Hi everyone
Things are really coming together now and we are finalising arrangements with our festival guests. While the programme and full details are subject to change, we are excited to let you know some of the great and diverse performers we have planned for your pleasure over Labour Weekend. So – without further ado…….
Darren Watson
Darren Watson gained New Zealand-wide fame in the late eighties as the principal songwriter and front-man for rhythm n’ blues outfit Chicago Smoke Shop. The group of blues-mad Hutt Valley teenagers shared stages on NZ tours with international artists like Koko Taylor, The Robert Cray Band, George Thorogood, and The Fabulous Thunderbirds.
Since leaving Smoke Shop in the early 90’s Darren has cemented his reputation as the nation’s most original, contemporary blues voice. He’s released six blues-based albums and his latest album, 2018’s Too Many Millionaires debuted at number three on the Official NZ Top 20 Album Chart and stayed in the charts for five weeks. The songs broaden the blues base and we are excited that these songs are totally relevant to the modern folk scene. Darren’s latest album, Getting Sober For The End Of The World, is due to be released on the 1st of October, 2020.
Entrada
From Christchurch, Entrada are Tessa White (violin and mandolin) and Jonathan Le Cocq (guitar), playing a unique blend of music for violin, guitar and mandolin, rooted in the Celtic tradition but finding its own pathway through it. Jonathan’s background in early music – performing with national groups like NZBarok on historical instruments – informs his approach to playing traditional music, and combines with Tessa’s youthful, virtuosic tune-playing for original and dynamic music making.
Mehana
A Wellington based band who draw inspiration from traditional music from the Balkan region including gypsy and their own original music. They infuse new life into traditional folk songs and rebuild them in their own Mehana style. You will take a musical journey from melancholy of Roma violin laments to storming beats of Gypsy rumba, mixing with traditional Balkan rhythms as a blend of influences through time and space.
Barry and the Crumpets
A foot-stomping, barn-romping country dance extravagance. Playing old-time classics, breakneck bluegrass and swampy blues. All played toe-tapping fast and knee-slapping rowdy.
It all started in Wellington when three friends started jamming together with banjo, mandolin and cajon on a dark midwinter night in 2017. As the night wore on, the tunes got stompier, their friends danced faster and before they knew it a band was born. After 18 months of gigging around markets, bars and house parties in Wellington, a fiddler joined the fray. The band have since been honing their particular flavour of upbeat, old-fashioned mountain music and three-part harmonies with a smattering of celtic roots. Fresh from stomping performances at Acoustic Routes and the Wellington Bluegrass Society, the Crumpets will add local life and fun.
And there’s more to come. Get your breath before the next installment!
Early bird tickets will go on sale in mid August
Cheers,
Gerard
for the Wellington Folk Festival Committee