Strugglers captured live at in Auckland, November 2008 18/01/2009 On their way to headline at the Oparau Acoustic Festival last November, the Strugglers played the Dog's Bollix in Auckland. Click on the following links to view live performances of Unlikely Friends, Taxi Driver, and Bluer Than You'll Ever Be from the new album. Strugglers launch Shine On in Wellington and Auckland 06/09/2008 The Strugglers launched their new album Shine On in Wellington at the Paramount Theatre on 10 July and in Auckland on 31 July at the Montecristo Room. Click here for a review and pictures of the Auckland gig (above). New Strugglers album Shine On for July release 13/05/2008 The new Windy City Strugglers album Shine On is to be released in July. The Strugglers will launch the album with a concert at the Paramount Theatre, Wellington, on 10 July (see Gigs column, opposite). Details of subsequent promotional gigs will be posted on this site as they become available. Strugglers now on YouTube 19/03/2008 A trailer for Struggle No More and videos of five Strugglers songs performed in the film are now available for viewing on YouTube. Find the Strugglers on YouTube by clicking here. New Strugglers album on the way 09/12/2007 Strugglers founder Bill Lake during recording sessions for a new album to be released early in 2008 The sessions took place during September at the Plan 9 studio in Wellington, and included a number of new songs plus some unrecorded songs already aired in recent live performances. This will be the first new Strugglers album since Kingfisher (released in 2004) and the band will be appearing to promote it at key locations around New Zealand during the year. Strugglers under the volcano 15/08/2007 New Struggler Steven Jessup, shortly before the Strugglers played New Plymouth as part of the Taranaki International Festival of the Arts. The band hit the stage of the TSB Showplace on 8 August and delivered two rocking sets to Taranaki music lovers. This appearance signals the beginning of a series of live appearances through the next few months, including a concert in their Wellington hometown and more regional arts festivals (see Gigs opposite). Struggle No More on Sky in May 27/04/2007 Strugle No More, the acclaimed film about the Strugglers directed by Costa Botes, is to have its television premiere on the Sky Documentary Channel as one of a series of documentaries featuring the homegrown product to be shown during New Zealand Music Month. Billed as the story of New Zealand's greatest unknown band, Struggle No More screens on 12 May at 9pm. Strugglers play Auckland Festival, go live on radio 13/03/2007 After brief visits to Hamilton and Raglan, the Strugglers concluded their recent trip north with an appearance on 10 March as part of the Auckland Festival's programme of music in the Famous Spiegeltent (where Hitler once watched Marlene Dietrich, according to rumour). The following day the band made a live broadcast on KiwiFM's blues show, playing acoustic versions of songs from their repertoire and previewing new material likely to appear on the next studio album. Strugglers lineup change 16/01/2007 Geoff Rashbrooke Geoff Rashbrooke, a founding member of the Strugglers, left the band after their October gigs in Auckland. For their short November tour of the South Island, the band was joined by guitarist and lap steel player Stephen Jessup. The group continues to work on material for a new album, which they hope to record later this year. Strugglers complete northern and southern mini-tours 02/12/2006 The Strugglers have followed up their successful Wellington concert with visits in recent months to Auckland and the South Island. In October, the band played a handful of gigs around Auckland, including one memorable appearance in a Presbyterian church in Devonport! They also visited Leigh to play the Old Sawmill and wound up their Auckland season with an appearance at the Classic. In November, the Strugglers played well-received gigs in Nelson, Christchurch, and Dunedin. Future activities include showcase festival appearances at Auckland and Wanaka in 2007. Strugglers play Auckland in October 21/09/2006 The Windy City Strugglers will venture north early in October for a handful of appearances in the Auckland region. Dates and venues can be found in the Gigs column opposite. Strugglers rock Circa 17/09/2006 The Strugglers took the stage at Circa Theatre on 17 September for a lively set to celebrate their return to live performance after a long break. They previewed some new material, including a 'French' bracket for which they were joined by accordionist Alan Norman. Songwriter Arthur Baysting also made a rare guest appearance. 