Tree Tops Studio

If you had 15 mins to fill the Dancefloor, what would you play?

2009-07-10T18:58:00.000-07:00

Hello Everybody Peeps,

It's been a while coming but there's some new ideas starting to formulate (with the emphasis on the late) As our glorious stand here at Tree Tops draws to an inevitable end, we have started to pursue alternative arrangements to see that the Tree Tops name continues to be put to good use. To this end we will be focusing on promoting shows, club nights and parties at alternative venues in the area and eventually further afield.

To get tha ball rollin' we would like to invite you to experiment with a new club night called "Desert Island Decks" the idea for this night is that everyone brings to the venue with them there 3/4 favourite Floor Fillas ever in the whole world (well if your anything like me It'll be your fav' tunes in the last 5 mins) when you get to the venue (before 8.00pm) you put your newly created DJ name(s) on the list and you get allocated a 15 min time slot. You can Dj by yourself or in small groups. The emphasis here is not on your DJing skills, in fact we actively discourage them! Anyone caught being too fancy and mixing or scratching may be asked to leave! It is about playing your favourite tunes and having a good time. We will figure out the winners on the night by means of the most democratic means known to mankind....Yes it's the clap-o-meter.

So here's a quick recap, with bullet points;

Think of your 3 or 4 favourite tunes, bring them on C.D.'s and /or an I-pod. (not all on the same disk)
Get to the venue and register before 8pm, put your newly invented DJ name(s) on the list.
Have a drink and something to eat and DANCE while everyone else entertains you.
Have your 15 minutes of fame.
Bask in the glory of your superstar DJ status and field questions as to why you picked the beast tunes that had everyone shaking their thang!

So there you have it your new 5 step programme to health and happiness.

What you should do (NOW) to get a head start on the rest of the field please is email us with your DJ name(s) and 15min of tunes so we can set you up with a time slot and guarantee you get to play your first choice selection. Should you chose the same tunes as someone who has already been confirmed you will be asked for a second choice.

Please note in this new venue, The Old Wine Cellar, Corban Estate Arts Centre, 426, Great North Road, Henderson we will be providing a bar and food for sale, there is ample parking on site and the Door charge will be $10.00 each. Open at 7.30pm.

We apologise for the short notice and hope to see you all there. Please tell as many people as you can and if you have a mailing list, My Space, Facebook, Twitter, etc, please don't hesitate to post these details.

SEE YOU THERE...SEE YOU THERE...SEE YOU THERE...SEE YOU THERE...SEE YOU THERE...

CONTACT....

2009-05-31T02:20:00.000-07:00

FOR VENUE LOCATION PLEASE EMAIL

treetopsstudio@gmail.com

Tree Tops National & International Flavour

2009-05-30T18:52:00.000-07:00

Okay so we started this thing called Tree Tops Studio with the idea of showcasing local talent and what happens...POW in eight months flat we've gone international (well not strictly!) For our next show we feature

from West Auckland (via Oz) ....

The Terra Nine Experience
Terra Nine, aka Michael Westcot, is hardly your typical digital artist…
He draws upon his mesmeric ability as a violinist to produce the ultimate synergy
of lush organic strings and groovy, chilled electronic beats. His sweeping, panoramic
musical vision and startling technique sets him apart from the droves of computer
geek number crunchers releasing generic, interchangeable tunes. A latter day
cyber Mozart, he demands to be taken seriously and listened to repeatedly…

Coming up from Otago for the Auckland gig only is vocalist Kerensa Stephens , aka Aviatrix, who has been writing lyrics and recording vocal melodies with Terra Nine for a year and a half. A life-long performer and creative energy, Kerensa also works with ecophonik ( Port Chalmer's based hybrid dub trance producer), de Novo ( Dunedin based eclectic producer), laughin' gas ( Dunedin based lounge/dub/ d&b mashed electronica producer) and Nightshade ( Lakonic + Woosh : Dunedin based drum and bass producers).

She also writes her own electronica and guitar based gypsy folk. The last 5 years has seen Kerensa singing at many of the well loved Dance Music Festivals around the country, including Kaikoura Roots, Parihaka and The Canaan Downs Festival 3 years consecutively.
Last year Kerensa performed with Mike in Germany at Full Moon Festival and France at the Hadra Festival. These were their first live gigs together.
"I immerse myself in tune and love to improvise in the recording studio as well as live and I'm really excited about jamming out with Mike, Al and Cath on Friday night. It will be a great party, we're all quite proud to be a part of Streamofconsciousness."

http://www.myspace.com/aviatrixaoteara

and from Melbourne Australia ....Damiano Verna (Red Eye Express )who will play a DJ set coming to you live and direct for his first NZ appearance ever.

