FFF brings you a festive First Friday Pre Parade Party! Friday 7 December, 6-8pm in the Squircle.
DJ Fuzzy spinning retro faves and pre Christmas parade fun for all- come along and decorate the Squircle, your bike, yourself.. for the Featherston Christmas parade the next day. Not in the parade? make a flag to wave in support of those who are..
NB due to the risk of allergic reactions there will be NO Christmas music
Lyttelton songwriting icon Delaney Davidson returned this November, in celebration of his superb latest album Shining Day.
The ever-questing tunesmith was joined for the shows by SJD (who also co wrote songs on the record), friend and collaborator Anita Clark ‘MOTTE’, and multi-talented percussionist Chris O’Connor (Phoenix Foundation). Davidson recently wrapped up a European tour alongside Marlon Williams, this band was equally inspiring and they played a blinder of a set with two encores. Proper rock n roll, in Featherston no less.
FFF is proud to share with you some very special concerts in Featherston: ..as the dust settles on the Summer Season of Featherston First Fridays, and the nights grow longer, and winter is coming.. it’s time for less bad writing and more good music. Eb & Sparrow sold out in May, with the Kiwi Hall near capacity at 200+.
Pangaea is a fusion of the best of Western and Eastern styles, by three well established international musicians who reside in Delhi, India: Performing an exciting mixture of Indian Hindustani and Western classical music within contemporary original compositions, combining the classical guitar and voice with the complex rhythms, scales, and improvisation of Indian classical music to produce a unique style of fusion.
The trio comprises of two of India’s most exciting young Hindustani classical musicians, Saptak Sharma (Tabla) and Mayank Raina (Sitar and Flutes) and New Zealand musician and composer Mike Hogan (Guitar and vocals). All three have gained a high level of recognition individually in their respective fields.
Final First Friday of the summer, and finally the weathergods were kind, and we were in the Squircle!!
‘Funk Force 5’ became ‘Jazz Force 5’ with a late lineup change due to a bereavement, thanks to Lauren for stepping in with Mike, Ayrton, Jacqui and Dan. Their smooth and groovy tunes were a great foil to the creative carnage of the chalk art..! This was great fun, with self portraits, spirals, spots and ultimately a free-for-all..Thanks to Martin and the Fire Service for helping cleanup afterwards.
Cheers to Erin and Tony who served up over 100 free sausages off their tiny BBQ, and Emily and Cheryl did a great job collecting community feedback about Featherston’s traffic issues: great idea thanks.
The Mini trains had a busy night after deciding to run the rides free- thanks team!!!
Thanks as ever to sponsors Creative Communities Scheme, Rotary, Featherston Community Board, Lee and KT- and all those who pitch in and help, and support Rebekah and myself with kind words and actions. xM
$25 doorsales (if available)
Eb & Sparrow: http://www.ebandsparrow.co.nz/
Roll up, roll up… !! Again blessed by the Interesting Weather of summer 2018, at the last minute it was deemed too cold and windy in the Squircle and we decided to use our indoor venue of the Featherston School Hall. Already warm and colourful, we added lanterns, glitter curtains, and a sprinkle of First Friday magic, and we were away. (With a little help from our performers…)
DJ So Dramatic, aka Nick Tawaroa got the night started with some excellent old school jams, while Sophia Therese and Ry from Wellington’s Circus Hub performed acrobatic feats to amaze young and old. Our other performer Nick Davies showed himself to also be a well balanced individual, with handstand balancing on a chair and hat juggling among his feats.
After a short dance performance by Justine Eldred, who is starting the Tangle Dance School in Featherston, the Fab Feathy group took the floor to talk about their exciting news.
Thanks to their work in consulting with the community and making the application, Featherston has selected for a five year partnership with The Government, to support us in community led development..
That’s cool stuff by the people for the people- that’s what First Friday’s are all about! We were delighted to host them at this First Friday for signing the papers with the Department of Internal Affairs, a ribbon cutting ceremony, and signing a creative pledge to work together.
