meet our musicians
Helen corry
Helen Corry is a professional musician and songwriter, who plays acoustic guitar & sings for weddings, events and parties. Her incredible voice will captivate you and your guests while they arrive, during the ceremony and canapes. She can learn a song that is special to you as a couple or can recommend something that would suit. During canapes, she will sing/play covers and tailor her vibe to suit your brief whether that be chilled background or more upbeat tunes. The perfect person to create a special atmosphere for your event.
You can hear her voice on this website here.
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David Byrne - American Utopia
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God this is embarrassing - B*Witched, the Irish girl band. Linked here for your listening and viewing pleasure. LOL
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Mark Ronson, Rick Rubin, Lady Gaga. I've take liberty here and selected a few producers. I mean - I think the chat would be great!
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Anywhere with a view. I'm not fussed on the venue really, it's all about the crowd! Love that on Waiheke everywhere feels special. My favourite venue that I've ever played is Auckland Town Hall for Synthony. Such a special room.
SIRENS
Sirens are a local band with harmony-heavy female vocals, interwoven with skillful acoustic guitar and bass. Their strong suit is their adaptability, effortlessly tailoring performances to the venue, from intimate jazz dinner vibes, to guaranteed-to-get-you-dancing hits. Their innate ability to connect with the audience, combined with their genuine passion for the art of music, makes them a "must-listen-to" band for anyone in the area.
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Nickie - Ella Fitzgerald at the Royal Albert Hall in 1986
Anna - The Eagles Fairwell Tour at Twickenham Stadium in 2006
Sean - Couldn’t pick just one! Leftfield at Glastonbury, Damien Rice at an old village hall in the Australian Wop-Wops, P!nk at Eden Park in March this year.
Sophie - Tash Sultana at some tiny festival in Townsville in 2016. -
Nickie - Setting Suns by The Jam (and getting Paul Weller to sign it!)
Anna - Bad by Michael Jackson
Sean - Since You Been Gone by Rainbow
Sophie - Justified by Justin Timberlake -
Nickie - John, Paul, George and Ringo (sorry that was 4…)
Anna - Jimi Hendrix, John Lennon and Angie McMahon
Sean - Erik Satie, David Bowie and Guy Garvey (Elbow)
Sophie - Jacob Collier, Stevie Nicks and Florence Welch -
So many… on Waiheke it would be Casita Miro, Man O’War, our spiritual home Aperitivo, Charlie’s and Mudbrick. Off-island would definitely be The Currach Irish Pub on Great Barrier.
sophie
aston
Sophie Aston, a UK-born singer/songwriter, is a powerhouse vocalist who can effortlessly transition from high-energy, impactful performances to intimate, pared-back sets with a more soulful edge. Gaining a local following as one quarter of the Waiheke-based band 'Sirens', Sophie has recently embarked on a solo journey, where her talent and versatility are shown through her choice of songs within the realms of pop, rock, soul and blues.
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Tash Sultana at a tiny festival in Townsville, Australia in 2016 and Fleetwood Mac at Spark Arena in 2021.
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Justified by Justin Timberlake. First CD I bought with my own money.
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Jacob Collier, Stevie Nicks and Florence Welch
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The Currach Irish Pub over on Great Barrier Island, Aperitivo Bar in Oneroa, Waiheke and Casita Miro in Onetangi, Waiheke.
ANDREW ISDALE
Andrew Isdale is a session musician & producer from Auckland with a broad musical background. An accomplished jazz saxophonist in the Auckland scene, he also tours with the reggae band "Katchafire," and plays regularly with DJs at an assortment of bars, clubs & venues around the country.
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The most memorable is actually one I played at, Homegrown 2023 with Katchafire.
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Foo Fighters - Wasting Light
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Dave Grohl, Paul McCartney, Rob Swire from Pendulum (so I can pick his music production brain).
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Ponsonby Social Club, Pointers.
