blues from 40 below
2
Dec 2023
Tauranga
A brief departure from the blues - Robbie playing flute as we do J.J.Cale's "Sensitive Kind" at Jack Dusty's Ale House, Tauranga.
Blog
30
Sep 2023
Tauranga
Playing a little blues guitar with Derek Jacombs and Grant Bullot at Jack Dusty's Ale House, Tauranga.
5
Aug 2023
Tauranga
Having fun singing "Sick and Tired" with Stewart Martin's band "Kaos" at the Jam Factory as part of the International Blues Day celebration.
7
May 2023
Tauranga
Robbie and I were the first act for a new series of events at Jack Dusty's Ale House - "Saturday Sessions" - in the newly covered over front garden bar.
7
Apr 2023
Tauranga
Good Friday, during Tauranga Jazz Festival, the talented Joanne Melbourne did a few songs with us, singing Billie Holiday's "God Bless The Child ..." and a couple of great Memphis Minnie songs.
7
Apr 2023
Tauranga
Good Friday, during Tauranga Jazz Festival, we were joined by Oscar Laven, Damian Forlong, and a hot trumpet player, whose name didn't get! A lot of fun jamming on a variety of jump blues stuff.
4
Mar 2023
Tauranga
Four days of co-writing songs with Australian boogie woogie piano star, Jan Preston, for her next CD. A privilege and a lot of fun working with this talented lady! Here, we're haveing a drink to celebrate,at Juck Dusty's bar in Tauranga.
4
Nov 2022
Kauaeranga Music
The Ragtime Washboard Kings in Kauaeranga Hall; an old school hall, in fact, in the Coromandel. A great music club and a sell out performance in this lovely venue. (photo credit: Peter & Keri Revell)
6
Nov 2022
Rotorua jazz Club
The Ragtime Washboard Kings in full flight at the Rotorua Jazz Club! (photo credit: Allan Kilgour)
6
Nov 2022
Rotorua jazz Club
The Ragtime Washboard Kings at the Rotorua Jazz Club, last date in a mini tour over the last few days. (photo credit: Sally Garner)
24
Sep 2022
Ruby Bay Theatre
First gig post-Covid with my long time partner Warren Houston, at the delightful Ruby Bay Theatre near Mapua, in the Nelson region of the South Island. I'm telling a yarn or two beteen songs! (photo credit: Kim Scanlen)
23
Sep 2022
Mussel Inn
Enjoying a duo outing with the fabulous Neil Billington on harmonica and a romp through some Chicago blues classics. (photo credit: Warren Houston)
22
Sep 2022
Tasman Blues Club, Nelson
Having fun duetting with Neil Billington at the Tasman Bay Blues Club. Cool venue, great audience!
6
Aug 2022
The Jam Factory
Celebrating "International Blues Day" - a few solo songs by me and some with members of Kokomo backing. Kokomo then did a full set of their own - with, of course, a huge jam at the end! A fun way to celbrate this music we all love!
24
Jun 2022
The Barrel Room
Robbie and I had lot of fun at The Barrel Room on Friday. Great to have these musicians appearing at the Tauranga Jazz Festival sit in with us: Damian Forlong on trombone (with "Shaken Not Stirred", Oscar Laven (with the "Rodger Fox Big Band"), and Grant Bullot (with "Kokomo".
11
Dec 2021
The Barrel Room
My last gig of 2021, with Robbie Laven on lap steel and Stuart Lawrence on upright bass. Here we're doing a version of "Hey Jo"!
1
Oct 2021
The Barrel Room
A few final numbers as our duo. Together we created some interesting guitar and percussion arrangements of my original songs as well as this version of a 19th century song, The Travelling Man.
1
Oct 2021
The Barrel Room
Lots of friends jamming as we farewell Warren Houston, who is moving to Nelson in the South Island. Warren and Mike have played together in various bands, duos and trios for twenty one years, with Warren either on a full drum kit or the percussion kit, pictured here. As well as New Zealand, they have played in Australia, Kathmandu, and New Caledonia.
1
Aug 2021
.jpg)
Rotorua Jazz Club
with the Ragtime Washboard Kings; a lot of fun had with the Jazz Club audience.
31
Jul 2021
The Jam Factory, Tauranga
with the Ragtime Washboard Kings; a lot of fun in this funky venue, the audience getting right into the show, singing along and even dancing in the back row!
