Dr Phill’s wedding to Dr Bron

Batucada’s most eligible bachelor gets hitched!

Dr Phill and Dr Bron's wedding - photo by Paul Howell PhotographyIt’s no secret that some of Batucada’s well-connected ladies had been looking out for a suitable match for Dr Phill for a while. In the end though, he did it without our help, and met the very lovely Dr Bron, and a perfect match ensued. Hooray!

We were completely honoured to be asked to perform at their wedding, held at the Boatshed on Wellington’s waterfront. Our role was to keep Phill company until the bride arrived, and then to play her up the stairs and into the Boatshed itself.

We were planning to wait outside and start playing once Bron appeared, but the slightly torrential rain rather put a stop to that plan. Instead we waited at the top of the stairs, dressed in our wedding finery, ready to form a guard of honour and drum Bron through to her groom.

Dazzer did the directing honours, we played our little hearts out with massive grins on our faces, and the bride looked lovely. Her flower girls, complete with flowered bicycles, were super-cute. Dr Phill looked every inch the (very proud) husband-to-be.

The wedding ceremony (which we were all invited to) was just fabulous, with a highlight being the mass sing-along of the Monkees’ song I’m a Believer, which was pretty much the most appropriate song I can imagine we could sing from Dr Phil, to Dr Bron. Just fantastic.

The reception was great, the venue fab, the cake spectacular, the speeches all just the right length and hilarious, and we danced until we couldn’t dance any more. What a perfect day. Congratulations Dr Phill and Dr Bron! May you be happy forever.

Photo Gallery

Photos by Paul Howell Photography. Click on any thumbnail to see the larger version. You can use left and right arrows on your keyboard to navigate:

There are heaps more lovely photos of the wedding here – Bron & Phill’s Wintery Wedding at Wellingtons Boatshed – enjoy!

Hastings Blossom Festival 2015

Or, how to freeze your sticks off at a “spring” festival

Hastings Blossom Festival 2015 - team photo by Alan ShukerHastings was unseasonably cool this year. Actually, let’s be honest – it was BLIMMIN FREEZING.

The overall theme was “Great Things Grow Here” so we decided that floral hats and other accoutrements would be the order of the day. About half the band got dressed up in their best floral attire, which looked great. Continue reading

Brazil National Day 2015

Happy National Day, Brazil!

Brazil National Day 2015 - photo by Roy GlassWellington Batucada was honoured to be invited once again to play for guests at the Brazilian Embassy’s Brazil National Day celebrations – a celebration of the 193rd Anniversary of the Independence of Brazil. The event was held on 7 September 2015 at Te Whaea (NZ School of Dance), Wellington.

A group of drummers and dancers performed at the invite-only event, with Wellington Batucada featuring at the top of the bill. Guests including the Brazilian Ambassador danced enthusiastically (and skillfully) to our Brazilian beats. Continue reading