Welcome to Songwriters' Saturday ANZAC Special!
We have another exciting evening of homegrown music planned for your enjoyment. Things kick off at 6.30 p.m. with the first of three very cool acts. Your host venue, The Realm is fully seated, with Bar and Restaurant facilities available throughout and reservations can be made online at https://therealm.co.nz/ or by phone. Parking is free and, on the street, with easy access from the front of the building. The music ends around 9 o'clock.
Wellington singer songwriter Rachel Hird opens the evening with songs from her EP 'Through the Page', launching on 25th April. She is joined by singer songwriter Brenda Shearer on vocals, guitarist and songwriter Marty Parlane and the Grey Dog Band for some songs. Loving a good yarn, Rachel has found a way of bringing stories to life through music without being too long-winded about it. Just touch of nostalgia permeates the lyrics whilst we are reminded of the changing landscape and awesome natural forces we live with in Aotearoa New Zealand. Uncomplicated piano accompaniments add groove to the songs and cool, catchy riffs create choruses to remember. For a taste of 'Through the Page' check out the recently released singles 'Shy Girl' and 'Quake' on Bandcamp.
The Grey Dog band comprises four wizened hamsters who bravely continue to run on the Eternal Wheel of Attrition. Their music is like clear mountain streams, like balm after the cut and thrust of battle, like the sinuous dance of the cobra, like the cold laughter of the galaxies. They have friends in high and low places, so if you don’t like their songs, it’s probably best not to say so.
They are John Broadbent on vocals, guitar and harp, Martyn Parlane on vocals and guitar, Graeme “Grey Dog” Sullivan on bass and vocals and Greg Bates on drums.
Wellington singer songwriter Cindy Muggeridge will be performing her original songs at the Realm as part of Songwriters Saturday on 25 April. Star of the blues and boogie piano, Cindy is often seen performing with her combo the Raven Mavens, playing her always swinging and infectious original songs. She will be joined by the firebrand of the blues harp Neil Billington, one of New Zealand's leading exponents of the instrument. Equally at home playing in the ‘Chicago-style’ of Little Walter on the blues harp or reflecting the more sophisticated jazz sensibilities of Belgian jazz great Jean ‘Toots’ Thielemans, on chromatic harmonica.
