Monday 20 July, Johnsonville Club, 1 Norman Lane (off Johnsonville Road), Johnsonville, Wellington, 7:30 pm. Parking up the drive at the venue, bus and train nearby. 

Entry: $20/$15 for members. (Please note subs are due for the new financial year.) Cash only (no eftpos facilities). 

Black Eyed Susie Trio is a band born and bred on the Kapiti Coast, featuring the violin and guitar duo of Susan Colien-Reid and Ramon Oza, now joined by keyboardist Nick Brown. Susan has supported many artists including The Blind Boys of Alabama and Ramon is the slick funky blues guitarist with the husky voice who has played since he was 14 including drifting with the “Drifters” … Susan and Ramon have played festivals, gigs and venues all over the North Island, and are now enriching their sound with the addition of Nick Brown on keyboards.
Expect to hear a fusion of Celtic and Blues Rock sound with originals and covers, including some trad folk numbers.

Stan Antonio

The duo Stan Antonio is Phoebe and Alex, who grew up attending folk festivals and have played around Wellington as part of various folk groups. They dabble in the realms of Americana, folk, and bluegrass, and have recently been writing music together. Their influences include classic artists such as Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings, more contemporary artists such as Adrianne Lenker. They aspire to use the banjo as a force for good in this world, alongside close harmonies and acoustic guitar.

Both are ‘next generation’ folkies whose parents are long-term members or supporters of the folk scene in Wellington – Jude Douglas, Ann McChesney and Ian Smith are all familiar faces on our stage.  

Princess and the Pea

Michael Muggeridge (guitar, mandolin, vocals) and Cara Brasted (fiddle, vocals) share a love of traditional and contemporary folk-americana music, weaving together heartfelt harmonies and lively tunes. This pair of beanpoles aim to have your toes tapping. With folkie families hailing from the Taranaki region and Oregon, USA, they are members of local band Butter Wouldn’t Melt. Cara also performs with her parents Rene and Bob in Wandering Thyme, while Michael performs with T-Bone, Jenny and Nicola Mitchell. Whether it’s a driving fiddle tune or a tender ballad, they love sharing music that brings people together.

Note: The concert will be on the first floor, with access via stairs or the lift. (Yes, the lift is back in action!) You may have to press the button at the side of the door to gain access to the building.

Supper is not provided, but you’re welcome to purchase drinks, tea and coffee and snacks at the bar. If you want to purchase alcohol, a member of the Johnsonville Club will need to sign you in. Feel free to make your purchases on the way in and bring them up to the room.

Monday 15 June, Johnsonville Club, 1 Norman Lane (off Johnsonville Road), Johnsonville, Wellington, 7:30 pm. Parking up the drive at the venue, bus and train nearby. 

Entry: $20/$15 for members. Cash only (no eftpos facilities). 

Netherlands-born Frank John brings his technical brilliance to this New Plymouth-based duo, and his Taranaki-born wife Erin Manu provides driving rhythm guitar and has a reputation for her unique style on banjo – described as having ‘a kinda swagger’ – by Albi from Albi and The Wolves.

Through sizzling acoustic instrumentals and soulful delivery of ballads, they capture the essence of guitar and song with variations on folk, blues, country, swing and classical genres. They perform some hidden gems, well known standards and their own compositions, with an extra polish as they’ve recently been recording a new album.

Jude Madill

With a voice that has been likened to both Kathy Matea and Jewel, Jude Madill plays and sings with great feel and an equal enthusiasm and love for music. She has played both solo and in groups, most recently The Madillionaires, Eagals and The Kist, around the local folk scene. 

Jude has been singing ‘since forever’ although she has not always performed as a songwriter, she says “For a good part of my life I only sang and played other people’s music – then, quite suddenly, when I was 30-something I started writing songs myself.”

Most of Jude’s original music falls somewhere in the folk/alt-country box although her
musical inspiration comes from an eclectic playlist. (Photo by Ebony Lamb)

Melling Station Boys

The Melling Station Boys, Wellington’s only pure Bluegrass band, was formed back in 2015 after an Acoustic Routes blind date concert way which brought together founder members Alastair McCarthy and Todd Foster. The band grew from there, with Andrew Bicknell and Ian Smith joining the line up, and much more recently, Kevin Ikin.

MSB are a classic Bluegrass combo, with banjo, guitar, fiddle, bass and mandolin, strong vocals and harmonies, keeping this musical tradition alive in Wellington. The Melling Boys have a wide repertoire of traditional and contemporary Bluegrass songs and tunes, as well as other songs from the Americana music world, and one or two originals. The Melling Station Boys are: Alastair McCarthy – guitar and vocals; Todd Foster – banjo and vocals; Ian Smith – fiddle and vocals; Kevin Ikin – mandolin and vocals. For their performance at Acoustic Routes, the band will be joined by Bill Vella on double bass.

Note: The concert will be on the first floor, with access via stairs or the lift. (Yes, the lift is back in action!) You may have to press the button at the side of the door to gain access to the building.