Oh! and did I mention that the whole thing is going to be filmed for future Terra Nine video material, I did'nt oh good.

SEE YOU THERE..SEE YOU THERE..SEE YOU THERE..SEE YOU THERE..SEE YOU THERE..

Holy Cow Batman...The 5th June just got bigger and better

2009-05-21T16:37:00.000-07:00

Hello Everybody Peeps,

We spoke earlier about SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT!...Well that's exactly what we've got in store for you and we've also added an NZ exclusive . As if it wasn't enough to bring you Terra Nine and Colliderscope we have now added to the bill Damiano Verna (Red Eye Express )who will play a DJ set coming to you live and direct from Melbourne Australia for his first NZ appearance ever.

http://www.myspace.com/tempestrecordings http://www.myspace.com/tempestrecordings

In addition to occasional live performances with the full band, Damiano regularly DJs under the Red Eye Express name as a resident in hometown Melbourne venues Glitch Bar & Section 8, and has supported The Orb, Juno Reactor & Banco De Gaia amongst others on tour.
This is the first appearance by Red Eye Express in New Zealand.

Just to get you in the mood please find below some info about Colliderscope

"SEDUCES, SCARES AND EMBRACES YOU ALL AT ONCE" (International DJ Magazine)

Skeletal, off-world electronica from Scottish/Burmese producer and vocalist Fiona Soe Paing. Described by The Guardian newspaper UK as "...hybrid going on mutant..." and by the New Zealand Herald as " ...stylish, elegant and sinister" , Fiona's unique sound is an arresting mix of warped, cinematic electronica and spine-tingling vocals, performed with visuals from animation artist Zennor Alexander . The DVD album "No Man's Land", is the basis of an ethereal and atmospheric audio-visual performance. Wayward synths, ghostly strings, textural atmospherics, sparse beats and sublime visuals combine to create dark and beautiful soundscapes, a mesmerizing world between worlds.Fiona has performed in the UK, USA and New Zealand, and has been picking up great feedback and support from DJ's and critics, including the legendary BBC DJ Charlie Gillett, who included Fiona's song in Burmese language, "Tamin Sah Pade" in his annual compilation of the best of music from around the world, "Sound of the World 2007"The music videos have also been shown on the new 24 hour music video channel from National Geographic, NatGeo Music in Italy, and on Alt TV and The Arts Channel in New Zealand. Tracks have also been played on BBC Radio, (World Service, BBC 6 Music, Radio 3, ) Channel 4 Radio, and the "Best Of Myspace Top 10" podcast. The track "Tue Sahm Hai", remixed by NZ dubstep producer Optimus Grime, appears on the Air New Zealand Fashion week promotional compilation album from NZ'z most innovative label, Loop Recordings.The songs on the album are sung either in Burmese, English, and improvised, non-lingual sounds - a "No Man's Language!" For the album artwork, the original alphabet and font were designed by artist Daniel Burman. http://www.fionasoepaing.com/

And lets not forget this show is going to be an album launch for Terra Nine's new album 'Stream of Consciousness' to wet your appetite we have included some more promotional stuff for ya...

Terra Nine, aka Michael Westcot, combines electric viola with digital and Analog technologies, producing a distinctly organic and free form sound, with an aural palette ranging from chilled ambience to psychedelic breaks and beyond. Auckland based producer, Terra Nine, aka Michael Westcot, is hardly your typical Digital artist - He draws upon his mesmeric ability as a violinist to produce the ultimate synergy of lush organic strings and groovy, chilled electronic beats. His sweeping, panoramic musical vision and startling technique set him apart from the droves of computer geek number crunchers releasing generic, inter changeable tunes. A latter day cyber Mozart, he demands to be taken seriously and listened to repeatedly.

To see the Terra Nine back catalogue follow this link
http://www.terranine.com/releases.html

This is your last TRANCE chance to catch Terra Nine live before they leave for the European festival circuit.

Dance off your dusting shoes and we'll see you on the 5th June 2009.

SEE YOU THERE..SEE YOU THERE..SEE YOU THERE..SEE YOU THERE..

AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT..

2009-05-04T01:56:00.000-07:00

Tree Tops Studio
presents....

in association with a Positive Vibration.
A night of electronica, dance, psychedelic chill, dub and breaks featuring

Terra Nine
Tree Tops is stoked to announce the appearance of Terra 9
before they leave NZ to play festivals in France, Germany and Hungary.
" A latter day cyber Mozart, he demands to be taken seriously and listened to repeatedly..."

Colliderscope
Skeletal off world electronica & sublime animated visuals.
Rated by Scott Kara of NZ Herald as one of the Auckland festival highlights.
A "live cinema" show of down-tempo electronica and live vocals alongside projected animation.

Plus Special guest musicians and DJs
FRIDAY 5th JUNE

Please note that there will be a Koha of $15.00 on the door.

All the usual parking and access regulations apply.

Stay tuned for further broadcasts.

SEE YOU THERE..SEE YOU THERE..SEE YOU THERE..SEE YOU THERE..SEE YOU THERE..

Thanx One and All

2009-04-06T15:41:00.000-07:00

Hello everybody peeps,

We would just like to say 'THANK YOU' to everyone who came out to make last Saturday such a great night.

Firstly thanx to all our acts Elanah, The Glass Owls, Otis Mace & The Magnets. Thanx also to those of you who helped get the evening set up and those who helped with the task of serving everyone, you are all angels and we love you.

Last but not least a big thank you to you lot for coming out to support live music in West Auckland, always remember that we cant do this with out your help or the sponsorship of a multi-national soft drinks corporation, so for Christ's sake keep coming.

Tree Tops will be taking a bit of a breather for a few weeks while we put on an acoustic stage in our Tipi at The Prana Full Moon Party over the Easter Weekend. Any musicians wanting to play come and check it out, you re all welcome. Sarah will also be playing a solo set on Sunday Evening and Howy will be DJing on Friday & or Saturday night.

We have further plans to bring you bigger and better nights to Tree Tops, however, this may require a bit more planning than usual, this combined with our busy schedules will mean our next session will be a bit further away than the usual 1 month mark. We will be sure to keep you posted.

THANK YOU...THANK YOU...THANK YOU...THANK YOU...THANK YOU...THANK YOU...

Final Announcement 4th April

2009-03-28T16:09:00.000-07:00

Hey Guys,

Just a quick note to tell you about the final acts on our Tree Tops bill for the 4th of April. Fresh from there recent appearance on bFM's fancy new band and there session at the red bull studios, we are very pleased to inform you that up-coming alternative folk outfit The Glass Owls will be playing on the bill next Saturday and in our young artist opening slot will be a brilliant singer song writer Elana.

From humble rumblings in early 2006, Glass Owls have evolved into a decent 3.5 on the Richter scale. Having gone through numerous gigs, a drummer and growing pains early on, they've learnt to adapt accordingly. With a new drummer in tow the Glass Owls have spent the last year writing new songs (and improving our old ones) and performing here and there, they hope to have a much busier year in 2009.

Along with all the usual shenanigans we will be having an incredible raffle with added mulled wine and chai for your delectation. The usual free nibbles and soft drinks will be available along with the BYO alcoholic drinks.
Show times are as follows;
Doors 7pm
Elana 7.45 - 8.00
Glass Owls 8.15 - 8.45
Otis Mace 9.00 - 9.40
The Magnets 10 - 10.45

***Please remember to park safely and discuss with us if you have a group of people who would like to come as we may be able to organise a car share or lift for you.****

***SEE YOU THERE..SEE YOU THERE..SEE YOU THERE..SEE YOU THERE..SEE YOU THERE..***

OH YES, IT'S THE 4TH APRIL 2009

2009-03-18T15:34:00.000-07:00

Okay, so you may have been wondering what the hell is going on here at Tree Tops (I've been thinking the same myself!) But rather that present a show that's half baked we have chosen to spend a little longer in the saddle to bring you the best entertainment peanuts can buy.

So it gives us great pleasure to introduce two acts who will be performing for us on Saturday April the 4th.

Fresh from there show-stopping performance at the Titirangi Music Festival local favourites The Magnets will be joining us to play a set of original tunes that will even impress the most 'buttock-clenching' music critics amongst you.

