Category: Club Night

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.

Laldy (adverb): “To undertake an action with gusto or great enthusiasm.”

Fiddle player Rachel Evans and multi-instrumentalist Donald James combine forces for one mission: to play folk and gie i’ laldy. With Welsh and Scottish roots and a base in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, they are inspired by Celtic and Scandinavian music traditions as they wind their way across the seas.

Rachel was born in Wales and grew up in the unlikely Celtic enclave of Whangārei, where she became intrigued by the sound of Scottish fiddle as a teen. Constantly curious and committed to lifelong learning, she has explored Irish, Old-Time, Bluegrass and Scandinavian tunes and grooves through both New Zealand and international workshops, festivals and sessions. Rachel began her gigging career as a small child with her Mum’s circle dance band. Playing live music for dance is a theme that has woven through her contributions to Vic Folk ceilidh bands, as lively fiddle player for Wellington Old-Time band Barry and the Crumpets, and now, co-leading Laldy.

Donald originally hails from the rolling braes of the Scottish Borders and cut his songwriter’s teeth in the open mic scene of Edinburgh. Mentored and inspired by his multi-instrumentalist uncle, Donald spent his 20s lending his toe-tapping rhythm and grooves to friends’ bands, recording projects and playing for ceilidhs. An avid wanderer, he travelled the world with his guitar and mandolin before arriving in Aotearoa in 2013. Donald found his way into the Wellington folk scene through open mics, the Welsh Dragon Irish Sessions and as the cajon player for Barry and the Crumpets, where he and Rachel met.

Laldy brings to the stage a set which weaves together contemporary and traditional folk tunes and songs with original writing and arrangement. Playing a selection of sweet songs, modal grooves and trad bangers, Laldy are a fresh offering to the New Zealand folk and festival scene.

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

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.

Alex grew up performing with local Hamilton folk and ceilidh bands, and performed for many years with the Auckland-based Maritime Crew.

Shannon has been performing since she could stand on a stage. In 2020 she won the Martin Blackman Young Performer award at the Auckland Folk Festival, and she is currently studying music at Henderson High School and dance at Waitakere City School of Dance.

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