ABOUT HAPPY

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Live Music every night Tuesday through Sunday. Local, National, and International. Comfy sofas, atmospheric lighting and delicious drinks. In the basement, 118 Tory St

Erez Sussman - Guitar From Around The World



Erez Sussman- Guitar from Around The World
Wednesday December 21st 8.30pm $15
Touring his new album, The Mighty Cedar, Erez brings the Toronto sound all the way from Canada, with influences from around the world - from Bossa to Breakbeats and Funk to Flamenco. Come hear the classical guitar sing to a fresh beat and take in some good vibes.
Check out the website at http://mightycedar.blogspot.com
and the promo video at http://vimeo.com/29459412

Lindon Puffin with Victoria Girling-Butcher


Lindon Puffin and Victoria Girling-Butcher
Friday December 16th 8pm $15

Lindon Puffin and Victoria Girling-Butcher’s new albums have respectively earned high praise in New Zealand press since both were released in November.
Joined by their bands, both artists will celebrate in Wellington with show at Happy on December 16.
See Lindon Puffins album 4.5 out of 5 review in the New Zealand Hearld - http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=10764851
Victoria Girling-Butcher’s ‘Summit Drive’ ranked on Simon Sweetman’s ‘Best Kiwi Albums of 2011’ plus 4 out 5 review of the album in the NZ Herald.
The same double billed show in Auckland was rated Nick Atikinson’s weekend highlight recently on National Programme.
This performance will not disappoint!

Vital Sounds Hi-Fi Downbeat Special: The Studio One Story

Vital Sounds Hi-Fi Downbeat Special: The Studio One Story

Saturday December 17th 9pm $5

Clement ‘Sir Coxsone’ Dodd is a legendary figure in terms of Jamaica’s music industry. From the late 50s his Downbeat Sound System was one of a select few that ran things in Jamaica and he turned its success into one of the most respected record companies ever, Studio One - having been described as "the Motown of Jamaica music".

Studio One was at the cutting edge of most of the major music movements in Jamaica during the 1960s and 1970s, including ska, rocksteady, reggae, dub and early dancehall. The label was founded by Clement "Coxsone" Dodd in 1954, and the first recordings were cut in 1963 on Brentford Road in Kingston.

Virtually every major Jamaican artist who could reach the microphone got their break at Studio One, including the Abyssinians, Heptones, Burning Spear, the Ethiopians, Alton Ellis, Dennis Brown, and the young Wailers of Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Livingstone to name just a few.

I am very pleased to bring you a night of strictly Studio One music. I'll be opening up my collection of rare Studio One 45's, showcasing the biggest tunes from the greatest label in Jamaican music history from ska, rocksteady, reggae, and rub-a-dub.

Manray, Vital Sounds HiFi.

With support from
Ras Stone on the microphone.
plus
Ras Twig (aka Miles, Radio Active 89fm)
Undercover
Art (Newtown Sound. niceup.org).

Vital Sounds Hi-Fi
Downbeat Special
The Studio One story.

Vital Sounds Hi-Fi Downbeat Special: The Studio One Story

Vital Sounds Hi-Fi Downbeat Special: The Studio One Story

Saturday December 17th 9pm $5



Clement ‘Sir Coxsone’ Dodd is a legendary figure in terms of Jamaica’s music industry. From the late 50s his Downbeat Sound System was one of a select few that ran things in Jamaica and he turned its success into one of the most respected record companies ever, Studio One - having been described as "the Motown of Jamaica music".

Studio One was at the cutting edge of most of the major music movements in Jamaica during the 1960s and 1970s, including ska, rocksteady, reggae, dub and early dancehall. The label was founded by Clement "Coxsone" Dodd in 1954, and the first recordings were cut in 1963 on Brentford Road in Kingston.

Virtually every major Jamaican artist who could reach the microphone got their break at Studio One, including the Abyssinians, Heptones, Burning Spear, the Ethiopians, Alton Ellis, Dennis Brown, and the young Wailers of Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Livingstone to name just a few.

I am very pleased to bring you a night of strictly Studio One music. I'll be opening up my collection of rare Studio One 45's, showcasing the biggest tunes from the greatest label in Jamaican music history from ska, rocksteady, reggae, and rub-a-dub.

Manray, Vital Sounds HiFi.

With support from
Ras Stone on the microphone.
plus
Ras Twig (aka Miles, Radio Active 89fm)
Undercover
Art (Newtown Sound. niceup.org).

Vital Sounds Hi-Fi
Downbeat Special
The Studio One story.