17/09/2006 Andrew at Circa 17/09/2006 Arthur Baysting in the spotlight (right) Circa photos courtesy of Keith Stewart Strugglers documentary in New Zealand Film Festival 19/06/2006 The long-awaited Windy City Strugglers documentary directed by Costa Botes, Struggle No More (see below), will have its premiere screening at the Wellington Film Festival in July and will also appear in the Auckland Film Festival. The director will introduce all screenings. The relevant dates and times are: Wellington, Paramount, Tuesday 25 July, 6.00pm, and Wednesday 26 July, 11.00am; Auckland, Academy Cinema, Thursday 27 July, 6.00pm, and Friday 28 July, 10.30am. Click here to see a trailer, or visit the Struggle No More webpage. You can read interviews with Costa Botes in Onfilm magazine and in Wellington's Capital Times. STRUGGLE NO MORE 84 minutes Produced and directed by Costa Botes When blues loving teenager Bill Lake moved from Australia to New Zealand in 1968 to escape the Vietnam War draft, he took with him a box full of priceless old blues records and a harmonica. He formed a band and called it the Windy City Strugglers, because Wellington, the city he'd moved to, was famously windy, just like Chicago. The other half of their name echoed that of the Mobile Strugglers, one of the African-American 1920's era country blues jug bands that Lake adored. Four decades later, the Strugglers are still playing and recording. They have evolved from being a band playing old blues covers into an originals unit of striking originality and depth. While still drawing on deep roots of Americana, the Strugglers now make music that speaks more about their own country. They might even be described as New Zealand's answer to the Buena Vista Social Club, if they weren't all younger than the Rolling Stones (albeit barely). Also their music is more black and blue than salsa. The film traces the ups and downs of the Strugglers long career, focusing on their stubborn refusal to conform to the bent rules of the music business. Funny and passionate, Struggle No More explodes the conventional myth of the 'struggling artist' and arrives at a conclusion that's guaranteed to warm the heart of anyone with a soft spot for a battler. Director’s Statement: Struggle No More was shot on DV. It's a completely self-funded effort. I did pretty much everything - shot it, directed it, and edited it. There is nothing avant-garde or earth shaking about this picture, nothing in its technique or style that will overturn conventions. But neither will you find any dinky celebrity presenters, hokum narrations, or gratuitously hyped editing. In style, it is a work of cinema, a blend of observation, narrative, and a little bit of visual poetry – most definitely aimed at film festivals, DVD, and niche TV. The point of the exercise for me was to engage in something that was deeply felt, personal to me, yet true to the subject. I really believe that the general can be found in the most specific of things. You can't get much more specific than a band from Wellington that few have heard of, yet their story speaks volumes about the persistence of passion. Ten years ago, on a somewhat more spectacular canvas, I explored exactly the same subject in Forgotten Silver, a mildly notorious ‘mock-doc’ I made with Peter Jackson. This documentary is no fake, and I like to think the heart on its sleeve is even bigger. It's an underdog story, and stories about underdogs are always satisfying if the characters we're supposed to be rooting for are likable. These guys are very likable. They're battlers. they're survivors. They're really good at what they do. But they haven't made any money with music in over forty years of playing and recording. So ... the theme of this film is the persistence of passion. In a country supposedly full of what Gordon McLauchlan famously