Then it was back to the party.. with the free Flash Up Yourself glitter tattoos and face painting all night, once the free dressup box was opened on the dancefloor, and the bubbles came out, it was colourful creative chaos- great fun had by all.
Special thanks to Erin at Property Brokers, for persisting with BBQ outside in the cold so the kids of all ages could enjoy a free saussie- Featherston’s Own Op Shop for excellent additions to the dressups- and the Featherston School team for letting us use their space- kia ora x
Sorry First Friday fans, we were so disappointed the atrocious weather meant we couldn’t bring you “ New Year, New Yeah!” on Friday 5 January. Thanks heaps to DJ Stepper D (aka Dave Heath) for last minute cancellation- we hope to have him in Featherston another time! A Wairarapa resident who plays drums for a few local bands, Dave also DJs for Wellington’s RadioActive FM, as s a regular host on their reggae show Roots&Culture.
Over the years Rebekah and I have had some most excellent times under summer sun listening to reggae and dub music, so we thought what better way to relax into the new year, than bring a picnic to the Squircle and listen to some chill reggae vibes…? Alas it was not to be…
We were also inviting everyone to join us to bring even more vibrancy to the Squircle, with a challenge to colour outside the lines… this is an idea too good not to do, so watch up for ”Funk N Roll” in March for the Chalk Challenge to return!
Celebrating the start of Summer together in the Squircle!
Featherston First Friday’s kicked off the season with a scorcher, with December’s Summer Starter held on the first of our long run of 30-degree+ days. We had a great band starring local legend Patrick Bleakley on bass, Little Bushman’s epic drummer Rick Cranson, and Aleister J. Campbell, “the most subversive guitarist in (Welling)town”
Imminent crisis was averted thanks to some quick help from the Mini Train crew: when drummer Rick Cranson arrived, not knowing the gig was outside he had brought a black wooden drumkit that wouldn’t last long in the hot sun. Luckily the train team lent us their shade gazebo and the show went on. Rick, Al and Paddy played two hours of jazzy bluesy numbers, with bit of pyschedelic rock thrown in to make sure we were all paying attention. We love the idea of local musicians and guests getting together to play something new and share it with our town, thanks Patrick for organising this!
Our other special guest for December was Mr Vinyl Burns (aka comedian Kim Potter). Vinyl was not allowed to bring his DJ booth onto the Squircle last year, so we were delighted that this year he was able to join us with his Christmas Cruiser, a decorated mobility scooter.
He sure was mobile! So if you saw a man with terrible teeth and an excellent tartan suit zooming around town on the 1st, and wondered what on earth he was doing, Christmas Carols blaring and that big grin- sorry and you’re welcome…
The creative activity from December was to decorate wooden bunting, and man there was some great works of art created: we’ll be bringing the bunting along to the next First Fridays, so do check it out.
As ever, massive thanks to our sponsors and supporters: Creative Communities Scheme, Rotary, Featherston Community Board, Lee Carter and A Nonymous, and Emily Greenberg. (and everyone who brought classic cars and bikes down to make the road edge a little safer for kids- cheers!)
One of the most distinctive figures in the NZ musical landscape is Delaney Davidson. Over a series of albums and compelling live performances he has presented his often jarring yet beautiful songs like some strange spook outlaw phantom, more at home walking through the pines at midnight under a full moon. Fresh from the success of his last European jaunt, catch him in this beautiful and atmospheric old country hall before he disappears again to distant parts unknown.
In Magic Lightbox, Delaney uses an incredible blend of live music and film, paying homage to lost ways of storytelling in his tent show carnival style revival. Dusty highway tales, the old world of Europe, the new world of USA, a glimpse into a forgotten time. Relive the mystery of Switzerland, see New Zealand like you never saw it before, the deserts of California, fairground Brighton by the sea, the cold war Vienna, all roll into one in this irresistible work.
In association with Arts On Tour Trust.
Coming later in the year, some special pop-up events- FFF presents:
*update*
Unfortunately Nicole is unable to tour this November, but never fear, that means we get to experience Delaney’s NEW show Magic Lightbox- an incredible blend of live music and film, paying homage to these lost ways of storytelling in his tent show carnival style revival.