Farmer Maori and the Maori Farmers

Farmer Maori and the Maori Farmers

Tuesday December 13th, 8pm


The Farmers wanna say thank you to all our fans from the past year with one last show where it all began!
Kill those Tuesday blues and come down to Happy for a night of electric opera blues rock reggae music, where the farmers will be smashing out some hits for your taringas. Lend us yours ears and your presence for our live EP recording! 8pm Koha entry. Kia ora whanau!

The Maori Farmers...
Jaime 'Farmer Maori' Reihana - Croon/maori trumpet
Eddie 'sax teaser' O'Conner - Saxamaphone
Al 'A-lister' Newton - Gat
Lawrence 'Low-Talker' Taula - Hammond/vox
Nat 'Howlin Waha' Newton - Bongos/MC
Charlotte 'The mother farmer' Nicklin - Opera
Aarona 'Maakau' Birch- Drums

Natalia Mann: 'Pasif.Ist' album launch

Natalia Mann 
'Pasif.Ist' album launch
Saturday December 10th, 7-8pm

guests Lucien Johnson & Shona Jaunas


Harpist/composer Natalia Mann launches her new album Pasif.ist on the Rattle Records label this month.  With guests Lucien Johnson (saxophone) and Shona Jaunas (violin).  

The Stacks with Siamese Charades, Kabanaz and Fate 2 Decide


The Stacks with Siamese Charades, Kabanaz and Fate 2 Decide

Friday December 9th 8.30pm $5

The
 Stacks are a rocking three piece band that deliver an energized entertaining show. Their original songs have been crafted with rocking grooves, three part harmonies and road worn lyrics. They are an awesome experience live and never fail to entertain.

The Stacks are also sharing the night with some amazing Wellington talent, Siamese Charades, Kabanaz and Fate 2 Decide.

It is $5.00 on the door with the first band starting at 9pm, plus every person through the door goes into a draw to win a $30.00 Music Warehouse voucher (kindly sponsored by the Wellington Musicians Network).

Gold Medal Famous Christmas Party with Cliché Guevara & Heat Like Me!


Gold Medal Famous Christmas Party with Cliché Guevara & Heat Like Me!

Thursday December 15th 9pm $10 with EP

"Christmas is all kinds of things to all kinds of people: happy, sad, fun, annoying, sacrilegious, bankrupting. Whatever camp you fall into you'll enjoy a Christmas Party with avant-garde pop stars Gold Medal Famous.

Joined by electropop duo Cliche Guevara and live acid house group Heat Like Me, Gold Medal Famous will ease you into the season fervour. $10 on the door gives you entry and a free limited edition Christmas Music EP featuring new songs by all 3 bands.

Happy Bar 9pm Thursday 15 December. Ho ho ho and seasons greetings!"

BB Marshall with Jessica's Cats Pyjamas & High Class Hobo Society

 BB Marshall with Jessica's Cats Pyjamas & High Class Hobo Society

Wednesday December 14th, 8.30pm $5




Folks and folkettes, it's that time of year when y'all start making tracks to various destinations around the globe to celebrate the birth of our lord and savior, Jesus Markus Donald Christ. However, before the great migration takes place, Happy is putting on one final push for salvation before the sky falls upon our heads and the ground beneath our feet bursts into flames. A group of highly trained musicians has been sent to Wellington by God Phillip Russel Almighty in an attempt to stave off the impending Judgement Day, and if you value the absolution of your soul, it would be wise to check out what these chalices of righteousness have to say.

B.B. Marshal: "Never have I heard such a sounds as this, the future of acoustic music rolled into one" - Rolling Stone Magazine
"Excellent, 5 Stars" - National Geographic Magazine

Jessica's Cat's Pyjamas:

"A true expression of abstract art, ne'er could I have achieved anything like this" - Picasso
"The most honest and hard hitting experiment with funk and blues since Mozart" - Empire Magazine

High Class Hobo Society:

"A spectacle one must experience before one's death, a flash of brilliance in a sea of mediocre" - Mojo Magazine
"I fell to my knees and wept with joy" - Jesus Markus Donald Christ
"A necessary accompaniment to all al fresco situations" - New Zealand Home & Garden Magazine

$5 on the door, a small price to pay when compared to that of purchasing a new Mercedes. 
 