described as passionless people, this is a pertinent topic for anyone remotely interested in the arts. Why is it SO hard to make a living as a creative person here? Does it follow that being a business failure equates to being an artistic failure? Is it worth it? At one point, Rick Bryant sighs, sometimes I think, perhaps I've made an enormous goof and wasted my life playing minority appeal music ... That's a rare moment of regret. Much more heartfelt is the Strugglers conviction that whatever they've achieved, it has been worth it. The film is actually quite funny, in a wry, quiet kind of way - which keys off the characters in the band. The Strugglers are an understated bunch, and it was a challenge making a film that points at the strong feelings hiding under the quiet, self-deprecating facade. From the NZ Film Festival programme A Wellington cultural institution for longer than the Film Festival, the Windy City Strugglers finally get their close-up in Costa Botes’ affectionate musical documentary. First appearing in 1968, when the Stones were the world’s most famous blues band, the Strugglers were founded by Australian draft-dodger Bill Lake, and emulated the gentler blues of the Memphis jug-bands. Lake’s flatmate and friend Rick Bryant would soon join the band. As other bands rose and fell around him, Bryant would always come back to it. Covering songs they loved, they eventually evolved into first-rate songwriters themselves. Botes talks to Strugglers past and present, draws colourful anecdotage from such reliable witnesses as Simon Morris, Graham Brazier, and Midge Marsden – and whips in a few music industry types to reveal the limitations of the commercial world. The saga that’s traced here is such a distinctively kiwi one because of the shy guy at the heart of it. Stoically self-effacing off stage, Lake quietly asserts the value of changing only enough to stay true to the stuff you love. Bill Gosden Director, NZ Film Festival Strugglers complete European tour 12/11/2005 The Strugglers are back in New Zealand after a highly successful visit to France and the United Kingdom, during which they participated in the Blues en Val d'Oise festival, appeared on the same bill as Guy Davis, Eric Bibb and other international artists, and performed a number of showcase gigs in Paris and London. Giverny 12/11/2005 The Strugglers touring party takes time out for a moment of relaxation in the French countryside. Soisy 12/11/2005 Nick contemplates the suburban rooftops from the balcony of the band's Paris accommodation. Saint-Gratien 12/11/2005 Bill leads the band through a rocking (and festive) gig in a Paris restaurant. Saint-Gratien (II) 12/11/2005 Rick shares a moment with Eric Bouhsane, director of Blues en Val d'Oise. Saint-Gratien (III) 12/11/2005 Geoff on blue resonator guitar rocks the house. Saint-Gratien (IV) 12/11/2005 Steve Cournane, seen here on egg, played drums on this trip. Romans 12/11/2005 Rick in the ancient town of Romans, before our gig at Theatre Jean Vilar with Viking bluesman Bjorn Berge. Romans (II) 12/11/2005 Andrew backstage at Theatre Jean Vilar, waiting for showtime. Islington 12/11/2005 The Strugglers in full flight at the King's Head, Islington. STRUGGLERS EUROPEAN TOUR, OCTOBER 2005 08/08/2005 In the wake of the release of Kingfisher in Europe by LastCall earlier this year, the Windy City Strugglers will perform in France and the UK during October 2005, beginning at the Blues en Val d’Oise festival and concluding with a trip across the Channel to appear in London before returning home. Further information will be added to the Gigs column opposite as it becomes available. Tournée en France des Windy City Strugglers Le groupe néo-zélandais de folk-blues the Windy City Strugglers sera en tournée en France en octobre 2005. Cette série de dates comprendra des concerts au Festival Blues en Val d’Oise et au théâtre Jean Vilar de Romans. Fondé à Wellington à la fin des années 1960, le groupe construit ses sonorités rock acoustiques autour de la voix chaude, imprégnée de blues, du guitariste et parolier Bill Lake, mise en valeur par les émouvantes performances vocaliques de Rick Bryant. Leurs fidèles partenaires sont Andrew Delahunty à l’harmonica et à la mandoline, Geoff Rashbrooke à