15
May 2021
The Woolshed Theatre, Te Awamutu
with the Ragtime Washboard Kings (picture by Paddy O’Hanlon)
11
APR 2021
The Entertainers Club, Tauranga
with the Mike Garner Band, and a full electric blues show. Featuring (L to R); Robbie Laven (t-sax), Trevor Braunias (g), Warren Houston (d), Mike Garner (G, vox), Stuart Lawrence (b).
3
APR 2021
The Barrel Room, Tauranga
with my 4-piece acoustic band, during the Tauranga Jazz Festival at Easter.The Ragtime Washboard Kings, featuring not one but two washboard players!
21
MAR 2021
Island View Jazz & Blues Festival
with my Washburn archtop - 25 years old ... the guitar, that is!
21
MAR 2021
-islandview-2021.jpg)
Island View Jazz & Blues Festival
with my Godin 5th Avenue archtop - my current favourite guitar!
20
MAR 2021
Island View Jazz & Blues Festival
The Mike Garner Band, featuring (L to R), Robbie Laven (t-sax), Warren Houston (drms), Trevor Braunias (gtr) and Stuart Lawrence (bass)
13
MAR 2021
The Mussel Inn
Playing the blues at the Mussel Inn. Looked after so well by our hosts, Jane and Andrew. They brew their own beer and on this trip were busy harvesting and roasting hops. Magic!
13
MAR 2021
The Mussel Inn
It's always a great night at The Mussel Inn, in Golden Bay, one of NZ's most iconic venues. Neil Billington on the blues harp.
12
MAR 2021
Deville, Nelson
Blasting out some acoustic blues with Neil Billington on harmonica at this cool cafe/bar in Nelson.
13
FEB 2021
Barrel Room Blues
Great to have a few guests with us at the Barrel Room last night. Here's the delightful Jill Leighton, singing Bessie Smith's "You Gotta Give Me Some". Thanks also to talented friends Joanne Melbourne for adding harmonies and Trevor Braunias for jazzy and bluesy lead guitar, too!
18
NOV 2020
Barrel Room Blues
Finishing off the 2020 year with a 4 piece acoustic band, playing hokum blues, ragtime and a few originals. With Robbie Laven on fiddle and mandolin, Warren Houston on percussion and Stuart Lawrence on upright bass. A fun night with a great audience and dancers, plus washboards and kazoo!
25
OCT 2020
Rotorua Blues Festival
Playing with the Mike Garner Band on board the Lakeland Queen during the Rotorua Blues Festival; Locals take this for granted, but the lake is in the caldera of a huge volcano and you can see the rim in the distance through the window! The band enjoyed doing our set of classic Chicago Blues and some of my originals, on this replica of a Mississippi steamboat. The crowd loved it too!
20
SEP 2020
Remembering "Nana"
Playing as a trio to at the "Nana" memorial, with Warren Houston on percussion and Robbie Laven on fiddle. I seem to be concentrating very hard on my part ...
20
SEP 2020
Remembering "Nana"
Making the best of a sad day. My biggest fan, 86 year old "Nana" passed away this month. See entry, below, for 31 March 2019. A whole bunch of musicians and fans held a memorial to remember her. I was proud to be one of the acts she liked - and she came to every one of my gigs! I'm pictured with some of the many younger women who ferried her to and from gigs and looked after her.
4
JUL 2020
The MGB at The Barrel Room
Sharing a laugh with Pete Stroud on bass. Such a great player, and a cool dude to share the stage with, as well as a beer or two. He's played with so many of my heros; Peter Green, John Mayall, and Buddy Whittington.
4
JUL 2020
1st Gig Post Covid19 Lockdown!
NZ returned to normality in late June, although still keeping the borders tightly closed. My regular local, The Barrel Room in Tauranga, had its first post-lockdown gig on 4th July, featuring my blues band, the MGB. Trevor Braunias is on guitar - and vocals in this picture. Warren Houston is on drums. It was a thrill to have my good friend, and pro bass player, Pete Stroud sit in on bass with us. Pete lives in England and got stuck here when the borders closed! He returns to the UK at the end of the month.
25
JUN 2020
Japan CD Release - Tower Records
My new CD is now available in store at Tower Records, Tokyo. It's huge - the Shibuya store is one of the biggest music retail outlets in the world, all nine stories of it! You can find their web site here: Tower Records.
