Midge's at Hot Lava, Ohakune

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 294, 11 July 1989, Page 3 (Supplement)

Midge's at Hot Lava, Ohakune

Ney/ Zealand' s long time blues man Midge Marsden and his friends return to Hot Lava, to play 20 & 21 July.

When it comes to New Zealand blues, Midge Marsden is virtually without equal. His career spans three decades, he has played thousands of concerts, played to countless people and he has performed with a list of artists that reads like a definitive Who's Who to New Zealand rock. Recently Midge took some time out from the local music scene to spend 10 months playing in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and New York. Whilst in Texas he hung out with many different rnusical types, from traditional black blues men to the likes of Stevie Ray Vaughan with whom he spent a lot of time, they have since become good friends. Upon Midges' retum he went straight to work on making the

latest Europa 'Traveling On' T.V. commercial. Europa invited Stevie Ray Vaughan who also made an appearance in the commercial. Midge has survived Turnpage 6

Midge plays Hot Lava

From page 3 fads and trends and by employing a reliable formula of high entertainment, good fun and quality music he has

probably been. the country's most consistent concert attraction. Midge Marsdens' career kicked off in 1964 in New Plymouth when a fresh-faced teenager called Keith Marsden auditioned and joined the Blue Diamonds who moved to Wellington. After the band changed its name to Bari and the Breakaways the band toured for several years and recorded two albums (now both collectors items) before finally disbanding in 1967. Marsden played with various bands on a parttime basis including the Windy City Strugglers, but became the country's leading supporter of the blues, getting his own radio show on joining NZBC where he stayed fro seven years. In the mid 70s he formed a duo with Peter Caulton and then continued on to form Midge Marsden's Country Flyers. For three years they were one of the most influential groups in New Zealand. He finally left for Australia to take up a position in Bill Manning's band before

teaming up with Sonny Day in the Midge Marsden Kiwi Connection, who played at Sweetwaters. Although Midge has jecorded a number of solo albums and records with other artists his real strength is in live performances. He has been able to pack out pubs and clubs around the country for 25 years. And he has become an essential part of the New Zealand concert scene.