Auckland soul music treasures on East FM, Saturday arvo from 3pm
Do you like good music – yeah yeah – sweet soul music – yeah yeah - then you’re in the right place – as we’ve got Auckland soul treasures Sam Ford and Trudi Green as featured artists on tomorrow’s She’ll Be Right on Saturdays Show with PJ Taylor, 3-7pm (NZ time, April 22) on East FM. Oooee!
Sam Ford and Trudi Green are our special guests in studio from 3.15pm, and it’s a soulsational time for them with the release of their cool and groovy new album OOOEE! on the horizon. We have the pleasure to be playing it in entirety.
They’re having a sweet-treats album release concert at Point Chevalier RSA on Sunday, April 30. Get in quick for tickets, as the venue has limited capacity:
www.undertheradar.co.nz...
OOOEE! (Choice/Soulahula Music, 2023) is a classy, earthly, Auckland soul record, and you’re also stepping into Memphis and New Orleans origins for inspiration. Sam Ford and Trudi Green and the SOULAHULA Band – Chris Nielson, Ernie Semu, Neil Hannan, Tim Robinson, and special guests Jeremy Dart and John Gibson.
We have Garth Cartwright, the renowned London-based NZ journalist and music and culture writer, to thank for putting us in contact with Sam and Trudi. Cheers, mate.
Sam and Trudi were in The Neighbours, the merry band of Kiwi musical troubadours of the early 1980s, and led by our Soul Brother No. 1, the late Rick Bryant, they played every town in this lush and fair land delighting crowds with their original soul n’ country and rhythm n’ blues, complete with brass. They went everywhere.
The Neighbours were the first band I saw live in a pub – upstairs at The Gluepot, Ponsonby Three Lamps, in 1983. Aged 17, three years under the legal drinking age, that gig led to a lifetime love of live concert performances in music venues around this mixed up crazy rock n’ roll world. My 40th anniversary year!
In those days, it took 20-30 minutes’ drive from New Windsor to Ponsonby, you could get a street park on Ponsonby Rd, the room was dark and stunk of sweet booze and cigarette smoke swirling in the (if you were lucky) air-conditioning, with one end brightened by moody stage lighting and the sound of live music rumbling off the stage and out of well-worn-in PA speakers.
Viva la Gluepot! Now, that was a venue, and the corner public bar downstairs. That was a different exciting world! And there was only one year left for Muldoon. Bad Piggy.
And with Anzac Day approaching, for the remainder of She’ll Be Right we’ll play Kiwi and Aussie tracks.
East FM is East Auckland’s fair-dinkum community-powered public service radio station, on 88.1FM and 107.1FM on local frequencies, nationally and globally at www.eastfm.nz... and on app iHeart Radio.
She’ll Be Right - it’s all about the vibe; it’s all about the groove. And this Saturday, we’re honoured to say it is Sam Ford and Trudi Green Day. Rain in the forecast - perfect radio listening conditions. – PJ
Poll: 🗑️ Would you be keen to switch to a fortnightly rubbish collection, or do you prefer things as they are?
Aucklanders, our weekly rubbish collections are staying after councillors voted to scrap a proposed trial of fortnightly pick-ups.
We want to hear from you: would you be keen to switch to a fortnightly rubbish collection, or do you prefer things as they are?
Keen for the details? Read up about the scrapped collection trial here.
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82.1% Same!
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17.9% Would have liked to try something different
Some Choice News!
Many New Zealand gardens aren’t seeing as many monarch butterflies fluttering around their swan plants and flower beds these days — the hungry Asian paper wasp has been taking its toll.
Thanks to people like Alan Baldick, who’s made it his mission to protect the monarch, his neighbours still get to enjoy these beautiful butterflies in their own backyards.
Thinking about planting something to invite more butterflies, bees, and birds into your garden?
Thanks for your mahi, Alan! We hope this brings a smile!
East Auckland Christmas light displays 2025
Please help me find other light shows and updating this list!
Times when the lights turn on/off is helpful.
Last updated: 19 December 2025 18:47.
Google map with all of these houses pin pointed: maps.app.goo.gl...
Add a display: [Google forms] forms.gle... , or comment: [Location], [Lights on/off times], [Other features].
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CONFIRMED CHRISTMAS LIGHT DISPLAYS 2025:
7 Northpark Ave, Northpark. 8pm to 10pm Mon-Thu, 8pm to 11pm Fri-Sun. Synchronized to music. Website with status/information: northparklights.remotefalcon.com... (my own light show).
6 Kookaburra Place, Botany Downs. 8:30pm to 10:30pm every night. Donations for Bellyful.
5 Ben Lomond Cres, East Gate Church Christmas Light show. 7Pm[?] to 11pm. Christmas walk-through running 18 – 23 December 7pm – 10pm.
18 Redcastle Drive, East Tāmaki. 9:15pm to 11pm. Synchronised to music. FB page: www.facebook.com...
13 Tui Vale Road Shelly Park. 6:30pm to Midnight. Santa visiting 23rd & 24th December.
9 Drysdale Place, Somerville 8.30 to 11pm.
10 Saidia Place, Huntington Park. 8:30pm to 10:00pm.
1 Woodview Rise, Botany. 8:30pm to 11pm.
57 Palmcrest Grove, Highland Park, 7pm & overnight.
1 Palmcrest Grove, Highland Park, 7pm & overnight.
51a Paparoa Road, Cockle Bay, 8pm to 10pm, 8th Dec to 24th Dec.
111 Bradbury Road, Botany Downs. 8:00pm to 10:30pm [Assuming last year's times].
9 Cyclades Place, Shelly Park. 8:00pm to 11:00pm [Assuming last year's times].
98 Angelo Ave, Howick. On all the time.
** John Brooke Crescent, East Tamaki Heights. Unknown number of houses & times.
** Trust Place, Sunnyhills. 8:30pm to midnight. Multiple houses.
** Fern Place Beachlands. 8:00pm to midnight. Multiple houses.
** Paerata Rise, Paerata. Unknown times. Multiple houses.
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NO LIGHTS THIS YEAR (Moved or other reasons):
44 Archmillen Ave, Pakuranga Heights.
9 Harford Place, Pakaranga Heights.
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FEEDBACK REQUIRED FOR 2025.
These were confirmed in 2024:
2 Edingale Court, Flat Bush. 8:30pm to 10:30pm.
56 Sorrel Cresent, Bucklands Beach. 7:30pm to 9:00pm. Trains/miniature displays in the garage Wednesday to Sunday.
6 Rothwell Place, Sunnyhills. 8:00pm to 10:00pm.
4 Greenbrooke Drive, Flatbush. 830pm to 11:00pm.
75 Hutchinsons Road, Bucklands Beach. 9:00pm and overnight.
6A Kentville Place, Somerville. 8:00pm to 12:00am.
27 Amberwood Drive, Northpark. 7:00pm to 12:00am.
136 Kilkenny Drive, East Tamaki Heights. 8:00pm to 12:00am.
86 Sandspit Road, Shelly Park. Unknown times.
81 Tiraumea Drive, Unknown times.
29 Meadowlands Drive, Sommerville. Unknown times.
** Headcorn Place, Botany. 7:30pm to 11:00pm. Multiple houses.
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SPECIAL CHRISTMAS EVENTS 2025:
<none added so far>
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Please help find more houses and update this list!
Comment on this post.
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