Meet The People – young musicians going places

A rock band made up of students aged 13 to 15 is making a name for itself around the Coast, playing gigs at some large licensed venues, even though they are not old enough to drink themselves. The six musicians – Ivy Cutfield and Tui Whatling on vocals, guitarists Liam Aalders and Jake McKenzie, bassist Jess Quayle and drummer Caleb Gardner – began playing together last year in Whangaparāoa College’s rock band before forming their own group called The People They have played at a number of collegerun events, and at Whangaparāoa School gala, but it was when they were offered a one-and-a-half hour gig at Parāoa Brewing

Golf fundraiser

Co. that they began to practice in every spare moment.

Lead guitarist Liam Aalders says as well as practising at school during lunch, they would play 5-6 hours every second weekend together.

Liam says the first Parāoa gig got them more work, including private functions. Parāoa was obviously impressed, as The People were invited back to perform there again. Recently the band was called on for quite a long set at Whangaparāoa School gala, where they drew a good audience and had plenty of cash thrown in their guitar case. The People’s next public gig will be at Parāoa Brewing Co. in Whangaparāoa on May 13.

Whangaparāoa Rotary Club’s Charity Golf Tournament, held at the Whangaparāoa Golf Club on March 24, was a huge success, raising more than $12,000. A total of 16 teams enjoyed a fine day of golf, followed by refreshments and prizegiving in the clubhouse. Tournament organiser, Den Healey, says this was the sixth charity tournament he has organised for the Rotary Club and they get better results every year. The money is going towards Structured Literacy Programmes at Gulf Harbour, Stanmore Bay and Whangaparāoa Primary schools.