• Sunday 9th November – Old Time and Bluegrass Music – CANCELLED DUE TO FIRE AT THE ALICETOWN VENUE
• Sunday 9th November – Banjo Workshop – CANCELLED DUE TO FIRE AT THE ALICETOWN VENUE
• Saturday 29th November – concert featuring Chris Priestley, Angela Fox and Julian McKean

see below for details on each event:

>> 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 now held in Alicetown.
Alicetown Community House – note that due to a fire at the venue on 6/11/2025, the venue is currently closed. The November sessions are cancelled, and a new venue is being sought for future jam sessions.
38 Victoria Street (corner of Victoria and Buckley Streets)
Alicetown, Lower Hutt

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

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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

Alicetown Community House – note that due to a fire at the venue on 6/11/2025, the venue is currently closed. The November sessions are cancelled, and a new venue is being sought for future jam sessions.
38 Victoria Street (corner of Victoria and Buckley Streets)
Alicetown, Lower Hutt
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.



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

Venue for workshops:
Alicetown Community House – note that due to a fire at the venue on 6/11/2025, the venue is currently closed. The November sessions & workshop are cancelled, and a new venue is being sought for future jam sessions.
38 Victoria Street (corner of Victoria and Buckley Streets)
Alicetown, Lower Hutt
Please email bluegrass(at)xtra.co.nz  to register your interest in this workshop

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Saturday 29th November – 40 Years in Harmony – Chris Priestley, Angela Fox and Julian McKean

Three friends Chris Priestley, Julian McKean and Angela Fox, who have been creating music for over forty years, come together to perform their first ever concert!

Julian McKean and Chris Priestley first met and played together in 1981 when they formed Acoustic Confusion with Denny Stanway and were later joined by Brendan Power. The four were guests at many NZ festivals including the 1983 National Folk festival in Wellington, and recorded the legendary LP Hazy Days in 1985.

After the group split up, they remained in contact and often performing and recording over the years. Chris recorded his first solo LP Argentina to Invercargill, during which he met Angela Fox and realised what a fabulous harmony singer she was. Angela also recorded two CDs of her fabulous songs. Julian continued to write great songs including Far Far Away which became a NZ folk classic. Angela and Julian individually helped Chris on most of the many LPs and CDs he recorded over the years. However Angela had never sung on any of Julians songs, likewise for Julian with Angela’s songs.

“though the three of us have been playing together for more than forty years, we have never done a concert together, so we’re looking forward to creating some magic at the bluegrass club”
– Chris Priestley

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

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