Category: Club Night

About the Duo

Lynne Wilkins and Michael Mackinnon are based in Raglan, New Zealand, a small west-coast town with a big reputation as a creative community. Inspired by songs that deliver on both melody and lyrics, WilkieMac will take you on a journey around the globe and spanning the centuries. Their repertoire will have you singing along, laughing out loud, tapping your feet; it will tug at the heartstrings, draw you along the path of whimsy, cast light into a corner, reframe a well-loved old favourite.

Wilkins and Mackinnon are seasoned performers who cover a range of musical genres, using a variety of instruments to create the right soundscape for a particular song or event. Their voices blend, whether in harmony or unison, their arrangements are well crafted. Together they are a perfect example of music being another form of conversation.

Lynne Wilkins…

…has been involved with music since she started piano lessons at eight years old. Emigrating from Canada with her parents (they returned to New Zealand, the land of their birth, in the 1970s), Wilkins became an active participant in the acoustic music scene, performing solo shows, doing guest appearances with artists, and touring New Zealand several times, both as a performer, and as a support act for visiting artists. She appeared on various albums from the 1980s and 90s under both her maiden name (Bradstock) and later as Lynne Thompson. Several of these recordings were nominated for awards, including one containing some of her songs (Together). After a contribution to a Spiralyrics compilation Acoustic Magic, releasing a collection of songs on Limited Edition, and working as a guitarist for another songwriter, Wilkins recorded and released Bead of Glass in 2007. Working on this album with Waikato-based musicians, daughter Lora Thompson (guitar), and partner Michael Mackinnon, this folk-rock version of some of Wilkins’ songs was a family affair. As part of the duo WilkieMac, and ceili band West of the Divvy, Wilkins keeps herself busy with other band line-ups, and writing.

Music is a universal language. Each note is a step on a journey that we take together.

Michael Mackinnon…

…was born in Auckland into a family where singing was a big part of the interaction between siblings and parents, and this is one of his earliest and fondest memories. Opportunities to learn an instrument resulted in a short period of studying the violin at school, but the instrument that called to him was the guitar, which he first picked up in his early twenties. This was the beginning of life-long obsession with singing and playing music with others, that eventually brought the WilkieMac duo together in the early 2000s. At that time, Mackinnon had for many years only played in standard tuning, but attending a guitar workshop at Ceol Aneas in Nelson in 2004, started a passion for playing in the tuning of DADGAD. A regular Friday jam session with musical colleague and songwriter, Rene Andre, led to the formation of the band Twisted Timber, with Andre, Wilkins, and Redgie Valente on double bass. The band was a regular in Raglan venues for many years. Mackinnon’s wry sense of humour is reflected in some of the songs that have found their way into WilkieMac’s repertoire, providing the duo with not just a journey through space and time, but also a gamut of emotions. Mackinnon is also part of the Ceili band West of the Divvy, and plays in other line-ups when the opportunity presents itself.

To play well, you have to dance with the music.

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

Sean Kelly & The Super 8’s is a live Irish music concert played to the back-drop of Super 8 movies taken by Sean’s Dad, a cine-movie enthusiast, Seamus Kelly between 1958 & 1988.

Sean Kelly arrived in Aotearoa in 1990 and it wasn’t long until he was engrossed in the burgeoning Irish music scene centred on the Irish pubs of the day, Kitty O’Brien’s, The Blarney Stone, Biddy Mulligan’s in Hamilton and Murphys Irish Bar (Now Father Ted’s)

Sean became a full-time musician ten years ago to focus on his music and the show is always at least 50% original and the balance traditional and contemporary Irish & world music & songs.

Sean Kelly is joined by the one and only Jono Lonie on fiddle, mandolin and on a good day, uillean pipes. Sean first met Jono in 90’s, also involved in the Irish music scene.

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

Note:- a day earlier than usual!

English/Irish folk, reminiscent of The Pogues and The Dubliners. High-energy fusion of traditional melodies and fast-paced rhythms. The songs, filled with stories of love, rebellion, and celebration. Expect a wild celebration of music, with crowd participation expected throughout the performance.

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

Blues Musician ……….Dave is known internationally for his bluesy, soulful voice & dynamic guitar. He performs the music of Clapton, Dylan, Cocker, Ray Charles + many others from that era as well as some of his own compositions. He lives in Melbourne, Australia

AND TONIGHT our first half floor singers will include George Pettigrew

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

The Penman Family consists of a relatively connected bunch of people  namely….

