Guitar heroes Billy TK and Billy TK Jnr to play together in Northland

Billy TK Junior will play with his dad Billy TK at the Old Parakao Store Cafe/Bar in Pakotai on November 1.

A showdown between two of the country's top guitar-slingers is set to go off in a small venue in rural Northland and maestro Billy TK Junior goes fret-to-fret with his father Billy TK next month.

The pair of guitarists will no doubt produce a duel to remember when they take the stage at the Old Parakao Store Cafe/Bar in Pakotai on November 1.

Old Parakao Store Cafe/Bar has become a popular Sunday Jam Session and Billy TK Jnr played the venue a few weeks ago with his band and was impressed.

Now he's bringing "A Tribute to a Hero of NZ Guitar celebrating the music of Billy TK featuring Billy TK Jnr & special guests" to the cafe/bar on November 1 for a rare intimate show. It's the first national tour of the pair.

Billy TK will play with son Billy TK Jnr at the Old Parakao Store Cafe/Bar in Pakotai on November 1.

"These shows will be special - we have not played together in years and every time we do it's high action and awesome music - I can't wait as who knows when we will have a chance to do this again?" he said.

Billy TK is a living Kiwi cultural icon, an intense and exciting guitarist who melded contemporary blues-rock with flowing progressive Pacific rhythms when many Maori musicians were still considered part of the showband heritage.

Technically gifted, the intense style of guitarist Billy TK (Billy Te Kahika) has been described as a blend of contemporary blues-rock and flowing progressive Pacific rhythms.

He began experimenting with feedback and developing his own electronic pedals in 1966 with his Palmerston North-based band The Sinners.

As soon as the music of Jimi Hendrix hit the airwaves he learned every track he could. In the late 1960s, he joined fellow Palmerston North musician, singer, stand-up drummer and creative giant Maurice Greer in Human Instinct.

Billy stayed with Human Instinct through their 1972 tour of Australia when he began recruiting for his own band, Powerhouse, which supported major acts including UB40, Joe Satriani and the Neville Brothers.

Billy TK Jnr is the proverbial "chip off the ole block" having earned himself a reputation on the international guitar playing stage as one of New Zealand's greatest guitar players.