Jeremy Mason EP Release with Hula Hope

Jeremy Mason EP Release with Hula Hope

Thursday December 8th 8.30pm $5

Music and Artists Social Club Presents: December Songs

Music and Artists Social Club Presents: December Songs

Wednesday December 7th 9pm $5

Halcyon Drift EP Release with The Dijretts

Halcyon Drift EP Release with The Dijretts

Saturday December 3rd, 8pm $10

Vinyl Friday - The Flying Nun Special

Vinyl Friday - 
The Flying Nun Special

 Friday November 25th 
5.30pm Free Entry

Given that it's the 30th anniversary of New Zealand's best loved record label this month, it would be downright rude of the Vinyl Friday Illuminati to ignore it. Consequently, we've drafted label founder Roger Shepherd and former Garage editor Richard Langston in to construct an analogue tribute worthy of the occasion. There are also strong rumours that Simon Coley will make an appearance with his copy of "Fall In A Hole", hotly pursued we assume by a lynch mob of copyright lawyers. We're just hoping that one of them will play The Verlaines' "Pyromaniac". For the perfect way to memorialise one of our finest domestic cultural achievements, be there at Happy Bar, Friday 25 November. It kicks off at 5.30 so don't be late; some of us aren't as young as we used to be.

Coney Island Swamp Monster, Great Expectorations, The Dickens, Meghan Glue w Andrew Savage

Coney Island Swamp Monster, Great Expectorations, The Dickens, Meghan Glue w Andrew Savage

Friday December 2nd, 9pm, $5



Can you believe it? Is it really that time again?
The women in both Dan and Andrew's lives are in the family way - and due in December. "How did that happen?" I hear you ask...
Well, this is not the time for details! Rather celebration...and we will celebrate in style.
So, the friends that are Coney Island Swamp Monster, Great Expectorations, The Dickens, Meghan Glue, Andrew Savage invite you to the first ever baby shower gig staged in Wellington.
Over the last two years, this community of musicians and friends have forged a relationship based on mutual respect and genuine appreciation of each other’s musical offerings.
We can't think of any other people we would prefer to celebrate with as we pave the way for our unborn children.
This may be the last outing for a few months as both Dan & Andrew will endeavour to be good fathers for a bit before cracking out the guitars again...not too long mind you…
So - it's a date.
$5 on the door, and bring a baby shower gift if you want to!
You will be treated:
The night kicks off with Andrew Savage of the Dickens playing a short solo set followed by the siren that is Meghan Glue. The Dickens will give you 100% after that, followed by Great Expectorations (do not miss this) and Wellington's finest: Coney Island Swamp Monster.

Sunbird7 w Monica Yeoman & My Dear Watson

Sunbird7 w Monica Yeoman & My Dear Watson
Saturday November 26th 8pm $10

Inspired by a mutual passion for music and story-telling Rohan and Geoff have created the sounds of Sunbird7. This live show will draw you into a world where the wary traveller can lose themselves in the memories of home and in the next breath be full of love and romance for the adventures that lay ahead. Their masterful melodies and stories of strength and pride will inspire passion in your heart and draw you into an emotional journey. 
Sunbird7 combines the lyrical magic of Donovan and the uplifting sounds of Coldplay with a twist of driven Celtic drums and beautiful folk melodies into an endless vista of 'cinematic folk' which never fails to captivate their audiences.
Rohan and Geoff met in the mountains high above Queenstown, in an old slate rock miner's cottage where they set about creating an idea and a sound of long lost travelers, love and yearning, and Aotearoa's changing seasons above the central Otago plains. The recording made in that cottage was then released into the hot sun of Canterbury's summer days where they played to spontaneous crowds of more than 500 people in Christchurch's majestic Cathedral Square. 
This coming together of strangers for song and dance under the canopy of summer evenings and the music of a long forgotten home inspired the birth of Sundbird7 ~ acoustic guitars, joyful and emotive voices, jungle drums on a backdrop of cinematic sound-scapes let listeners live, love and find themselves more whole than when they started the journey.

Web : www.facebook.com/sunbird7
Music : www.reverbnation.com/sunbird7

Hollywoodfun Downstairs w The Shadow Blasters & The Medicine Dogs

Hollywoodfun Downstairs w The Shadow Blasters & The Medicine Dogs

Thursday November 24th, 9pm $5

Hollywoodfun Downstairs on Reverbnation.
 



