2026 events are listed below
(either page down or click on specific event for more detail)
Jam sessions and banjo workshops
The jam sessions are run on the second Sunday of the month, year-round. The old-time jam is 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! The Banjo Workshops (booking essential) are between 3pm and 5pm.
Second Sunday – Old Time and Bluegrass Music Jam Sessions
Second Sunday – Banjo Workshop
Society nights
Society nights are on the fourth Thursday of the month, at the Abandoned Taproom, Petone.
Concerts
8th March – Luthiers Corner
26th February – Zonnis (Can)
14th February – Elias Bartholomeo (Aus)
31st January – Alex Seel and Jon Sanders (NZ)
15th January – Jackie Bristow and Barry Saunders
Second Sunday each month – Jam Sessions and Banjo workshop
Banjo Workshop 
Held on the second Sunday afternoon of each month between 2pm and 3:30pm for the Old Time Music jam session and 3:30pm to 5pm for the Bluegrass Music jam session – currently being held at Memelink Artspace, 223 The Esplanade, Petone. The Banjo Workshop is 3pm to 5pm.
Sunday 8th March 7:30pm – Concert – Luthiers Corner
It was the early 70s and two young men, more than ten thousand kilometres apart, were being influenced by the folk music and the associated musical instruments that became so popular at the time. They are Peter Madill and Jack MacKenzie, who became very involved in both the music and the construction and repair of instruments that were used therein. As it turned out, their respective universes were not only parallel but converging.
Advance to the 2019 Wellington Folk Festival, where Peter and Jack first met and became aware of each other’s music and the potential that existed between them. Both had committed to displaying their luthiery work at the festival. However, both were also taking part in the Festival as performers, Peter with the Madillionaires and Jack with the Downunderdogs.
Following that Festival, a relationship between them developed through their guitar building. Peter, being the more established and experienced of the two was kind and generous and began helping Jack develop his skills. Sticky problems were solved through collaboration and Peter’s formal woodworking skills were shared with each visit.
Then a relationship of respect and admiration developed along with the guitar building, and both had an interest in each other’s music. They decided to try a short stage performance, which took place at the last Mid-Winter Holler, which took place in late February 2023. Their music was very well received. As a result of encouragement and suggestion, an experimental concert at the Wellington Bluegrass Society then resulted.
Although they have a different approach to music, the common thread of the folk music tradition allows an intuitive understanding of the music. Because of this, adaptation to each other’s repertoire followed naturally. This music is underpinned by their combined repertoires, harmony vocals, solid flat picking and the possibility of an appearance of the pedal steel guitar that Jack has been teaching himself to play. It will be an interesting and rewarding evening, steeped in a combined rich history of decades of involvement in this art, complete with unique stories and a perspective born of the pursuit of both luthiery and music.
Thursday 26th February 7:30pm – Concert – Zonnis (Can)
Zonnis are from Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Their music is fun, upbeat, heartfelt and creative, and having performed many hundreds of gigs across Canada, and some internationally, they now looking forward to bringing their music to New Zealand.
Adam discovered in his early 20s that all he ever wanted to do was play guitar. He bought his first six-string whilst backpacking through Vietnam and taught himself to play, inspired by other musicians he met along the way. Finding his calling as a songwriter soon followed, and he has since penned countless songs in various genres.
Growing up in the sleepy town of 1980s Kelowna, BC, Andrea dreamed of travelling the world. Discovering her voice at an early age, she quickly became enthralled with the opportunities that music afforded her, with invitations to perform at local and regional events, followed by band trips and then a move to Victoria to pursue an education in opera and
musical theatre. Discovering her passion for songwriting, she switched gears towards writing rock, funk and pop songs, which opened new doors for performance and touring. Her natural expressive character tends toward dynamic and emotive lyrics, and a strong message of personal empowerment.
Married musical duo Zonnis have been entertaining audiences for over a decade. Hitting the heart, Andrea’s powerful vocals and wise words combine with Adam’s gritty humour, driving guitar and poignant songwriting, Zonnis delivers original folk-Inspired roots rock cabaret with a dash of lighthearted social commentary.
https://www.zonnismusic.com
Saturday 14th February 8:00pm – Concert – Elias Bartholomeo (Aus)
Elias Bartholomeo is a Solo fingerstyle guitar player hailing from Sydney, Australia. On many occasions, Elias has been titled as one of the top acoustic guitarists around Australia today with his playing being described as “Walking a tightrope between many genres all at once!” with a fearless and energetic approach to his live performances.
