Christchurch Folk Music Club
Waimate Summer Folk Festival 2025
Book Early for the Waitangi Summer Festival!!
This year Waitangi day falls on a Thursday, so the “formal” festival will run from 12pm on Thursday 6th to 12pm on Sunday 9th when we need to pack up and leave the site.
Our guests this year are the duo Blue Sea Above; Dean Hollebornand Tom Bolton who first played together at a previous Waimate Festival and have gone on to create a fascinating fusion of original folk and violin.
Our other guests are the famous (infamous?) Barreltones. Master musicians Reid Hudson, Steve Barkman, Barry Macdonald and Adrian Higgins have been persuaded to reunite for the festival and treat us to their lively mix of folk, country, and blues.
There will also be jam sessions, black board concerts, humour and poetry events as well as blind dates (musical ones, that is) and a water fight.
This is a small festival with a site limit, so please book early to ensure a spot.
Important Links:
- Further Festival Details
- Programme: Waimate Summer Festival Programme 2025
- Book Tickets: Book your tickets here.
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.
Half Light: Rennie Pearson and Bob McNeill *Sold Out*
19 January 2025 SOLD OUT
Soaring flute melodies, mesmerizing guitar work, award winning songs. A journey of Celtic music with two masters. Driving, hypnotic Celtic music from two of New Zealand’s top players.
Dave McMillan
16 February 2025
Dave McMillan has been entertaining audiences for over 30 years with his rich, soulful voice and amazing guitar playing! Also, mostly true, his funny stories behind his own songs! Dave’s played concerts and festivals all over Australia, NZ and Canada solo and as part of the renowned duo “Wizard & Oz”.
Andrew Lockwood
23 February 2025
Andrew is a traveling journeyman and songwriter from the UK, performing acoustic originals alongside other artists’ work; sharing and celebrating the healing joy of music.
Úna Ní Fhlannagáin – Irish Traditional Song Workshop
2 March 2025
Úna has taught formally and informally since her teens and achieved a first-class honours postgraduate degree in music education at the University of Limerick.
Úna Ní Fhlannagáin
2 March 2025
Úna Ní Fhlannagáin is a harper and singer based in Galway, Ireland. Rooted in the jigs and reels of North Clare and the sean-nós singing of Connemara, she is also influenced by American post-minimalists and free jazz.
Braggins & Wright
9 March 2025
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.
Dave Flynn Celtic Guitar Journey
23 March 2025
In ‘Celtic Guitar Journey‘ he presents beautiful guitar arrangements of Irish and Scottish traditional music, exploring the musical connections between these, and other, ‘Celtic’ countries.
James Gray
30 March 2025
James Gray is a contemporary version of an old-school traveling folk singer. In the past decade, Gray has toured throughout Canada, Europe and Australia, seeing the world and sharing his beloved songs along the way.
Helen Capes
6 April 2024
Helen’s voice and the unique sound of the Northumbrian smallpipes – a magical combination.
Open Mic Night – 13 April 2025
13 April 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.