Discover live music in the heart of Whanganui Regional Museum with the Saturday Sounds session.

Held in the Museum’s Atrium, this Saturday afternoon series celebrates talented local and visiting musicians across a diverse range of styles, creating a relaxed live music experience in the unique surroundings of the Museum.

On 7 November we welcome a truly special family ensemble: The Gunasekara Family featuring Tilina on piano, Neville on drums, and their youngest son, Sanji, on clarinet. Together they will present a relaxed selection of popular easy listening tunes from the 1950s, 60s and 70s.

The family’s musical story spans decades. In their native Sri Lanka (then Ceylon), Neville played double bass and later drums with a ballroom dance band from the late 1950s until the family emigrated to Whanganui in 1974.

Now aged 99, Neville is likely one of Whanganui’s oldest active drummers. Although he and Tilina, a retired anaesthetist, have not performed publicly for many years, music remains an important part of family life through regular jam sessions at home.

The performance will run for about an hour. Admission is free, no booking is required. Koha entry is appreciated. All welcome.

Whether you’re discovering a new artist, enjoying live music with friends, or simply looking for a relaxing outing, Saturday Sounds is the perfect way to spend an afternoon. Keep an eye on our website and Facebook and Instagram pages for upcoming performances.