Basking in a late Auckland summer (From The Northern Echo)

Basking in a late Auckland summer

4:43pm Thursday 16th February 2012 in Music By Jez Lowe, Folk Music Columnist

HERE at the other end of the world, and at the other end of the clock too, I’m basking in the heat of a late Auckland summer, and hoping you’re all coping with the cold back home.

My repertoire of mining songs has taken on a new poignancy here in New Zealand following last year’s Greymouth pit disaster, more so as the inquiry into those tragic events is going on right now.

Meanwhile, the folk scene down here seems very healthy, and, as always, they’re more than welcoming to visitors from the UK. I’m off to Wellington now, taking care to watch out for stray Hobbits wandering across the road as I go.

Away from Middle Earth, local audiences, this week, have a chance to see Anna Massey and Mariarad Green at Reeth Memorial Hall, tomorrow. The choice on Saturday is between Ben Sands, at Washington’s Davy Lamp, and Vin Garbutt, at Sedgefield Cricket Club.

On Sunday, Lancashire loon Stanley Accrington is at Westoe Club, in South Shields, and, on Monday, our choice is between Anne Dolphin, at Newcastle’s Bridge, Geoff Higginbottom, at Stockton’s Sun Inn, and Richard Grainger, at The North Briton in Aycliffe Village. Finally, Flossie Mala Vialle is at Bishop Auckland Town Hall on Wednesday. Until next time, my precious.