Tuesday, Nov. 11th: Adam McGrath + Supports

Adam McGrath is a folk singer and yarn spinner stationed wherever he can get a key!  He is the winner of the 2024 Aotearoa/New Zealand Folk Artist of the Year Award at the Aotearoa/New Zealand music awards.  

Described by RNZ as a “National Treasure” and the Herald as “NZ’s toughest minded songwriter”, Adam is more widely known as lead singer and songwriter with one of NZ’s  most loved roots/country bands The Eastern.

He spends 8 months a year on the road between NZ, Australia, Europe and parts beyond. With The Eastern and solo he has shared stages with and opened for Fleetwood Mac, Steve Earle, Old Crow Medicine Show, Paul Kelly, Jimmy Barnes and many, more. His song Hope and Wire was the inspiration behind Gaylene Preston’s TV series of the same name and he is known for his service orientated approach to music in the years since.

Described as “maybe part folk singer, part preacher, part boxer, and part rodeo clown he is however all heart”. Raucous, tender, roof and spirit raising a McGrath show goes straight for the spirit level in all of us, looking deep for the good parts and hoping to reach all the thoughtful bits that matter.

****
 -Q magazine (UK)

*****
-NZ Herald

“NZ’s toughest minded songwriter”
-Graeme Reid

 “One of the best modern roots artists, from any country”
-No Depression magazine

“A national treasure”
-Radio NZ National

The Bidibids

You listen to folk music because you want to hear something intimate and honest. Something that speaks in your language. A connection from one human being to another. You want music that sounds like how you feel.

Since 2021, the Bidibids have become regulars in the Wellington folk scene. With Sarah August on banjo and guitar, Simon Carryer on cello-banjo, and Brendan Schenk on mandolin and guitar, they are steeped in bluegrass and Americana, but inspired by the idea of creating an authentic home-grown folk sound.

 

Karen Munro

Karen Munro’s reportoire of original songs provides an eclectic mix ranging from jazz blues, to trad to Americana.

Accompanying herself on guitar and sometimes mouth harp, she also plays fiddle and mandolin. Her first album, Across the Blue was released a few years ago and she is now on her second which she hopes to release early next year.