BLAIR MORGAN

I went along to see Hothouse Flowers at the James Hay Theatre with a strange sense of déjà vu. The last time I’d seen them in Ōtautahi was across the foyer in the main auditorium at the Christchurch Town Hall in early 1991. More than three decades on, beards were in place, the hair a little wilder, and four of the five musicians looked like they’d stepped straight out of the set of The Hobbit .

It must be amusing for Mark Knopfler to contemplate not one but two international touring acts tied to his band/brand identity Dire Straits

This was a surprising show in more ways than one. Andy Summers, always the elder statesman of The Police, given he was around during the 60's ( and his former bandmate from the Big Roll Band & the Animals, Zoot Money passed away this week), is now 81.

The live set from the Songwriter Collective gig in January has been released to all streaming platforms.