Christchurch Folk Music Club
Waimate Summer Folk Festival 2026
Gunn’s Bush Camp | 5-7 February 2026
This Festival event will have most of the familiar well loved folk festival features-concerts, blackboard sessions, blind date concerts, dance, jamming and a water fight for those with fond memories of the Tui New Year festival.
Book Early for the Waitangi Summer Festival!!
This year Waitangi day falls on a Friday, so the“formal” festival will run from 7pm on Thursday 5th to 11am on Sunday 8th when we need to pack up and leave the site.
Our guests this year are The Port Hillbillies.
Every Tuesday evening, they slope from the shadows of the Port Hills. One American, Justin Rogers, on mandolin, guitar and vocals. One Aussie, Gary Elford, on guitar, acoustic bass and vocals. They meet up with a six-toed Kiwi singer, banjo and guitar player, Steve Stern, to share their love of Bluegrass, Old Timey and Americana music, as well as Jane’s chocolate chip cookies and Milo.
Playing together now for over six years, they have formed into a well-balanced instrumental and vocal trio, driven by Steve’s banjo playing and Justin’s sympathetic and innovative mandolin ornamentation.
Gary’s contribution on guitar and bass pulls the whole thing together into the tight unit that is the Port Hillbillies.
They play a range of songs and tunes from toe-tapping, recognisable standards to some obscure songs from other genres that are given the Porthillbillies once over.
Our other guests will be Progeny from Christchurch.
A father-son-father-son 4-piece band with Sean and Roddy Macpherson covering vocals, piano, guitar, ukulele and bass and Dan and Eddie Park covering violin, viola and percussion (Not all simultaneously! The name seemed amusing at the time, but only to the dads, and now it’s stuck.)
They play a mixture of originals and covers with genres ranging from pop, rock, blues, jazz, folk… They are looking forward to playing for you at the festival. (Rosie and Martin recruited them for the festival after hearing them play an exquisite version of Caledonia at a variety concert, and can vouch for their
musicianship and entertainment value)
There will also be jam sessions, blackboard 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.
Costs have increased slightly this year as the site price per night has gone up.
Full Weekend Pass includes either camping fee or bunk room accommodation and festival attendance.
Programme and site details will be forwarded in January 2026 to registered participants.
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.
Zonnis
15 February 2026
With options to perform as a duo or a full band, Zonnis fits into any setting where music lovers are set to listen. Drawing upon their years of traveling and touring, their music takes you on a journey through upbeat and inspirational to somber and introspective, all with a healthy dose of humor thrown in for good measure.
Dan Walsh
22 February 2026
Describing what Dan does is no easy task but at the heart of it is British, Irish and American folk music delivered with a healthy dose of funky grooves – all performed with his unique and dazzling take on clawhammer style banjo helping to challenge all preconceptions about the instrument.
Kindred Spirit
1 March 2026
Kindred Spirit is an Americana duo from the Foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Jeff Pardue and Randy Gambill have played music together in various bands for over 45 years, and as a result are Kindred Spirit.
Elias Bartholomeo
15 March 2026
In recent times, Elias Bartholomeo has been named one of the top acoustic guitarists in Australia today, with his guitar playing being described as “Walking a tightrope between many genres
all at once!” with a fearless and energetic approach to his live performances.
The Groomsmen
19 April 2026
Collectively joining forces to form ‘The Groomsmen’ these boys are looking to
take the bull by the horns and deliver the goods at every show.
You, Me, Everybody
28 June 2026
You, Me, Everybody hit the road in 2026 for a national tour celebrating Midnight, their new album inspired by the fleeting moment where one day ends and the next begins.