Zephyr Wills & The Handsome Giants are heading to The Tasman Bay Blues Club.
SUN 7th July. 6.30pm. $25 at the door, TBBC club members $20.
The Barn, The Honest Lawyer Pub & Hotel, Monaco, Nelson.
From original, trad and contemporary Folk and Blues to stonking electric Blues, (possibly via solo Viola!) this amazing variety show has everything.
Raised and trained in New Zealand, Zephyr is a highly-acclaimed international musician, now based in the USA, with a fearsome Classical and Folk pedigree. But the Blues ain’t far away and he’s bringing a bunch of NZ’s premiere bluesmen to The Barn.
Recently returned from a European tour, The Handsome Giants feature three of the most experienced players in the country.
Hurricane Shayn Wills (harmonica, guitar, vocals) and the bass and drum team of Sid and Freddy Limbert have supported John Hammond Jnr, BB King, Albert King, Canned Heat, Robert Cray, Junior Wells, Duke Robillard, and The Amazing Rhythm Aces.
Expect a dynamite show of their own raw blend of Blues, R&B and Rock’n’Roll. Fans of the Sixties will recognize the power and energy; Blues enthusiasts will love the intricate simplicity of the musicianship. This is music for good times – and fun.
Zephyr gained a 1st Class Honours degree in music from the New Zealand School of Music. He has worked with professional orchestras, including the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, and is a regular on RNZ Concert, NZ’s national classical radio programme.
Moving to the USA, Zephyr has performed as a soloist with the Pennsylvania Chamber and State Philharmonic Orchestras. He is now considering postgraduate positions at the Royal College of Music and the Guildhall School of Music in London.
As a folk musician, Zephyr has toured NZ, the USA, and Europe. He has performed at the Wellington Folk Festival, and won the 2021 Joan Prior award for excellence in songwriting. In 2022, he recorded an album of original songs, gaining lots of airplay and high praise:
NZ Music Magazine: ‘special, ageless, and wonderful.’
Gulf News: ‘artistry of the highest order… A highpoint in Aotearoa’s cultural history… a sacred celebration of astonishing creativity.’
Zephyr has pursued his folk music in the USA. Appearing at major festivals, winning the PSU Political Song-a-Palooza competition for the last two years and in the top ten of 600 applicants for the prestigious Bob Dylan Centre Songwriter Fellowship in March, 2024.
