Hi everyone
The programme is really coming together now. We have lots of fun events and hopefully some surprises up our sleeves. We can now let you into some closely guarded secrets – more of the fun, talented and diverse performers we have planned for your pleasure (and education) over Labour Weekend.
All the details here are based on plans before this week’s Covid-19 resurgence. We will do all we can to deliver – but we won’t risk anyone’s safety and will of course follow all government guidance. Some of these announcements do assume that out of town guests will be free to travel as we approach Labour weekend.
Grawlixes
As you may or may not know, a Grawlix is a ‘a spiral-shaped graphic used to indicate swearing in comic strips’, whereas Grawlixes is a Wellington-by-way-of-Dunedin indie-folk band intent on inserting themselves into your brain with their intelligent, infectious songs about relationships, death and not being invited to parties. Continuing the great lineage of artists who bring sadness to their sprightly melodies, Grawlixes’s music often deals in the melancholy with self-deprecating honesty and beautiful boy-girl harmonies, sung by co-founders Robin Cederman and Penelope Esplin.
Following an extensive European tour supporting label-mates French for Rabbits, Grawlixes released their debut album ‘Set Free’ reaching #1 on the NZ weekly music album charts. They are now preparing to release their follow up album ‘Love you to death’ in Sept this year.
Moroney
From Dunedin, Bernadette, Mike and Siobhan take time out from their many individual pursuits to come together to sing and play as a family. The result is an eclectic repertoire from the solidly traditional to the obscurely modern, all based around those close harmonies that only a family seem to be able to produce.
Mike is perhaps best known for his work with The Chaps, Catgut Steel and, for many years, the Pioneer Pog ‘n’ Scroggin Bush Band.
Bernadette and Siobhan were enduring members of the fondly-remembered and occasionally reprised Rhonda and the Ravers, a group based on harmonies, dance moves and bling.
Sadie & Jay
Sadie & Jay met and formed a creative contemporary folk and roots duo in Australia seven years back. They’ve recently returned to live in New Zealand and look forward to the next chapter in their musical journey. Sadie & Jay’s music features historical Australian stories, bursting with colour, texture and spirited characters. Their latest album ‘A Passing of Seasons’ has been awarded Australian Celtic Album of the Year.
Three original studio albums have included multiple first place winners and finalists in APRA AMCOS awards, The Australian Celtic Awards and Blues & Roots Radio, songs from all three albums have made the Top 10 in The Australian Songwriters Association Awards.
Sadie & Jay have been performing as a duo in and beyond the Brisbane folk and festival scene. They’ve completed two UK tours and it’s great that they are now locals – adding Wellyfest to their appearances as overseas guests at the Hamilton Folk Festival last year.
The Flukes
The Flukes are a group of Wellington women who started playing ukulele together about 10 years ago. Since then they’ve played at community events, markets and parties, and developed a varied repertoire of cover songs and medleys. You’ll be delighted and surprised at the range of styles – all performed with a mixture of humour, sensitivity, pathos and joy. They play largely un-amplified so expect to get close.
And there’s more still to come. Early bird tickets will go on sale in the next week or two – we’ll email again with a website link when we are about to open the ticket sales system.
Cheers,
Gerard
for the Wellington Folk Festival Committee