la guitare et au piano et Nick Bollinger à la contrebasse. L’équipe ne serait pas complète sans le batteur, Ross Burge. Les Strugglers ont commencé comme jug band, redonnant vie à la musique noire américaine des campagnes du Deep South, mais ils ont depuis trouvé leur propre voix / voie au travers de chansons originales et uniques. Quoique toujours immergée dans les sonorités riches et l’esprit du blues des origines, la musique des Strugglers a été infléchie sous la conduite de son auteur-compositeur-interprète contemporain, introduisant les couleurs du R&B et des musiques du Pacifique. Imaginez un Tom Waits des antipodes ou bien un Ry Cooder des mers du Sud. Leur troisième album, Snow on the Desert Road, a été choisi en 2002 pour une diffusion en Europe par le label Last Call, basé à Paris, tout comme le suivant, Kingfisher, en 2005. Témoignages de l’ancrage des Strugglers depuis leurs débuts dans le folk, le blues et le R&B, ces albums n’en sont pas moins porteurs d’une identité indéniable. C’est ce qu’a bien remarqué Elliott Murphy, édité en Europe sous le même label, qui note : « Il y a une pureté aisément reconnaissable dans leur approche musicale et un respect des traditions dans leurs chansons ; cependant, mis bout à bout, tout cela donne quelque chose que vous n’avez jamais entendu auparavant. Ensemble pendant plus de trois décennies, ils exhalent un amour de la bonne musique et une complicité apparente à chaque fois qu’ils jouent. Les Strugglers tiennent à remercier Creative New Zealand pour son soutien. European release for Strugglers album 11/03/2005 The Strugglers' recent album Kingfisher has been released in Europe by French company Last Call (who also put out our 2001 album Snow on the Desert Road). The Last Call catalogue can be viewed by accessing their site via the Links page. Award for Strugglers video 07/09/2004 The She Drives video has won the Best Original Music award for the Strugglers and director Costa Botes at the 3rd Annual River City Film Festival in Wanganui. Strugglers track on French compilation 27/06/2004 French label Last Call (who released Snow on the Desert Road in Europe)have put a Strugglers track on their recent compilation Last Call's Happy Hour. Girl in the Moon (God Met Satan), written by Bill Lake and Arthur Baysting and featuring the lead vocals of both Bill and Rick Bryant, is included alongside tracks by Alex Chilton, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, the Modern Lovers and other iconic figures from the Last Call catalogue. Release of Kingfisher 30/05/2004 The Windy City Strugglers launched their new album Kingfisher with a series of shows at Wellington's Circa Theatre and an official release at the Dogs Bollix, Auckland, on 3 April. The album has been very favourably received and was at number 11 on the IMNZ Independent Album Chart for May. Kingfisher is available at better CD stores anywhere in New Zealand or can be purchased through the post by sending $27.50 and your address to Red Rocks Records, PO Box 9030, Wellington ( for purchases from overseas, check the Recordings section of this website). Strugglers video 30/05/2004 The Strugglers have filmed a video of She Drives from the new album with director Costa Botes (Forgotten Silver). During filming a particular scene called for Bill Lake (posing as a blind street musician) to be knocked to the ground and robbed of his guitar. The performance was convincing enough to engage several concerned Wellingtonians who came to his rescue and chased his actor-assailant down Cuba Street. Strugglers press 30/05/2004 New Zealand Musician has featured the Strugglers as the cover story for their May/June issue. You can access the article by Trevor Reekie by visiting the magazine's website via our Links section. STRUGGLERS ALBUM RELEASE, 3 APRIL 09/03/2004 Kingfisher, the fourth album by the Windy City Strugglers, will be released in New Zealand on 3 April on Red Rocks Records. A European release will follow in April on the Paris-based label Last Call. New Strugglers album for early 2004 31/01/2004 Late last year the Strugglers went into Wellington's Plan Nine studio to record tracks for a new album, to be released within the next few months. Further details will follow soon. Getting ready to rock 