Music News - Folk music finalists announced
18 December 2006 - 0 Comments
The finalists for New Zealand’s Best Folk Music Album of 2006 have been announced.
Scottish-born duo Ben The Hoose are Kenny Rich and Bob McNeill, a finalist with the album ‘The Little Cascade’ while Birmingham-born Bob Bickerton gains a finals berth for ‘The Likes of Us’. Third finalist is evergreen Kiwi folksters The Warratahs with the quintet’s seventh album ‘Keep On’.
The winner of the Tui for Best Folk Album is to be announced and the trophy presented at the Auckland Folk Festival at the Kumeu Showgrounds on the evening of Sunday January 28.
The Best Folk Album award is part of the New Zealand Music Awards and it is the third year it has been presented at the Auckland Folk Festival.
Fiddler Kenny Rich and guitarist Bob McNeill embody the modern Scots tradition with spirited interpretations of modern and traditional dance music of Scotland. Ben The Hoose formed in early 2005 when the two discovered their shared passion for the music of the Highlands and a common desire to play it to New Zealand audiences.
Bob has twice won New Zealand Music Awards for his song writing and the album, which is the first from the duo, features three of his compositions.
Bob Bickerton is an Englishman who loves Irish songs. The self-confessed Jack of all trades musician wrote and performs all the music on ‘The Likes of Us’ and much of the music has been inspired by visits to Ireland where his wife Evey McAuliffe was born.
He has been a professional musician for 12 years and tours extensively throughout New Zealand performing at festivals, in concerts and at schools. The album was recorded in Bob’s own studio in Todd’s Valley in Nelson.
Originating in Wellington and now based in Auckland The Warratahs are no strangers to the stage at New Zealand music awards.
Barry Saunders, Nik Brown, Sid Limbert, Alan Norman and Mo’ Newport are an iconic folk band that has built a loyal fan base through hard work and constant touring for more than 20 years.
The distinctive vocals of Barry Saunders and individual violin style of Nik Brown that reach all the way back to the band's beginning in 1985 are very much to the fore on ‘Keep On’.
Recording Industry Association of New Zealand CEO Campbell Smith is delighted with the standard of finalists.
“Folk music has never been stronger if the quality of entries received is anything to go by,” Campbell says. “And there is a great mix of seasoned campaigners and new talent in the finalist list which bodes well for the future of the genre in New Zealand.”
The Auckland Folk Festival runs from Friday January 26 until Sunday January 29, 2007 and included in the line-up are last year’s Tui winner Lorina Harding as well as overseas guests The Aardvarks and Streetworthy from England, Canada’s The Compadres and Cloudstreet from Australia.
The festival is in its 34th year and its 17th at the Kumeu Showgrounds. Information about the event is available at www.aucklandfolkfestival.co.nz
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