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. 

As Wellyfest is on this month we aren’t holding a monthly concert. For more info about Wellyfest check out their website: https://wellingtonfolkfestival.wordpress.com/

Also, we have had a very positive response to our call for entries for this year’s Joan Prior Young Performers Award and are presenting the Awards this year to eight young singers and musicians – four solo performers and two duos.

*  Sofia Machray and Alex Hoare (singer songwriter, guitar and cello).

*  James Hunter (singer, guitarist, alternative folk).

*  Catherine Bullock (singer songwriter, guitar).

*  Zavier Boyle and Jackie Lamb (whistle and mandolin, Irish and Scottish folk).

*  Alexander Guy (singer, guitarist, international folk songs and originals).

*  Caoimhe Lane (singer, guitarist, contemporary and traditional folk).

Roseneath School Hall, Thursday 22 September, 7:30 pm

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

Jo Sheffield, Jenny Kilpatrick and Jude Madill – The Three Js (a.k.a the Threegals), have played and sung together in various lineups for a few years now. Often accompanying each other’s solo projects as well as being part of the lower-North-Island-famous Eagles tribute group the Eagals. J, J and J are looking forward to joining forces to share some of their favourite music, and a love of harmony singing, with Acoustic Routes.

Chazanne are an exuberant and engaging duo whose songs are thought-provoking, witty and highly entertaining. Charles Harter and Anne O’Donnell share lead vocals and song writing credits. Their music ranges from frivolous and satirical to serious and poignant- all observations of the human condition. Guitar, ukulele, and harps feature alongside close harmonies and a marvellous cheeky sense of humour.

Kev and Rosie sing predominantly British traditional songs, in unaccompanied harmony. They met through singing, at Wellyfest, and have been singing together for almost four years. Kev’s background farming in Sussex informs his Copper-influenced repertoire. Rosie was brought up in the Auckland folk scene. They live on the South Coast of Wellington.

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.

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.

Thursday 28 July, Roseneath School Hall, 7:30 pm

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

Charlotte Yates

Charlotte Yates is a professional independent New Zealand singer-songwriter with a growing catalogue of 22 solo and collaborative releases.

She runs Songwriting School, an online songwriting tuition subscription and a songwriting coaching service, Songdoctor. Charlotte also works with international clients as author/mentor for US/UK music educational websites Soundfly, Musician on a Mission and Bandzoogle. 

No stranger to the format of pairing famous words with music, Charlotte has devoted albums to James K Baxter, Hone Tuwhare, Witi Ihimaera and Katherine Mansfield. 

Her latest solo release, Chime, is a track from Marc Chesterman’s Woodhead Reimagined album and currently rotation @ bFM. She’s looking forward to performing on 28 July solo and unplugged, which is exactly how she started.

Charlotte’s photo by Emma Robinson, EJR Productions Ltd

Liz and Tim are somewhat reclusive treasures in the Wellington folk and acoustic music scene. They specialise in playing Maqam – the music system used since the time of the Babylonians – on violin and oud. But then they might play guitar, ukelele clarinet or even banjo.  And the music might be medieval, swing or early jazz, Tinpan Alley, Celtic tunes, New Zealand songs, rock, blues, or original tunes and songs. Whatever they choose, this will be a musical delight from two fabulous musicians.

The Godwits

Vic has been writing songs and playing in bands, most of his life and has performed at festivals throughout Australia and in the U.S.  Lis was given a guitar by her son a few years back and started writing songs and playing with friends. Lis met Vic when she heard him performing his originals at Thorndon market, Wellington. Vic and Lis started playing music together as The Godwits, with Gael joining them on bass. Other musicians join the flock from time to time. The Godwits play laid-back sad songs, mostly originals, while also having fun.  They will soon be releasing their new EP.

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.

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

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

Whimzik

Whimzik aka Glenn Kastrinos and Kjelsty Hanson live in Hawkes Bay and have been playing traditional music together for many years. Kjelsty comes from Montana and plays a variety of percussion instruments including bodhran, bones and spoons. She also turns into characters that will stir the imagination. Kjelsty has been a sculptor for many years and brings her artistic vision into her stage performance. Glenn has been playing traditional music since the seventies and competed in fleadh cheols (Irish traditional music competitions) in New York City and Ireland. He plays fingerstyle guitar, irish flutes and whistles and sings. He is drawn to unusual tunes (especially waltzes) from Appalachia, Idaho, Ireland, Brittany and Scandinavia.

Music is about experiencing emotions, and their playing will bring a laugh one minute and a tear in the next. They can’t wait to share some music with Acoustic Routes.

Steampunk Minstrels

Steampunk Minstrels is a largely acoustic guitar-based band with Mairi-Anne on mandolin, twelve string and bass guitar and Marius on six and twelve string guitar. They play original music which is a fusion of African and Celtic music with a hint of rock and jazz. They were part of the regular Folk Club scene in South Africa until parenthood struck and have recently re-emerged on the Wellington music scene. It is a real pleasure to have them back at Acoustic Routes.

Pick and Mixolydian

Pick and Mixolydian are a Wellington-based acoustic duo featuring Jo Shrigley on ukulele and vocals with Bruce Omundsen on small pipes, tin whistle, and vocals.

Jo has been part of Wellington’s WOSOSI (World Song Singers) choir for over 4 years, which has cemented her love of things international. As well as picking away at her ukulele, Jo is studying Music Theory at Victoria University.

Bruce also joined WOSOSI recently, which was a spark for the idea of forming a folk duo. Highland piping has been a constant presence for him over the last 40 years, highlighted with many trips back to his ancestral roots in Scotland. Scottish and other Celtic music is a natural choice for the duo but Bruce enjoys expanding on the mixolydian scale available to his main instrument.

Together Bruce and Jo have been building a varied folk repertoire and look forward to sharing their joy of music with you.

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.

Thursday 26 May, Roseneath School Hall, 7:30 pm

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

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.

Mike Harding

What better way to celebrate New Zealand folk music than with Mike Harding.

A musical storyteller at ease with his instrument, his audience and his mission to locate, archive, learn and perform the folk and popular songs of New Zealand’s past and present, from our colonial and folk roots to the Kiwi music of today.

Mike will present a solo performance of songs of home with humour and affection, spontaneity, and wonderful musical skill. Celebrate with him New Zealand, our people, and our stories.

English As, aka Deb Harding and Mary Hubble, will share some of the folk songs they have enjoyed over the years with a certain Englishness about them. Deb had the good fortune to grow up in the North of England – quite a different country to the South – and always sang with her sister. Since emigrating to Aotearoa over 30 years ago she has found many ‘sisters in song’ to join her in a song or two and is delighted that Mary has taken up the challenge.