The Magnets are Ben Collier (GoldenHorse, The Nukes), brother Tom Collier and multi-instrumentalist Marcus Lawson (Lucid3, Dave Dobbyn). They deliver a fine set of self writen songs drawing on blues and alt-country styles, with vocals sometimes reminiscent of the Beach boys and CSNY, they are an audience favourite for sure.

Ask 10 people in the NZ music industry to tell you about Otis Mace and you'll probably get 10 very different responses, You see Otis Mace has been making music in this fair land and overseas for 20 plus years. Weather they tell you about his time in Rex Reason and The Rationalists or his band Otis Mace and The Psychic Pet Healers or indeed national tours in support of his Snot Vampire spoken word project, they may even tell you that Otis has writen music for numerous theatre productions all of which would be correct. There are many sides to this man and we hope to uncover more than two (at least) when Otis plays for us on the 4th of April.

I have included a small piece from a review "Music in New Zealand Magazine" - Article by David Eggleton. for further information please go http://www.otismace.com/ where there's more than enough info' to keep you happy.

Otis Mace continued as well his parallel career as a theatre composer, providing the music for Barbara Doherty's 1986 dance piece Rythmnopolis and contributing to the Auckland City Council 1987 multi-media spectacular, Down the Really Road, directed by Nansi Thompson. More recently he has composed the musical score for Vampire Tales, by Cornelius Stone (1992) and accompanied Fatal Jelly Space chanteuse Jacinda Clowens on her solo musical outings (1990-1993).
After the demise of The Psychic Pet Healers set-up at the end of the long and winding tour of 1987, Otis Mace, in his own words 'became a Westie', moving to Auckland's Western Suburbs to get a full-time job and consider his future. After a couple of years out West, he shifted to inner-city Auckland, where he remains based, touring as a solo performer ('have guitar, will travel') and occasionally playing in an Irish music covers band, Blarney Rubble, or as a Celtic music duo with violinist Helen Adams. A new development is improvisation - the audience suggests an idea for a song and Otis makes one up on the spot.
In 1992 he toured a series of songwriting workshops with Arthur Baysting, where the audience co-opted into producing songs using cut-up magazine headlines (e.g 'Meryl Streep Stole My Brain'). Performers of rock music come and go, but Otis plays on, a peripheral fringe figure-though he no longer inhabits the punk ghetto-a hardy perennial on the touring circuit, his trademark, edgy, semi-syncopated strum underlining his impassioned, slightly nasal, still-Canadian-accented delivery, his foot steadily tapping out a rhythmic accompaniment.

So as you can see we've not been idle (much) and are working hard to bring the best entertainment to West Auckland.

Please put this date in your diary and tell all your friends, it promises to be a great night.

More acts to be confirmed we will let you know about these as they happen.

SEE YOU THERE..SEE YOU THERE..SEE YOU THERE..SEE YOU THERE..SEE YOU THERE..

THANX AGAIN

2009-02-21T23:15:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone,

Just a quick note to say a big thank you for everyone involved in putting on a great show on Friday night.

Our deepest and sincere thanx go out to Pinna, Gus, The Nukes and Superturtle for outstanding performances, we would also like to acknowledge the effort and time put in by Callum, Darren and Thomas and all who helped put on another brilliant night at Tree Tops.

Have included a couple of still photographs from the event and would love to see photos taken by anyone else. We hope to get some video footage of the show onto the site as soon as possible.

Two thirds of the Nukes (sorry to Dave! )

Thanx for coming out, it was great to meet all the Tree Tops first timers and to catch up with you lot who have been before.

Stay in touch for the next thrilling installment...................

FINAL CALL...FRIDAY 20th

2009-02-16T00:03:00.000-08:00

Hi y'all,
Just a quick note to confirm whats happening this coming Friday we have every thing in place and now all we need to do is turn down the lights and let the show commence.

The programme times are to be as follows (give or take)

Doors Open - 7.00pm

Pinna - 7.45pm

Gus - 8.15pm

The Nukes - 9.00pm

Superturtle - 10.00pm

As usual at Tree Tops we will provide nibbles and soft drinks, anyone wanting to drink anything else please BYO bottle. It is always use full to bring your own cushion if you have a bony back -side as our supply usually gets used up fairly quickly. Entry is by recommended Koha of $10.00 (or more)

To provide a fantastic venue for artists to perform at we request that noise in the main room is kept to a minimum during performances and if you want to chatter use the deck or move out the front of the building.

