Christchurch Folk Music Club

Adam McGrath and Esther Swift Friday 21st February 2020

Adam McGrath and Esther Swift a night of contrast and exceptional musicianship. Esther from the Northern hemisphere brought grace, exquisite techniques that highlight her talented compositions juxtaposing against the raw energy of the Southern hemisphere boy, who weaves stories that thread his songs together in a wonder of captivation and awe. The contrasts were not tectonic plates raunchily grating against the other, their alternate works were like the springboard that launched the musical musings into the limelight displaying the respect that each other upheld for their co-performers. This esteem was so evident which gave the audience the reassurance that this was indeed two creatives working in symbiotic respect and harmony. The opening duet was powerful, both in its execution and the challenge ably achieved to change a contemporary rock ballad into a folk ballad. To my ears there was really no other way to hear this song. Bringing that freshness as a duet to the conclusion of the show would have added the pinnacle of performance accolades, however, did not distract from the concert of sensational talents sharing the stage. Judi Smitheram

More Reviews

All Girl Big Band

1st July 2018 A night where the audience was treated to a fantastic display of exceptional musicianship. One of the attendees asked ‘where else in the world would you have got such top entertainment for $10 or $15? no where, it was an...

read more

The Secret Lives of Ukulele

 24 June 2018 Rocking those ukuleles and cigar box guitars – throwing in bass and drums! Presenting with a rainbow mix of colour, all made for a kaleidoscopic extravaganza for the senses. The mood lighting enhanced the night; songs with water...

read more

Eddie Simon – Music Accolades Over Many Years

Eddie Simon expressed his nervousness to me before he performed at the club. On reflection is truly a compliment, as this illustrates his care about the audience, their opinion and that his songs are important to him and his wish to have his...

read more

Trouble In The Kitchen

Club concert - 28 May, by Lorcan Bolster Trouble In The Kitchen are a young, Melbourne based, traditional Irish Music band and a damn fine band they are. Over here in NZ on their first overseas tour they are Ado Barker on fiddle, Ben Stevenson on flute,...

read more

Simon Kerr

Review by Lynette-Diaz - July 20, 2008 New Zealand native, Simon Kerr, has been living in Australia for the past six months. Leaving his New Zealand band the Acoustic Junkies to go it solo in the big Melbourne pond. During his recent Folk Club...

read more

Ruth Wyand – Review

Club concert - 23 April, by Isabella Miller Bell I really look forward to receiving the folk club magazine and reading through to see who's coming to town and who's doing what with whom these days. When I read that Ruth Wyand was to be...

read more

Rural Delivery

Concert at Club Sunday 8 October, Reviewed by Margorie Mitchell With "just a desire to entertain" Rural Delivery succeed from every angle. A comedy night – with incidental music – was an understatement offered from one of the band during the...

read more

Port Fairy Folk Festival – March 9th-12th, 2007

By Lance Risk If it is possible to have too much of a good thing, Port Fairy Folk Festival is just that for a hard core Festival haunting Folkie like me. It is like every New Zealand festival run over the same weekend. Set up six giant tent...

read more

Back Porch Music

Reviewed By Larry Milnes I noticed in a review in the previous Hear Ye that the reviewer closed with the postscript "If you love music don’t flog it off the net" and while I agree with this, a positive by-product of this digital technology is...

read more