The Band
Ness - lead vocals
Mandz - lead vocals
Joolz - keys, BV's
Ness Abernethy has been in the entertainment business for over 25yrs.
She has worked in many formats including covers bands, TV ads, radio jingles, being a soloist at Coca Cola Christmas in the Park, sings vocals for Les Mills worldwide working alongside Bigpop, has sung the national Anthem for televised Netball and is a backing vocals for the incredible Tami Neilson.
As a vocal coach Ness loves to use her voice and play around with the many different qualities, colours and tones of her voice.
She was Melissa Etheridge on NZ Stars In Their Eyes, has performed as Tina Turner and been told she sounds a lot like Lady Gaga and has always enjoyed mimicking different singers.
Get ready to groove with Amanda James and her 20+ years of singing experience!
Mandz has sung in various bands over the years and brings to us her dynamic stage vocals and contagious energy.
Her harmonies are funkalicious and she will have you up on dance floor all night long!
Twinkling the ivories is Joolz . Starting her music career as a drummer playing in covers bands then hung up her drumming sticks and picked up the bass. She played Bass in a 70's glam rock band and other covers bands. Joolz then moved on to keyboards and has taken to them like a fish to water - and she's a Pisces! Plus taking some of her drumming experience brings us some good vibes on the congas.
Johnny - Guitar ,vocals
John is our lead guitarist and also does backing vocals.
John began playing piano at the age of 7, then guitar in his teens. He has studied classical guitar and has a Performance Diploma with Trinity College London.
John has played in numerous bands and has also toured internationally in a support act for premiere blues guitarist Billy T.K. Jnr and Cold Chisel’s Ian Moss.
John has been in the entertainment industry for 20+yrs, and has a great versatile voice, singing a variety of styles well.
John has a great personality making him easily approachable and he has a really positive stage presence.
Ronnie - Bass , vocals
Ronnie Eketone is a multi instrumentalist/singer/songwriter and producer. Although being surrounded by music from a young age, it wasn't until picking up an instrument at the age of 19 that Ronnie was able to put vocabulary to his creativity. With an eclectic taste in music and experience in multiple facets of music performance,Ronnie's versatility is a great addition to the Solid Gold 70s band.
Andy - drums, percussion
Bruce - Brass, BV's
Drums - Andrew Agutters (Sparty)
Driving the beat from the back, Sparty learned piano as a young ‘un, then picked up drums at 15. He’s played professionally for decades, starting at 18 touring with 80’s metal band Stormbringer.
He’s played with many local and international artists, both live and session, and was in Auckland’s concept cover band Club Nerd for 16 years.
The author of NZ’s biggest selling series of drum tutor books, Sparty teaches drumming and has also studied jazz.
Experienced in playing all styles of music, rock is his forte. He believes laying a solid groove provides the foundation for any good song. He’s totally laid back with a strong sense of humour.
At the age of 10, Bruce’s parents weren’t so keen on him playing the drums, so redirected his interests towards something a bit more tuneful and instead were kept awake at night with the quiet roar of trumpet practises. With over 20 years experience spanning big band, jazz ensembles, whether playing the Last Post at the Anzac parade, hidden away in the music pit for musical theatres, or trumpet voluntary, Bruce stepped away from the lime light for a while, but is kicking off 2023 by wrapping his chops around some awesome 70’s tunes for the Sold Gold 70s band.