Blues beat goes on for Circa

Masterton band Circa includes, from left, bassist Ewen Mason, guitarist Sam Mitchell, front woman Holly McGeorge and (absent) drummer Jordan Tredray.

Wairarapa four-piece Circa is standing on the threshold of a big year.

The band, comprising frontwoman Holly McGeorge, guitarist Sam Mitchell, bassist Ewen Mason and drummer Jordan Tredray, last year leapt into the world "from the windswept plains of Wairarapa".

Already the band, creating a fusion of blues, reggae and rock, has three original tunes on soundcloud and plans to record a debut album in May with Warren Maxwell at Stonefeather Studios in Featherston.

McGeorge has performed solo at King Street Live, as part of the Songbird Sessions line-up, while Circa is a regular act on the regional band circuit and is "riding the wave of the rise of the Wairarapa music scene", according to the band bio.

"A little bit of pop but a whole lot of soul. Like cooking without a recipe. You chuck in a bunch of flavours and see what you come up with."

Circa will next perform live as a support act for Dunedin reggae trio Summer Thieves, McGeorge says, at King Street Live on February 8.

The Masterton date is part of a national tour for the Dunedin three-piece, which has "a unique style" that has been likened to bands like Sublime. Summer Thieves includes Jake Barton on vocals and guitar, Adam Spencer on bass and Johnny Ward on drums.

"They are really nice guys who have toured with Katchafire, opened for Six60 and shared a stage with Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, and at La De Da with Shapeshifter and De La Soul," McGeorge said.

"Their next project will be recording with Tiki Taane and we're really excited to be supporting touring bands. We've getting our name out there and we've been working pretty hard. But this is just the start."

McGeorge said Circa lyrics were inspired by superstar 60s songwriters Carole King, Stevie Wonder and Chaka Khan and contemporary artists including Joss Stone and fellow Kiwi Hollie Smith.

"Circa has a line of soulful, original songs ready to take the New Zealand music scene into a new age of blues, with roots firmly in the funky 60s and 70s," McGeorge said. "Our music has an earthly soul, conveying heartfelt, universal truths with rhythm and groove that gets crowds on their feet."