Hi to all you folkies out there. We are heading towards summer, although it’s sometimes hard to believe.

Acoustic Routes is not presenting a concert during October because Wellyfest is being held right in the middle, at the Brookfield Scout Camp, Moores Valley Road, Wainuiomata, from the evening of Friday the 20th until late Sunday the 22nd (Labour Weekend).

Acoustic Routes and performers associated with Acoustic Routes will be prominent performing throughout the weekend. These include:

• Helen Dorothy, an amazing local singer, songwriter, launching her new CD, accompanied by Lott and Paul
• Reverie, Tony and Victoria singing wonderful harmonies
• The T Bone Trio Richard, Dusty and Gerry playing wonderful music that is bound to get you dancing
• Vikki Clayton and Gilly Darby, two very experienced Pro performers formerly from the UK folk scene
• K Too, our own Kevins (McLoughlin and Ikin) launching their wonderful new CD of West Coast NZ songs
• Chilli Jam playing for the Saturday night ceilidh
• Acoustic Routes will be represented at the Balladeer concert from 12.15 pm until 1. 00 pm by Toil And Trouble, (Ron Craig, Mary Hubble and Jude Douglas). Lovely harmonies and instrumental accompaniment
• Julian and Diana. Julian Ward and Diana Bastion featuring gorgeous guitar accompanying very lovely mainly trad singing. Very beautiful.
• Dominic Rowsell . A young up-and-coming performer, who is a multi, multi instrumentalist.

Come along for the whole weekend and camp, or just visit for the day. Details are available on the web. Always a superb festival, which as always has a number of outstanding national and international world class guests.

October gigs Wellington region 

Acoustic Routes is not hosting any concerts this month as we’re gearing up for Wellyfest, where you’ll be able to see plenty of Acoustic Routes members  and friends at the Balladeer Tent concert – Toil and Trouble, Dominic Rowsell and Julian and Diana. Also Kevin McLoughlin and Kevin Ikin (Ktoo) will be presenting a concert of their own, as will Helen Dorothy, Lott and Paul just to mention a few! Find out more on the Wellyfest website.

Before then there’s plenty coming up in Wellington mid-October, with the Monthly Blackboard Concert, Plimmerton Boating Club, Thursday 12 October, 7 pm hosted by Roy McGuinness. To find out more, contact Roy on (021) 433-878. Then there’s The Helen Dorothy Project on at Wellington Bluegrass Society on Friday 13 October, and you might be in time to get tickets for the Vishtèn concert, Wellington Museum, Saturday 14 October, 8:00 pm.

Vic Folk Tunefest 29 September to 1 October.

Acoustic Routes is delighted to see the advent of a new folk club in town – the Victoria University Folk Music Club. Also known as Vic Folk, they’re starting as they mean to go on with the Vic Folk Tunefest in Wellington from 29 September to 1 October. It starts with live, high-energy Irish and Scottish tunes from the Vic Uni ceilidh band on the Friday night. Bookings now open online, with an advance discount: www.bookwhen.com/vicfolkmusic. Find out more by emailing vicfolkmusic@gmail.com or see the website.

For updates, you can join the event listing on Facebook.

3 pm, Saturday, 22^nd August, at the Thistle Inn, Mulgrave Street, Wellington.

A comfortable venue at the Thistle and a decent range of drinks. The Club will be shouting the nibbles. Another bonus: plenty of nearby parking and the Thistle is right opposite the railway station and next to the central bus station, for those using public transport.

The AGM is where Acoustic Routes members get to elect the president for the next year as well as the other officer holders (secretary and treasurer) and the rest of the committee.

We also have to do other constitutional things, like approve the accounts for the past year, ratify the subscription for the next year and one other very pleasant duty: award the J A Pan trophy for the most improved performer.

To have a vote of course, you have to be a signed up member.  There’s a form in The Balladeer, also on the Acoustic Routes website or you can become a member or renew your subscription when you turn up to the AGM.

P.S. Following a request, we will also have available at the AGM copies of the revised and expanded edition of Neil Colquhoun’s “Song of a Young Country”, which Roger Steele and his publishing company, Steele Roberts, very generously donated to the Club.  We are selling them for $20 each, with proceeds going to the Young Performers Award.