Gahu Live music on a Hot Planet
Gahu Summer Tour 2005
In the last part of January Gahu take their funky, Aotearoa style of Global Fusion to Manawatu, Wellington & Taranaki for the first time.This energetic Auckland band is a combination of African and jazz musicians improvising
over hypnotic cross rhythms, the basis of the infectious polyrhythmic sound that is Gahu. They have been making a name
for themselves lately in Auckland and at festivals around the North Island.
Tour Schedule
21 January Friday London Bar Civic Tavern Auckland 8.30pm. Free entry
Ph: 373 3684 cnr Queen & Wellesley St.
22 January Saturday Rotorua Streetfest 4.30pm. $2 entry
23 & 24 January Horowhenua Organic River Festival
Kimberley Reserve Levin
26 January Wednesday Happy Wellington
Ph: 384 1965 cnr Tory & Vivian Streets
27 January Thursday Masonic Tavern 249 Main Street Palmerston North
28 January Friday Junction Hotel Sanson Free entry
29 January Saturday Ceramic Bar Wanganui 12-2pm. Free entry
Ph: 348 4449 51 Victoria Ave
Basement Club Peggy Gordon’s New Plymouth 10pm
Ph: 758 8561 cnr Egmont & Devon St
30 January Sunday afternoon Butlers Bar & Cafe Garden Bar Free entry
Ph: 7527 765 Main Road, Oakura
31 January Monday Festival of Lights New Plymouth 8 pm Free entry
Hatchery Lawn
6 February Sunday Katikati Summer Twilight Concert Series: 6pm
Global Tempo with Gahu Corcoran's Garden 360 Matahui Rd
Performance highlights in 2004
Ellerslie Flower Show, The National Jazz Festival, First Night Aotea Square, Pacific Rosebowl Festival, Rotorua
Streatfest, Ponsonby Alive, K’Road Karnival, Grey Lynn Festival, Bay of Islands Jazz & Blues Festival, Thursday residency @ the London Bar, The First Ghana Independence Day Celebrations in New Zealand.
In March 2004 Gahu released their debut album Hot Planet to critical acclaim -
“..the band’s performances are expansive, one minute rocking out, the next as mellow as a night under the stars. Their
infectious, instrumental caress and fire overflows with international textures and jazz universality, and such ‘rhythm
‘n’ jazz Aotearoa’ can only be good for the soul. “
Brent Cardy Real Groove March 2004
“Gahu bill themselves as a ‘new style of NZ music’, and for once the hype is accurate... This is music made by Kiwi
musicians with a wealth of experience with acts like Midge Marsden, Rick Bryant and Moana & The Tribe. “Hot planet” is smooth, rhythmic and funky.” Marty Duda Citymix March 2004
“It's great. Rhythmically richest thing I've heard in this country for ages.”
Nick Bollinger The Sampler National Radio Feb 2004
“From out of Africa...and Grey Lynn GAHU *** Gahu... leans into tunes which owe much to Fela Anikulapo Kuti’s
groove-based approach and are lacquered with guitars and... saxophones.
There’s a lengthy percussion groove laid down on the traditional Ghanaian tunes Like Water Like Tokwe and Kpanlogo, and
Free Gift Tomorrow dumps the funk over a bassline that Tim Finn might have used for Dirty Creature before the guitars
take it into juju.
Back in the 80s Jim Langabeer’s Superbrew group successfully fused Africa and Aotearoa from a jazz perspective, but Gahu
come from the afrobeat angle with equally good results..
Get into the groove.”
Graham Reid NZ Herald March 6 2004
Gahu are:
Bud Hooper Ghana drums, drumkit
Lance McNicoll guitar
Cadzow Cossar guitar
Jane McAllister electric bass
Ben McNicoll saxophones
and presenting Mr Y.B. on Ghana drums, singing & dancing