Facebook Event

Other, Roses & Orchids + Ben

 OTHER w Roses & Orchids + Ben
Wednesday November 23rd 9pm gold coin


Melodious melodies, harmonious harmonies, rhythmical rhythms from three beautifully skillful Wellington bands.
Other is a small group of people who focus on melody and harmony in their short songs. It is easy to get lost in their refined, different and very interesting sound.
Roses and Orchids  consists of two singing ladies whose melodies are a little folky, a little spooky. Their voices are supported by the sound of guitars, banjo, violin and tambourine. Their songs have a distinct focus on exploring melodic motifs and interchanging harmonies.
BEN is simply awesome.

Miles Calder And The Rumors w Oskar Herbig, Lakewood Avenue & Barbeque Crackers

Miles Calder And The Rumors w Oskar Herbig, Lakewood Avenue & Barbeque Crackers

Wednesday November 30th, 7.30pm $5

A scampish folk troubadour dreaming of high seas and low trees.
Melding wiry country jangle with frail folk balladeering, Miles Calder
wins your heart and woos your dancing shoes.

After cutting his teeth drumming in various alternative rock & roll

bands, Miles now finally emerge frontstage with original written
material. He draws inspiration from folk, country and blues back
catalogues, as well as the great modern songwriters such as Bob Dylan,
Ryan Adams, Tom Waits, Beck, Townes Van Zandt, Neil Young and more.

Happy are putting on a night of folk songwriter goodness. Come be
witness the raw talent lurking in the shadows of Wellington's
new-country/folk scene. In his first show with his band, young
songwriter Miles Calder will deliver a bright array original songs.
Oskar Herbig will shake you to your bones with his mercury-gravel
voice and powerful playing of original songs that have a thick
bloodline to traditional blues and folk. The talented guitar/banjo duo
Lakewood Avenue and spritely songwriter Barbeque Crackers are arriving
on the scene and will start the night off into the air. See you there.

Luckless, Bond St Bridge w Timothy Blackman

A LITTLE BIT EPIC: LUCKLESS AND BOND STREET BRIDGE TOUR NZ 
Friday November 25th, 9pm $10

Luckless and Bond Street Bridge are taking themselves on a pilgrimage around the country - an expedition bringing their sumptuous folk/rock music to audiences from Dunedin to Auckland.

Luckless are a self-described melancholic indie-rock duo, consisting of drummer Will Wood and guitarist and vocalist Ivy Rossiter. Drawing on influences as diverse as Portishead, PJ Harvey and Sparklehorse, the duo’s fiery combination of drums and distortion ebbs and swells with each carefully crafted song. Luckless sounds like an engine run on the thick oil of a kick drum in an empty hall, a wail of overdriven guitar and the howl of a thousand heartbreaks. Rossiter’s vocals trickle over walls of drums and guitar, yelping and sighing at turns.

Bond Street Bridge is the solo project of Sam Prebble, using loop pedals and tape echoes to build up layers of guitar, violin, beats and vocals to produce a hypnotic, compelling and original sound. Evocative lyrics and sonically lush instrumental arrangements make an eclectic live show which has secured Bond Street Bridge invitations to support New York art-pop duo The Books and the LA country-noir of the Willard Grant Conspiracy.

Tickets available from Undertheradar

 Tour info on Under the Radar

Stone Candy, The Placid Saints and DazZ at Happy

Wednesday November 16th, 8pm $5


Kaleidoscope rock'n'roll from Wellington three-piece The Placid Saints


Stone Candy are a three-piece instrumental rock band from Wellington who play music they enjoy and they have eclectic taste in sonic exploration.

DazZ aka Darrell Vickers is a musician who composes, records, and performs many different styles of music. Currently based in Paremata, where he spends his time writing and recording music.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=132059460230166

ZineFest After Party w The False Dmitrys, Robin, Daniel Boobyer, Nervous System

Saturday November 19th 8 pm Gold Coin Entry

The Blue Onesies, Wives, Solo Ono

Friday November 18th 9 pm $5

"Everybody's favourite Wellington psychedelic rock bands, The Blue Onesies and Wives, are playing a double-headliner gig at Happy with support from the dynamic duo, Solo Ono."

Meghan Glue, Kriston Batistic, William Jackman, Oskar Herbig

Thursday November 10th 8 pm $5

Jordie Lane, Matt Langley & Mel Parsons bring the Blood Thinner tour to Wellington

Thursday December 1st  8 pm $15 pre sale tickets and $20 if still available on the door. 



Australian Jordie Lane will bring his ‘Blood Thinner’ tour to Happy Bar in Wellington on December 1st with support from APRA Award winner Matt Langley and TUI Award nominee Mel Parsons. 

The trio will play an intimate, acoustic concert showcasing a blend of folk, alt-country and roots music and featuring unique collaborations on each other’s songs.  

