Ballads to Blues

The newly-formed Aotearoa NZ Folk Alliance is proud to present its inaugural event here in Dunedin at the prestigious Hanover Hall, an intimate concert of some of the finest talent on the NZ folk music scene. In what is planned to become an annual event to celebrate the best in kiwi folk music, we present Ballads to Blues, a Showcase of NZ Folk Artists.

Peter Madill
Formerly of Dunedin, son of a preacher man, and perhaps best known for his decades of craftmanship as one of NZ’s finest luthiers, Peter has been a stalwart of the folk scene since the 1960s playing in many varied line-ups from the early days of television to current day folk festivals. With two more generations following in his footsteps, Peter embodies the one-man, one-guitar troubadour of folk music’s heyday.

Sonia and Nigel
Sonia & Nigel are an acoustic duo featuring French-American Parisienne Sonia Wilson on vocals and ukulele and Kiwi-American musician and composer Nigel Gavin on 7-string guitar. This eclectic duo is well-loved in the New Zealand folk music scene weaving French, Kiwi and American songs with original compositions and inspiration from their respective travels around the world. In early 2021 Sonia & Nigel were invited to record their first album together here in Dunedin. Produced by John Egenes, "Sweet Paname" is a celebration of Sonia's French roots, her non-linear journey from France to New Zealand and the abundance of eclectic music born from this duo's encounter. The album will be officially released at this year's Whare Flat Folk Festival.

Chris Priestley
Another hero from the ground floor of NZ’s folk music scene, as well known for his entrepeneurship as he is for his musicianship: co-foundof Real Groovy Records in the 70s and founder of some of NZ’s most well-known acoustic music venues, Java Jive, Kerouacs, Atomic and Café One2One in Ponsonby. Chris is a singer/songwriter and NZ historian who has recorded eight albums: three of which were Tui Folk Music Award finalists. He’ll be joined by Sonia and Nigel who form part of his current project Unsung Heroes.

The Eastern
The quintessential voice of the devastating era that was the Christchurch earthquakes, The Eastern endeared themselves to their community and the whole of Aotearoa for their unflinching response to adversity, playing at every opportunity wherever spirits were low. They are enduring, endearing and they are nothing if not infectious. Led by the larger-than-life Adam McGrath and the ineffable Jess Shanks, both talented songwriters, The Eastern is so much more than a band; they are an unforgettable experience.

House Band: The Dunedin Ceilidh Orchestra
For many years this group of friends from Dunedin and Christchurch have come together to perform and play tattoos, ceilidhs and barndances throughout the south.

This will be a concert to be remembered!