Christchurch Folk Music Club
Andrew London Duo
4 May 2025
- Members: $20
- Non-members:25
- Students $5
Book tickets below
Andrew London’s quirky songs will make you laugh out loud as you recognise yourself and everyone around you, and all the prejudices, obsessions and weird little idiosyncrasies we Kiwis put out on display every day.
There are songs about politics, social status, shopping habits, teenagers, coffee culture, neighbours and small town protocol. And insights into the unpredictable and tenuous lives of traveling musicians, based on having played a thousand gigs from the woolsheds of Central Otago to the board rooms of Queen Street.
Delivery is wrapped in an eclectic mix of jazz/blues/country and folk styles with Andrew’s swing-era guitar style accompanying, while partner Kirsten underpins solidly on bass and backing vocals, lyric-prompting and emotional counselling.
Andrew’s songs have contributed to popular trio Hot Club Sandwich, country band The Cattlestops, the Too Many Chiefs quartet and numerous other collaborations at jazz, blues, folk, country and arts festivals from Queenstown to Auckland, Melbourne to Norfolk Island and Sydney to Saudi Arabia. The enforced isolation of the Covid lockdown saw the duo rearrange his entire repertoire to suit, with the results viewable on eight 40-minute Youtube episodes called ‘Live at The Londons’.
His songs and recordings have gained 4-star reviews in Downbeat magazine (the World’s longest-running and most widely read jazz magazine), provided soundtracks to movies (Second-Hand Wedding, No Ordinary Sheila, No Petrol, No Diesel), been nominated for Tui awards and contributed to National Radio’s Greatest Song Ever Written and a Correspondence School English Syllabus.
The duo’s current show sees them tighter than ever, the songs more concise, with the accent on acerbic satire, self-deprecating humour and tongue-twisting wordsmithery.
‘I’ve never seen anyone sing so many words, so fast, without swallowing his own tongue. You guys are like Flight of The Conchords for Rest Homes’ said a Radio NZ caretaker.
Come and have a laugh at yourself (and them…they don’t mind)
Doors open 7pm. Performance starts at 7.30pm,
VENUE: Irish Society Hall, 29 Domain Terrace, Spreydon The hall is situated up the long driveway, directly next to Domain Park, and there is plenty of well-lit off-street parking..
How do I get tickets to concerts?
In advance: Book your tickets online. Select the concert you wish to attend and click on the link to book your ticket.
On the day: Purchase tickets at the venue from 7:15pm on the day of the concert if not sold out prior.
PLEASE BRING CASH For: Tea, coffee, biscuits and cake available during the break and the club raffle. Bar facilities for cold refreshments throughout the night, Eftpos available 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.
Ellen Aster & Paul Bacon
18 May 2025
These two artists first both brought their talents to The Open Mic stage at the club, where their ability stood out. We have been delighted to have Ellen and Paul as support acts at the club.
We look forward to a night where we experience more of their creativity, flair and their formula to bring us a night of awe inspiring music. We challenge you to support new local talent, as these two are!, Two young artists to watch as their careers develop.
Sassafras
25 May 2025
The Sassafras Bluegrass Band invites you to a “HOOTENANNY”. What is a “HOOTENANNY”? It is a “banjo-brained hoedown-throwdown-don’t slow down until the cows come home!”
Martin Curtis & Graham Wardrop
15 June 2025
Martin and Graham met in 1989 and formed a close friendship, a partnership that continues to this day. With Graham’s help in 1990 Martin recorded his 3rd album “The Daisy Patch”, which was a finalist in the New Zealand music awards. Since then, Graham has been an integral part of all of Martin’s albums – 10 in total, both as musician and latterly as the sound and recording engineer. They often perform together as a duo and thoroughly enjoy each other’s company.
Open Mic Night – 13 July 2025
13 July 2025
We provide an outlet for local acoustic performers – singers, songwriters & poets all welcome. We encourage all levels – novice or expert – to hone performance skills in front of a sympathetic audience.
Elizabeth Braggins
27 July 2025
Elizabeth is known internationally for her piano playing, singing and composition. Her self-titled album was a showcase of Christchurch and Wellington musicians which went on to become a finalist in the New Zealand Music Awards.
Open Mic Night – 21 September 2025
21 September 2025
We provide an outlet for local acoustic performers – singers, songwriters & poets all welcome. We encourage all levels – novice or expert – to hone performance skills in front of a sympathetic audience.
Charlotte Yates + Show Pony
30 November 2025
One of our most potent songwriters’, Charlotte Yates, is a singer-songwriter with a decent sized catalogue of solo and collaborative work, including four poetry-to-song projects devoted to the work of James K Baxter, Hone Tuwhare, Witi Ihimaera & Katherine Mansfield.