Battle Of The Banjos

Saturday 8th of August at Vogelmorn Upstairs is shaping up to be a five-string showdown between your favourite banjo-slinging bands. Each band brings remarkable talent and a unique sound, but only one lucky plucker will be crowned champion of Battle of the Banjos.

STAN ANTONIO - Phoebe and Alex grew up attending folk festivals and have played around Wellington as part of various folk groups. They dabble in the realms of Americana, folk, and bluegrass, and have recently been writing music together. Their influences include classic artists such as Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings, more contemporary artists such as Adrianne Lenker. They aspire to use the banjo as a force for good in this world, alongside close harmonies and acoustic guitar.

SOUTHRIVER - Alt-folk band Southriver seek to draw you in with their banjo and mandolin led tunes, sweet harmonies and earnest lyrics. From the folk scene in Te Whanganui a Tara they travel the country from North to South finding friends along the way. Releasing their debut EP in 2025 under the banner of the Bidibids they have honed their sound to reflect their love of folk, bluegrass and americana.

With songwriter Sarah August on banjo and guitar and composer Brendan Schenk on mandolin and guitar, these two have been writing and playing together since 2021 creating a repertoire of troubled tunes for troubled times.

BANJO BEN AND THE BREEZE - Banjo Ben and The Breeze are a new folk comedy band based in Wellington. They're known for their iconic beanies and their theatrically charged gigs, which are packed full of catchy lyrics, wild stories and plenty of laughs. Also covering the fields of rap, techno, and pirate music, you'll learn to expect the unexpected. This group cannot be pinned to one specific genre, but their influence stems from artists such as The Decemberists, Flight of the Conchords and Billy Strings. Hold on to your hats because The Breeze is blowing into Vogelmorn…

BOTTOM BUNK CLUB - Bottom Bunk Club is a folkpunk/antifolk band from Pōneke. They combine the energy of a sweaty basement gig with the feel-good plucking and strumming of an old-time bluegrass hoedown. They sound like if Woody Guthrie grew up listening to lots of punk rock. Their melodies are infectious, and you'll be singing along whether you want to or not...


Note:
Vogelmorn Upstairs is not a wheelchair accessible building. There is an accessible bathroom in the space. This is an all ages venue but those under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a designated adult after 8pm. The Vogelmorn Precinct is a community space located in a residential area. With that in mind, the team ask that you be kind to others and that when you leave the gig, you do so quietly to avoid disturbing our neighbours. Please note that our restaurant is currently closed. We are temporarily arranging food trucks for events when possible. Toasties and pies are also available at the bar.