Special treat for Tin Hut crowd

Wairarapa musicians helped create some free-flowing magic alongside Raumati-based entertainer Clare Christian at the Cross Creek Blues Club night at the Tin Hut.

First Christian delivered a solo set as the June guest artist for the club on Wednesday and also took the stage with her saxophonist son, Gabe. The second set took flight alongside members of Wairarapa's K.B. and the Roosters.

"What a magic night it was. The combination of lovely atmosphere, great hosts, fine music and appreciative audience made for a night to remember," Christian said.

Christian stepped away from her band, Jeep Road, to perform solo at the Tin Hut with Gabe, who has played in numerous groups in New Zealand and Australia, including the Melbourne-based dub reggae band, The Red Eyes.

His mother has been involved with music "forever" after learning as a 5-year-old to play accordion in the family band alongside her father, brother, and two sisters. The family played regular gigs from the Wellington Town Hall to Mt Crawford Prison.

As her siblings found other interests - girls and boys, rock bands, poetry - the family's musical journey came to an end.

Christian, at 18, played folk music in and around the capital before joining a blues band and dabbling in jazz. She formed several groups alongisde artists that included the late Jann Rutherford, internationally-known drummer Roger Sellers and bassist George Packard.

Christian left for London in 2005 and tore into the city music scene, tutoring young musicians at a rock academy and forming Ultralounge, a group that featured Bob Klose in its line-up. Klose carved his name in rock history as the man who left his struggling band in 1965 just as they changed their name to Pink Floyd.

Christian rates Joni Mitchell, Bonnie Raitt and Patti Smith as some of her biggest influences.