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We performed recently at a ball in Hamilton, all having a fantastic time. Here are a few shots from the night.

Mansfield Garden Party 2019

Coming Events

Coming soon is Fete de la Musique 2017!  Yes, at midday on 18 June 2017 the Big Band will be out on Victoria St by Dough Bros restaurant providing some free lunchtime entertainment so get down there and show your support!

Charitable functions

Over the last 6 months or so the band has been busy helping support charitable organisations and supporting the local arts community.

In November 2015 we played at the Salvation Army Hall in Cambridge for an early Christmas fundraiser.  What a great start to the festive season!

In March 2016 we played for the Riverlea Theatre company to help out with their efforts to raise money to buy the land on which Riverlea Theatre sits from the Hamilton City Council.  There was musical entertainment from the Big Band and other theatre performers, drinks, supper and a silent auction.  A great night was had by all!

In May 2016 we travelled up to Tapu on the Coromandel peninsula to play for a fundraiser dance for the Thames Coast Kiwicare Trust.  These guys do great work in helping to take care of our national icon and rehome captured birds to predator free island reserves.  The group had dance lessons before the event and the dance floor was well used on the night!

Follow Hamilton Big Band

Keep an eye on the website or like our facebook page Hamilton Big Band (NZ) https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=307549219315190 to keep up to date on our latest news and photos.

If you have a coming event get in touch to talk about how the Hamilton Big Band could entertain you!

Don't forget also to support the Hamilton Jazz Society at the Commerce Club (Collingwood St) on the last Sunday of each month.  Also Hamilton Speakeasy Jazz Club at Nivara Lounge on the second Sunday of each month. If you like the Blues, get down to Biddy Mulligans on the second Thursday of each month for the Hamilton Blues Society club nights.

Recently...

We had a blast playing what was possibly our biggest gig ever, a dance for about 650 people at Mystery Creek on Sat 11 July.  Keep an eye on our Facebook page (Hamilton Big Band (NZ), https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=307549219315190) for photos coming soon!

Recruiting

Anyone interested in getting involved in the band is always welcome to get in touch.

In particular, if you're a drummer with a desire to keep some swing, latin and alternate timing beats as well as rock we'd like to hear from you.

Fete de la Musique

Fete de la Musique 2015, 21 June was a huge success.  The Fete is a celebration of music and we really enjoyed being part of it, playing outside Dough Bros restaurant on Victoria Street!  Dough Bros looked after us with access to power and their other facilities before they opened for the evening.  Snap Shot, Trek 'n Travel and Browsers stores also helped us out with chairs.  Get into town and support these businesses which are run by just good people!

We managed to get together to perform in downtown Hamilton for the big Hamilton150 celebrations thanks to Chris who came in with only two practices on drums to keep us in time.  What an event and fantastic fireworks to wrap it all up.  Got to love our fair city! Hamilton turned on a windy day but the rain held off and we had just enough pegs to keep our charts from blowing away up the street!  Keep an eye out for photos to come soon hopefully either here or on our Facebook page.

We had fun playing at a private Octoberfest function on that auspicious day of Halloween!  Another handful of people converted to the Big Band sound!

We had fun performing for the hardy few souls who braved a cool winters afternoon on 21 June 2014 as part of the Fete de la Musique.  We set up in the pagola outside the library in Hamilton's Garden Place and played some of our favourites while the breeze tried to disrupt our charts!  Watch out for this festival again next year with free entertainment being laid on at Chartwell Square, Centreplace and Garden Place throughout the day.

We had a great night at Novotel Tainui in Hamilton entertaining the NZ Chiropractors Association at their conference dinner on 24 May.  Quite a few guests were dressed for the Big Band era and kicked up their heels on the dancefloor....no chiropractors were harmed in the making of this commercial !

Thanks NZCA for having us at your function and thanks to the lovely staff at Novotel who helped take care of the band on the night.

We had a great evening at Hamilton Jazz Society on 30 March 2014.  The band kicked the night off with a 50 minute set featuring the vocal talents of Sophie Nairn and with some instrumental solos from members of the band.  Those who stuck around for the feature act, Nairobi Trio, were treated to some great violin, guitar, base and vocal harmony.  Will keep you posted regarding our next appearance at Jazz Society.  Don't forget there's an evening of entertainment there at Te Rapa Raceway last Sunday of every month!

The Big Band performed for a couple of hours next to Riff Raff on Victoria Street, Hamilton on 8 March.  People shopping, dining or just passing through town were treated to a selection of our favourite tunes and we helped raise $427 for Oxfam. 

A good night was had by all at Hamilton Jazz Society Christmas meeting, kicked off by Hamilton Big Band and also featuring some talented young musicians of the Hamilton Youth Symphonic band and Locals Fever and special guests.  Merry Christmas to all!  Have a safe and happy holiday!

News

Cambridge Armistice Celebrations
9 November 2013

The Victory Dance 9 November in the Cambridge Town Hall during the 2013 Armistice Day celebrations as great with Hamilton Big Band kicking off the evenings entertainment and getting folks up dancing.

Private Function
18 October 2013

Hamilton Big Band is pleased to be playing for a bier festival function this coming October.

If you would like to book us for your function please contact us.

news

We were at the Hamilton Jazz Society evening 28 July 2013, Centennial Lounge, Te Rapa kicking off the evening with some great swing tunes.

Sophie Allen Nairn

Sophie Allen Nairn has been the vocalist with the Hamilton Big Band since 2008, and has sung with the band at a variety of clubs, festivals and events.

Her musical highlights to date also include, singing with the Hillcrest High School Scat Choir at the World Rainforest Music Festival in Kuching, Malaysia, 2011.

Sophie enjoys jazz, theatre and also plays keyboard and piano.

In her final year as a student at Hillcrest High School, Sophie, plans to begin a conjoint law and arts degree at Waikato University in 2013. 

When not studying, or playing with the Hamilton Big Band, Sophie also; is Hillcrest High Schools' Arts Captain (2012), sings in the Scat Choir; learns classical ballet, musical theatre, singing, keyboard, piano and enjoys performing in a variety of shows and concert.  A very busy and talented young lady indeed!