The Kist present sensitive, authentic songs, channeling the human condition through
music, with the most soulful songs we can find.

Our members are Jude Madill, Rusty Tönz and Pat Higgins.

Jude plays fiddle, banjo, guitar and sings, Rusty plays cello and sings, and Pat plays flute, guitar, whistles and sings.

Performances and workshops

• In concert: Sunday 11am, Main Stage
• Workshop: Tips & Tricks for non-standard Guitar Tunings (Pat Higgins), Saturday 2pm Nelson Lounge
• Showcase concert: Saturday 5:15pm, Main Stage

The Kist’s bio

In 2020 at Wellington Folk Festival, Pat heard the sound of a cello through the trees.
There, in the backwoods was Rusty playing his 17th century cello.

The Kist was born when Pat invited Jude Madill (with whom he had worked before) to
form a new trio. It makes sense to hear a cello in the woods, right, and that pastoral setting is reflected in the group’s music, which is rooted in Irish traditional, Gaelic, Te Reo, American old-time, and includes some original songs by Pat.

The sound is acoustic, and sensitive for the most part, with a smattering of up-tempo
numbers to keep it interesting. Pat plays finger-style open-tuned guitar, Jude plays
guitar, violin and frailing banjo and along with the cello make a mountain-drawing-room sound.

The band loves arranging the material, and are especially glad, when a version
emerges from the collective by itself – Kistify!

The Kist will be happy after a gig, with a reflective nod of recognition, that says “Yes. That’s what life is, love, loss, life, death, grief and joy.”

Hear more of The Kist online

Three songs at Wellington Folk Festival 2022 https://youtu.be/9OOrQH22tss

The Cat https://youtu.be/lvS6Qsmuuto

Excerpts from a live gig https://youtu.be/ro2V8AN4S-w