Ready to laugh, enjoy a night of comedy! This is a benefit concert to raise funds for the 50th Canterbury Folk Festival to be held on Easter weekend 2026 (3-6 April)
Big Jim Small, the night's comic compere. Christchurch comedian Big Jimmy Small loves the folky vibe and humour and is a familiar sight around folk music festivals and events. His quirky, wry humour and personable presence will ensure the evening is upbeat and fun.
The main act, Eric McEachen, performed at the first Canterbury Folk Festival and has been attending ever since.
A special release of two recordings made at the Greendale Studios has been released for this concert and the festival, which will be on sale at the concert. If they sell out, further copies will be available. CDs $20 each
Also orders for the book written by Tony Hale about the life and music of Eric. A credit to them both, following hours of research to craft this biography. Orders taken for this book will be released at the festival.
This concert concentrates on the joy that music and poetry bring us, a fun night assured.
Other acts will be:
Sarah Saunders and Brian Clarke:
Sarah is an up-and-coming singer making waves in the local music scene.
Hailing from Oxford, she is a regular guest artist for local bands, performs in music shows, acoustic duo gigs and is a stand-out at open mic events. With a strong, versatile voice suited to a wide range of genres, Sarah is quickly honing her craft and is one to watch as a rising talent in Canterbury.
Brian is a compelling singer, songwriter, guitar player and entertainer with a strong voice and an incredibly varied repertoire of material across acoustic and electric genres. A founding member of the well-established Christchurch band The Meaniez, known for their energetic and engaging performing style. In recent times, Brian has gravitated towards solo and acoustic performing.
Roy Evans:
Roy is a self-described late-in-life music pupil, beginning with acoustic guitar, singing, and songwriting. Mid-life acquiring a guitar (from a real fire sale), joining the Christchurch Folk Club (then meeting at Madison’s bar), attending his first Folk Music Festival (at Wainui), and learning a ‘C’ chord!
From an upbringing in a boating and fishing family, live acoustic music has proved both novel and inspirational.
Musical influences include folk and blues genres, techniques and styles learnt from wonderful (and patient) guitar and singing tutors. Folk Club blackboard concerts and bush poetry sessions have been an introduction to the experience of live performance.
Recent highlights on the ‘journey’ include a Barkman guitar and a Nightshift Studio-produced CD “Between You and Me” of original songs.
Graybeard (Neal Irwin):
Graybeard currently has about 30 of his own New Zealand poems and a dozen or so of Sam Hunt's and a few others, which are performed at various locations throughout Canterbury. He says his poems are written to be told about real people and real places.
John Collings:
Born in Oamaru, educated in Catholic schools, which was his first introduction to singing. At St Josephs, he was known as one of the Three Angels (Michael, Michael and John) where they were taught by the Nuns to sing and compete at events regularly. When his voice broke, he went into musical hibernation.
On a visit to Hawaii in 2013, his interest in music was reignited. He bought his first Ukulele and proceeded to teach himself how to play, which also reignited his interest in finding his own voice. The Ukulele was his instrument of choice for a few years, where it took him on a journey of teaching and then ultimately making them. To date, he has made over 70 Ukuleles and is still doing so today. He has also made 3 guitars, 1 electric guitar and two Weissenborn style Hawaiian slide guitars (one of which was for himself), and he is currently teaching himself to play.
About 10 years ago, he taught himself to play, to accompany himself singing. In Germany in 2019, he bought his first Hohner harmonica, which has developed into an obsession with being competent in the diatonic and on the learning curve for chromatic harmonicas, now regularly playing the Guitar/Ukulele, harmonica and singing. As happens in life, a medical scare slowed him down considerably and significantly dented his confidence. In 2025, he started writing his own songs, motivated by his first sortie into the Gold Guitar competition and has completed 10 to date.
Muddy Mama Duo – Judi Smitheram and Mary Ruston:
Mama Judi, with her powerful bluesy vocals bringing the magic, with the finesse of the extraordinary and epic keys talent of Mary, expect some songs tinged with a blatant sense of humour and the spark of absolute joy.
Book here https://www.trybooking.com/nz/BCNI
Members $20, General Admission $25 & Students with ID $5
Venue: Christchurch Irish Society Hall is situated up the long driveway, directly next to Domain Park, and there is plenty of well-lit off-street parking.
Doors open 7pm. Performance starts at 7.30pm - online bookings will close prior to the event start time. After this time only door sales will be available on the night and will be dependent on the number of seats available in line with the Hall capacity.
Please bring cash for tea, coffee, biscuits and cake available during the break, also bar facilities for cold refreshments throughout the night, Eftpos available at the bar for purchases only, no cash-out facility.
Folk Club and Irish Society members please remember to bring your membership card for licensing purposes. Non-members sign in at the bar if making purchases.