Lane brings with him a reputation as one of Australia’s most revered singer/songwriters. Rolling Stone Magazine called his debut album “one of the most assured ever by a local artist”. Rhythms Magazine labelled him Australia’s “brightest new roots music star,” and he is commonly compared to Bruce Springsteen, Gram Parsons, Townes Van Zandt and Ryan Adams. 

He has also supported Cat Power, Neko Case, The Moody Blues, Gotye, and Old Crow Medicine Show, headlined sold out Australian tours, and was recently nominated for ‘Best Blues & Roots Album’ at the Australian Independent Music Awards. 

This Wellington show is part of a 12-date New Zealand tour which celebrates the release of Lane’s new sophomore album ‘Blood Thinner.  

Bikini Roulette, Killing Bear, Glass Eye and The Carnies

Friday 11/11/11 9 pm $5


An electrifying Rock and Roll coalition ascends from the underground on Friday November 11th: Three of the best - Bikini Roulette, Killing Bear, Glass Eye and The Carnies will take you, shake you, obliterate you! 

Balkin Brass Explosion

Saturday November 5th 9.30 pm $10


After watching the Wellington fireworks display, come down to Happy and be treated to aural explosions of the gypsy kind. Our ecstatic seven piece brass mayhem playing Balkan classics will further astound you and make you double happy.


Anthesiac EP Release w Mono Sonic, Shocking And Stunning

Friday November 4th 9 pm $5



http://www.facebook.com/anthesiac

The MELANCHOLY BABES with Eric Boeren(Amsterdam)

Sunday November 6th 8.30


The Melancholy Babes
Jeff Henderson – alto saxophone
Tom Callwood – bass
Anthony Donaldson – drums
with special guest
Eric Boeren - trumpet
 
Following up from their 2010 national tour the Melancholy Babes bring their unique blend of new jazz improvisation and composition back to New Zealand audiences, this time with renowned Dutch trumpet player Eric Boeren.

The tour begins in Auckland and travels throughout the South Island before opening the iiii Festival of Adventurous Music in Wellington.

Jeff Henderson, Tom Callwood and Anthony Donaldson, the Melancholy Babes, met the inventive trumpet player Eric Boeren in 2005 when he performed in Wellington with a quartet featuring some of the most renowned musicians in the Netherlands including drumming legend Han Bennink.
The group hit it off and enjoyed each others music so much that they kept in touch and played together at every opportunity including playing Amsterdam at the famous squat venue Zaal 100.

With the success of Europe under their belt, and carrying the FREDS award for musical bravery, The Melancholy Babes have invited Eric Boeren to New Zealand to augment their joyful sound. He brings new compositions from the Netherlands to add a touch of European sophistication to the rough and ready tones of the Babes.


Eric Boeren

Eric Boeren made his first steps in music with the brassband Ulicoten, a small village in the south of Holland, on the Belgian border. At eighteen, after attending his first concerts of improvised music, Eric switched to cornet, his first love. In 1983 saxophonist Michael Moore invited him to join Available Jelly for a tour in Germany and France. He has been professionally playing creative music ever since.
Eric Boeren is now well established as one of Holland’s most creative and prolific  trumpeters and bandleaders. He has performed in the Maarten Altena Ensemble, Sean Bergins MOB and with jazz legends John Carter, Roscoe Mitchell and Malachi Favors to name a few. this is Eric Boerens third visit to New Zealand and his first time performing in the South Island.


The MELANCHOLY BABES

Saxophonist Jeff Henderson is a prolific international performing and recording artist who has recently toured Europe with Winning Productions and  Japan with drummer Shoji Hano. He has performed with many leading jazz and experimental musicians such as Steve Lacy, Wilbert De Joode and Marilyn Crispell and has close associations with great New Zealandmusicians such as Mike Nock, Richard Nunns and Gerard Crewdson.

Drummer Anthony Donaldson is a legend in New Zealand music, from the seminal avantjazz collective the Primitive Art Group to The Six Volts to hismassive stage show productions with The Village of Idiots, Anthony Donaldson is one of the most influential and inspirational musicians and bandleaders in New Zealand today.

Bass player Tom Callwood is a member of popular bands Little Bushman and the Phoenix Foundation. Recently he toured Europe with the Phoenix Foundation and has performed extensively throughout New Zealand. His jazz credentials are exemplary, having performed with Mike Nock, Roger Sellars, Leila Adu and Marilyn Crispell to name but a few.