February Folk Club Night. Monday, 24 FEBRUARY, with special guest Dave Flynn

Pull out those guitars and other instruments of folk distraction and great ready for Club Night! Our special second half guest this month is award-winning Irish composer/guitarist Dave Flynn.

Celebrated by the New York Times for the ‘power and grittiness’ of his music, Flynn is bringing his Celtic Guitar Journey show to Whangateau Hall.

Flynn started his musical career as a rock/pop guitarist and singer-songwriter before moving into classical and Irish folk.

In his Celtic Guitar Journey Flynn will present guitar arrangements of Irish and Scottish traditional music, exploring the musical connections between these Celtic countries. His programme includes the history of Celtic music, from an ancient Irish battle march to baroque-era harp music by Turlough O’Carolan, to 19th century reels and jigs, and modern compositions which he recorded on his acclaimed albums. He will also play new Irish-Kiwi style tunes, which he has composed in New Zealand.

The concert also highlights connections between Irish traditional music and other countries, showing how certain types of Irish tunes were imported from England, Scotland, Poland and Germany.

This is a regular club night, so all local musicians are welcome to put their name in for a first half floor spot. Email whangateaufolk@gmail.com to request your spot. (Do NOT reply to this email! It makes a mess!)

Booking is not necessary, but recommended. You know the drill, email me at whangateaufolk@gmail.com with the number of tickets you want and I will send instructions for payment. Doors open at 6:30pm for a 7:00pm start. $15.

Whangateau Folk Music: Dave McMillan in concert!

Wednesday, 12 February 2025, 7:30pm. $15

Celebrate Valentine’s Day Early at Whangateau Hall!

Dave McMillan has been entertaining audiences for over 30 years with his rich, soulful voice and amazing guitar playing! Performing all over Australia, NZ and Canada as part of the renowned duo “Wizard & Oz.” He performs regularly solo, on land and sea with the P&O Cruise Lines, as well as with other talented players. This is Dave’s first visit to Whangateau, and we are really looking forward to a great show!

$15.00. 7:30pm. Doors open at 7:00. Email to book, or rock up on the night. whangateaufolk@gmail.com.

See you there!

Jenine
021 428 568
whangateaufolk@gmail.com

January Folk Club Night

Folk Club Night: Tuesday, 28 January 2025

And just like that, it’s time for Folk Club! We will be meeting on TUESDAY this month, to allow for Auckland Folk Festival. Our special guests this month are Folk Festival International Guest Act BB & Alex (and a possible suprise special guest!).

BB Bowness (banjo) and Alex Rubin (guitar) have been making music together for the last decade and continue to bring their euphoric energy to stages around the world. Since first meeting in the vibrant Boston music scene, they have fused their love of bluegrass and traditional roots music into something fresh and unique. Combining their technical mastery with reverence for tradition, Alex & BB are not to be missed.

This is a regular club night, so all local musicians are welcome to put their name in for a first half floor spot. Email whangateaufolk@gmail.com to request your spot. (Do NOT reply to this email! It makes a mess!)

Booking for this outstanding act is highly recommended. You know the drill, email me at whangateaufolk@gmail.com with the number of tickets you want and I will send instructions for payment. Doors open at 6:30pm for a 7:00pm start. $20.

South for Winter played Whangateau hall exactly one year ago, the 18th of January 2024, and we did not have a very big crowd. And everyone who was there said, “OH MY, why isn’t everyone here? How can they be missing this?” (I paraphrase, but you get the idea.) So here is your chance. If you were here last year, you know you want to come back, and make sure your mates know about it too!

With a blend of dreamy acoustic numbers, foot-stomping folk and bluesy murder ballads, New Zealand-formed and Nashville-based South for Winter’s sound is as eclectic as their origins. The band is composed of New Zealander Nick Stone, Coloradan Dani Cichon, and Michigander Alex Stradal, and together the three multi-instrumentalists and songwriters combine elements such as cello, guitar, mandolin, and three-part harmonies into a genre-bending sound described by American Songwriter as “impeccable”.

18 January 2025, Saturday: Full Concert with South for Winter. 7:30pm. $20.

All inquiries and bookings to whangateaufolk@gmail.com.

Not technically in October. Monday, 4 November. 7:00pm. No guest. $10.

Hello, everybody!

Just a quick note to say that due to our club night falling on Labour Day, I’ve decided to push it out a week to November 4th. Nat and I will be attending Wellyfest over Labour Weekend, and we’ll be pretty wrecked by the time we get home, if previous years are anything to go by. I hope you all don’t mind the change and will join us for a casual evening of floor singers. No special guest, so this will be a particularly community-oriented social evening.

If you have been working up the courage to put your hand up for a floor spot, this is the perfect opportunity. You can’t ask for a more supportive and uplifting audience, and you’ll never sound better than you do in our hall. You can email me at whangateaufolk@gmail.com if you’d like to reserve a spot.

Half time bikkies and a hot beverage. Oooh, I’ll have some samples of the new Turbo Tonic Latte powder for anyone wanting to try that!

See you at 7pm on November 4th, my friends. Until then, keep that good ol’ music in your heart!

Jenine

Held by Leigh Knitting Group, with proceeds going to Leigh Library.

Club night this month is Monday, the 30th of September. We have a very special treat for our second half. The Mollymawks, aka Alasdair Baxter and Emily Allen, are making their very first appearance at the Hall! The Mollymawks are an acoustic guitar/vocals/violin duo playing original songs and tunes with a Celtic flavour.

This being our regular club night, the first half will be full of our amazing local musicians performing 2 song floor spots. If you would like to be one of those lovely floor singers, email whangateaufolk@gmail.com to get your name on the list!

Doors open at 6:45pm for a 7:00pm start, and your $15 entry fee includes a half time cup of tea and biscuit!

We have just received word that works will be commencing shortly for the public toilet replacement and domain enhancement at Whangateau Domain Recreation Reserve.

These works involve;

• Demolition of the old toilet block
• Installation of new pre-fabricated toilet block
• Replacement of hall water tank
• Installation of additional wastewater storage tank
• New line marking and wheel stops to car park
• New timber bollards to domain reserve

Rendering of new toilet block

Physical works will be carried out by M Keoghan Contractors,
Project Management by Hutchinson Consulting Engineers,
Auckland Council Project Manager is Chris Moyne.

Work is scheduled to commence Monday 12nd August and be completed by Friday 27th September 2024. The hall toilet block and car park area will need to be closed for the a short period during of the works. Site fencing and signage will be installed at the entrance.

Whangateau Hall is BACK!  And shinier than ever.  Join us on Monday, the 29th of July for a very special folk club night featuring Chris Dent of Albi and the Wolves!

Doors open at 6:45pm for a 7pm start with first half floor singers. Email whangateaufolk@gmail.com to book. $15 cash or bank transfer only.

This is a guaranteed great night of live acoustic folk music. See you there!

Chris Dent, mostly known as Albi from Albi & The Wolves, is an entertaining and earnest performer who’s been writing songs since childhood. He’s happy to spin a yarn, and open the door to his life experiences. He’s sometimes smooth, sometimes energetic, and occasionally heartwrenching, All in all Chris is a performer that you simply need to see if you get the chance!