Unsung Heroes is a concert of songs and poems featuring colourful characters from New Zealand’s wild colonial past.
In the tradition of folk balladeers and with a keen eye for a good story, Chris Priestley created an album of great stories and great songs … songs that portray the heroes and heroines, villains and rogues, magicians, disasters and events that shaped our nation… personalities as diverse as the Prussian adventurer Gustavus von Tempsky; the short life and tragic death of the tightrope dancer and barmaid Jennie Anderson; eyewitness accounts of the Tarawera eruption in 1886; New Zealand’s only female miner, Little Biddy Goodwin of the Buller… and many more.
Unsung Heroes was a finalist in the folk category in the 2013 Tui Awards.
Composer, guitarist and singer Chris Priestley has been one of the primary movers and shakers in in Auckland folk music scene for over thirty years. In addition to his work as a musician and songwriter, Chris was one of the founders of Real Groovy Records and established iconic Auckland folk cafés Java Jive and The Atomic Café.
Chris will be accompanied by Cameron Bennet and Nigel Gavin, with special guests James Wilkinson and Denny Stanway.
Cameron Bennet plays guitar, fiddle and dobro. His musical background lies in British folk, from Nic Jones to John Renbourne, and he has played in various bands performing both Scots and Irish music. These days he is mostly involved in Americana roots music, blues, gospel and bluegrass.
Nigel Gavin is a musician and composer and is best known as a guitar player. In addition to being a highly regarded solo artist and session musician, Nigel has been a member of bands such as popular New Zealand Jazz Quartet, The Nairobi Trio, Robert Fripp’s The League of Crafty Guitarists, The Jews Brothers. His vast musical vocabulary includes acoustic blues, folk, jazz, rock and various world music genres.
Be sure to come along for – in the words of Marty Duda – ‘the most entertaining New Zealand history lesson you’re likely to encounter’!
To find out more about Unsung Heroes check out:
https://13thfloor.co.nz/reviews/cd-reviews/chris-priestley-unsung-heroes-songs-stories-from-new-zealands-distant-past-ode/
http://www.elsewhere.co.nz/music/5764/chris-priestley-unsung-heroes-ode/
$15 Members $20 Non-members $5 Students with ID
Doors open 7.00pm Performance starts at 7.30pm, you will get a seat if you arrive close to 7pm.
The hall is situated up the long driveway, directly next to Domain Park, and there is plenty of well-lit off street parking.
DOOR SALES CASH ONLY: Please note: there is no Eftpos available on site.
Tea, coffee, biscuits and cake available during the break, also cash bar facilities for cold refreshments throughout the night.
