Kapiti cabaret troupe to play at Whanganui's Savage Club

Waiata and the Word Sigrid Woolloff (left),Troy Hunt, Lindsay Rabbitt, Paul ('Boggy') Bognuda, Phill Simmonds and Nigel Patterson will play in Whanganui on Friday. Photo/Supplied

Former Whanganui resident Lindsay Rabbitt says he is excited to be performing with cabaret troupe Waiata and the Word at the Whanganui Musicians' Club this Friday.

'We performed at the club seven years ago and it remains one of our best gigs at one of our favourite venues," he said.

"We had a great night with an appreciative audience and we're eager to repeat the experience."

Waiata and the Word was formed on the Kapiti Coast in 2009 and produced its acclaimed album This I (which can be found on Bandcamp) in 2011.

"This is also a reunion gig for the troupe," says Rabbitt.

"With members living offshore, it's not easy to muster the crew in the same place at the same time."

Waiata and the Word's musical styles range from jazz and rock to reggae and folk, with original songs by Troy Hunt (guitar, vocals), Phill Simmonds (mandolin, vocals), Sigrid Woolloff (guitar, vocals), Nigel Patterson (trumpet, clarinet, harmonica, tin whistle, harmonica, vocals), Paul "Boggy" Bognuda (saxophone), and poems by Lindsay Rabbitt (spoken word), anchored by Tim Jaray (bass) and Luther Hunt (drums, guitar, vocals).

The show will also include visual projections devised by Phill Simmonds, who is also a film-maker and animator.

Whanganui musicians Brad McMillan on drums and Elise Goodge on taonga puoro (shell flutes) will open the show.

Waiata & the Word: Friday, March 16, Whanganui Musician's Club, Drews Ave. Doors open at 7.30pm, show 8pm, $15 (members $10).