Thursday 23 February, Roseneath School Hall, 7:30 pm

Entry: $15/$10 for members. A bargain! Cash only (no eftpos facilities). Vaccinations and masks encouraged.

South for Winter

No, it’s not a comment on our recent weather, or a sign that Summer is over! It’s the name of the duo that will be entertaining us this month, with support acts Luca Joass and Beans.

With a blend of dreamy acoustic duets, bluesy murder ballads and foot-stomping folk, Nashville-based South for Winter is kiwi Nick Stone and his Colorado-born wife Dani Cichon. 

These two songwriters and multi-instrumentalists combine elements including acoustic guitar, mandolin, electric guitar, and suitcase stomp into a genre-bending sound described by American Songwriter as “laden with delicate harmonies, intricate guitar-work and earthy vocals … impeccable sound”.

Their 2021 debut album Luxumbra, with GRAMMY-award winning producer Matt Leigh, has received international accolades. See more on their website or Facebook page.

Luca Joass

Christchurch-based singer song-writer Luca Joass grew up travelling around the NZ folk scene with his parents, core members of the Wellington celtic-folk band Hobnail. You won’t find him much happier than with a guitar in his hands and a song in his heart. Taking inspiration from his folk background, and bringing it an alternative, modern, twist, Luca’s songs are rife with catchy melodies and a whole lot of heart.

Beans

Inspired by the folk traditions of their native Yorkshire, singer songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Beans blends gentle indie folk sounds with a unique lyrical style. Their original songs are rich with humour, honesty and carefully crafted word play, borne of a love of language combined with a vibrant imagination and inner world. A newcomer to the Wellington scene, previously performing on and around the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia, playing to a dedicated local fan base in small venues and festivals.

Monday 20 February, Rimu Room, Johnsonville Community Hub, 33 Johnsonville Road, Johnsonville, 7:30 pm

Entry: $4 (to cover cost of tea and coffee). 

Bring songs, tunes or poems to share, or just come along and join in.

At the Johnsonville Community Hub in the side room (go into the main room and turn left).

And don’t forget, later that week, on Thursday 23 February, we have:

South for Winter, along with Luca Joass and Beans, at the Roseneath School Hall.

Monday 21 November, Johnsonville Community Hub, 3 Frankmoore Ave, Johnsonville, 7:30 pm

Entry: $4 (to cover cost of tea and coffee). 

Bring songs, tunes or poems to share, or just come along and join in.

At the Johnsonville Community Hub in the side room (go into the main room and turn left).

And don’t forget, later that week, on Thursday 24 November, we have:

A celebration of Scottish music for St Andrew’s Day, with a skirl o’ the pipes, a flourish o’ the fiddle and a recht denner o’ songs and stories in Doric fae Aberdonian ex-pat John Sutherland.

You’ll hear love songs, bothy songs, work songs and the great ballads as well as more recent material, written within the tradition, by the likes of Archie Fisher and Aberdonian Ian Campbell.

With support acts from pipers and fiddlers. 

Thursday 24 November, Roseneath School Hall, 7:30 pm

Entry: $15/$10 for members. A bargain! Cash only (no eftpos facilities). Vaccinations and masks encouraged.

A celebration of Scottish music for St Andrew’s Day

St Andrew’s Day is on 30 November. We’re getting a head start on 24 November, with a skirl o’ the pipes, a flourish o’ the fiddle and a recht denner o’ songs and stories in Doric fae Aberdonian ex-pat John Sutherland.

John Sutherland

Born in rural Aberdeenshire, John Sutherland lived his early years in a place rich in history and a treasure house of tradition. He has memories of hearing music played and ballads sung by the ordinary folk around him – a part of everyday life. The tunes and the stories told, and the manner in which they were sung, provided John with an awareness and appreciation for the cultural heritage of the area. The Aberdeen Folk Club helped keep the tradition alive, providing a venue for well-known performers – an inspiration for young musicians. The area has produced numerous folksongs and singers over a long period and John considers himself fortunate to have heard many of them

Skiffle, jazz and blues have also influenced John’s repertoire, but the songs of the North-East of Scotland are close to his heart. You will hear love songs, bothy songs, work songs and the great ballads as well as more recent material, written within the tradition, by the likes of Archie Fisher and Aberdonian Ian Campbell.

The local dialect, known as “the Doric”, may prove challenging but the meaning of the songs is well conveyed by John’s skilful guitar and vocals – a fitting tribute to St Andrew’s Day.

Pipe and fiddle

You can also be sure of hearing pipers, and members of the Ceol Alba Scottish music club will present some of their favourite repertoire, with an emphasis on traditional fiddle music. 

Thursday 25 August, Tawa Community Lounge, 7:30 pm

Entry: $15/$10 for members. A bargain! Cash only (no eftpos facilities). Vaccinations and masks encouraged.

Divine Pitch is a new multi-media collaboration between Megan Ward and Stephen Riddell. They play a balance of original and traditional songs on a variety of instruments tuned to ‘divine pitch’ (A=432 Hz instead of the usual concert A=440 Hz) and describe themselves as coming to folk music ‘as refugees from classical music’.
Check out their youtube channel. https://youtu.be/WQoiZMjfUH0

Alfred is a longtime afficionado of American fingerstyle guitar who had a folk awakening of sorts about 18 years ago, after discovering and exploring the music of Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie and the subsequent folk revival of the early 1960’s. He writes and performs original and traditional songs in a multitude of American genres, offering fresh interpretations of traditional or standard songs, while his original material often expresses autobiographical, confessional themes with a slight humorous or political edge.

Simple Gifts are Sue Rose and Philippa Boy – two friends who share a love of harmony singing and very eclectic musical tastes. Expect unusual arrangements of traditional and current songs, some acapella and some featuring instruments including an Inuit caribou drum, guitar and hurdy gurdy.

Ktoo are Kevin McLoughlin and Kevin Ikin, two Wellington-based folk veterans who hail from Dunedin. Their family links with the South Island’s West Coast led them to record a collection of tall and true songs about the Coast. Ktoo’s CD, “Land of the West”, was released in 2017. But their musical partnership extends beyond the West and they have original songs about wider issues and events to share with you as well.

Kaboodle are Diana Bastion singing mainly old traditional songs with Julian Ward on open tuned guitar and shruti.

Toil and Trouble are Mary Hubble, Jude Douglas and Ron Craig who play and sing a range of music mostly from UK, USA, Canada and NZ. Mary brings wonderful flute/whistle and vocal harmonies, Jude adds fantastic fiddle, and Ron Craig combines a warm, expressive, voice with beautiful guitar. Always a treat, with a mix of tunes and songs.

Acoustic Routes at Orange COVID Level

Please note: The Acoustic Routes Committee has agreed on the following approach under Orange COVID Level.

• Some audience members may not be fully vaccinated and/or may choose not to wear a mask, since these are no longer mandatory requirements.
• The Committee encourages audience members to be fully vaccinated and wear a mask for their own protection.
• Workers and volunteers at gatherings must wear face masks unless they are exempt.