Nit-Pickers Picnic

Rip It Up, Issue 96, 1 July 1985, Page 6

Nit-Pickers Picnic

Russell Brown

A plan conceived months ago comes to fruition this month when This Kind Of Punishment gather about them a host of other performers for two nights at Auckland’s Kenneth Maidment Theatre. The Nit-Pickers Picnic takes place on July 23 and 24; the two and a half hour show will include music, film, drama and dance. TKP's Johnny Pierce explained that the group’s aim was to bring all the various media together and also to do something new for

themselves in playing some

where other than pubs. Other performances include voice/theatre by David Clarkson, the Von Trans Sisters, the Salivation Army, Chris Knox, dance by Te Kanikani O Te Rangtihi and poetry performance by Emma Peel. Auckland Preparations are underway for a benefit concert to raise money for the repair of the Rainbow Warrior, the Greenpeace yacht hit by a bomb attack this month. Details were still being finalised, but the July 25 gig at the Logan Campbell Centre will feature as many of the country’s top bands as possible and, just possibly, a top Aussie act watch the papers for details. If you can help in any way or want further info, ph 396-526... the Chills will now not go to Europe until October. The later departure date will enable them to stay longer in England and play Sydney and Melbourne on the way. They also hope to record 'Oncoming Day’ for single release before they leave. Farewell performances in Auckland have yet to be finalised. Satellite Spies, aka Tony Joy and Mark Lovey, formerly of Blase, went into Mandrill Studios with top English producer Tim Palmer (of Dead Or Alive fame) with the aim of making a record that will crack overseas markets. First single off the album is 'Destiny In Motion’, out soon on Reaction Records.

NZers overseas: Patea Maori Club got a fair-sized story and pic in the new US music mag, Spin (published by Bob Penthouse Guccione and edited by his son, but don’t hold that against it)... Tim Finn made his solo stage debut in London recently, with a band of “friends". Repetoire included many old Enz songs and brother Neil was apparently on stage for a while ... various exmembers of Flak, Eight Living Legs and Exploding Budgies are together in the seven-member Auckland Splintergroup in London. They have played gigs in Holland and have British gigs and a single lined up... and Ben Staples (ex-Miltowns) is now drumming for Brit up-and-comers the Woodentops. having left Nick Kent’s Subterraneans. Ben’s reported as having developed a most convincing London accent. Chris Sheehan of the Dance Exponents has returned from his work on the Jane Wieder (of the Go-Gos) solo album in Los Angeles. He played guitar on five tracks and, with the aid of a couple of videos, whipped up considerable interest in the Exponents’ records. But just wait and see what label their next single, 'Fiordland’/'Within Fields About Me’ comes out on ... since he’s been back Sheehan has also been into Progressive Studios with Goblin Mix and an EP has been completed and mixed ... new Bill Direen band down in ChCh is the Mud Huts.