21/09/2003 In preparation for the forthcoming Strugglers CD, members of the group retreated for a weekend in August to an old railway cottage the isolated township of Rangataua, near Mt Ruapehu, for songwriting and rehearsal. Accompanying them was film-maker Costa Botes, who is documenting Strugglers activities for a forthcoming documentary movie. Watch this space... [Photo: Arthur] South Island Easter tour (start) 19/06/2003 Following a hometown gig at Wellington's Bar Bodega, the Strugglers undertook a brief tour of the South Island over Easter. Drummer for the tour was Ross Burge, known for his work with the Mutton Birds and Tim Finn. First stop was the Canterbury Family Festival of Music (formerly the Christchurch Folk Festival), where the band played sets on both the Saturday and Sunday, along with assorted New Zealand acts including Mahinarangi Tocker, Irish singer-songwriters Kieran Halpin and Colum Sands, and Aussie women band Mettaphor. Waxing it 19/06/2003 The Strugglers played to more than 100 punters at the Arc Café on a Monday night. On the way down to Dunedin, Geoff gave an impromptu boogie-woogie recital for an audience of appreciative waxworks in the historic old section of Oamaru. The next morning outside the Arc, Bill conducted a conversation between Nick and Ross 19/06/2003 which may have been the inspiration for Ross taking liberties with the poster. 19/06/2003 Rick is seen getting into the spirit of the season. 19/06/2003 South Island Easter tour (end) 19/06/2003 A Tuesday night gig at Missy¹s Café in Wanaka saw another full house. After that, it was a 4:30 am start to get to the Picton ferry, with the unexpected bonus of seeing dawn over and on the mountains .. Photos courtesy of Andrew Martinborough 2002 (1) 13/03/2003 Bill and Andrew - photos courtesy of Miranda Richards Martinborough 2002 (2) 13/03/2003 Bill, Nick and Rick before they grow too old .. Martinborough 2002 (3) 13/03/2003 Rick, Steve, Nick, Geoff European struggling? 05/03/2003 Following last year's European release of the Strugglers' latest album Snow on the Desert Road, we've had strong interest in a Strugglers tour to the Northern Hemisphere, with possible gigs in London, Edinburgh and Paris. But initial plans to tour in the European summer of 2003 have been put on hold in favour of recording a new CD. We have 5 or 6 new songs from Bill and Rick that are coming up really well, and more on the drawing board. We hope a European visit will follow the release of this album in 2004. Donc, on verra!

Wellington Bluegrass Society 29/08/2009 54 Richmond Street, Petone, 8.00 Bookings: email bluegrass@paradise.net.nz or phone(04)477-0069 Lembas Cafe, Raumati South 28/08/2009 34 Poplar Ave, Raumati South, 7.30 phone 04 9025734 for bookings Highwic House, Epsom 08/03/2009 Afternoon concert, 3.00-5.00 The Bunker, Devonport 08/03/2009 Festival Of Lights, New Plymouth 24/01/2009 Oparau Acoustic Festval 08/11/2008 Dogs Bollix, Auckland 07/11/2008 Montecristo Room, Nelson St, Auckland 31/07/2008 Auckland launch of Shine On Doors open 8pm Bookings: www.iticket.co.nz from 9 July Paramount Theatre, Wellington 10/07/2008 The Windy City Strugglers will launch their new album Shine On with a concert of new songs interspersed with Strugglers classics. Special guest Dave Murphy will open. Thursday 10 July, 8pm (doors and bar open from 6.30pm) Bookings: visit or phone Paramount box office 04 384 4080 Tauranga Festival of the Arts 25/10/2007 Nelson Festival of the Arts 17/10/2007 Paramount Theatre, Wellington 29/08/2007 The Windy City Strugglers in concert A year since the band were last seen on a Wellington stage, and in the wake of several acclaimed appearances at regional arts festivals around the country, the Strugglers return to their hometown. They will be supported by special guests Chris and Eva Prowse. Taranaki Festival of the Arts 08/08/2007 Festival of Colour, Wanaka 25/04/2007 Infinity Crystal Palace, 8.30 pm Auckland Festival, Auckland 10/03/2007 Famous Spiegeltent, 4.30 pm Harbour View Hotel, Raglan 09/03/2007 Ward Lane, Hamilton 08/03/2007 Railway Station, Dunedin 12/11/2006 From 8 pm Harbour Light, Lyttelton 11/11/2006 Doors open 7.30 pm, show starts 8.00 pm. Tickets $20, table reservations and door sales. The Boathouse, Nelson 