Gig Review: Kronos Quartet (March 11, Wgtn)
Kronos Quartet MFC Monday, March 11 To see Kronos Quartet (finally!) 40 years after the group was formed is to witness an ensemble committed to the redefinition of chamber music; this fiercely...
View ArticleJoan Baez To Play Two New Zealand Shows
It was great news to hear that Joan Baez will play two New Zealand shows later this year; Auckland, Thursday August 29 at The Civic and Wellington, Saturday August 31, MFC. Joan Baez. I love her In...
View ArticleGig Review: Madeleine Peyroux (Feb 23, Wgtn)
Madeleine Peyroux NZ Festival 2014: MFC Sunday, February 23 Madeleine Peyroux has tried, in her way, to be free of the Billie Holiday comparisons – but then, when she hits into her version of Bird On A...
View ArticleGig Review: Hugh Laurie and The Copper Bottom Band (April 16, Wgtn)
Hugh Laurie and The Copper Bottom Band MFC, Wgtn Wednesday, April 16 Hugh Laurie won the audience over instantly with his schmooze, his shtick. We were there to see the actor having a go at music. And...
View ArticleGig Review: Kris Kristofferson (May 5, Wgtn)
Kris Kristofferson MFC, Wgtn Monday, May 5 He’s nearly 78 years old. And there he is with just his guitar, a couple of harmonicas to rasp on occasionally and speaking of rasp – his voice. A bit of...
View ArticleOrpheus Choir of Wellington presents Dreams Lie Deeper: A Concert Dedicated...
Orpheus Choir of Wellington presents Dreams Lie Deeper: A Concert Dedicated to the Pike River Miners MFC, Wgtn Saturday, May 10 For this special concert we heard the world premiere of If Blood Be The...
View ArticleStubs: # 32 – Clannad, Wellington, 1996
Across the years I’ve mentioned, now and then, that I saw Clannad – the band. Live. “What?” comes the reply. “Did they do that Robin Hood song?” comes the bonus chortle. Yes they did. And it was...
View ArticleStubs: # 76 – Soweto String Quartet, Wellington, 1997
Once I was moneybags! Once. It probably ended on this night actually – I remember shouting two friends to this gig, on a whim really. I had one of the albums by the Soweto String Quartet and I was into...
View ArticleStubs: # 77 – Melissa Etheridge, Wellington, 2012
For some reason I figured that Melissa Etheridge might be a very good concert – I’ve never been a fan, but I could respect her relative longevity, and her role as a spokesperson, role model, a hero to...
View ArticleStubs: # 82 – Guinness Celebration of Irish Music, Wellington, 1997
Not a whole lot of recollection around this one – and not due to any huge amount of the sponsor’s product by the way; just lost in the mists of time. A friend (Irish) wanted to go, knew of cheap...
View ArticleStubs: # 85 – Chris Cornell, Wellington, 2011
Been thinking about this show a bit lately – what with the announcement that Cornell is returning to play another solo acoustic gig. It was good. Really good actually. And I was up in the air about it...
View ArticleGig Review: Orchestra Wellington 2. LITTLE RUSSIAN (June 20, Wgtn)
Orchestra Wellington with Michael Houstoun and Leila Adu: 2. LITTLE RUSSIAN MFC Saturday, June 20 For the second performance in Wellington Orchestra’s six-part series it was to Leila Adu, 2014’s...
View ArticleStubs: #95 – Ben Harper, Wellington, 2012
I’m old enough to remember when Ben Harper was good. That’ll be something someone says one day – you know, besides me just ‘saying’ it then. It’s true though. And I am. I saw him the first couple of...
View ArticleStubs: #96 – Sonny Rollins, Wellington, 2011
This gig was pretty special – obviously because it was Sonny Rollins, living jazz legend. But also, on a personal note, I had interviewed him; one of my all-time favourite interviews. I’m in two minds...
View ArticleStubs: #105 – Man vs Wild: An Evening with Bear Grylls, Wellington, 2011
This was an odd one. It was just after the Christchurch earthquake – and we had taken in some billets; some people from Christchurch who, at the time, simply wanted the fuck out of Christchurch. We had...
View ArticleStubs: #107 – Petula Clark, Wellington, 2010
Billed as You and I: An Intimate Evening with Petula Clark it was – basically – a Petula Clark concert. But the title allowed for some chat between the songs, that is to say some real chat, a bit more...
View ArticleStubs: #111 – Richard Clayderman, Wellington, 2013
The truth is I kinda wanted to see Richard Clayderman – I mean, yes, it was a review-job and I would not have paid. But I was hoping, in a weird – and overly optimistic – way for a gig that would...
View ArticleStubs: #124 – Joan Baez, Wellington, 2013
You sometimes figure you know exactly how it’s going to go. The artist has been around a while, is a legend – of sorts – or possibly a has-been (and usually it depends who you ask) and you know that...
View ArticleGig Review: Orchestra Wellington 2. LITTLE RUSSIAN (June 20, Wgtn)
Orchestra Wellington with Michael Houstoun and Leila Adu: 2. LITTLE RUSSIAN MFC Saturday, June 20 For the second performance in Wellington Orchestra’s six-part series it was to Leila Adu, 2014’s...
View ArticleStubs: #95 – Ben Harper, Wellington, 2012
I’m old enough to remember when Ben Harper was good. That’ll be something someone says one day – you know, besides me just ‘saying’ it then. It’s true though. And I am. I saw him the first couple of...
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