Christchurch Folk Music Club

Graham and Suzanne Lynch have performed together many times, mostly overseas. They first met in the early ‘70s when Suzanne was with The Chicks and Graham backed them in his band, Lutha. It’s a collaboration and friendship that now covers five decades.

Suzzanne Lynch:

Suzanne was discovered along with her sister Judy by New Zealand guitarist Peter Posa, the two sisters became regular performers on the New Zealand television show ‘C’Mon’ in the late 60’s and in 1971 as a soloist Suzanne was also a regular on the television show ‘Happen In’. Having established a name in New Zealand as the blonde member of the popular 60’s duo “The Chicks” and then as a solo performer;

Suzanne travelled to England from New Zealand in Jan 1973 and quickly became one of London’s first call session singers. It was during on of these sessions in 1974 that she met and worked with Cat Stevens. Cat’s single “Oh Very Young” has Suzanne singing the solo line. She had the pleasure of performing with Cat Stevens on two world tours (one 9 months long… one 13 months long) and sang on all his albums from that time on until in1979 when he stopped recording and performing. Through working with Cat Stevens Suzanne met a producer named Paul Samuel Smith and she sang on some of his artists records including Chris De Burgh and Art Garfunkel.

Whilst in England, Suzanne also performed at the Royal Festival Hall for Neil Sedaka’s big concert to re-launch his career in the 70’s, (as part of his 3-girl vocal group), with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, which was recorded live and released on a live album by him.

She spent months travelling up to Birmingham to film a regular television show called “Get It Together” and her vocal group “Bones” used to back all the big English guest artists. Their M.D. was Mike Moran who became a good friend. Suzanne also sang vocal backing on a “Lulu” TV special “Little and Large”, (TV show) The Goodies (TV show) and Leo Sayer’s TV series.

Suzanne had the pleasure of performing with Cat Stevens (now Yusuf Islam) as a special guest at his concert in Christchurch last year.

Suzanne was discovered along with her sister Judy by New Zealand guitarist Peter Posa, the two sisters became regular performers on the New Zealand television show ‘C’mon’ in the late 60’s and in 1971 as a soloist Suzanne was also a regular on the television show ‘Happen In’. Having established a name in New Zealand as the blonde member of the popular 60’s duo “The Chicks” and then as a solo performer.

Graham Wardrop:
From Dunedin band Lutha (1970 – 1973), the first Dunedin band to record two albums of original music, to 2023 with ten albums of mostly original music to his credit, Graham Wardrop has been writing, performing and recording music continuously .

He has toured, opened shows and/or worked with: Tommy Emmanuel, Valdy (Canada), Martin Taylor, Leo Kottke, Manhattan Transfer, Gerry and the Pacemakers, Vanessa-Mae, Michael Crawford, Billy T James, Slim Dusty and many other top-line artists.

2022/23 saw him performing ‘All You Need Is Love’, music of the Beatles, with several orchestras under the baton of maestro Tom Rainey. Not only does Graham maintain a busy performance schedule, but he also handcrafts instruments on which he performs. He is a musician of great versatility and his love of balance, harmony and precision culminates in his richness of sound and a unique style of performance.

Elizabeth Braggins:

Elizabeth’s enthusiasm and aptitude for music led to her first music lessons when she was very little but after a few lessons her music teacher suggested she learn the alphabet first.

She started learning music again a little later and continued to do so until her mid-twenties. As a teenager she learned classical guitar, clarinet and the French horn but the piano and singing have always been her forte.

After completing her degree in music at University of Canterbury, Elizabeth earned a post-graduate degree at Teachers’ College and taught music in a number of high schools including an HOD position at the Christchurch Rudolf Steiner School. She was also a tutor and Programme Leader at the Jazz School (Ara Institute of Canterbury). She now teaches piano, vocals, performance, music theory and composition from her studio a few afternoons a week.

‘Liz Braggins’ has been a familiar name on the Christchurch music scene. She has a unique style developed from many years of immersion in the music industry. Her highly original versions of well-known songs are an eclectic mix of genres highlighting her background in most musical styles.

Elizabeth is also known internationally for her piano playing, singing and composition. Her self-titled album which was produced by Nigel Stone and Malcolm McNeill was a showcase of Christchurch and Wellington musicians which went on to become a finalist in
the New Zealand Music Awards. Other albums include a duet album with Graham Wardrop, two albums with Janice Gray and an album with her each of her vocal trio groups ‘Volare’ and ‘Braggins and Wardrop and Dunne’. She is currently completing a second solo album that was recorded on the Steinway piano at St Margaret’s College in the Charles Luney Auditorium.

Her recordings feature frequently on National Radio and she has appeared at many live events including the Christchurch International Jazz Festival, the Christchurch Arts Festival, the Waipara Wine and Food Celebration, the Wanganui Arts Festival and Toast Martinborough. Elizabeth has worked alongside some of New Zealand’s greatest musicians such as Nathan Haines, Caitlyn Smith, Teddy Tahu Rhodes, The Nairobi Trio, Ali Harper, The Warratahs, Beaver, Murray Wood, Tom Rainey, Malcolm McNeill, Stu Buchanan, Hayley Westernra, Don McGlashan, Midge Marsden and the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra.