Christchurch Folk Music Club
Fat Boy & Slim Review
Sunday 1st March, 2009
By Marjorie Mitchell
God Bless the Queen! Victoria that is. Dave Hart (Fat Boy) and John Jones (Slim) right royally entertained us at the Folk Club last night.
Vaudeville is what Fat Boy and Slim excel at – like you have not seen for many a year. On a very small stage, they changed costumes in a trice and in so doing, they changed into any manner of characters. We were in turn, serenaded , scared, mocked and shocked – while being fed on outlandish tales of pretend mayhem from characters intended to thrill or chill sending shivers down the spine. It was very well done, mainly because the words came across so clearly – albeit a tad Cockney. The sense of energetic ridiculous drama, was highlighted by Jane Hart, playing her trombone for The Fella What Plays the Trombone.
Enjoying the Victorian humour, the audience participated by either hissing, groaning or screaming – all the while chortling in their seats at the surprising madness of it all. Singing was not compulsory but we all joined in with items such as: I’m Shy Mary Ellen, A Mother’s Lament. Sweeney Todd and You Can’t Take That Thing On the Train and many others – all easy to sing along with.
It was an evening of thrilling melodrama. My advice to Dave and John is that those unplanned errors on stage bring unintended laughs and those are simply loved by the audience. You don’t need to try too hard, as the enjoyment comes from watching your antics– turned into art, via a keyboard and mandolin plus two eccentric personalities.
So please keep up the tradition – tunes, songs and poems were all in the best British taste. Along with us, Queen Victoria would be very amused.
Monique Aiken and Ryan Fisherman 28.04.19
Two local young talented local musicians shared their music, their collaborations, the inspiration behind their creativity and most of all their love of performing. A night where the craft of singer-songwriting was truly to the fore, as Monique and Ryan both shared...
Women of Folk Concert 23-09-2018
A special concert to celebrate the important contribution that the women of folk have achieved. Music permeates our hearts carrying a strong message that has both challenged for change and acknowledged achievements to coincide with the Suffrage 125...
Colin Henderson and Jeff Bell 09.09.2018
Colin and Jeff brought their favourites to become our favourites. Jeff and Colin both respected musicians in their own rights joined forces to play a mixture of covers featuring songs from Bob Dylan to Adele. We were promised a laid back night and songs we could sing...
The Chaps, the final concert to mark the 50th Celbrations
The finale concert on Sunday 25th November 2018, to celebrate the Folk Club's 50th anniversary weekend, we welcomed The Chaps from Dunedin acknowledging the long supportive association that exists between the Folk Clubs in Christchurch and Dunedin. Since 1989...
Uke Nomad: Anu and Laurie- uke vibe and energy 24.03.2019
Uke Nomad Uke Nomad - Anu Grace and Laurie Bycroft, Australian kiwis at heart on their third tour of the south island are re-living the rich troubadour tradition of writing/storytelling and singing up the places, rivers and people they meet. The connections made over...
Beyondsemble – Back of Beyond Tour 04/03/2018
Back of Beyond generously gave a funky, folk, good fusion feel when they played at the Folk Club on Sunday 4th March 2018. With Craig Denham on accordion, piano, vocals and percussion, along with Nathan Torvik on guitar, vocals, bass and mandolin, and...
Folk Club 40th Birthday
Tracy Kolenchuk has made a pictorial record of the Folk Club's 4oth Birthday, and it is shared here: http://www.pbase.com/tracyk/2008_11_23_christchurch_folk_dance_music
Ryan Neville and the Midnight Blues Show Band 15/07/2018
An audience member commented that it was impossible to sit still with this fabulous music playing, they just had to stand up and dance. This summarises the night, music that offered toe tapping danceable grooves. Just back for a tour in USA the tight and...
Too Many Chiefs – 22/07/2018
I was pleased I went to Christchurch Folk Music Club on a cold Sunday night. 'Too Many Chiefs' are very good musicians. I enjoyed all their unique songs as each band member performed their own work. If you are like me and enjoy memorable lyrics go and see...
Matty Smith and Josh Braden, acoustic and harmonious
29 July 2018, A soft, acoustic approach for a night filled with the creativity of Matty's original songs to the fore and shining. There was contrast throughout the night. The night opened with the tones of the David Gray sound-alike Matty...