Author: TFMC

Al Young, New Zealand’s master of the vintage blues, makes a welcome return to the Titirangi Folk Music Club.

Al is a true veteran of the New Zealand folk scene. He has played every major folk festival in the country – and some in Australia – he was a featured artist on the annual “Beale St Mess Around” in Memphis, Tennessee three times, he won a Tui Award before they were called Tuis … ’way back in the day he even played acoustic blues on New Zealand television and radio. As well he’s an international authority on blues and gospel music, with two US-published books and many articles and CD liner notes to his credit.

But above all, he’s a great guitar picker, known for his mastery of slide-style guitar, a powerful singer and a dynamic, entertaining performer.

His Titirangi set is likely to be heavy on the blues that are the foundation of his repertoire and reputation, but he’s quite likely to step outside this boundary – he also gets into old-time country, Hawaiian, a bit of gospel … oh yes, and he plays autoharp occasionally, rather well.

Mark the date and be there – you don’t want to miss it and have to hear everyone else saying how great it was.

Doors open 7.30PM for an 8.00PM start.
Floorsingers First half.
Admission
Members $10.00,
Non-Members $15.00,
Under 18s Free.

Mark Sanders migrated from the UK to NZ in 1994, and a couple of years later, heard the sound of the Uilleann pipes on a CD by a French new age band. Shortly afterwards, he came across Lorcan Dunne, who had just started making pipes in Ponsonby, and was hooked. Having never had exposure to folk music, it was quite a mission to learn some tunes as well as the instrument, but perseverance paid off, and 24 years later, he has the skills for wonderful collaborations with Helen.

Helen Douglas, originally from the North East of England, has been playing the Northumbrian Small Pipes since a young teen. While touring around Canada and North America during her university years she attended various trad events which introduced the wonders of Irish and Scottish music. Very much the lone piper after arriving in NZ in 2001 she started attending the Titirangi Folk music club in 2017. Since then she’s had time to meet and pursue musical connections with others that love rich harmonies and the musical possibilities that traditional music can conjure up.

Doors open 7.30PM for an 8.00PM start.
Floorsingers First half.
Admission
Members $10.00,
Non-Members $15.00,
Under 18s Free.

Our usual 2nd Saturday in April falls on Easter Weekend. Many of our members and supporters will be away at Hamsterfest that weekend, so there is NO CLUB NIGHT IN THE BEACH HALL ON SATURDAY 8th APRIL.

Hamsterfest, the Hamilton Acoustic Music Club’s annual festival takes place from April 06-10, at Paeroa Racecourse, Thames Rd, SH26, Paeroa. You can find out more about it by joining their Facebook group.