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING, TREETOPS IS IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA AND THEREFORE IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO PARK SAFELY TO ALLOW THE MOVEMENT OF LOCAL TRAFFIC.

To get you in the mood we have included below some info on this months artists. This show will be opened by our girls Pinna who will be trying out some new tunes for our pleasure.

Superturtle (Review)

The Groove Guide 24-30 sep Martyn PepperellCategory: Music

....Auckland outfit Superturtle represent one of the smoothest aural and visual presentations of melodic alt-pop I've ever come across in the local market. Combining a warm , analogue production aesthetic with extensive theremin , vibraslap , Hammond organ , mellotron , electric rhodes piano , strings , brass , synths and extensive vocal harmonization over the holy trinity of guitar , bass and drums , Superturtle have definitely come up trumps on this release.When whimsical songwriting and delicate melodic soundscapes come together with a proper sense of musicality it's always a good look , especially if you throw in some soul redolent rhythms into the mix.All Our Friends/Never Came Back represents all these qualities and more.Included in the package is a full length album / multimedia DVD disc which well and truly seals the deal.Superturtle . co-signed , I'm sold.

The Nukes

Performances are always fun and engaging with a line-up which includes: Laingholm resident David Theille, affectionately referred to as ‘Snapper’, together with Ben ‘country boy’ Collier from the wild west of Woodhill, and the ‘Fingers of fire’ himself Dave Parker(founder of the Titirangi Festival of Music). Look to see them around Auckland over the next few months then nationally sometime this year. Audiences never fail to be entertained by this group of Ukulele enthusiasts ‘the Nukes’.

Gus Simonovic

Gus Simonovic has lived in other countries and spoken other languages. Currently he resides in Auckland, writing and performing his poetry inbroken English. Apart from his own poetry collection, "PrintableReality", his poetry has been published in a number of NZ magazines andanthologies. He performs his poetry around New Zealand as well as in USA, Europe and Australia ( most recently at the Parnell Rose festivalalongside Sam Hunt ). He is a Poetry Slam winner and was the runner-up in the 2008 MontanaPoetry Day Slam. Gus writes passionately about eggs and edgily about passion. Expect abrain-dance of honey and spices (may contain traces of nuts).

SEE YOU THERE..SEE YOU THERE..SEE YOU THERE..SEE YOU THERE..SEE YOU THERE..

Donna Dean to play live session on 95bFM

2009-02-12T15:10:00.000-08:00

Great news indeed, Donna Dean is going to be playing live on my show 'A Positive Vibration" next week. The show starts at 12 midnight on Tuesday 17th and runs into Wednesday the 18th at 3.30am. Those of you who were at the tree Tops gig back in December last year will remember a beautifully haunting and simultaneously uplifting set that Donna played in fact if your anything like me its probably etched on your brain!

Obviously just for you early birds who need all your beauty sleep we will be trying to get Donna who will be accompanied by Paul Williams to perform in the first hour of the show. Hopefully I will also get time to ask Donna and Paul some questions so if any of you any thing you would like to ask please email me and I will do my best to pass on your thoughts.

