Mike Garner & Neil Billington (New Zealand)

A well-experienced pro Kiwi blues duo, Mike Garner (vocals & guitars) & Neil Billington (vocals & harp), are having a mini promotional tour in Tokyo for the first time. They will present a duo show of traditional blues – guitar, vocal, diatonic and chromatic harmonica.

Mike Garner is a leading New Zealand blues singer and songwriter with nearly 40 years experience. He has performed extensively in festivals in both Australia and in New Zealand as well as touring the UK, Europe, and the Pacific. Mike plays acoustic, electric and resonator guitars, harmonica and occasionally mandolin and other stringed instruments too!

Neil Billington has shown he is one of the leading exponents of the harmonica to come out of New Zealand, and combines a rare capacity for the traditional blues harmonica and the less typical chromatic harmonica. He is equally at home whether playing in the 'Chicago-style' of Little Walter, or the more sophisticated jazz sensibilities of the Belgian jazz great, Jean 'Toots' Thielemans. Neil has appeared with everyone from NZ jazz maestro Rodger Fox's big band, through to jazz combos and electric blues bands, and folk and roots groups.

There will be 2 sets, acoustic and electric, and the backup band for the electric set will be the Mori Shinjiro band. This is a rare opportunity to see these NZ musicians. Don't miss it!