Hailing from Northeast Victoria, Australia, Rufous Whistler combine raw, heartfelt storytelling with modern arrangements with warm and commanding vocals. Their live shows are dynamic and gripping, featuring guitars, fiddles, mandolin, and harmony rich vocals.

Last year their first three singles from the album landed international airplay, topping charts and quickly amassing over 30,000 streams. Rufous Whistler are now hitting the road with over 30 Australian dates, a New Zealand tour, and their first UK and EU shows, all in support of the release of their debut album National Panic.

Joining Rufous Whistler in NZ are Wellington based Americana-folk band Butter Wouldn’t Melt – Andrea Reid (guitar, vocals), Nick Burfield (guitar, vocals), Cara Rose (fiddle) and Marz Connelly (bass).

Finalist for the 2023 Best Folk Artist Tui Award with their first album 1931, Butter Wouldn’t Melt are the very definition of a grassroots, do-it-yourself band. Every note, every frame, every brushstroke is their own— written, recorded, mixed, mastered, promoted, filmed and designed. They blend folk, Americana and country influences with a distinctly New Zealand flavour, promising an evocative performance defined by their poetic lyricism, powerful harmonies and thought provoking stories.

Butter Wouldn’t Melt are celebrating the release of their sophomore album – Where The Roots Grow Deep, which will be available to buy on the night.

Rufous Whistler – Honey
www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWQUcgl4DXw

Butter Wouldn’t Melt – The Incline
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2t-VlK2jMMQ

Concert – Rufous Whistler (Aus) and Butter Wouldn’t Melt
Friday 23rd May 8:00pm

• Sunday 13th April – Old Time and Bluegrass Music (see below for new venue)
• Sunday 13th April – Banjo Workshop (bookings essential)
• Sunday 11th May – Old Time and Bluegrass Music (see below for new venue)
• Sunday 11th May – Banjo Workshop (bookings essential)

see below for details on each event:

Events that have been held at our venue over the past 35 years, being the community room adjacent to Petone library, will be affected by urgent remedial work that needs to be immediately undertaken with the building, for a period of six to nine months from the end of January. This is to address mould issues in the upstairs of the building, no doubt in association with the leaking roof. Whilst these works are undertaken, access to the building could be limited, so will affect WBS events over this timeframe. Council have allocated a budget of $5M for works to be undertaken, however are unsure of exactly when these works will start, nor exactly what is involved with the remedial work.

During this temporary period of disruption, some events may have to take place elsewhere from the community room, especially those where performers need to be booked months in advance. 

>> 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
The jam sessions are run on the second Sunday of each month, year-round, with the old-time jam session in the first half (2:00-3:30pm) and bluegrass jam session the second half (3:30-5:00pm. You can come for one. or the other, or both!

Also there are banjo workshops available on the same days from 2:00pm and 4:00pm. Please note a prior booking is essential for these banjo workshops.

These Sunday jam sessions and workshops are now held in Alicetown.
Note NEW venue for jam sessions and workshops:
Alicetown Community House
38 Victoria Street (corner of Victoria and Buckley Streets)
Alicetown, Lower Hutt
Free entry for jam sessions!        all welcome!

Note   allocated seating at concerts is currently not available unless specifically advertised.

Saturday 5th April – Concert at the Abandoned Taproom – Richie Stearns (USA)

Get ready for an unforgettable performance by Richie Stearns, living legend of clawhammer banjo. He brings his mesmerising blend of old-time, folk, and world music to the stage at Petone.

Hailing from Upstate New York, Richie has captivated audiences worldwide with his masterful banjo playing and collaborations across multiple genres and continents. From performing with legends including Natalie Merchant, Béla Fleck, Tony Trischka, Rhiannon Giddens, Dirk Powell, Pete Seeger, Old Crow Medicine Show, Rosie Newton and Linda Ronstadt, to recording with Malian bluesman Vieux Farka Touré, Tibetan singer Yungchen Llamo and pop icon David Byrne, Richie’s musical journey spans the globe.

With his childhood friends, Richie co-founded the Finger Lakes GrassRoots Multicultural Festival of Music and Dance, one of the USA’s most renowned roots music festivals, and continues to be a driving force behind it’s success.

Don’t miss this rare opportunity to experience one of America’s finest banjo players performing in New Zealand.

Richie Stearns and Rosie Newton performing Nowhere in Time:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqOvw32Flmw

Concert – Richie Stearns (USA)
Saturday 5th April 8:00pm
$30/$25 members or children – tea and coffee included
(Please bring cash as we have no eftpos facilities)

Bookings accepted before the day – by email to bluegrass(at)xtra.co.nz or phone (04)477 0069

Doors open at 7:20pm for those who have booked
door sales on the day from 7:50pm

Venue – Abandoned Taproom
38 Fitzherbert Street Petone

Come for dinner before the show!
Abandoned Taproom Petone have plenty of tasty treats, and grab a drink (or two) as well.

there is paid parking beside the venue in a monitored carpark at $2 per hour
Alternatively free parking in any adjacent street

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

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

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

Note NEW venue for jam sessions and workshops:
Alicetown Community House
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 2:00pm and 4:00pm – 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
2:00 – 4:00pm
Petone Community House
6 Britannia Street, Petone
$40 per person (or as advertised) – booking required

Note NEW venue for workshops:
Alicetown Community House
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

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