Whitestone 2010: Ten
Whitestone Guest Artists 2010
SLATTERY’S ASHES
Just good ol' boys, they'll never be stars, beatin' it out in the taverns and bars. They'll play for the dance or any ol' chance, songs of drinking, fights and romance. Play for the people, their rallying call, all singing together for one and for all. The luck of the Irish, The pluck of the Scots, the Kiwi, the Traddy, these boys do the lot. And then sometime later, past midnight or one, they'll play you another, for whiskey or fun. When SHINER died there were few who cried, and there may have been many who smiled. But all is forgiven, from the ashes has risen, a band slightly older, still wild. SLATTERY'S ASHES. then under the photo. From 1993 until 2005 SHINER (named after itinerant Irishman Ned Slattery) were a popular band around the southern festival circuit and were regulars at ANNIE FLANAGAN'S BAR in Oamaru, DICEY O'RILEY'S BAR in Dunedin and at various barn dances throughout Otago and Southland. Drawing on a wide range of musical influences SHINER'S aim was to put great songs on front of diverse audiences who might otherwise not hear them. Their wide repertoire of 'covers' was always supplemented by the idiosyncratic songwriting of Vic McDonald. This WHITESTONE FESTIVAL is a chance to showcase Vic's old and new songs with the rest of the ashes blowing around him in support, they'll throw in a few others as well to give Vic's tonsils a spell.
Photo: Trish Saunders
CHRIS PRIESTLY
In 1981 Chris Priestly co founded real groovy records and the same year did his 1st spot at Poles Apart Folk Club. It was soon after that he met Julian McKean, Denny Stanway and Brendon Power, and formed Acoustic Confusion and recorded an LP, Hazy Days. This album was highly acclaimed, and they went on to be guests at the Wellington Folk Festival and Whare Flat Festivals in 1985 and 1986. They started to play at various music venues such as the Java Jive and Atomic Café, helping acoustic music reach a wider audience. In 1995 Chris recorded ‘Argentina to Invercargill’, which was a finalist in the Tui awards. Ten years later he uncovered and recorded a collection of New Zealand Folk songs, which also ended up as a finalist in the Tui awards. After a lovely year in Dunedin (which helped get his songwriting back on track) he is now working, living and playing music in Auckland.
Photo: Trish Saunders
DELGIRL
Delgirl is an all-women three piece musical group from Dunedin. These Southern Gals, Deidre Newell, Erin Morton and Lynn Vare have been making music together since 2000. Their debut album “Two, maybe three, days ride” received great acclaim and was awarded the Tui NZ Folk Album of the Yeah for 2008. This self-released debut album was awarded the Tui at the Auckland Folk Festival in Kumeu. Their second recording “Porchlight” just released late 2009, has also received rave reviews. The acoustic group describes it’s sound as “skiffily, folky, country, jazzy, bluesy roots with a pacific edge bordering a swamp”, and creates harmonies built around the double bass, guitar, ukuleles, banjo, snare and percussion. The trio released its debut album in November 2007. The track ‘Ride’, from the album, has been selected by NZ trade & enterprise to feature on a music placement export disc entitled ‘New Zealand-New Music’ which is distributed to music supervisors in TV and film Worldwide.
Photo: Trish Saunders
Director's Notes:
This year the Whitestone festival celebrates its 17th year. For those who have never been I believe that you have missed something that is unique among New Zealand Folk Music Festivals and it’s right here in Otago less than an hour’s drive from Dunedin at Herbert 20 km south of Oamaru.
We call it the “Warmest Festival of the Year”
Okay it is in winter here in the deep south but we really mean it. This is a small festival limited to 120 people and all present, including our talented guests, who are nearly always local South Island musicians, get into the spirit of mingling together in the warm main hall often around the roaring log fire that burns continuously throughout the weekend. Here we also share evening meals, concerts, dance and workshops and of course just plain good fun, especially during the Sunday night final, cabaret style themed concert. We also encourage everyone to get involved in some way with blackboard concerts, poetry, workshops, dance and a blind date draw.
And you don’t stay in tents. You will be given a bunk, with a mattress in a cabin (some with power points for your own heater, provided it isn’t an old bar type) and access to free hot showers that never seem to run out. There are kitchen facilities available too.
And this is not an expensive festival at all. $75 (adult) $45 (children) gives you three nights and everything the festival has to offer.
Many people there are Whitestone regulars, some who would never miss it and some who having recently discovered it, have become so.
It began in the early nineties when local Oamaruvians, Steve McGlone and Marion Angela, saw an opportunity with Queen’s Birthday Weekend not taken by another festival. In 1999 they moved to Nelson and for one year the Christchurch Folk Club took on the responsibility to keep it alive. Members of the New Edinburgh Club, also not wanting to see it end took it up in 2001 and a few years later it became one of the three festivals our club now officially runs thus ensuring its financial future.
But of course any festival’s future really depends on attendance. This one is inexpensive, it’s fun and it’s nearby. Registrations are now coming in and other than day visitors, which are welcome, there are only 120 places available to share the spirit in the most enjoyable way by staying there.
People are welcome to stay in camper vans etc, but the price is the same and that does not alter our upper limit because that is based on the capacity of the facilities in general.
