RusDikBill

Russ Dear, guitar, vocals, harmonica and kazoo, Bill Hainstock, box bass and vocals got together in Invercargill some 25 years ago with drummer, Richard Parsons, hence the name ‘RusDikBil’.

Playing good time jazz, blues and  skiffle, with a bit of folk and country thrown in, they appeal to a wide age range and are a fun band.  Russ and Bill will be joined at Oamaru by Andrew Couper, drums and backing vocals.
Russ had played and sung in many bands in the UK, prior to coming to New Zealand and settling in the south.

When he mentioned to Bill he would be keen to get back into playing, Bill decided a tea chest bass would be fun so set about making one with a willow branch neck which, unsurprisingly, sprouted leaves in the breaks between gigs!  

​They have performed at many festivals, at ‘Sting’ games on a regular basis at Stadium Southland to enthusiastic netball fans, support for the Dutch Swing College Band, on stage at the Riverton  Millenium Eve celebration to many thousands,  at cafes, restaurants, clubs, weddings, birthdays, Melbourne Cup celebrations at Te Anau annually, wineries, conferences, the list goes on.
‘RusDikBil’ look forward to bringing their kind of music fun to the Harbour Street Jazz Festival this year.

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This blues song co-written by Russ's wife Lynley and myself. It takes you on a journey of places in Southland when they had a particular wet spring down there. It is sung in a more traditional blues feel.