17
JUN 2020
Japan CD Release
My CD, "Don't Mind The Rain", is released in Japan this month, by Blues & Soul Music Records. You can find their web site here: BSMF Records.
27
MAY 2020
video - Don't Mind The Rain
From my latest CD, a video featuring the title track, "Don't Mind The Rain". It has a laid back, New Zealand Summer feel, filmed mostly on Papamoa Beach, where I live. The lovely lead guitar is by Shun Kikuta, in Tokyo. You can find the video here: Youtube.
1
MAY 2020
video - The Cool Boogie Woogie
New Zealand is still in partial lock-down because of the Covid-19 virus. So there are no gigs or festivals anywhere in the country. I've had fun putting this video together with Lee in Tokyo, Paul in England, and Nigel in New Zealand. It's the song "The Cool Boogie Woogie" from my latest CD. You can find it here: Youtube.
1
MAR 2020
My latest CD was released today, 1st March 2020
"Don't Mind the Rain" was over 14 months in the making, including recording in Tokyo with Shun Kikuta and Lee Kanehira, plus Paul Garner from the UK. It's a mixture of acoustic string band and electric band material, mostly originals. You can mail order physical CDs and purchase full CD downloads from Bandcamp..
29
FEB 2020
Hamilton Gardens Arts Festival
This year was our third visit to Hamilton's 2 week long annual arts festival. We had a lot of fun on this stage beside the lake. This used to be called the "Turtle Lake" stage, being on the edge of Turtle Lake, but for some strange reason this year it became the "Stage of Enlightnement". Some hippie stuff going on there!. We enlightened them with Charlie Patton, Bo Carter, Furry Lewis, Howling Wolf - and our own original songs!
22
NOV 2019
Mussel Inn, Golden bay
A lot of fun with Neil Billington on harmonica at one of NZ's iconic venues, The Mussel Inn in Golden Bay. A full house danced and partied for the whole show!
15
NOV 2019
Katikati Arts Centre
The Bay City Ramblers playing a sold out a show in Katikati (L to R) Nigel Masters (bass), Derek Jacombs (mandolin), Mike Garner (guitar), Robbie Lavën (washboard).
10
OCT 2019
Tauranga Blues Jam
Jamming with a bunch of old muso friends at Jack Dusty's, Tauranga. (L to R) Grant Bullot (harmonica), Tony Crichton (bass), Jeff Baker (drums), Stewart Martin (guitar), and me. Tony Chriton was bass palyer with me in The Blues Healers, way back in the 1990s!
26
JUL 2019
Crawfish, Tokyo, Japan
Sitting in on a telecaster with some of the finest Tokyo blues players; Goboh Suzuki on drums and Atsuto Tame Shoji on guitar. Crawfish is a lovely basement venue in Akasaka, Tokyo
26
JUL 2019
Studio Uen, Tokyo
With Lee Kanehira, such a fine barrel house boogie piano player, laying down three tracks as a guest on my next CD
22
JUL 2019
Ontama, Hiroshime, Japan
Playing a Gretsch resonator guitar for the Hiroshima blues crowd, in a cool live venue - Ontama.
30
JUN 2019
Social Club, Mt Maunganui
mid winter, but warm enough to perform in the beer garden. Picture by Gary Harvey
2
JUN 2019
BOP Blues Festival 2019
Aboard the Lakeland Queen, a paddle steamer on Lake Rotorua, as a special event - a "Blues Cruise" at the Bay of Plenty Blues Festival, in Rotorua last weekend. Warren Houston on drums, Nigel masters on bass and special guest, Andy Phillips from Melbourne, joining in on lead guitar. It was a lot of fun with lots of dancing!
18
APR 2019
The Barrel Room, Tauranga
Easter Monday gig with Neil Billington on harmonica - a cruisy, bluesy afternoon and dancers, young and old!
17
APR 2019
Katikati Folk Club
Nice little set with Robbie Laven at Katikati Folk club, now located in the town's new community theatre. Lovely venue and a very appreciative audience.
31
MAR 2019
Jack Dusty's Ale House, Tauranga
with my oldest fan - 85 and still dancing through a three hour show!
2
MAR 2019
Island View Jazz and Blues Festival, Opotiki
Having a laugh with the audience at this cool little festival ...
