All posts by Janette
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.
March 2025 Balladeer
February 2025 Balladeer
AR monthly concert: The Krissy Jackson Duo, and Kirsty Bromley
Thursday 27 February, 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).
Krissy’s playing and singing honour the historical depth of folk music while making it her own. She connects deeply with her audience with music that transcends genre and stylistic boundaries. In the wonderful words of Mary Kippenberger: “those notes, those notes that make your neck elongate, your body inch upward, your hands taking an involuntary migration to the heart. Notes of such exquisite, primal purity. Or she just makes you pound your feet, clap your hands and then before you know it you are dancing.”
Keyboardist and harmony singer Peter Jackson is described as a player “whose quiet brilliance and intuition holds things together beautifully and sensitively.“ Together they create fabulous music, journeying from foot-stomping to heart-wrenching and everything in between.
Kirsty Bromley is a contemporary folk singer based in New Zealand who draws on a wide range of traditional music. She has a most disarmingly transparent voice, but in the way that she uses it, has the uncanny and beautiful knack of drawing attention to the song rather than the messenger. Her Debut Album ‘Time Ashore’ features original songs as well as carefully curated folk gems.
Acoustic Routes Christmas Party
Sunday 8 December, 21 Gordon Road, Plimmerton, 1.30 pm – note the earlier time this year.
Our Christmas party will once again be hosted this year by the wonderful Anne McGregor and Roy McGuinness.
Please bring a plate of food for the afternoon meal, a bottle of what you like to drink, and of course instruments and songs. The meal will start around 2.30pm. Disposable plates etc. will be provided but those of you who have picnic sets could bring them too, to help reduce the waste.
The Koha this year is for DCM (Downtown Community Ministry), whose vision is for communities where whānau are housed, connected, and thriving. https://www.dcm.org.nz/
We warmly invite you, your family and any like-minded and/or musical friends to come along and welcome in the season with music and festivity! Sorry no dogs.
December 2024 Balladeer
AR monthly concert Lindsey Shields, with Heather Innes, and WilkieMac
Thursday 28 November, 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).
Lindsey Shields is a singer and songwriter with her own take on things personal and political, including well-crafted lyrics on topics as diverse as real estate, Harrison Ford and the menopause. She is active in the Dunedin music scene, currently performing with Folkalyptica and the Irish band Erin St. Festival appearances include the Australian National Folk festival, the Vancouver Island Music Fest, and Auckland Folk Festival. She has also toured New Zealand twice and performed in house concerts and folk gatherings in the UK.
- https://lindseyshlds.wixsite.com/linds
- https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/lindseyshields2
- https://lindseyshields.bandcamp.com/
With her clear voice, great feeling, and delicacy Heather Innes will take you through the gamut of emotions from powerful ballads to gentle lullabies in a performance tinged with timely humour. She had toured numerous countries singing in folk clubs and pubs with various groups and in her a cappella duo Caim has even performed twice for the Dalai Llama in Northern Ireland.
WilkieMac, Lynne Wilkins and Michael Mackinnon, are based in Raglan. They have recently completed several recording projects and are looking forward to sharing songs from: ‘The Guinea Stamp’, a collection inspired by Robert Burns; ‘The Pleasure Will Be Mine’, a collection of favourite celtic and local folk songs; and ‘When the West Wind Blows’, a collection of Lynne’s songs and tunes.