Touring legends set to hit the road again

Tim Shadbolt, the longest-serving living mayor in New Zealand, is joining his old stage mate Gary McCormick in a comedy show at King Street Live in Masterton.

Recently voted New Zealand's most trusted politician by Readers Digest readers, the Mayor of Invercargill says he is looking forward to his latest stint on the road with McCormick and their upcoming Wairarapa show.

Both men are veterans of the early days of summer rock festivals in the 1970s and early 1980s, with McCormick having emceed the Sweetwaters Rock festivals for three years in a row.

"Tim and I used to meet up at the various stages around the site and read poems and tell stories. Nothing much has changed except there are lots more stories and better jokes," says McCormick, a veteran of touring New Zealand.

"We always had a bit of a problem finding the right 'fit' for a venue in Masterton but when I heard about King Street on a radio programme, I got on the phone to Mayor Tim and the rest, as they say, is history - or about to be."

Nowadays Shadbolt is better known as a television luminary of Dancing With The Stars fame and as Mayor of Invercargill.

If he is elected again in October, he will become not just the longest-serving living mayor in New Zealand history, but the longest serving mayor ever.

McCormick, formerly of Heartland television fame, now co-hosts the More FM Breakfast show across Canterbury and Nelson, with Simon Barnett.

Shadbolt and McCormick are active on the corporate speaking circuit during the year but admit that their hearts lie in performing for Kiwis in small towns and clubs around the country.

"The first time I ever did a show was on Waiheke, back in the mid-seventies with Sam Hunt," McCormick said. "There was some kind of feminist enclave on the island and some disgruntled person threw an apple, which hit a bottle of wine, which tipped all over me! Tim and I prefer feedback of the verbal kind."

Shadbolt and McCormick perform at King Street Live on Saturday from 8pm.