Alt-country artist Leanne “Gina” Malcolm is gearing up for an exciting gig at Tait Kora’s music event, Under the Rakau Tree, on Easter Saturday.

Known for her soulful alt-country style, Malcolm will unveil a brand-new song dedicated to Whakatāne – a reggae-infused track that promises to be a fun and heartfelt tribute to the town.

“I’ve always wanted to write a song about Whakatāne, and we will unveil it at the Saturday show,” said Malcolm.

“It’s a reggae song that will be a fun addition to our set, and Tait has created a fantastic guitar line for it. It is just a tribute to a beautiful little town with a lot of history and we are quite excited to present that song.”

Malcolm, who originally hails from Whakatāne but now resides in Queenstown, will be joined by Kora for a relaxed, intimate performance at his Tait5 Musik & Koffee Bar in Salonika Street on April 19.

“It’s going to be a chill afternoon-evening set of originals, with a few covers.

“I’ll be singing and playing a bit of guitar, but Tait will mostly be accompanying me, and we’ll both be singing,” she said.

The singer-songwriter has just recorded her debut album, which features 12 original tracks blending Americana, alt-country, and even a touch of blues and rock.

She is hoping to release the album early next year, and said it included collaborations with talented musicians such as multi-instrumentalist Melbourne-based Matt Joe Gow, who produced most of the album, and Christchurch’s Elmore Jones, who contributed guitar, piano, and drums.,

“I’ve also recorded with the hugely talented Adam Hattaway from Christchurch and his bassist Michael Kime, and with Arrowtown’s Tom Maxwell and his band Killergrams.

"And on the most recent session respected drummer Martin Roy Guy played the kit.”

Fans of Malcolm’s work can listen to her three singles online under the name Gina Malcolm.

These include the laid-back Don’t Expect the World, the cheeky Temptress, and the bluesy Knee Deep.

Though she’s now focused on her music, Malcolm has a background in print and broadcast journalism and writes a music and entertainment page for a Queenstown paper. She credits her musical journey to her years of performing in cover bands, which helped open her up to songwriting.

Don’t miss the chance to hear Malcolm’s fresh new music in an intimate setting and be sure to check out her special song dedicated to Whakatāne.

The opening act is Tait Kora and Estelle Withy.