• Jack Penman  –  Dad/Grandad
• Chris Penman – Daughter/Sister/Mother
• David Penman  Son/ Brother/Uncle
• Thiea Bell          Daughter/Sister/Aunty
• Campbell Maydon Grandson/Son/Nephew

They have been singing together for around 50 years, give or take a decade or two, singing anything and everything from The Banana Boat Song to  The Battle of Sowerby Bridge, Delilah to Down where the Drunkards Roll and beyond.

They have a been present at most folk festivals in NZ and beyond in different combinations over the years – and can usually be found late at night belting out traditional and contemporary unaccompanied ballads and songs.

Coming from a Scottish background, they love nothing more than  good rousing choruses and songs that speak with  social conscience.

Their forte is acapella singing (unacompanied) utilising their fine vocal chords and they will endeavour to share their knowledge and love of the songs and times of which they sing.

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

Kindred musical spirits since the world was middle-aged, two of New Zealand’s best known musicians take the stage together for a rare live run through the wealth of music they’ve recorded together.  Their shared love of the beauty that makes us listen to music will be to the fore as they play tunes from their Spanish-American collaboration Project Feijoa, Bob’s Lost Stars solo album and a few choice covers.  They’ll show us their tunes connection too… one of the sweetest combinations you’ll hear. 

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

From Gosport, Portsmouth and Brighton via the Red Lion, the Hand in Hand, somewhere south of Cape Horn and Galbraith’s, Ian is back solo at his “home” club of Titirangi.

After the exhausting journey and eventually emerging from his folkie closet into the folk scene at the 2000 Auckland Folk Festival, he has become a seasoned performer with groups such as Thursday, Westumbria, Supersheep and most recently Celtic Ferret.

Known as the windbag, he plays pretty much anything that can be blown (including bottles!) Ian also plays instruments that require being hit, shaken, rattled but never rolled.

He will be here at Titirangi breathing new life into songs and tunes from his British roots, stuff long buried in his repertoire.

Bring along your voices to join him for an evening at Titirangi as he meanders along a musical jaunt of songs, tunes and stories tall and short.

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

Our guests tonight are drawn from the diverse range of people that attend our Friday Folk’n’Jam sessions.

NO FLOORSINGERS TONIGHT – we’ve got a full line up of diverse talents from Friday Folk’n’Jam, so you can sit back, relax and enjoy.

Our AGM will take place at half time – we estimate soon after 8.45pm so do make sure you are there to elect the new committee, hear about constitution changes we need to make to fit in with the Incorporated Societies Act 2022, and contribute any ideas you may have on how the club runs.

Towards the end of the evening we’ll have an all join in singalong session, with the 2 songs you can download below:-

Wild Mountain Thyme

Star of the County Down

Doors open 7.30PM for an 8.00PM start.
Free Admission!

Seán is a Dublin balladeer who has been a constant in the Irish music scene in Auckland for almost fifty years. His gigs are rare these days, but not to be missed. Come and enjoy an evening of traditional and Irish music with Sean, accompanied by his two daughters Sinéad and Sarah.

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

Barry and Lorna Swallow met through Folkie friends back in the late 1970’s. They shared a love of the music of Nic Jones, who has subsequently been a major influence on Barry’s guitar playing.

They settled in Taupo and raised their family there, and in retirement purchased their distinctive motorhome/bus which enabled them to enjoy the music and fellowship of folk festivals.

Barry uses open tunings on his guitar to work out intricate accompaniments, for songs he has chosen for their thought-provoking lyrics and strong melodies.

In recent years, Lorna has developed an interest in playing Celtic tunes on low whistles, tunes chosen for their memorable melodies.

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

Sammy Leary comes from Tamaki-Makaurau and performs traditional & original music often with strong New Zealand themes but also from the broader Folk traditions of Ireland, Britain and the USA.

Performing with a varied range of instruments from the banjo to the bones to the concertina and the musical saw and of course the unaccompanied voice, you will find his performance thoroughly absorbing with songs wending from the dark and dreary to the jovial and absurd, with many’s the fine chance for good audience participation.

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

Come and celebrate May Day at Titirangi Folk Music Club with Paul brown.

Paul (Bolshie) Brown has been agitating the Auckland folk scene for the past dozen or so years since his arrival in Aotearoa.

Hailing from Dundee in Scotland Paul has a vast store of Scottish urban working-class songs which he sings with great gusto at the slightest opportunity.

Paul sings with his audience, not to them, so singing choruses is compulsory!

When asked to play Titirangi in May Paul said “let’s make it a May Day to remember”!

So, together let’s use the power of song to change the system and celebrate the working class!

Maypoles strictly prohibited!

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

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.