10/11/2006 326 Wakefield Quay From 8 pm Classic Comedy Theatre, Auckland 08/10/2006 St Paul's, Devonport 07/10/2006 Leigh Sawmill Cafe, Leigh 06/10/2006 Circa Theatre, Wellington 17/09/2006 Hot on the heels of their immortalisation as celluloid heroes in Costa Botes' Struggle No More, the Strugglers will perform songs from the film and give a preview of some new material in an intimate concert. Circa Theatre, 1 Taranaki St, for bookings phone 04 801 7992 Windmill, Brixton 23/10/2005 Opening for Errol Linton, 8.30. Kings Head, Islington 19/10/2005 Bull's Head, Barnes 17/10/2005 Acoustic set before Robin Bibi. Theatre Jean Vilar, Romans 15/10/2005 With the Norwegian Viking blues of Bjorn Berge. Poitiers 14/10/2005 Blues en Val d’Oise 06/10/2005 Salle G. Becaud, 1 av du 18 Juin, 95580 Margency With Juju Child (from New Orleans, raised in Mississippi, now living in France). Farewell Fundraiser Party, Circa Theatre, Wellington 02/10/2005 On the eve of their first European tour, the Windy City Strugglers invite you to a farewell fundraiser party at Circa Theatre, 1 Taranaki Street, from 8.00. With guests Darren Watson, Marg Layton, Barry Saunders, the Shot Band, and Brian Sergent. For bookings, call (04) 801 7992 Museum of Wellington City & Sea 24/07/2005 Free concert, 2.30. Eva Dixon's at the Zoo, Newtown, Wellington 24/07/2005 An evening of homegrown roots music with the Strugglers and special guests the Shot Band. 6pm. Eva Dixon's at the Zoo, Newtown, Wellington 03/04/2005 The Strugglers in concert, 6.00. Memorial Hall, Paekakariki 02/04/2005 The Strugglers will share the stage with Blue Highways for an evening of Antipodean blues and country boogie. Dancing is permitted. Paekakariki Memorial Hall, on the beachfront off State Highway One, from 8.00, $20. Ponsonby Alive 28/11/2004 The Strugglers will appear at the Grand Central, 9pm. Ponsonby Alive 27/11/2004 During one of their rare visits to Auckland the Strugglers will participate in the Ponsonby Alive festival of live music. On Saturday 27 November the Strugglers will perform at a series of unknown locations along Ponsonby Road from the back of the festival's Roving Truck between 10am-1pm, then at the Western Park from 2pm. Dogs Bollix, Auckland 03/04/2004 The Windy City Strugglers will launch their new CD Kingfisher at the Dogs Bollix on Saturday, 3 April. Mainly Acoustic Music Club, Mayfair Cafe, Upper Hutt 28/03/2004 The Strugglers will preview material from their new album. All are welcome to this special concert appearance at Mainly Acoustic from 7.00. Kaponga Backgammon Club 27/03/2004 The Strugglers return to the Backgammon Club with a brand new album. This is a rare opportunity to catch the band live in Taranaki, fresh from a successful concert season during the Wellington Fringe Festival. Circa Theatre, Wellington 11/03/2004 The Strugglers will be playing a four night season at Circa as part of the 2004 Wellington Fringe arts festival. The season will run from Thursday 11 March to Sunday 14 March, and will include fresh material from the new CD being recorded November 2003. Shows will start at 8:15 pm - giving the opportunity to go on to a late night event afterwards for those so inclined. Cuba St Carnival 29/02/2004 On Saturday 28 February 2004 the Strugglers will play a 50 minute set at 11 am as part of the Cuba St Carnival. See you there - should be a great weekend. Toast Martinborough 16/11/2003 The Strugglers are booked to play at Muirlea Rise again this year as part of the Toast Martinborough festival. We just know the weather this year is going to be as great as the wine, the food - and the music! Missy's Kitchen, Wanaka 22/04/2003 Level 1, 80 Ardmore Street, starting 8pm. Final South Island gig before the drive back to Picton. Arc Cafe, Dunedin 21/04/2003 Another new venture for the Strugglers, and well past time we played here. Information on the venue at www.coffee.co.nz Canterbury Easter Folk Festival, Waipara 19/04/2003 The first time here for the Strugglers, and we're looking forward to it. For more information on the Festival, check the website: http://www.folkmusic.org.nz/festival/ The New Bodega, Wellington 16/04/2003 Strugglers come out of their summer hibernation and start the year at Wellington's long-time NZ music venue.