Katie Martucci with Mark Mazengarb & Jess Hindin.   Thursday 6th June, 2019.

All the way from New York, don’t miss Katie Martucci on her brief tour of New Zealand! Joined by renowned NZ musicians Mark Mazengarb (Guitar) & Jessica Hindin (Violin), this will be a night of world class swing, old time and gyspy jazz music.

If you like Norah Jones, Django Reinhardt, Swing or Old Time music – you’ll love this show!

Hailing from the rich musical history of the Catskill Mountains in New York State, Katie Martucci grew up singing and playing fiddle and guitar. The daughter of a jazz pianist, she began performing with her father at a young age. By the first grade, she was writing her own songs and playing for tips. Her musical journeys led her to the Ashokan Western and Swing Week Fiddle & Dance Camp, vocal lessons with Laurel Masse of Manhattan Transfer, a brief stint of collegiate acapella at Skidmore College and ultimately, to the New England Conservatory. While at NEC, Katie studied voice, fiddle and songwriting in the Contemporary Improvisation Department, and had the opportunity to study with Dominique Eade, Ran Blake, Hankus Netsky, Carla Kihlstedt, and Eden MacAdam-Somer.

Mark Mazengarb is a kiwi guitarist who recently spent 7 years touring the USA full-time with American guitarist and singer Loren Barrigar. Mark has performed with many other world class musicians, including Tommy Emmanuel and Frank Vignola.

Jessica Hindin is one of New Zealand’s most sought after violinists for her versatility and virtuosity. Classically trained, she has performed with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra but is also renowned for her superb improvisation – reminiscent of the great Stéphane Grappelli.

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You, Me, Everybody. Saturday, 12th October, 2019. 

Rhodeworks, Nat Torrington & Kim Bonnington.

You, Me, Everybody

is a celebration of allowing others their moment to shine, the virtuosity of the individual and the camaraderie of coming together in a musical moment.  Taking their inspiration from a range of musical styles, YME start at bluegrass, weaving jazz, country and blues to create a dynamic sound that celebrates the best of Americana.

Their backgrounds are as diverse as their ages and musical styles. Brothers Laurence and Sam Frangos-Rhodes are best known for their contributions to family band, RhodeWorks.  

Laurence not only plays but builds beautiful guitars and his songwriting crosses boundaries of effortless but mature in the same breath.

Sam oozes musicality; he’ll pick up a mandolin, fiddle or double bass in a nonchalant manner but his talent quietly shatters the illusion of youth.  

Nat Torkington is the resident banjo player for the Pipi Pickers. He is constantly pushing his own and his banjo’s boundaries while also encouraging other musicians to explore and challenge the bluegrass form.

James Geluk is a graduate of the NZ School of Music and most recently won a Tui for the Best NZ folk album for his work with the Frank Burkitt Band.  A bass player who brings his jazz education to bluegrass, an audience member once declared James’ fingers to be like spiders as they travelled their way around his bass.

Kim Bonnington has a heart of pure country. She’s as comfortable at the centre of stage as she is as a backing vocalist and is known for her work as one half of Kim and Dusty but also for providing harmonies for a range of NZ acts.

Together, YME celebrate the best of the myriad of talents that they possess.  You’ll hear traditional bluegrass alongside experimental rhythms. Their musicianship will be evident from their control of their instruments as well as their close, soaring harmonies.  

 

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James Bar Bowen. Friday, 15th November, 2019. 

Acoustic folk-punk singer songwriter

Original songs to make you laugh, cry and rage

I am an acoustic folk-punk singer-songwriter, guitarist and story-teller from the North of England. I have performed my songs all over the world. I play mostly my own self-penned songs, and also run songwriting and performance workshops. As a political songwriter, I engage with many big political issues (migration, racism, climate change, gentrification, economic injustice) as well as more personal and individual perspectives on life, love and language. I perform with passion, humour, fury and a wry smile, always seeking to engage audiences old and new with what are essentially original and varied folksongs performed with a punk rock attitude.

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Rosie, Richie with Vanessa McGowan. Thursday, 30th January, 2020.

Richie Stearns (the Horse Flies) and Rosie Newton (the Duhks) are a dynamic duo performing music rooted in the Americana tradition. With their memorable original songs and entrancing, nostalgic harmonies, Richie and Rosie take the fiddle/banjo combination to new levels as they continue to expand the boundaries of tradition. 

Before joining forces, Richie earned himself a name with genre-bending band the Horse Flies and collaborations with Natalie Merchant and Donna the Buffalo. Having performed internationally with legends like Bela Fleck, Pete Seeger, David Byrne, Billy Bragg & Wilco, and Joan Baez, his career spans decades. When their paths crossed in the Ithaca old-time scene during Rosie’s freshman year, Richie & Rosie began touring together as members of the Evil City String Band, and were eventually drawn to pursue this more intimate duo project. Richie and Rosie blend traditional and contemporary sounds, outrageous punk banjo, powerful evocative fiddle with beautiful vocal harmonies. Richie, is an innovator of 5-string banjo much loved for his “mantra-groove spooky-banjo style” Rosie is a ferocious fiddler who’s work spans many musical styles.

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Albi & Zarek. Friday, 14th February, 2020.