Christchurch Folk Music Club

Jonathon Harper needs little introduction. He has paid his dues now after half a century of touring, composing, and recording.

His career has fallen into different eras with the focus on mastering a certain type of music: Folk, Classical, Latin, Rock, Italian, Flamenco, and (naturally enough) World Music.  

His recent concert at Waikanae’s public Art Gallery with his ART GHETTO band featured a multi-instrumental mix of South American, Folk, and Jazz…creating their own local version of World Music. It included two South American musicians.

Now, with his upcoming solo Road Works concert for us, he will present an equal measure of original guitar instrumentals and poetic songs that reflect ordinary life in New Zealand. Jonathon admires and likes to emulate Sam Hunt’s approach that has harnessed a sophisticated knowledge of language and poetry to successfully reflect the experience of life back to ordinary Kiwis – including shows in public bars.  

Jonathon resided for seven years in Christchurch, then Wellington. He has also lived in Rome, Italy. Now he is enjoying living among the sylvan surroundings and bathing in the warm water at Laingholm beach near Titirangi in Auckland.

Some original highlights:
SONG OF A PAKEHA
FOLK MOODS FOR BRUCE (Bruce was president of the Palmerston North Folk Club and debated the nature of Folk Music with Jonathon)
BLUE ROMANCE (instrumental composed at Corsair Bay)
SIETE (instrumental with seven beats to each bar)
THE WAGON (Clydesdale Wagon versus modern cars)
MERVYN THOMPSON (you probably know the story)

Website: https://jonathonharper.weebly.com/