SAVE THE DATE AND GRAB YOUR TICKETS NOW !!
BLUES ON THE POINT FESTIVAL
Sat 14th Mar 2026
2pm – 7:30pm
On the Point at the Honest Lawyer
Entry:
Humanitix presales $20
Adults $20
TBBC members $15
Under 15s Free.
Tickets available now from:
https://events.humanitix.com/blues-on-the-point-festival-2026
The Tasman Bay Blues Club is very pleased and proud to announce the line-up and full details of our third Blues On The Point Festival.
Following the huge success of the ’24 and ’25 festivals, we’re bringing the best of New Zealand Blues to our Monaco waterfront home.
Tasman Bay Blues Club is again bringing some of New Zealand’s best blues musicians together for this one-day event at their waterfront home of The Honest Lawyer Gardens, Monaco.
Headlined by the Neil Billington & Nick Granville Band from Wellington they are guaranteed to deliver razor sharp Chicago style blues and be a crowd favourite. Neil is arguably NZ’s best blues and chromatic harp player, with Nick Granville, a professional guitarist who has worked with many international recording artists over the years.
Back by popular demand will be the very talented 17 year old Lachlan Platt from Christchurch and joining this line up will be the best of Tasman Bay Blues performers with Dem Blues Boys, Marcus Roebuck and Rocket Box, Sugar Bowl and Juke Joint.
This year we will be right out on the point on the grass by the water so bring a deck chair, a rug, some sunscreen and settle yourself in for an afternoon of wonderful music in the late summer sunshine. There is limited parking so carpooling with a friend is highly recommended.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Headliners
The Neil Billington Nick Granville Band
The Neil Billington Nick Granville Band is a powerhouse blues band featuring the incendiary harmonica of Neil Billington and showcasing the spectacular guitar skills of Nick Granville, supported by an unparalleled rhythm section of Elliott Fuiamaono on the bass and Darren Mathiassen on the drums.
Neil has played in festivals around the country and overseas with some of the best musicians in the style, including the legendary Sonny Landreth, the slide guitar wizard from Louisiana, at the “Live Magic Festival” in Tokyo. Neil is widely regarded as one of the premier harmonica players to emerge from New Zealand and has been described by his musical peers as a “Hendrix of the harmonica”.
Nick, an astonishingly accomplished and versatile player who has played and toured with a “who’s who” of local legends and overseas talent, such as Chris Cain, but with Neil he digs deep into his roots in the blues.
Joining them is the powerful one-two punch of Elliott Fuiamaono on bass – the in-demand player on the Wellington scene – and virtuoso drummer Darren Mathiassen, who regularly plays with national legends “Shapeshifter”.
Driven by Neil’s harp and vocals the band draws heavily on his passion for Chicago and West Coast jump blues, from the songbook of Muddy Waters, Howling Wolf, Little Walter, Sonny Boy Williamson, Junior Wells, Elmore James, George “Harmonica” Smith, and Paul Butterfield, breathing new life into classics of the genre. In the words of a fan, seeing Neil and his band perform “will change your life!”
Lachlan Platt
Christchurch’s rising Blues guitar sensation Lachlan Platt makes his second appearance in Nelson. A keen student of Stevie Ray Vaughan, Lachlan is on the path of becoming one of the world’s up and coming Blues Rock artists.
At just 17 years old Lachlan’s natural ability on 6 strings and song writing is beyond his years.
As a boy, Lachlan gravitated toward heavy rock bands like Black Sabbath and AC/DC. But when he was about 11, he was introduced to the blues, and it was love at first listen. From classics like The Rolling Stones, Derek and the Dominos, and Jimi Hendrix, to modern artists like Marcus King and John Mayer — the blues had him hooked.
By the age of 12, He was writing his own music, appearing on TVNZ, and performing his first gigs in Christchurch. By 14, he was being invited to blues festivals across New Zealand — from Auckland to Nelson to Oamaru.
2025 at 16, Lachlan won Best Guitarist at Jazz Quest and Southern Jam and has been featured as a guest guitarist at the annual Jimi Hendrix Celebration 2 years running. Despite the achievements, his passion hasn’t wavered — his path is clear, and he’s determined to follow it all the way.
First appearing at the Tasman Bay Blues Festival last year Lachlan left the attendees wanting more and this year Lachlan is back to deliver. So sit back and enjoy Lachlan Platt on stage.
The best of Tasman Bay Blues performers complete the line-up:
• Rocket Box – Having a treasure trove of forgotten gems to bring to the festival and a long connective history of musicianship, these guys carry a deep resonance in the Blues. From guitar-driven swampy grooves to soulful slide-infused renditions and dirty harp, rest assured you will be on your feet jiving! Well-known locals Marcus Roebuck / Harmonica and Vocals, Glynn Olsen / Electric Guitar, Steve Mitchell / Slide Guitar, Brett Holland / Bass Guitar and Simon Terrill / Drums are sure to please.
• Dem Blues Boys – A four piece hill country blues band drawing from legends like R.L. Burnside and Junior Kimbrough, the band infuses the hypnotic beats and repetitive riffs characteristic of hill country blues with elements unique to New Zealand. Traditional acoustic instruments give their music a distinctive vibe. Their sound is marked by deep grooves, soulful harmonica, and expressive vocal harmonies, heard at venues ranging from rustic pubs to outdoor festivals in the Tasman region.
• Jukejoint – Well known around the local music scene these guys need no introduction. Regulary gigging around Nelson and beyond, Jukejoint formed in 2020 and are inspired by such Blues legends as Jimmy Reed, Paul Butterfield, Bo Diddley, Junior Wells, Billy Boy Arnold, Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, The Rolling Stones, Keb Mo, Tony Joe White.
• Sugar Bowl – An acoustic duo comprised of Stephan Gilberg (guitar and harmonica) and Ali Lenton (vocals) — They first captivated audiences at the highly-regarded Tasman Bay Blues Club’s ‘Jam Nights’. This is their first appearance at the festival and will showcase a special set of Blues songs from the late-1800s all the way to today, from the likes of Mississippi Fred McDowell, Bessie Smith, Etta James and contemporary artists such as Keb Mo, Larkin Poe, and Tami Neilson.
This year we are excited to be holding the event right where its name suggests – out on the Point behind the Barn, the home of Tasman Bay Blues Club.
Gates open 1.00pm.
More details, tips & hints to follow on parking, transport etc.
STAY TUNED!
IMPORTANT TICKET INSTRUCTIONS FOR CLUB MEMBERS
To get your member discount just use your membership number as your ‘access code’ as follows:
Visit the: Humanitix Tickets Page
Open the event page. Click on ‘get tickets’.
New page pops up with a box to enter your access code.
Put your membership number in here and click ‘apply’ to get your discount.
*NOTE: The code is for single use – ONE discounted ticket per member.