Category: Club Night

Passionate Acoustic Music

(blues, folk and acoustic rock)

For three decades Mark Laurent and Brenda Liddiard have been playing music together, part of that secret army of ‘indie’ musicians who fly just below the commercial radar, playing grass-roots, mostly un-plugged music throughout New Zealand, Australia and the UK.

Mark Laurent play’s the blues like his life depends on it! His guitar is just about as expressive as his vocals and confirms the guitar hero status that he earned several decades ago when his professional music career kicked off in the 1970’s.

His wife and performance partner Brenda Liddiard has a voice born of true folk, protest and alt country sentiments. Brenda has been greatly influenced by English and American acoustic music and found her niche as a songwriter during her passionate involvement with environmental and anti-nuclear issues dating from the 70’s and 80’s. Her album, Box of Memories, was a finalist in the 2013 Tui Awards for Best Folk Album.

Laurent and Liddiard together present an eclectic mix of material that can be ‘pin drop’ delicate, or sound like a full band! They sometimes pepper their sets with short bursts of poetry and stories of a road well traveled.

“The highlight of the entire evening took place when Mark launched into some blues during which he played blistering, brilliant acoustic guitar licks, while voice-mimicking lead guitar sounds note for note, nuance for nuance in a masterful display of technique and taste that stands as one of our clubs most memorable performances to this day. He almost brought the house down.”

Brendan Hanley, Byron Vista Social Club, Byron Bay, NSW

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.

Singing new songs and old.

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

Martin Curtis moved to New Zealand in 1976, after a few years living in the outback of Australia, where he founded and ran the Tennant Creek Folk festival. Soon after settling at Cardrona in Central Otago, he started writing his own songs about the history and environment of his newly adopted country. One of his very first songs, “Gin & Raspberry” soon became a folk standard and has been covered by at least 15 artistes around the world. To date he has released 15 albums, all of them comprising songs mainly about NZ. He also founded and continues to run the annual Cardrona Folk festival, now in its 45th year.

He has appeared at festivals and clubs all around New Zealand, and has also done 14 major tours of the U.K, performing anywhere between Cornwall to the Shetland Islands.

His concerts combine thoughtful songs about NZ and beyond with hilarious bush poetry and other humorous stories he has picked up along the way. He always tries to entertain his audiences with a varied repertoire, something he learned from his long time friend and inspiration Eric Bogle.

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

Terry Free

Twice nominated for the British Alternative Folk Awards ’Best Club Entertainer’ singer and storyteller extraordinaire Terry Free returns to Titirangi Folk Club in his own right to take you on a journey of Traditional songs, Music Hall ditties and beautifully woven yarns embroidered into a silken tapestry of chirpy cockney “bollix”

Janet Thomson

When Janet sang a couple of self-penned contemporary folk songs at the Bunker a few years ago, the Devonport folk listened politely and offered encouragement with friendly applause.   But something was amiss.  Her songs were unfamiliar.   She needed some proper folk songs.  Next time she sang of Little Matty Groves, and Mary of the Wild Moor.  Such characters were very familiar to folkies, and she felt much more in the company of friends.  Though Janet loves to sing beautiful contemporary songs from the female perspective, she continues to wander off that path into dangerously patriarchal times in search of melodic and macabre tunes for your listening pleasure.   

AGM Info To Come

Doors open 7.30PM for an 8.00PM start.
Floorsingers First half.
Admission Free.

Celtic Ferret are relieved to be unlocked, loaded and primed to fire off some of the songs from their second album “A Few Miles Together”.

They will bring some with them because they are really quite proud of it and you can buy it for $20!

Celtic Ferret are Jean Reid and Ian Bartlett whose repertoire is steeped in the folk tradition.

They paint evocative musical pictures of gruesome deaths, riots, crimes, love and loss, customs and characters all woven with earthy harmonies and thoughtful instrumentation – and a touch of humour! If only history had been taught this way at school!

They have been guests at numerous festivals and clubs around New Zealand and are happy to be at TFMC at last.

Whet your appetite for the gig and the album with some snippets on the album launch page at:-
https://celticferret.wixsite.com/mysite/copy-of-albums

Vaccine Pass required for entry.
Doors open 7.30PM for an 8.00PM start.
Floorsingers First half.
Admission
Members $8.00,
Non-Members $12.00,
Under 18s Free.

Lured by the bright lights of Titirangi Beach Hall and the offer of Jude Black’s hospitality Fingal are leaving their wild west coast hideaway and coming north. Like their namesake of Scottish legend Fingal, the band, have been seldom seen and rarely heard. Last reported sightings, though not recently, at Te Rangi and Patuha.

They met up soon after Ken and Lisa arrived in New Plymouth following a spell in Ohura (teaching, not incarcerating!). Young families and involvement in the local folk club and festivals saw friendship grow over much shared music and good times.

In New Plymouth Deb and Mike assembled a bush band to play for local fundraisers and family celebrations. Ken joined this combo on his modified mini-bass and Lisa joined Deb in songs between sets as ceilidh dancers took a rest. Mike provided solid rhythm and a fourth voice. Their repertoire expanded with regular Friday night food and music sessions exploring wider folk/rock fields.

Fingal; four friends who enjoy folk music and singing songs about people and places. Songs from the west of Ireland to outback Australia; from the English fairground to the Mississippi swamp.

Songs of intrigue and inspiration, solace and celebration.

Songs to inspire and bring an audience together in unison and harmony.

Vaccine Pass required for entry.
Doors open 7.30PM for an 8.00PM start.
Floorsingers First half.
Admission
Members $8.00,
Non-Members $12.00,
Under 18s Free.