After successful concerts at the Christchurch Folk Club in the recent past with
Suzanne Lynch and Graham Wardrop followed by a solo concert last August,
Elizabeth Braggins now teams up with John Wright

Elizabeth is a singer and piano player.
She performs mostly around the South Island or is working from home recording,
writing and arranging music. She also teaches piano, vocals, performance and music
theory from her studio.
Apple Music – Album
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John Wright is a former international cricketer and coach.
He became the first New Zealander to score over 5000 test match runs and was the Indian Cricket team’s first foreign coach. John is still involved on a part-time basis with cricket working for the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premiere League (IPL).
“Hotels and travel have been a fact of life. My guitar has been my constant companion, and I am still figuring out how to play it. A long time ago, stumped again by Sultans of Swing in a hotel room somewhere, I decided I would start writing my own songs.

So here we are with the help of Liz who has taken pity on me!!! ”
www.johnwrightmusic.co.nz
John Wright talks about his other life as a musician and songwriter

Welcoming Support Act: Copper and Steel

Martin Kraakman and Rosie Laing have enjoyed a musical collaboration of voice and finger-style guitar for the last eight years and were asked to give their duo a name for a concert in Hanmer Springs. So ‘Copper and Steel’ have a few familiar and less well-known folk and popular covers to share.

Review – 30 May 2022

Unity Week Concert – Celebrating Diversity

Sunday 16 March 2025

Music knows no boundaries. It transcends language, culture, and borders, weaving into the fabric of our existence.
Mothers have sung lullabies to their children cradled in their arms in every culture, songs and dance have marked commemorative passages of life throughout the world, and the sharing of music is universal and a tradition for most of us all.

This concert honours the importance of both music and culture in our lives, and sharing music and culture brings us a greater appreciation of  and the importance of multiplicity.
On this special week to mark unity, we honour the diverse sounds and rhythms that form the tapestry of world music, connecting people across the globe in a harmonious symphony of unity here in Otautahi and Aotearoa.
https://www.unityweek.co.nz/
We offer a small taste of some of the diverse groups that gather to continue their musical traditions here in Christchurch. It is an honour to have these groups so willingly share their heritage with us, so we can both appreciate and learn from their traditions, and pave the way for a better understanding with the hope of gaining a sense of unity, awareness and respect.
There will be local talent sharing their heritage with you, offering you a wide and diverse variety that reflect the collaborations we experience in our community.
Following the tangata whenua tradition, the opening and closing of the concert will be Maori, creating a special atmosphere for a variety of performers offering their traditional taonga’

A night of cross cultural reflection assured.

Performers:

Musica Balkanica
Christchurch Choir, Musica Balkanica is an amateur a cappella choir, formed in 2004 by enthusiastic singers from the Balkan region and New Zealand. Our primary aim is to celebrate and ‘spread the joy’ of the wonderful and large musical heritage of this region, in both sacred and folk genres. The sacred pieces, from Eastern Orthodox tradition (many from the Divine Liturgy), date from Byzantine times to the last century. The folk songs cover the whole range from wistful love songs and patriotic laments to drinking songs and frantic village dances.
Some folk pieces are accompanied by a tapan – a large, double-sided Bulgarian drum, played with two different sticks to produce bass and treble notes.     info@musicabalkanica.org

Haka Roopu
Although haka was traditionally created and performed for battle to dissuade or threaten the enemy, it has evolved to serve many purposes. It now symbolizes community, acceptance, inclusivity, purpose, and mana, bringing different expressions of communities together. Haka is not exclusive to Māori, anyone is welcome to perform haka, provided it is done with the seriousness and respect it deserves, and the performers understand its meaning and significance.
The ASA Haka Roopu began in May/June 2023 and started with a small group of tāne Māori keen to learn, teach, support one another, and perform haka, which inspired its name. Since then, it has grown to include waiata, Māori games, group discussions, ex-residents, community involvement, and the integration of TSA social service centres, creating a dynamic and inclusive space. While we follow a standard structure for the sessions, they are guided by the wairua, making each session unique.
At ASA, haka can be performed for various kaupapa, such as supporting graduations, local events, memorial services, at Recovery Church, or when showing respect and solidarity towards special guests.

Yujing and Ariel
Yujing and Ariel are a mother-daughter duo bringing something unique and fun! Blending Chinese and Western folk music in a way that’s about more than just the tunes—it’s about sharing stories and connecting with people.
We perform featuring the pipa (a beautiful Chinese stringed instrument) and guitar. We sing in harmony and love mixing things up with both Chinese and Western styles, including some fun folk songs for kids.
What makes us special is that we’re a family act, bringing together different cultures through music. We love showing how folk music from all over can connect people.
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Women in Harmony
Women in Harmony is a fun, dynamic choir singing music from all over the world. We are a women’s choir with around 20 members of all ages and walks of life who come together to share our love of music through singing. We sing a variety of world, folk and popular music in 3 part harmony. No previous choir experience is needed, nor is the ability to read music. Our rehearsals are relaxed, friendly and fun and new members are welcome to join us at any time.
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Bidibids from Wellington
The Bidibids have become regulars in the Wellington folk scene idea of creating an authentic home-grown folk sound. With lush harmonies, intricate arrangements, and beguiling melodies, the Bidibids explore what it means to play folk music in New Zealand. The Bidibids are Sarah August on banjo and guitar, Simon Carryer on cello-banjo, and Brendan Schenk on mandolin and guitar. The trio came together at the 2020 Wellington Folk Festival, where they were each supposed to be playing in different groups. Since then, the Wellington-based band have become regulars at some of the region’s best venues for folk music, including the Mussel Inn, Moon, and the Wellington Bluegrass Society.
Driven by Sarah’s honest, intimate songwriting and Brendan’s blazing musicianship, the Bidibids balance soulful ballads that will tug your heartstrings with upbeat numbers that will get your toes tapping. Influenced by American bluegrass and folk bands like Watchhouse and Nickel Creek, they’re also inspired by local acts like the Eastern and Marlon Williams who are forging an authentic New Zealand folk tradition.
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New EP
Credit ©Rebecca McMillan Photography

Muddy Mama’s Trio
This trio features the vocals of front-woman Judi Smitheram, keyboard extraordinaire Mary Ruston and the security of the reliable bass rhythm of Tim Wilkinson. We enjoy playing together, it is truly a pleasure to share our joy of music with you. We have a tear-jerker referencing the vulnerability of life, a song of hope that with positivity we can change perspectives as well as a stand-up anthem, a powerhouse call for equality.

James Gray with support act – Saffron Sisters

Sunday 30 March 2025