A 1997 music festival at the Bay of Islands north of her home town of Auckland, proved significant in the career of New Zealand singer-songwriter Donna Dean. During the festival on a ferry crossing from Paihia to Russell, Dean met a German promoter who, impressed by her music and performance, booked her on a six week tour of Germany the following year. Months after returning from Germany, Dean joined American songwriting legends Jimmy Webb and Dan Penn on their N.Z tour as the support artist. A year later Dean moved to London where she lived for six years touring Europe. She has created a fan base there and continues to tour Germany annually.
Dean regularly played in central London at some of the hottest West End roots music venues including The Borderline, The 12 Bar Club and the Kashmir Club. In 2000 Dean won Demo of the Month in London's Melody Maker Magazine for her self produced 10 track solo album "A Little Faith". The acoustic studio tracks were one take recordings which Dean says are real, not perfect, the way she intended. That same year Dean was a feature artist at a huge Trucker festival in Germany alongside Willie Nelson.
Dean was a guest speaker at the 2003 Mataura Licencing Trust Songwriting Seminar along with songwriters Arthur Baysting and Barry Saunders. Also in 2003 she won two N.Z Tui Awards for Best Country Album and Best Country Song for her self-penned album “Money” recorded in Nashville and featuring Grammy winning Americana band The Amazing Rhythm Aces. A live performance at The Flax Cafe in west Auckland in October 2008 was part of a short film made by Miriama Toms. The music doco film is due to be screened on Maori television and at Lopdell house theatre in 2009. In December 2008 one of her songs from the “Money” album was recorded by award winning American Bluegrass artist Rhonda Vincent whose friends include Alison Krauss and Dolly Parton. Rhonda Vincent/Dolly Parton youtube video
Dean returned to Auckland in 2005 focused on writing new songs and began a search for a suitable accompanist. In 2008 she teamed up with singer-songwriter Paul Williams. Influenced by the diversity of the European music scene Dean was looking for a versatile musician who would add a kind of edge and twist to her music and the multi talented Williams fitted the bill perfectly. The pair have been referred to as the Gillian Welch & David Rawlings of New Zealand with their crossover-rootsy/folk sound. Williams has recorded several albums of original music which Dean endorses and describes as mesmerising and thought shifting. Williams plays Cello, Mandolin, Autoharp and Percussion with Dean. Cello may not be what you expect at a roots music gig but you have to hear and see Dean & Williams play live to appreciate the sound they create together which takes you on a distinctive and memorable musical journey. Williams’ use of the Cello exceeds the norm and stretches way beyond what you think you’ll hear. Dean’s new material is as always, rich with the realisms of life. No syrupy love songs, only real life stories of tragedy and torment, loss and hope. Don’t miss an opportunity to see Donna Dean & Paul Williams live. It’s one of those rare experiences which stay with you long after the music ends.

To listen visit http://www.myspace.com/donnadean8

Announcement 3...

2009-02-04T15:00:00.000-08:00

Okay after months of us pestering them, local group The Nukes have agreed to come and play for us here at Tree Tops and we have added them to the bill for the our next show on the 20th February. We are very keen for you to come along and experience the phenomenon that is The Nukes. Loosely described (by me) as the bastard sons of The Beach Boys meets Ivor Cutler with beautiful Ukulele strummed songs and harmonies to die for its likely to be the most entertainment you've had this year. Check out their bio below.

The Nukes
Recently formed to perform a short set at the Titirangi Festival of Music08 and since that time have been working hard creating a set of original songs for their unique line-up of 3Ukulele’s and voices. The second half of last year was a busy one as the Nukes presented a series of concerts which included a thrilling appearance at the NZ Ukulele Festival (where Ben was awarded APRA top Uke song for the year with ‘Peas and Carrots’).
Performances are always fun and engaging with a line-up which includes: Laingholm resident David Theille, affectionately referred to as ‘Snapper’, together with Ben ‘country boy’ Collier from the wild west of Woodhill, and the ‘Fingers of fire’ himself Dave Parker (founder of the Titirangi Festival of Music). Look to see them around Auckland over the next few months then nationally sometime this year. Audiences never fail to be entertained by this group of Ukulele enthusiasts ‘the Nukes’.

Put that date in your calender, dust off your best dancing clogs and iron your favourite disco shirt cos' it's gonna be one hell of a night.

SEE YOU THERE..SEE YOU THERE..SEE YOU THERE..SEE YOU THERE..SEE YOU THERE..

Announcement 2.....

2009-01-25T18:20:00.000-08:00

Hey Y'all,

Welcome back to round two, seconds out...................

Some of you may remember a small technical issue at our last music evening here at Tree Tops which nearly sent yours truly right over the edge. Well, you may also remember a Poet by the name of GUS who saved the day by spinning a few lines at a moments notice while I frantically tried to master the previously mentioned tech' issues.

Okay, we had such a good response to Gus's poetry that we decided to ask him to play at our next event here on the 20th of February. Much to our delight MR GUS SIMONOVIC Poet, Photographer, Artist and general well to do Nice Guy has agreed to entertain us with some beautifully crafted words from the left hand part of his brain usually marked "Private Poetry".

We cant wait to see what Gus has in store for us, but if you fancy a sneak preview go and have a butchers at his very entertaining website.

http://www.printablereality.com/

SEE YOU THERE..SEE YOU THERE..SEE YOU THERE..SEE YOU THERE..SEE YOU THERE..

Oh My Most Splendid Higher Being................. It's Superturtle!!!!!!!!

