send me an e-mail if you'd like more info.

enough for now

I hope you’ve had/are having a good start to the year 2012. The numbers look pleasant enough, it writes well- don’t you think??

Champagne for breakfast – the year can start!!

We won’t let you have much of a break from the music world either- in fact our first bit of action is a return visit by Nikita Tu-Bryant and her little combo, singing a bit of Jazz and a bit of this and that on January the 3rd

Weather permitting, we might be able to talk them into a little afternoon outdoor set, otherwise, we’ll have her start around 8:30-9pm.

Tickets will be $5.00 (heavily sponsored by Le Café Picton Arts Foundation)

The next show in line should be Tommy and the Fallen Horses on the 5th – that however, is yet to be fully confirmed!

What is confirmed, is a wee afternoon visit by the NZ Balkan Brass Explosion on the 5th afternoon of the year 2012 (see, doesn’t it look nice???)

The list goes on and on and on- all things working out well, I should get it all on the website for you to marvel at, maybe even later tonight!!

Thanks for last year and may we all have a great -you guessed it, (I just had to write it one more time) 2012

Peter and the team at Le Caf’ Picton

Yep, 2011 will soon be but a faint memory of what was, should’ve or could’ve been.

Interesting it has been to say the very least. Whilst sharks attack container locating devices, illegal hunters (manslaughterers as a result of their illegal activity!) get out of jail after less than a year, we’re all huddling up, shaken by the fact that we’ve had the same temperatures as Central Sweden!!

But, rest assured, winter has kicked in- finally! I can report snowfall from both Sweden, Switzerland as well as Hakuba in Japan! Hopefully we can get the speedos out and get a bit of sun on our pale hides.

Interesting is also, that modern day activists (for the lack of a better word) demand electricity- (all the while showing some willingness to pay for it???????) to the site of their protest????? with the threat of “hooking it up themselves if it isn’t done by whatevero’clock????? If that doesn’t put a smile on your dial!!! That’s like going on hungerstrike with a good supply of isotonic beverage and vitamin pills….

On the up-note; some of us where fortunate enough to check out a family of Orcas around Wedge Point and beyond, the other day. Amazingly enough, the same family that I “met” for the first time around 10-11 years ago! Some of them must have grown up to be at least reasonably large young animals. Didn’t recognise any of them!

A special moment, truly. Seeing them nimbly pick up a stingray, all the while avoiding barb as well as the liver…….clever!

Anyway, I’m running out of muse here so I’ll go straight for the kill now.

Wednesday 21st of December 8:30pm Hera Hjartardottir with Jed Parsons

$8 on the door

Thursday 29th of December for the last show of the year

Mundi; the world jazz/music band of multi-instrumentalists around Tamara Smith!! That’s about 4 nights worth of power packed in to one show

$10.- on the door

So, that may well represent the last newsletter of the year! We will stay at home for the evening of the 24th as well as the entire day of the 25th of December! We might even sneak in a day out with the crew tomorrow night, weather permitting!!

Thanks for the year, folks

Helmsman, oarsman etc

Rather, some Westcoast venue fell through and that suddenly put us on the map. That’s also why you get to see such a stellar line-up for the very special -ante-x-mas-nearly the end of the year and seeing it’s only Tuesday- special price of only 10 buckies!!!

A combined stage experience of well over 100years in the shape of

Carolina Moon feat Nigel Gavin (Nairobi Trio, Jewsbrothers) and 4 other equally qualified musicians! Check out the website;

www.moonmusik.com – starting at 8pm don’t miss it and don’t come late!

LCP

Elections, floating containers, seal bashers getting away lightly, a whole lot of stuff nobody wants to know…..mainly issues of luxury that speak of a society with priorities out of kilter.

Speaking of society; I’m amazed who and how many people watch fishing programs around the place……thanks for all the compliments about my hair…..:-)

Anyway, more about this place, this time and, in fact, this day!!

Tonight live @ Le Café Alex and BB – two Banjo virtuosos of the finest kind!

Intended starting time 8pm $10 on the door

Should you have an excuse for not being here tonight already, we’ll see you on Saturday! Because on Saturday night, we’ve got one big fat line-up for you!!!

The new OZ hero in the Roots Music Scene Jordie Lane on his first ever tour of NZ is coming to town. One of 12 venues throughout the country on his “Blood Thinner” CD release tour.

He will be joined by Matt Langley, Luckless, Bond Street Bridge as well as Mel Parsons!!! If that doesn’t get you going then nothing will!! Tickets on sale now! Big article in yesterday’s paper or check on www.lecafepicton.co.nz for some more details on the artists in questions!

If you need something to laugh about, we’ll tell you a joke after the show(s)

LCP

Spring time, so many things to remember………such as newsletters on time etc.  or bookings of bands…….or the promotion thereof!!

So, that's how we end up with an extraordinary double booking twice in two weeks!!!

Tonight live: first ever combined effort of Freaky Meat and the Dirt Floor Alliance! 

Funky street Jazzy alternative cosmos noises= Indie everything music paired with poetry- spoken songs and all earthy storytelling at its finest! 

Roll up, pop down and check it out! Two for one deal tonight courtesy my limited intellectual capacity as a multi-tasker! 

$10 on the door!!!

See ya'll here at 8pm

LCP

Before that, however, we'll have some fun in the music department!!

Starting tonight with Ralph Bennet-Eades and his brand new 80 year old National Steel Guitar and a really brand new CD of his!! 

$10 on the door for an evening of slidey blues and other stories 8:30 start!!

More later

LCP