Auckland New Zealand
At the tender age of 12 John McGowan joined the St Cuthbert's Grammar School choir standing next to someone later known as Sting. This musical experience, together with Sunday morning visits to his Uncle George, who played piano for the silent movies, began a lifelong passion for playing, performing, writing and enjoying music.
Getting involved in the folk scene in Newcastle as a teen lead to particular fondness for Geordie folk and self taught skills in banjo, guitar and whistle soon ensued. John became quite well known in the folk scene in the North East of England and when he emigrated to NZ at 26 discovered Poles Apart and the renowned Frank Winter.
John is, or has been, a member of a variety of bands including Twisty Willow, Celtic Fusion, Findrias, Paddy Mack, Blacksmith, Leaping Lizards and The Maritime Crew; as well as a major part of the original cast of North to South. A dance caller and session musician John also dabbled in musical theatre and can often be heard playing rock n roll late at night during folk festivals. Infamous for his part in the home brew sessions both at the Auckland Folk Festival and Hamsterfest, John can always be relied upon to share a brew and a song.
John's self penned songs include the well known "Festival Song" as well as more poignant stories from the heart. John's stage presence is always commanding, polished, and hilarious.
Floorsingers first half.
Fine singer meets fine player.
Richard Grainger has visited us before in 2006, he is a guitarist, singer and songwriter, originally from Middlesborough, with 12 albums to his credit in a 25 year career as a professional musician; and has also written plays for stage and radio.
Chris Parkinson is a virtuoso of the accordion and melodeon, a member of The House Band and with John Kirkpatrick in Sultans of Squeeze, as well as acompanying Martin Carthy and Norma Waterson and Ralph McTell, amongst many others.
Those of you who saw/heard The Roswells close our first half in October will need no encouragement to come back and see/hear them open our concert this evening.
An informal ‘Singaround’ - ‘Open Mic’ without a Mic - A smaller group of people meet to share their songs and music.
Last Update: 2014-08-20
The Club was conceived in 1965 when the Clancy Brothers didn't come and someone had the astounding idea of having a sing-a-round thus transforming an audience into a folk group. Formally established in 1966 we're still going strong.