Category: Club Night

Rachel Dawick is a New Zealand folk artist whose previous album, ‘The Boundary Riders’, was finalist for the NZ Tui Award Folk Album 2015. She returns after living in London for the last four years with her new folk album and book ‘London Labour, London Poor’, based on Henry Mayhew’s work from the mid 1800s when he took to the streets to interview east Londoners, releasing these interviews as part of a series of articles in the Chronicle Paper and later as a four volume book. The songs focus on the voices of the people themselves – ranging from Jack Black, the Queen’s Rat Catcher, the teenage Mudlark, the Punch & Judy Man to recreate a snapshot of life on the streets. This socio political work by Mayhew is a fitting album for today’s times as the same issues arise, voices that seem to echo the past. This album will be released in New Zealand over March-May 2024 before being released in the UK.

Dawick’s previous album & book ‘The Boundary Riders’ explored the ‘hidden voices’ of the working class women who left the UK to NZ in the 1800s. This three year research into local archives and hidden stories of NZ’s working class women was released on 19th September 2014 (NZ Women’s Vote Day 1893). The album took her on a musical journey from Tui Award finalist for best NZ Folk Album in 2015 to being selected as one of forty Musical Theatre at the BEAM festival in London on 8th & 9th March 2016 – a showcase of emerging British Musical Theatre Writing. Since 2017 she has been part of BML (Book Music Lyric) as a lyricist and composer in London developing her skills in Musical Theatre Writing, before finding herself in London during Covid teaching in schools. It has been here that she has developed her material and developed a picture of London past and present.

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

Sonia and Nigel are a multi-cultural acoustic duo featuring French-American Paris-born Sonia Wilson on vocals & ukulele and Kiwi-American virtuoso musician Nigel Gavin on 7-string guitar. 

After meeting and playing together for the first time at the Whare Flat Folk festival in Dunedin during Sonia’s first visit to New Zealand on a solo round-the-world trip in December 2014, the pair have since become a well-loved duo in the New Zealand folk music scene.

They weave French, Kiwi and American songs with their own original compositions and inspiration from their travels around the world.

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

Ang Kidd found her voice in the heat and light of Irish sessions, firstly at the legendary Dog’s Bollix in Auckland. She soon found a kindred spirit in Jo Taylor, and together with Jo, and with the ethereal Lou Hayes, formed Brazen, a band of three women, three voices. Later on, Ang moved to Wellington where she joined forces with three more women as part of Irish traditional band Glór na mBan, singing in both English and Irish.

Ang’s alto voice lends itself to both melody and to harmony. Ang has taught workshops on singing & arranging for bands, and on harmony singing, both in New Zealand and in Australia. She has been performing solo for some years now, and has recently started a new singing venture with long-time band mate Jo Taylor, and her sister Lynz Kidd-Edis, called the Pirate’s Daughters.

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

The MARITIME CREW was formed 27 years ago. Since then, various crew members have flown the pennant in NZ for sea shanties and maritime songs.

With several recorded albums, and three European tours to their credit, they have been enjoyed overseas and here at home for their traditional sea shanties and for their own compositions of sea songs which have added to the richness of maritime music.

Lew Black, Bob Large, Warren Payne and Paul Howarth are the current incarnation of this veteran group, and they belt it out in grand style.

Seen them at Devonport recently? They’ll still surprise with new songs in their repertoire. If you love to sing your hearts out like true jolly sailors, this evening is not to be missed.

Showcasing Friday Folk’n’Jam Performers

In the first half we’ll be showcasing some of the folks who regularly come to our Friday Folk’n’Jam nights. We’re sure you’ll enjoy them, but it does mean there will be a restricted number of floorspots this evening, so if you do wanna sing – get here early!

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

First up – NOTE THE DATE – this month we’re again meeting on the FIRST SATURDAY.

Second up – NOTE – NO Floorsingers tonight – invited performers only.

Tricia Lee hosts a concert where we remember and commemorate some of Titirangi’s most loved performers who are sadly no longer with us. Memories will be shared and a selection of the songs they sang, or the tunes they played, will be presented by people closely connected to them. There may be a little sadness at times, but there will also be much joy, definitely some laughter, and performances from some of our folk world’s finest. A special evening to celebrate a few of the very special people who are gone but not forgotten.

“Those who’ve gone before us will never be forgotten when we sing the songs they sang.”

Doors open 7.30PM for an 8.00PM start.
No Floorsingers tonight – invited performers only.
Admission
Members $10.00,
Non-Members $15.00,
Under 18s Free.

First up – NOTE THE DATE – this month only, we’re meeting on the FIRST SATURDAY – to allow you folks to get engrossed in the election results next Saturday.

With the mighty Gráinneog temporarily sidelined by vexations various, Alan and Tom have been keeping the flame burning and working up a fine set of songs. But while weekly sessions of singing and drinking Porter are all very well, the chaps are keen to get out and about a bit and bring some jollity to the nation’s folk clubs.

With a fine repertoire of trad and contemporary songs, the chaps bring ‘Tall Tales of Foaming Ales and possibly even Great Big Whales’ to life with plenty of gusto and volume.

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

To commemorate the passing this time last year of a TFMC luminary, we’re dedicating this evening outside of the AGM to recalling the life and songs of Dick Coker.

So no floorsingers tonight, instead invited performers will share some of Dick’s songs, and probably also share a few stories featuring him.

Invited performers include, but may not be limited to (contact us if you would like to contribute):- Bob Large, Andrea Rose McGregor, Tony Smyth, Paul Howarth, Tony Rickets and Jenny Kilpatrick, Mike Maguire, Bevis England, Bill Morrison, Lew Black, Paul Brown, Angela Fox.

Here is some of what Tricia Lee had to say in our newsletter following his death last year:-

Dick was a prolific and much-admired songwriter. He was an intelligent wordsmith with a gift for shrewd and perceptive compositions. His works covered the spectrum from poignant and reflective to slightly vulgar and hilarious, but he was probably best known for his humorous songs which wittily poked fun at all manner of things, from politics to athletes on steroids, from social upstarts to despots. His songs often made you laugh, but there was always an underlying message.

Although he performed to audiences at folk clubs and festivals around the country, Dick much preferred playing and sharing in small groups and, until his health deteriorated, he was a regular participant in the club’s Friday Folk sessions.

Dick will be fondly remembered for his friendliness, generosity, wit, and intelligence, and his memory will live on in the many songs he has left behind.

And of course we have the AGM, where we hold the old committee to account, elect the new one, raise any issues with what the club is doing and maybe what we’d like it to do differently, and if you are really keen you could even get yourself elected.

Doors open 7.30PM for an 8.00PM start.
No Floorsingers tonight.
Admission Free

Immersed in New Zealand’s folk scene and coveted for her musical ears and dedication to her art, Krissy will perform together with Peter Jackson. Showcasing their favourite music though voice, fiddle and keys, their aim is to take the desperate things of life and weave them into musical tellings. 

Krissy dances with melody and tone; always honouring the music, in all ways making it her own.  Peter’s quiet brilliance and intuition holds things together beautifully and sensitively. 

Through music, their hearts will speak to yours causing you to feel like dancing, crying, … and everything in between. Through the medium of the voice, keys and fiddle, each piece and song acts as a portal to a place a person or a memory. Your only job is to surrender to the experience. This music is beauty, it’s poetry, it’s a sensory delight.

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