Monthly Archives: March 2025
AR Social Club and Open Mics
AR Social Club
Wednesday 2 April, Johnsonville Collective Community Hub, 33 Johnsonville Road (opposite NZ Post), Johnsonville, Wellington, 1:30 pm. Parking, bus and train nearby.
Entry: $5. Cash only (no eftpos facilities).
Acoustic Routes Social Club is like the Buena Vista Social Club – a place where we can go “to hang out with each other”, with the common thread of music.
This month we have the fabulous Roy McGuinness and Vikki Clayton to perform at the Acoustic Routes Social Club.
Roy is very well-known to the club for his beautiful singing of Irish ballads, not to mention his sense of humour!
Vikki is a singer/songwriter of international repute who we are lucky to have temporarily in our midst. They’ll do the first half hour and then after afternoon tea, the floor is open to anyone who would like to lead or perform a song or tune, so do bring instruments and voices!
This will be our last event at the Collective Community Hub – from May we’ll be at the nearby Johnsonville Club.
Note that due to Easter and Anzac Day occurring this month, there’s no 4th Thursday concert or Singaround. Events still going ahead are:
Open Mic at The Office, Newtown, 2nd and last Sundays of the month, 5.15-8pm Hosted by Kevin Ikin. To find out more, contact Kevin at kevin.ikin@supermail.co.nz Open mics for April: 6 April and 27 April.
Open Mic at Plimmerton Boating Club, Wednesday 9 April (2nd Wednesday of the month), 7 pm, hosted by Roy McGuinness. No need to book in, just come along and put your name on the board.
AR monthly concert: Ceann an Éisc, Skinny Dennis and Recently Decent
Thursday 27 March, Johnsonville Collective Community Hub, 33 Johnsonville Road (opposite NZ Post), Johnsonville, Wellington, 7:30 pm. Parking, bus and train nearby.
Entry: $20/$15 for members. Cash only (no eftpos facilities).
Ceann an Éisc (“Key-arn un eeshk”, meaning ‘Head of the Fish’) bring toe-tapping tunes and soulful songs, blending the depths of Celtic tradition with exciting modern melodies.
With Em Griffiths on fiddle and vocals, Kris Nielsen on pipes, whistle, and flute, and Tom Stonehouse on bodhran, you can expect great craic with maximum groove.
Bring your dancing shoes, it’s gonna be a stomper!
Skinny Dennis, aka Eric Daubé and Glenn Barclay, have been playing and singing together for many years and the name of this duo comes from a real-life character in Guy Clark’s ‘LA Freeway’. In previous incarnations, they had more of an Americana sound, but these days they travel a slightly broader musical path, playing a mix of traditional/old and contemporary tunes with comprised of covers and originals. Eric’s wonderful singing is complemented by Glenn’s guitar and occasional mandolin – a combination honed over years of playing together and which they hope you will enjoy.
Recently Decent, Mairi Anne and Marius are originally from South Africa where they played in a variety of bands and festivals. Both play 12-string guitars and have formidable vocal range. Mairi Anne also plays bass and Marius, a rocker at heart, plays baritone guitar. Originally part of the Auckland-based Steam Punk Minstrels, since their move to Wellington they have been bringing their unique blend of Celtic and African folk music, with a hint of jazz and rock, to various local venues.