Spotlight on... with Janne GuitarGirl

I first met Waylon McPherson a couple of years ago when I had problem with my PA system.

He remembered using the same brand while gigging in Auckland, so I was delighted he was able to easily fix it for me. Then I checked out his music online, and was very impressed.

Born in a small Taranaki town, Waylon picked up a guitar at age nine. And by the time he was 16 he was playing in bands, including 4Eulogi managed by the late great Ray Columbus.

He's performed on TV shows like New Zealand's version of ‘Top of the Pops', ‘The Good Morning Show', and also had a song nominated in the Juice Awards.

And he's entertained at many star-studded corporate and community events; being an accomplished performing artist, he easily entertains his audience.

While working at a music shop in Auckland, he met Shelley and their shared love of music has endured. They both run his business from a home-based workshop in Papamoa, where he carries out his repairs and modifications of musical instruments, PA systems, speakers, mics, stage lighting and effects pedals. His love for inventing led him to design and build his own brand McPherson Stompboxes.

Waylon taught music for nine years, but has given that up so he can devote the time to business, the occasional music gig and spending quality time with his family.

Waylon is happy to be “living the dream” with music. He's playing on Friday, March 31, at The Phoenix from 9.30pm-12am, at the Brew Craft Beer Pub on Saturday, April 1, from 4pm-7pm, and at Greer's Gastro Bar on Sunday, April 2 from 5pm-8pm.

Photo: Waylon McPherson.