2009-01-11T18:13:00.000-08:00

Yes indeedie Pop Pickers,

Welcome to 2009, hope you all had a good Christmas & New Year and that you are all keeping up with your resolutions. We certainly are here at Treetops (well except for not organising anything this month..We've been busy doing other things ok!)

Anywho, gird your loins, gather skirts and put a big bold mark on your calender for February the 20th, because we have just confirmed that Superturtle will be playing here at Treetops on that very fine evening and to sum that up in a nutshell.....We're pretty bloody stoked.

Please check out the Superturtle site at http://www.myspace.com/superturtlemusic and have a look at the following review to wet your appetite. I have to say at this point the first time we listened to Superturtle we just thought its okay, interesting but that's it! The next time we played the CD thought that's interesting there's plenty happening on there in fact there's parts we never heard the first time and by the third listen we were totally hooked, styles varying from Frank Zappa to Super Furry Animals with more than a healthy dose of the Monochrome Set thrown in for good measure...Give it a try we reckon you'll like it. Anyone who still releases 7" vinyl is sure to succeed in my books!

NZ Musician Aug/Sep 2008
I love the presentation of this, Auckland band Superturtle have released their album on CD with a 7" vinyl single. A really nice touch that backs up the band's analogue efforts to stay true to their craft of old-school recording and writing. Superturtle's debut album and vinyl single grew from a solo project by sound engineer Darren McShane.The lead singer and songwriter also brings with him a pedigree of playing bass in Flying Nun group Chainsaw Masochist as well as working as a bfM DJ. His instinct for a pop hook recalls the funk-soul work of The Netherworld dancing Toys one minute , references The Tokey Tones, Brunettes and Ryan McPhun-styled retro pop at other times and the buzz/fuzz alt-rock of contemporary acts like White Swan Black Swan. I really enjoyed this album, cool songs and the arrangements feature sharp horns and choirs of voices.Lovely stuff. Simon Sweetman

Thank You..Thank You..Thank You..Thank You..Thank You..Thank You..Thank You..Thank You..

2008-12-20T13:25:00.000-08:00

Just a quick message to thank everyone for coming out on Friday. It was great to see you all and we hope you all enjoyed yourself as much as we did!

We would like again to thank Caitlin, Donna, Paul, Willy and every one else who helped us get the evening together. Thank You..Thank You..Thank You..Thank You..

Plans are afoot to bring more live music to Tree Tops towards the end of January, we are currently working on getting a few acts booked and we will let you know whats happening as soon as we can.

Presumably if you're reading this you will have some form of contact with us, if not please e-mail treetopsstudio@gmail.com with your contact details and we will put you on our mailing list. We would also appreciate it if you could forward these details to other music lovers who may wish to make contact.

Always remember that these shows are not sponsored by Lion Red, Telecom, Pepsi Cola or any other national or multi-national company they are made possible by YOU the people of Auckland and we applaud you for that.

Thank You..Thank You..Thank You..Thank You..Thank You..Thank You..Thank You..Thank You..

Howy & Sarah

Final Announcement

2008-12-16T17:12:00.000-08:00

Hey Guys,

Just two days to go......

Okay so we have our final act booked for this Friday's show and surprise, surprise it's going to be SL Macombee. Sarah will be playing a set to promote the release of her new album 'Sense Offender"which will be available on Friday night.

Please check out Sarah's web site at www.myspace.com/slmacombee for listening to some tunes and catching up with her back ground.

We have also been informed by some visitors that they found it a bit dark returning to their vehicles at our last night. We have come up with an ingenious solution to this, that is to bring a torch with you! We obviously encourage the use of rechargeable batteries or wind up devices!

And last but not least we think it may be worth you bringing a bum cushion if you would like to sit on the timber floor! They do get used up quickly.

SEE YOU THERE...SEE YOU THERE..SEE YOU THERE..SEE YOU THERE..SEE YOU THERE...

Second Announcement...Donna Dean Confirmed

2008-12-10T21:29:00.000-08:00

It gives us great pleasure to announce the confirmation of award winning singer-songwriter Donna Dean for our Christmas gathering here at Tree Tops Studio. Donna will be appearing along side Cellist Paul Williams and to tell the truth we cant wait, in fact I'm already loosing sleep and feeling a bit wobbly at the thought of it!

Rather than me blabbering on, I'll pick my tongue up off the floor and lift this info off Donna's Web site for your delectation. I strongly recommend that you visit the link below to get a flavour of this superb musician.

