Auckland New Zealand
John writes...
I'm a War baby, born in 1943. Dad was deaf in one ear, so served at Hobsonville Air Force base during the war as an aircraft fitter. I went to Milford, Mt Albert, Waimauku and Huapai primary schools, and then Henderson High School where I got School Certificate and am still on the past pupils' committee. I sang in the HHS mixed choir as a tenor, and played bass drum in the school brass band.
I didn't know much about the folk scene in Auckland, until I started going to the Poles Apart folk club in 1976. There, I met Gavin Asher, Lois McIvor and others who told me about TFMC and I started going there later in 1976. I first sang an unaccompanied ballad on the TFMC stage in 1977 and remember being so nervous, I was sure the audience could hear my knees knocking! I started learning beginners' acoustic guitar at Lynfield College night-school in 1982 and I must say, my early attempts to sing on stage and accompany myself on guitar, left a bit to be desired!!!
I was a foundation member of the "Maritime Crew", until Virginia & I moved to Feilding in 1995. While there, I bought an omnichord at an auction in Palmerston North for $17.00! I also bought a Chroma-harp at a school fair in Feilding. In 2008 I started rehearsing with the City Of Sails Barbershop Chorus, as a "new guy". Unfortunately, that was interrupted by a cardiac arrest while I was out cycling and it put back my training to become a fully-fledged "barbershopper" by about 6 months. However, as they say, you can't kill a weed and here I am, one triple-bypass later, having passed my 2nd performance audition with the chorus and somehow finding the time to do gigs with them, and seek to improve my folk singing, as well as my Morris Minor club commitments. I have to say, that the discipline required to sing with a group like CoS is probably helping improve my individual performances as well. However, I guess that's for others to judge, not for me.
Come & judge for yourself.
This year we are fighting to retain our 2 trophies, hard won from the foe at Devonport last year.
We shall triumph!
Apart from the tiddlywinks and phutball tournaments, lots of other pub games are available, like darts, dominoes, cards. A scrumptious supper will be served. It's a great social evening that's lots of fun.
Come and support your club and have a great time doing it!
An informal ‘Singaround’ - ‘Open Mic’ without a Mic - A smaller group of people meet to share their songs and music.
Last Update: 2014-08-20
The Club was conceived in 1965 when the Clancy Brothers didn't come and someone had the astounding idea of having a sing-a-round thus transforming an audience into a folk group. Formally established in 1966 we're still going strong.