Supper is not provided, but you’re welcome to purchase drinks, tea and coffee and snacks at the bar. If you want to purchase alcohol, a member of the Johnsonville Club will need to sign you in. Feel free to make your purchases on the way in and bring them up to the room.

Monday 18 May, Johnsonville Club, 1 Norman Lane (off Johnsonville Road), Johnsonville, Wellington, 7:30 pm. Parking up the drive at the venue, bus and train nearby. 

Entry: $20/$15 for members. Cash only (no eftpos facilities). 

After sadly having to cancel due to the weather in April, we’re keeping our fingers crossed that our New Zealand month concert will go to plan!

Sage Plus is a trio, with well-known guitarist and singer Murray Kilpatrick and vocalist Sue Rose, along with Susan Ellis on fiddle and sometimes cello. Murray and Sue have been playing music together for over twenty years, and you’re bound to have heard them performing together as Sage around Wellington and beyond. They have an eclectic repertoire based on their various musical interests, including some self-penned material – not just NZ music but Wellington music!

They often invite Susan to play with them, adding her experience as a fiddle and cello player from her involvement in a number of groups, within and outside our folk scene for many years, including the Jimmy Cook band, making the trio Sage Plus.

Dean Murray

Dean started out learning music at school and returned to it after a 26-year career as a school caretaker. He has performed at venues like the Levin Folk Music Club and Firebird, and collaborates with Carylann Martin and Steve Poulton. He’s also involved in crafting his own instruments, including guitars and amplifiers, and has even planted Tasmanian hardwood trees for future instrument-making.

Over the years he has penned over 150 songs! Come and hear a small selection of them on Monday 18 May!

Bruce Carey

Like Dean, Bruce’s interest in music started in his primary and secondary school years, when he played violin. After a very long break from music, he now uses guitar to develop songs on a wide range of topics – but continues to be interested in trying to capture events from New Zealand history – and in particular, stories of heroism, injustice and tragedy – or connections to his family. For this set he will focus on some of his Wellington-based stories.

Note: The concert will be on the first floor, with access via stairs or the lift. (Yes, the lift is back in action!) You may have to press the button at the side of the door to gain access to the building.

Supper is not provided, but you’re welcome to purchase drinks, tea and coffee and snacks at the bar. If you want to purchase alcohol, a member of the Johnsonville Club will need to sign you in. Feel free to make your purchases on the way in and bring them up to the room.

Monday 20 April, Johnsonville Club, 1 Norman Lane (off Johnsonville Road), Johnsonville, Wellington, 7:30 pm. Parking up the drive at the venue, bus and train nearby. 

Entry: $20/$15 for members. Cash only (no eftpos facilities). 

Due to adverse weather and its impacts, we have had to cancel the concert tonight.

Raglan musicians WilkieMac and Penni Feather have been touring as a double bill and bring their combined show to Acoustic Routes, performing separately and together.

Penni Feather

From English trad and blues, to her originals in a contemporary folk style, Penni loves to connect with an audience through song. Known for her interpretive skills, she brings a wide vocal range and emotional depth to her performances.
After starting out in folk music in Hamilton and Auckland, in the 2010s Penni was again active on the Nortrh Island folk circuit and guested at Wellington, Aongatete and Hamilton folk festivals. More recently Penni has had a one-woman cabaret show in the Hamilton Arts Festival and performed solo in the inaugural Raglan Blues Festival.

WilkieMac

WilkieMac are Lynne Wilkins and Michael Mackinnon. The duo has a deserved reputation in NZ’s folk scene for their arrangements, with their original songs and Celtic roots to the fore. Recent highlights include being the featured concert guest at the 2025 Te Rangi Festival in Hawkes Bay and opening for Australian band Ukulele Death Squad for one of their pre-WOMAD tour gigs.

Michael provides the solid backdrop on guitar, while Lynne brings a varied soundscape with harmonica, flutes, whistles, guilele (a six-string ukulele) and guitar. Topped with their blended vocals, a WilkieMac performance is bound to leave you wanting more.

Penni Feather and WilkieMac collaborated for sets at the 2025 Hamilton Arts Festival. They enjoyed weaving instruments and harmonies on each other’s songs so much, they teamed up again for gigs that have since been taking them around the North Island.

Note: The concert will be on the first floor, with access via stairs or the lift. (We are told the lift is back in action!) You may have to press the button at the side of the door to gain access to the building.

Supper is not provided, but you’re welcome to purchase drinks, tea and coffee and snacks at the bar. If you want to purchase alcohol, a member of the Johnsonville Club will need to sign you in. Feel free to make your purchases on the way in and bring them up to the room.

Monday 16 March, Johnsonville Club, 1 Norman Lane (off Johnsonville Road), Johnsonville, Wellington, 7:30 pm. Parking up the drive at the venue, bus and train nearby. 

Please be aware the lift may not be working. If not, access is via a flight of stairs.