ALEX LUDBROOK
Alex Ludbrook has one of New Zealand’s most diverse and soulful voices, decades of performance experience and a passionate and inviting stage presence. She works closely with Vocalist & Jazz Guitarist Peter Reilly as a duo and as a full band with Chris Orange on bass and Nuno Moura on drums. The style is upbeat Jazzy/Soulful classics with her own spellbinding spin. A perfect way to set the mood for Weddings, Private or Corporate Functions, Restaurants & Bars or Festivals. She cover's artists such as Sade, Nora Jones, Stevie Wonder, Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James, Aretha Franklin, Randy Crawford, Amy Winehouse, Dusty Springfield, Chaka Khan, The Bee gees and much more!
AJ Brooks & Peter Reilly
Alex was born into a life of music in 1980, her parents, both musicians/performers emersed with it. Alex began her journey with musical theatre. She started song writting in her late teans which led to Audio Production. She then studdied Contemporary Music Performance Majoring in Vocals.
In the late 90's she started DJing, and singing live over the top and this lead to her getting flown over to Melbourne for gigs where she ended up residing for 14 years continuing her DJing career. In 2019 she moved to Waiheke and since has been performing most weekend in bands & duo's and has been working with some well known producers on original work as a recording artist, including most recently a record label in the UK.
Alex is currently part of a 7 piece originals collaboration "Sun Volt Set" who have released their first single and written an albulm, they have been performing regularly with lots of exciting shoes in the pipeline. Alex is currently working as a solo acoustic act, and closely with Peter Reilly as a duo and with a full band AJ & The Buzzbars" specialising in soulful, classic covers. Perfect for any occasion.
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Alice Russell & The Quantic Soul Orchestra At The Prince 2009
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Return of the Space Cowboy, Jamiroquai
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Nora Jones, Amy Winehouse, Chris Cornell
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Casita Miro, Man O War, Mudbrick
peter
Reilly
Peter began singing before he’d learned to talk! His musical parents were especially fond of gypsy music. Peter is the eldest of Jim and Jan’s six sons. From an early age, the boys got in on the act as ‘The Gypsies’ – performing cabaret in some of Auckland’s top 70’s venues. A classically trained treble, Peter says the highlight of his early career as a boy was singing Pie Jesu from Gabrielle Faure’s Requiem directed by Peter Godfrey with the Dorian Choir accompanied by the Auckland Philharmonic, recorded live to the radio. With Max Cryer’s guidance,
Peter went from classical singer to pop artist with appearances on ‘Happen Inn’, the ‘Ray Columbus Show’ and ‘Town & Around’. His live performances culminated at Super Pop 70 in Western Springs. Peter met and chatted with Prince Charles and Princess Anne that night. His treble voice broke in 1972, revealing his rich baritone. Fast forward to 1996. Peter moved to Waiheke Island founding Chocolate Fish which became a popular choice for weddings, jazz festivals, birthdays, and corporate events. Chocolate Fish morphed into The Buzz Bars, continuing to delight their customers with wonderful music. Jazz, Latin swinging blues or groovy pop. Whatever the preferred style, The Buzz Bars will have you moving and grooving.
aj & The
BUZZ BARS
Introducing AJ & The Buzz Bars! A Jazz covers band on Waiheke Made up of Peter Reilly (Guitar & Vocals), Chris Orange (Bass/Double Bass), Nuno Moura (Drums) and (Alex Ludbrook, AKA – AJ Brooks on Vocals). All long time professional performers with decades of experience. Alex and Peter have been performing on the Island for two years together as a Jazz duo. Peter and Chris have been performing together for decades and call themselves the Buzz Bars. Combined they make a powerful band and have an extensive, broad repertoire. They can cover all genres but specialise in upbeat Jazzy classics with a focus on getting people up and dancing. Some artists they cover are Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James, Nina Simone, Amy Winehouse, Diana Krall, Nora Jones, Incognito, Stevie Wonder, Sade, Aretha Franklin, Carol King, Roberta Flack and much more.