Donna Dean Winner of two Tui Awards, Singer-Songwriter Donna Dean writes about the dark in the world with a lyrical message of hope. Dean tells it like it is- everything from poverty and corruption to fatal domesticity. She has toured Germany annually the last ten years and recorded an award-winning album (Money-extended version) in Nashville with Americana country-funk band The Amazing Rhythm Aces. She writes “Roots” music, a fusion of American blues/alt-folk.
Dean has supported songwriters Dan Penn and Jimmy Webb and was a feature artist preceding Willie Nelson at a trucker convention in Germany.
Dean is currently co-writing with songwriter/D.J Bernie Griffen and recently teamed up with musician Paul Williams who artfully compliments Deans’ originals on cello. Williams has recorded two mesmerizing albums of original instrumental music.

http://www.myspace.com/donnadean8

SEE YOU THERE...SEE YOU THERE...SEE YOU THERE...SEE YOU THERE...SEE YOU THERE

First Announcement of Special Guests

2008-12-05T21:07:00.000-08:00

It is our great pleasure to announce that after helping us open Tree Tops , Caitlin Smith has agreed to return to perform for us at our first Christmas event to be held on Friday the 19th of December.

Here's a review of Caitlin's last CD to wet your appetite, for more info go to http://www.caitlinsmith.com/

CD Baby said ……We love your “THE CAITLIN SMITH GROUP: Aurere” CD so much that we’re featuring it in our Editor’s Picks section from now on.
We’re *really* picky about what we feature. We get about 200-250 new albums a DAY coming in here now, (about 200,000 total), and yours is one of the best we’ve ever heard.
HERE’S THE REVIEW
“Sophisticated and jazzy, yet with elements of pop and even a little drum & bass - it’s great when an artist’s music doesn’t lend itself to easy description. Caitlin Smith’s music is reminiscent at times of the slightly off-beat songwriting Carole King, at other times of the late night lounge singing of Norah Jones. Some songs are closer to Joni Mitchell’s folk-jazz period, while at other times we can hear the influence of Sting’s mature, composed pop (though it’s nothing like what counts as pop on Top 40 radio). Smith has the same effortless,yet powerful voice that Eva Cassidy had, and what’s better still is that Smith writes her own material. The band she’s assembled does a great job of providing a solid, melodic foundation for her songs,while not overpowering her vocals with their obvious talent. The multiple dynamic shifts in tunes like “Comfort Song” are pulled off by the band with ease, shifting from 70s funk to sparse, fluid groove,down to bass and Rhodes only, and back to the funk. Meanwhile, there’something very dark lyrics going on in “Brother”, belied by the powerful layers of harmonies and laid-back groove. The electric piano solo on this one is something that must be listened to with headphones, and the mix through the rest of the album is fantastic as well. This album feels like the result of a love of the past 70 years of pop music, from Tin Pan Alley, to 70s singer/songwriters, filtered through a 21st century band featuring electric guitar and spot-on production”.
My CD Baby page where you can listen and buy ::: http://cdbaby.com/cd/caitlinsmithgroup
« Solo folk - Caitlin’s solo show
Caitlin in the Coromandel »

Christmas Evening of Music

2008-12-04T00:46:00.000-08:00

Welcome, one and all to our new blog site to keep you updated on what's happening at our humble abode.

First we would like to thank every one who came to our opening party those who performed and those who didn't. We trust you had as good a time as we did!

POSITIVE VIBRATION Presents.......

To celebrate Christmas we are having a musical evening featuring some very special guests (names to be confirmed) on Friday the 19th of December.

Please put this date in your diary and we will inform you of the guests as soon as possible, but rest assured you will be in for a real treat of live, intimate, music in a venue that has real atmosphere and probably the best setting in Auckland.

And yes, there probably will be time for a live jam after the main acts have performed, so bring along your instruments....and we'll see you there.

Let us know if you would like to come along and we will send you an e-ticket, this lets us keep track of numbers and helps with the preparation of the event. Please ask your kindly Friends and family if they would like to come too!

Please note that tickets for this show will be charged at $15.00 per person and the price includes nibbles and soft drinks. If you require any other drinks please BYO bottle.

Doors open at 7.30p.m.

Always remember to park well and allow for the movement of local traffic. If you need a lift give us a call and we'll see if we can put you in touch with someone to car share or we may even pick you up if you can organise a car full!