Christchurch Folk Music Club
Recipients of Christchurch Civic Awards 2019 – Judi Smitheram
Article care of: Christchurch City Council
“Folk music is the voice of the community, the voice that traditionally comforts the disturbed and disturbs the comfortable. It is the music that binds the generations together, the harmony that bridges ages, cultures and every social level. For the last four years she has been the Secretary of the Christchurch Folk Music Club, and President of the Canterbury Folk Music Festival, a task into which she has poured countless hours of dedication.
Thanks in large part to her commitment, the Festival is recognised within the world of folk music as a national event, attracting not only local musicians, but artists from such faraway lands as Finland, Denmark, Ghana and Auckland. She is deeply involved in all aspects of the activities of the club and the festival, managing guests and finance, arranging catering, cleaning and accommodation, and organising children’s activities. Her love of folk music as an art form and as a vehicle for social connections is boundless, and infectious to all around her.
Always willing to do more, give more, and take less, she is adept at little touches, making working with her a joy, not only for her administrative skills but also for her baking and flowers. She is a truly outstanding woman.”
– Christchurch City Council – 2019
More coverage: CCC Newsline
Phil Garland – Folk Music Awards 2007
The founder and life member of the Christchurch Folk Club, Phil Garland, won the Tui for the best folk album of 2007.
A Collection of Photos from John Flynn
The first 6 photos in this collection provided by John Flynn were taken by Brian Milne at the High Street Folk Center A very young Alistair Hulett Frank Fyfe Bush Band (L-R) Warwick Brock, Gordon Collier, Vic Brown, Frank Fyfe, Dave Hart, Mike...
Barry Davies
By Tony Hale Copyright 2017 Despite the Welshness of his name, Barry Davies is from South Devon, from Paignton to be exact and in 1971 he was a 23 year old guitar hero of the author who would sit in the front row of the Folk Centre taking notes. Each had...
Obituary – Brien Halpin
At the age of 84, another voice in the Christchurch Folk Music Club’s 49 year history speaks no more
The Folk Boom & Beyond
Folk music has been an integral part of the Christchurch music scene since the early 1960s.