Keith Tonkin
Whitestone Director.
SLATTERY’S ASHES
Just good ol' boys, they'll never be stars, beatin' it out in the taverns and bars. They'll play for the dance or any ol' chance, songs of drinking, fights and romance. Play for the people, their rallying call, all singing together for one and for all. The luck of the Irish, The pluck of the Scots, the Kiwi, the Traddy, these boys do the lot. And then sometime later, past midnight or one, they'll play you another, for whiskey or fun. When SHINER died there were few who cried, and there may have been many who smiled. But all is forgiven, from the ashes has risen, a band slightly older, still wild. SLATTERY'S ASHES. then under the photo. From 1993 until 2005 SHINER (named after itinerant Irishman Ned Slattery) were a popular band around the southern festival circuit and were regulars at ANNIE FLANAGAN'S BAR in Oamaru, DICEY O'RILEY'S BAR in Dunedin and at various barn dances throughout Otago and Southland. Drawing on a wide range of musical influences SHINER'S aim was to put great songs on front of diverse audiences who might otherwise not hear them. Their wide repertoire of 'covers' was always supplemented by the idiosyncratic songwriting of Vic McDonald. This WHITESTONE FESTIVAL is a chance to showcase Vic's old and new songs with the rest of the ashes blowing around him in support, they'll throw in a few others as well to give Vic's tonsils a spell.
Photo: Trish Saunders
CHRIS PRIESTLY
In 1981 Chris Priestly co founded real groovy records and the same year did his 1st spot at Poles Apart Folk Club. It was soon after that he met Julian McKean, Denny Stanway and Brendon Power, and formed Acoustic Confusion and recorded an LP, Hazy Days. This album was highly acclaimed, and they went on to be guests at the Wellington Folk Festival and Whare Flat Festivals in 1985 and 1986. They started to play at various music venues such as the Java Jive and Atomic Café, helping acoustic music reach a wider audience. In 1995 Chris recorded ‘Argentina to Invercargill’, which was a finalist in the Tui awards. Ten years later he uncovered and recorded a collection of New Zealand Folk songs, which also ended up as a finalist in the Tui awards. After a lovely year in Dunedin (which helped get his songwriting back on track) he is now working, living and playing music in Auckland.
Photo: Trish Saunders
DELGIRL
Delgirl is an all-women three piece musical group from Dunedin. These Southern Gals, Deidre Newell, Erin Morton and Lynn Vare have been making music together since 2000. Their debut album “Two, maybe three, days ride” received great acclaim and was awarded the Tui NZ Folk Album of the Yeah for 2008. This self-released debut album was awarded the Tui at the Auckland Folk Festival in Kumeu. Their second recording “Porchlight” just released late 2009, has also received rave reviews. The acoustic group describes it’s sound as “skiffily, folky, country, jazzy, bluesy roots with a pacific edge bordering a swamp”, and creates harmonies built around the double bass, guitar, ukuleles, banjo, snare and percussion. The trio released its debut album in November 2007. The track ‘Ride’, from the album, has been selected by NZ trade & enterprise to feature on a music placement export disc entitled ‘New Zealand-New Music’ which is distributed to music supervisors in TV and film Worldwide.
Photo: Trish Saunders
Director's Notes:
This year the Whitestone festival celebrates its 17th year. For those who have never been I believe that you have missed something that is unique among New Zealand Folk Music Festivals and it’s right here in Otago less than an hour’s drive from Dunedin at Herbert 20 km south of Oamaru.
We call it the “Warmest Festival of the Year”
Okay it is in winter here in the deep south but we really mean it. This is a small festival limited to 120 people and all present, including our talented guests, who are nearly always local South Island musicians, get into the spirit of mingling together in the warm main hall often around the roaring log fire that burns continuously throughout the weekend. Here we also share evening meals, concerts, dance and workshops and of course just plain good fun, especially during the Sunday night final, cabaret style themed concert. We also encourage everyone to get involved in some way with blackboard concerts, poetry, workshops, dance and a blind date draw.
And you don’t stay in tents. You will be given a bunk, with a mattress in a cabin (some with power points for your own heater, provided it isn’t an old bar type) and access to free hot showers that never seem to run out. There are kitchen facilities available too.
And this is not an expensive festival at all. $75 (adult) $45 (children) gives you three nights and everything the festival has to offer.
Many people there are Whitestone regulars, some who would never miss it and some who having recently discovered it, have become so.
It began in the early nineties when local Oamaruvians, Steve McGlone and Marion Angela, saw an opportunity with Queen’s Birthday Weekend not taken by another festival. In 1999 they moved to Nelson and for one year the Christchurch Folk Club took on the responsibility to keep it alive. Members of the New Edinburgh Club, also not wanting to see it end took it up in 2001 and a few years later it became one of the three festivals our club now officially runs thus ensuring its financial future.
But of course any festival’s future really depends on attendance. This one is inexpensive, it’s fun and it’s nearby. Registrations are now coming in and other than day visitors, which are welcome, there are only 120 places available to share the spirit in the most enjoyable way by staying there.
People are welcome to stay in camper vans etc, but the price is the same and that does not alter our upper limit because that is based on the capacity of the facilities in general.
Keith Tonkin
Whitestone Director.