Entry: $20/$15 for members. Cash only (no eftpos facilities). 

Celia Briar with Mary Hubble

Between 1988 and 2012, Celia Briar and her Celtic harp were regularly seen around the New Zealand folk festivals, alone, or with friends, such as Mary Hubble, in concerts and in sessions. During those years, she also did lots of composing for the harp. 

Since then, Celia has spent time playing music in Ireland and England, where she has been adding considerably to her repertoire. Celia is looking forward to playing music with the wonderful Mary Hubble again and sharing music old and new.

The Pretty Boys —
Freddy Sayer & Pierre Lange-Gerrard

Freddy and Pierre have been making music together since primary school, after Pierre arrived from France at age seven. At ten years old, they were invited by Ruth Pretty to busk at her famous Friday Frolics in Te Horo to raise money for a drama school trip — the beginning of many themed performances and fundraising events, and the origin of their name. They played regularly at Ruth’s until her retirement in 2024.

Today, The Pretty Boys perform beautifully crafted versions of well-known songs — jazzy, folky, bluesy, sometimes satirical, and always accessible. Both are multi-instrumentalists, playing guitar, piano, ukulele and more, sharing lead vocals and rich harmonies shaped by years of performance experience.

Hex Crystals

The Hex Crystals are Ann McChesney, Mary Hubble and Sue Hirst. They have been practicing their arts since the early ’90s. After a break of some years, they made a magnificent comeback at the Wellyfest 60th celebration concert, which left them keen to hex again … With a focus on vocals and particularly harmony, they purloin material from all over the place, and have been known to write the odd parody themselves. Guitar, ukulele, and flute may be encountered. Perhaps even castanets!!

Note: The concert will be on the first floor, with access via stairs or the lift. (The lift may still be out of action.) You may have to press the button at the side of the door to gain access to the building.

Supper is not provided, but you’re welcome to purchase drinks, tea and coffee and snacks at the bar. If you want to purchase alcohol, a member of the Johnsonville Club will need to sign you in. Feel free to make your purchases on the way in and bring them up to the room.

Concert rescheduled to Friday 20 Feb

Friday 20 February, Johnsonville Club, 1 Norman Lane (off Johnsonville Road), Johnsonville, Wellington, 7:30 pm. Parking up the drive at the venue, bus and train nearby. 

Please be aware the lift may not be working. If not, access is via a flight of stairs.

Entry: $20/$15 for members. Cash only (no eftpos facilities). 

Vikki Clayton

London-born Vikki Clayton has been immersed in music since childhood and later trained at the Trinity College of Music. A teenager in the folk-club scene, she fell hard for English traditional song, while keeping a love of rock and prog in the mix – an influence you can still hear in the breadth and drive of her performances today. She came to wider attention with cult folk-rockers Ragged Heroes, and her (unintentional) vocal resemblance to Sandy Denny led to invitations connected with Fotheringay and Fairport Convention circles. Vikki has released eight solo albums and appears on many other recordings, with guest collaborators including John Giblin (Simple Minds), Martin Barre (Jethro Tull) and Liam Genochey (Steeleye Span). She’s also sung alongside folk greats such as Richard Thompson, Ralph McTell and John Martyn. Now a global citizen between NZ, Cyprus and the UK, Vikki continues to sing with a sweet, clear voice, her distinctive guitar style, and a set that can move from laughter to tears – and back again – fast. Photo Credit: Gerard Hudson

Jo Sheffield

Jo has been part of the Wellington folk scene since 2020, after moving to Upper Hutt from Levin. She’s an integral member of all-girl Eagles cover band The Eagals, and along with Phillip Hope, formed singer-songwriter duo Hope and the Hobo. Until Phil sadly passed away in 2025, the duo played locally and further afield for several years.

Jo released a solo album of her own songs in 2023 entitled “Gypsy Mind” and has also been involved in compilations with other singer-songwriters. Her compositions are quirky and thought-provoking and combine influences from UK Folk, contemporary and alternative singer-songwriters, americana and blues. She is currently working on an AV show. Expect self-accompanied arrangements and topics covering a wide variety of Jo’s own influences and life experiences.

Surprise guest – Portable Panic with Jude Douglas

The cat is out of the bag! Our ‘surprise guest’ is Portable Panic with Jude Douglas. Tony Ricketts and Jenny Kilpatrick wowed us with their performance at the Social Club earlier this month, so we’re delighted they were able to fit us into their schedule for the main concert. They’ll be joined by ace fiddle player Jude Douglas.

(Unfortunately, Nigel and Tamara were not available on the changed date. We’re looking for another time when we can have them.) 

Note: The concert will be on the first floor, with access via stairs or the lift. (The lift may still be out of action.) You may have to press the button at the side of the door to gain access to the building.

Supper is not provided, but you’re welcome to purchase drinks, tea and coffee and snacks at the bar. If you want to purchase alcohol, a member of the Johnsonville Club will need to sign you in. Feel free to make your purchases on the way in and bring them up to the room.