The Whittakers formed in Tauranga in August 2012. The aim - Create an original sound using acoustic instruments, then rock it up with drums and bass. Genre - celtic, rock, pop, folk, country, traditional. Motto - keep it interesting.
Richard Grautstuck - Vocals, Guitar
Mitz Amores - Vocals, Mandolin
Robbie Laven - Fiddle, Banjo, Whistle, Guitar
Dave Williams - Double Bass, Vocals
Richard has played in bands for 25+ years, notably in the UK bands - Billy in the Lowground and The Space Bastards, as well as many cover / club bands.
Dave was until recently in the rhythm section for Woody Woodhouse the highly popular Tauranga Jazz musician.
Mitz spent 10 years singing in her church choir before picking up a mandolin, getting hooked and has been playing with Richard for the last 5 years.
Robbie is one of New Zealand’s foremost multi-instrumentalists, most known around the Bay of Plenty for being one half of the original Blarney Boys.
The Whittakers are regularly performing in pubs, markets, festivals and private functions in and around Tauranga and the Bay of Plenty.
Ideal for: dance music for corporate function, private party, wedding, with a bit of a Celtic theme
IRISH / CELTIC:
Wild Rover - Traditional
Whiskey in the Jar - Traditional
Thousands Are Sailing - The Pogues
Young Ned of the Hill - The Pogues
Irish Rover - Traditional
Fields of Athenry - Paddy Reilly
Black Velvet Band - The Dubliners
Molly Malone - Traditional
Pair of Brown Eyes - The Pogues
Wild Mountain Thyme - Traditional
Caledonia - Dougie McLean
Galway Girl - Steve Earle
Dirty Old Town - The Pogues
Drunken Sailor / Donald Where’s My Trousers - Traditional
New York Girls - Traditional
Star of the County Down - Traditional
Sally McLennane - The Pogues
Streams of Whiskey - The Pogues
I’m a Man You Don’t meet Every Day - Traditional
Green Roses - The Orthodox Celts
The Gentleman Soldier - Traditional
Molly Malone - Traditional
ROCK / COUNTRY / OTHER
Wagon Wheel - Bob Dylan / Olde Crow Medicine Show
Brown Eyed Girl - Van Morrison
Little Lion Man - Mumford and Sons
Losing My Religion - REM
Otherside - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Let Her Go - Passenger
Man on the Moon - REM
Honky Tonk Women - Rolling Stones
Two of Us - The Beatles
These Boots are Made for Walking - Nancy Sinatra
Not Fade Away - Buddy Holly / Rolling Stones
Copperhead Road - Steve Earle
Diamantina Drover - Redgum
Fisherman's Blues - The Waterboys
Lily the Pink - The Scaffold
Candy - Paulo Nutini
Changes in Attitudes - Jimmy Buffett
Good Riddance - Green Day
Wake Me Up Before September Ends - Green Day
Mr Tambourine Man - Bob Dylan
Rockin' all over the World - Status Quo
Walls - Tom Petty
All I Have to do is Dream - The Everly Brothers
Human - The Killers
World Turned Upside Down - Billy Bragg
Redemption Song - Bob Marley
Happy Xmas (War is Over) - John Lennon
Streets of London - Ralph McTell
Gentle on my Mind - Glen Campbell
Cotton Fields - Creedance
Four Strong Winds - Neil Young
Speed of the Sound of Loneliness - John Prine
Magnolia Wind - Guy Clark
Wild Side of Life - Hank Thompson
Turkey in the Straw - Bluegrass Traditional
Jambalaya - Cajun Traditional
REELS / JIGS / INSTRUMENTALS
Irish Washerwoman Jig Set
Swallow Tail Reel Set
Mrs McLeod's Reel Set
Jolly Raver Jig Set
Siege of Ennis Polka Set
Sailor’s Hornpipe
Bonaparte’s Retreat
Tom Hark
Margaret’s Waltz
Tarantella Napoletana
Hey Jude - De Danaan
Guitar Boogie Shuffle
Orange Blossom Special
The Whittakers also have a range of their own original songs - mostly with a lively Celtic influenced sound.
Hi Pete ,
Whittaker’s were awesome please
Pass on our thanks . Everyone really enjoyed their music.
It was a great choice for our reception
Kind regards
Helen
Hello again
everything went smoothly and the Whittakers were good, they also dressed the part which was great. Both our center's coordinator and festival director were satisfied with their performance. Just too bad we had to cut it short due to the rain.
Kind regards
Simi