The Hoovers.

If you think Hoovers suck you should see us blow!

"Tim Heraud's the name, the dog's called Bulla" said the King country cat and the black dog crouching on my kitchen floor in Grey lynn. "I heard you play drums?"
Not again I thought, (still no drum kit). "Our drummer just quit but you can use hers, her name is Fiona... do you mind if we call you Fiona to save confusion?"

By now we were living in a beaten up villa (ex brothel) in Auckland having sold the Helensville property and settled our affairs there.
I had a job as a sign writer / production manager and as luck would have it two of my colleagues owned drum kits. I bought a half size Aria kit from Mykie (pictured) and later a black Tama Rockstar kit from Mark James.




















The Hoovers at the Kiwi Tavern: Stuart Hoover: Guitars and BV's, Harmen (Fiona) Hoover: Drums and BV's Tim Hoover: Guitar, Vocals and songs and Early Dave Hoover: Double bass and BV's.

Stewart Shepherd, Harmen Hielkema, Tim Heraud, Dave Wishart.

To read a bit more about the Hoovers from a different perspective try this link.

Tim Heraud has created a website

My good friend Tim Heraud has created a website called laughing cloud records featuring all of his writing, songs, e book novel, poems & short stories.

Tim has made available for the first time recordings of our various collaborations over the years.

Bands include: The Hoovers, "LIVE AT THE TEMPLE", 2 albums by Cutting Room Floor “LIFE’S TOO LONG” & “DELETED”

This is "diamond in the rough" music at its very best. I'd buy it if I didn't already have copies myself!

Click on the link in the Links List on your right and spend lots of money, god knows he needs it. Just don't mention the royalties!

Harmen's Discography

The Jews Brothers Band: Live at Gerhard's Cafe, 1996
Eclectic mix of Klezmer & skiffle. Traditional Hebrew tunes and songs.
This album sold platinum numbers in NZ & NZ's first CD Rom release.
Harmen features on tea chest bass and backing vocals.
To hear the Jews Brother Band go to: http://jews-brothers-band-search-downloads.kohit.net/_/





















The Jews Brothers Band: My Yiddish Swing, 2000
After touring the first Album, this emerged. Live and studio recordings of original material penned by Linn and Hershal & Nigel Gavin. The first JBB albunm to feature Neill Duncan on saxaphones, percussion, backing vocals & production.
Harmen on one string bass & vocals.





















The Jews Brothers Band: Too Much Talent, 2004
Who are the J.B.B.? Cast of thousands album.
Harmen on one string bass & vocals.





















The Blue Bottom Stompers: But is it Folk?, 2001
This recording came off the one track mixing desk at the Auckland Folk festival.
The title asks a valid question. Maniacal Gumbo Jazz.
Harmen on one string bass & vocals. Engineered by Mark Austin, Harmen concept, Harmen & Neil Duncan co producers.





















Richard Watt's debut album, "Songs from Down the Line."
New Zealand songwriting at its best and most original.
I'm particularly proud of my involvement on this project. Produced by my old friend Nigel Gavin.
Harmen Hielkema: One string Bass.

By Tim Page on "Songs from down the line" Artist: Richard Watt

From first chord, this album presents itself as distinctly Kiwi. The more I listened to it, the more I found it embedding itself in my consciousness. Subject matter ranges from the laid back Nirvana is Near (watching cricket on tele) and Prayer Flags, to poignant narratives of the Tangiwai and Wahine disasters respectively, Powered Flight is a beautifully crafted portrayal of Richard Pearce's story, told from his point of view. There's an underlying NZ railway theme, which continues into the artwork. Images of kiwiana are resplendent, such as "whitebait-frittering the day away", or using no. 8 wire to mend the world. The style is largely folksey, although Earthquake Road makes a foray into a rockier sound. Contributors include Caitlin Smith, Aaron Coddel, Harmen Hielkema, Jason Orme and Nigel Gavin, who also wore the producer's hat. Watt alludes to himself as 'an old geezer', and obviously this is the product of many years of songcraft. The quality of both musicianship and recording is superb, the songwriting is thoughtful, intelligent and absent of cliché.
For album details and playlist go to: http://www.marbecks.com/detail/detail.lsd?catalogID=298659






















D.T.H. Cutting Room Floor. 2003
Skiffle album of unreleased original material from the creative muse of Tim Herauld & Dorland Bray. Fantastic songs.
Harmen on one string bass & drums.






















Graham Brazier: East of Eden, 2004
I played Tea chest bass on track 6 "Winter of Discontent" arguably the best track on the album. Harmen on one string bass.
MP3 play list is here: http://www.amplifier.co.nz/release/7405/east_of_eden.html






















Lorina Harding: Clean Break, 2005
The Jews Brothers Band was invited to play on a track "Table # 7"
Lorina decided to re record the track with my tea chest bass and both cuts made it to the CD
This album went on to win the Folk category at the prestigious New Zealand Tui Music Awards. Harmen on one string bass.
For MP3 downloads and playlist go to: http://www.amplifier.co.nz/release/18366/clean_break.html;jsessionid=
9F9B971ADD0A557D7E5FBF79F5F310FD