Coming Events

See below for details on concerts, Society Nights and sessions and workshop.  

>> Please refer to each event listing and take note of where it is taking place.

Old time and bluegrass music jam sessions and banjo workshops
These Sunday jam sessions and workshops are currently being held in different venues due to fire at Alicetown Community House in November 2025.

Society Nights

Society Nights will be held on the fourth Thursday of the month, normally at the Abandoned Taproom (but note change of venue for April Society Night only). They start with a Guest Spot by a feature artist or group. The Guest Spot is half a concert, i.e. 45 minutes. This is followed by a tea and coffee break then floorspots and a jam session for one and all. Admission is generally $20 for general admission, $15 for members or children – includes tea and coffee. Door sales only. (There is also an occasional ‘blackboard’ concert without a featured Guest Spot.)

and much more to come – keep an eye on this website for details for future events!!

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Friday 26th June 8:00pm – WBS Society night featuring Charlotte Yates

In a professional musical career of nearly three decades, Charlotte Yates has worn a number of hats, both literally and figuratively. She was part of the comic-musical trio When The Cat’s Been Spayed, with their fruit-festooned headgear and high-camp renditions of Kiwiana classics such as ‘Taumarunui On the Main Trunk Line’. She still has all her teeth, both eyes and most of her hair.

She conceived and directed the large-scale recording and stage projects Baxter, Tuwhare, Ihimaera and Mansfield, based around the works of four of this country’s major literary figures. She has managed festivals and worked in different roles as an arts professional.

Yet looking back, writing and performing original material has been the thread that runs through her work. “I never thought, ‘I’m going to be a singer-songwriter for the rest of my life’,” says Yates. “I didn’t have the grand master plan”. However in 2017 she released her seventh solo album Then The Stars Start Singing and last year she released Winter’s Eye, a seven track EP. Both will be available for purchase.

For this show, Charlotte will be joined by Jo Moir of Hobnail – vocals, fiddle.

https://www.charlotteyates.com/

Charlotte Yates – The Ruins Of Love:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oq0w72LYTUc

Bio extracts courtesy of Nick Bollinger and AudioCulture:
https://www.audioculture.co.nz/profile/charlotte-yates

WBS Society night featuring Charlotte Yates
Friday 26th June, 8:00pm start
Wellington Bluegrass Society @ Abandoned Taproom Petone
38 Fitzherbert Street
$20/$15 members or children – tea and coffee included
Door sales

The feature act starts at 8:00pm who perform one set, followed by a tea and coffee break, then floorspots, where anyone can perform two numbers, in the genres of bluegrass, old time, Americana. A jam session follows.

Come for dinner before the show!</p? Abandoned Taproom Petone have plenty of tasty treats, and grab a drink (or two) as well:
www.abandonedbrewery.co.nz/taprooms#Petone

Society nights normally happen on the fourth Thursday of the month, except this month only. The feature act performs the first set, starting at 7:30pm; second set is floorspots followed by a jam session.

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Friday 3rd July 8:00pm – WBS concert featuring the album launch concert for Set Me Up By The Bar, presented by Andrew London and the Swing Voters, on Friday 3rd July 8:00pm

‘Set Me Up By The Bar’, the long-awaited new album from Andrew London and an army of collaborators loosely dubbed the Swing Voters, will be officially launched at the Wellington Bluegrass Society on 3rd July. The band will play all twelve tracks from the new album which includes several of Andrew’s signature satirical offerings about supermarket etiquette, unintentionally falling out with neighbours and the pitfalls of playing in restaurants; some poignant country/folk tunes, and a handful of rollicking western swing-inspired songs that give opportunity for jazz-style improvisation to pianist Wayne Mason, saxophone/clarinet player Oscar Laven and Andrew of course on his trademark 1959 Hofner guitar.

The Swing Voters are a high energy group who allow themselves licence to extend a song as the mood takes them. This is more than obvious on the ‘Set Me Up By The Bar’ album which features no fewer than four saxophonists, namely Nils Olsen, James Tait Jamieson, Brian Omundsen and Oscar Laven. Oscar doubles on clarinet, James on Irish whistle. Kirsten and Ryan hold down the rhythm section, Mason plays keys on several tracks although Andrew contributes piano to the title track. Pedal steel guitarist Bill Bassett contributes some colour to a western swing song, and the ever-ready Neil Billington provides raunchy harmonica to the rocky ‘Shamrock Hotel’. The album will be available on CD, or to stream or download digitally from bandcamp.com.

With his ever-reliable partner Kirsten on bass, and the metronomic Ryan Watson on drums, the band will also play a selection of jazz, blues and swing standards from their 2019 album ’Standard Deviations’. There will be foot-tapping at the very least.

Andrew and Kirsten are delighted to be launching this album at the Wellington Bluegrass Society.

Sugar Moon performed by Andrew London Trio
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGwhbby1y54

Please click here to book for the concert
If this link doesn’t work, then simply email andrewbicknell2018@gmail.com

 

 

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Second Sunday each month – Jam Sessions and banjo workshop – Old Time Music and Bluegrass

Old-time Music and Bluegrass jam sessions 
second Sunday of each month 
2:00 – 5:00pm

Venue:  Memelink Artspace, 223 The Esplanade, Petone
Free entry for jam sessions! All welcome!

Jam Sessions
The old-time jam will be the first half (2:00-3:30pm) and bluegrass jam the second half (3:30-5:00pm). You can come for one. or the other, or both! And there are also Banjo Workshops available between 3:00pm and 5:00pm – but booking is essential for these.
All are welcome to play or to listen.

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Clawhammer Banjo Workshop

There will be a banjo workshop, for absolute beginners. Running in parallel to the jam session, at the same venue, this will cater for anyone who has either just picked up a banjo, through to getting you up to jamming with others.

Banjo workshop for absolute beginners
3:00 – 5:00pm second Sunday each month
$40 per person (or as advertised) – booking required – please book via email before the day for this event

Please bring:
+ banjo
+ tuner
+ drink bottle
+ some means of taking notes – a recording device is fine

Venue: TBC

Please email andrewbicknell2018@gmail.com to register your interest in this workshop

Wellington Bluegrass Society, Petone New Zealand
for good fun and fine music!

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