30
DEC 2018
.jpg)
Jack Dusty's, Tauranga
Special concert at Jack Dusty's Ale House in Tauranga, featuring (L-R); Robbie Laven (sax), Paul Garner (guitar), Warren Houston (drums), Liam Ryan (keys), Mike Garner (guitar, harmonica), Stuart Lawrence (bass). Wonderful to share a gig with such stellar musicians!
30
DEC 2018
.jpg)
Jack Dusty's, Tauranga
With Paul Garner; a special concert at Jack Dusty's Ale House in Tauranga. A great session of electric Chicago blues with the Mike Garner band and guest musicians. Paul, briefly home for Christmas, now lives in the UK and has become one of London's best blues guitarists.
14
NOV 2018
DeVille, Nelson
With Neil Billington at DeVille in Nelson. A full house and dancing all night. What a fine venue - and a great crowd!
14
OCT 2018
The Entertainer's Club
The Mike Garner Band, playing to a full house at Tauranga venue - The Entertainer's Club - lot's of fun and dancing to a full Chicago blues programme.
13
OCT 2018
2018.jpg)
The Barrel Room
The Mike Garner Band, featuring Neil Billington on harmonica - introducing a new band member - Trevor Braunias on lead guitar. Also featuring my first outing with a new Godin archtop guitar - a lovely instrument.
30
MAY 2018
Bottleneck Blues Club
With the fabulous Steve Weston and the Bluesonics, and my son Paul Garner on guitar, at Maidstone in Kent.
27
MAY 2018
UK Visit
Mike caught up with old friends, musicians from his years in Southampton; L - R = John Holmes, Dave 'Mo' Thomas, Mike, Pete Harris.
19
MAY 2018
Japan Visit
Mike spent a few days in Japan in May 2018 and sat in with old friends' band in Tokyo.
16
APR 2018
A New Website
The Mike Garner website has been given a brand new look. Like the Monarch butterfly, above, it had a long pupation, and is now free to fly! The site is now readable on a varity of devices; PCs, tablets and phones.
31
MAR 2018
National Jazz Festival, Tauranga - 31st March 2018
On Easter Saturday, Mike and Robbie played to a packed house in the Barrel Room. The enthusiastic audience didn't want to let them go at the end of the show!
3
MAR 2018
Island View Jazz and Blues Festival
Mike and Robbie appeared at the inaugural festival, along with Paul Ubana Jones, Darren Watson, The Raving Mavens and Neil Billington. We did two separate sets and closed our show with the audience singing along to Mike's song "Leaving Blues (All Around The World)" from his "Cad's Alley" CD. The audience demanded more!
Read more18
FEB 2018
Hamilton Gardens Arts Festival
It was a pleasure to be invited back to this annual festival. Mike has played here many times before, with bands, small ensembles and as a solo artist. This stage backed on to Hamilton lake, complete with ducks landing and quacking behind. It faced a small amphitheatre, with packed crowds on the tiered steps.
19
JAN 2018
Jamming with Paul
Over the Christmas and New Year holiday in New Zealand, it was lovely as always to have my son, Paul Garner, here with me from England. I don't usually do gigs during the holidays, but we did sit in with old friends, Derek Jacombs, Nigel Masters, and Robbie Laven during their gig at Omokoroa Boat Club. A lot of fun jamming with Paul - he is such a fine guitar player. He's now back in the UK where he plays guitar for West Weston's "Bluesonics" and his own band, of course, the Paul Garner Band.
Read more11
DEC 2016
Norfolk Island Jazz Festival
Mike took a 4-piece group to the Norfolk Island Jazz Festival in December 2016. Feturing Derek Jacombs, Nigel Masters and Robbie Laven, they brought pre-war blues and ragtime to this iconic festival on the island midway between Australia and New Zealand. One of the stages was floodlit underneath amongst the roots of an enormous banyan tree, as in the image, above.
23
OCT 2016
Live Magic Festival, Tokyo
Mike and Neil flew to Tokyo in October for a two day festival hosted by radio celebrity Pater Barakan. We shared a dressing room with Jack Broadbent, and the headliner was Sonny Landreth. Cool to hang out with Sonny; Neil sat in with him and the band for the final show of the festival. There were some excellent Japanese acts, too, such as Yuji Hamaguchi, a hot acoustic slide player.
Read more