Elias embarked on his musical journey at the tender age of four, under the guidance of his grandfather. Immersed in the sounds of The Beach Boys, Jerry Reed, The Shadows, Chet Atkins and Tommy Emmanuel, Elias was inspired to emulate their mastery. Despite being self-taught and unable to read music, he honed his craft through ear training and collaboration with fellow musicians.
At sixteen years old, Elias had the opportunity to live out his dream and perform alongside Tommy Emmanuel in the Maui Cultural Arts Centre, Hawaii – an experience that further fuelled his passion for music. Over the years, he has had the privilege of collaborating with numerous musicians from across the globe, enriching his musical repertoire.
Over the last few years, Elias has toured extensively around Australia, New Zealand and USA. Elias has been has been building a strong profile in the live music and Guitar communities, playing at festivals, theatres and halls as a solo show and collaborating with other great musicians near and far.
In 2020, Elias was recognised as a graduate of the Talent Development Project, marking a significant milestone in his musical career. He has since been carving out his path as a solo artist in Australia, culminating in the release of his debut EP Give to Keep in early 2021 and recording parts of his collaboration project According To History at Sony Music Australia.
His musical journey has led him to crossroads, where in Hawaii, Elias met a fellow Australian guitar player, who has become a driving force in his development as a player. Having done their first show together whilst Elias was still in school, then forming the duo Elias and JJ and released a series of EPs According To History and have performed shows around New South Wales Australia including opening for Daryl Braithwaite at Wests, Tamworth.
Elias is a proud owner of the business Sounds of Country who are associated with brands including AER amplifiers, Ernie Ball strings, Kyser capos, Paige capos and Maton guitars. With his solidifying status as a rising star in the music industry, his dedication to his craft and unwavering passion for music continue to propel him towards greater heights.
Saturday 31st January 8:00pm – Concert – Alex Seel and Jon Sanders (UK)
“Make no mistake, the audience raved about the sheer scope of musical interplay and different genres… Sanders with his jazz-tinged Irish, Arabesque and world music solos, brought the sonorous experience of compositions from the British song-writer’s new album with almost unbelievable changes in tempo, accompanied masterfully by Seel’s impressive guitar… The audience loved Seel’s folk, pop and blues influenced songs and duos with Sanders”
– RheinZeit, Germany
Music has led Alex Seel from Devon to London to Ireland and back to London again. Through his wanderings, Alex has picked up a finely crafted, rootsy songwriting style with thought provoking lyrics and a flare for acoustic guitar finger picking. His influences range from blues, pop and the British folk revival guitarists, but his sound is all his own. He has a growing reputation as a solo performer, having performed around the UK, Ireland, Italy, Germany and Spain.
Jon Sanders is recognised as a virtuoso bouzouki player, tenor ukulele player, drop D and DADGAD guitarist and an internationally acclaimed composer. His compositions draw on elements of jazz, gypsy, funk, Arabic, Latino and Celtic styles, somewhat reminiscent of Sylvain Luc, Pierre Bensusan, Antonio Forcione and James Hill – yet instantly different.
Both were based in Dingle in Kerry, but in different scenes. But only later on started playing in the UK first at the Didsbury Festival, then did couple of other festivals and it went down really well… the chemistry of the duo, complementing each other with symbiotic dynamism, with sensitivity in each other’s music. Both are long time professional musicians. Jon has been performing in NZ for 20 years; however, this is Alex’s first time in NZ.
Thursday 15th January – Concert – Jackie Bristow and Barry Saunders
Jackie Bristow was brought up in Gore, honed her craft in the pubs and clubs of Sydney, Australia and now lives in Nashville Tennessee, USA. Jackie has released five critically acclaimed studio albums and spent the last few years opening for Chris Isaak, Boz Skaggs, Bonnie Raitt and Tommy Emmanuel, as well as headlining her own shows.
Joined by Barry Saunders, A genuine Kiwi music hero, and singer and principal songwriter for the legendary country band The Warratahs. Barry has also had a parallel solo career spanning six albums, along with collaborations with Sam Hunt and Delaney Davidson.
Jackie’s life was turned around in 2020 whilst visiting New Zealand, when the Covid-19 lockdown hit. Unable to return to her home in Nashville, she “made the best of the crazy world” of that time by focusing her creative energy in new directions. A silver lining saw Jackie connecting with Barry Saunders and an amazing friendship and music partnership was made. Jackie and Barry went on to perform shows around New Zealand and releasing their debut single collaboration Good Miles to Go in 2024.
“We’re two seasoned songwriters who have teamed up as we love singing together and our voices and songs work so well together.
“We combine our catalogues of songs. We perform as a duo, with two acoustic guitars and two voices, harmonies, harp, including some solo performances and stories.