|
contents | world | |||||||||||||
| New Zealand’s Best Folk Album The Kiwi-born co-founder of Real Groovy Records and artists with Canadian and Irish backgrounds are the three finalists for New Zealand’s Best Folk Album of 2004/05. They are Chris Priestley for his album Uncovered: A Collection Of New Zealand Folk Songs, Canadian-born Lorina Harding with Clean Break and Sean Kelly & Friends for the album See The Light. The winner of the Tui for Best Folk Album is to be announced and the trophy presented at the Auckland Folk Festival on the evening of Sunday January 29. All three finalists will perform at the festival at the Kumeu Showgrounds on Auckland’s Anniversary Weekend. The Best Folk Album award is part of the New Zealand Music Awards and it is the third year it has been presented at the Auckland Folk Festival. Lorina Harding and Chris Priestley have both previously been New Zealand Music Awards finalists. Lorina Harding won a Folk Music Album Tui in 1992 for Lucky Damn Woman and was also a finalist in the Most Promising Female Vocalist category in the same year. A new serene life tucked under the South Canterbury hills near Geraldine has been fertile ground for the songs on the much awaited new album Clean Break. Chris Priestley, who co-founded Real Groovy records with Chris Hart in 1980, was a finalist for the Best Folk Album Tui in 1995 for Argentina To Invercargill. Chris has released two previous CDs and has toured and played festivals in New Zealand for 20 years performing local compositions. Irish-born Sean Kelly is joined by Bazza Caitcheon, Julie Grace & friends on See The Light. The album captures a “then and now” collection of material that Kelly decided in 2004 should be committed to CD for posterity. “We’re thrilled with sheer number and quality of entries received, ” says New Zealand Music Awards spokesperson Adam Holt. “The 2004/05 Best Folk Album award attracted more than three times the number of entries vying for last year’s award. “There is a global resurgence in folk and blues music and it’s exciting to see New Zealand musicians not only playing a part but also taking a leading creative role in this growth.” Roger Giles, organiser of the Auckland Folk Festival says the festival is again delighted to host the Tui presentation. “Last year’s event attracted more than 3, 000 folk music lovers and I’m sure we’ll outdo that number this year. The calibre of the finalists is beyond doubt and coupled with our visiting artists they will make for a memorable weekend of music.” Included in the festival line-up are Nancy Kerr and James Fagan from the UK, Brisbane seven-piece Doch and fellow trans-Tasman visitor Bron Ault-Connell. Other performers include New Zealand-based acts Owen Hugh, Glor na mBan and The Chaps. The Auckland Folk Festival is in its 33rd year and its 16th at the Kumeu Showgrounds. Information about the event is available at www.aucklandfolkfestival.org/ The Tui for Best Folk Album is for albums released between 16 November 2004 and 15 November 2005. The Folk category was introduced to the awards in 1984. Previous winners of the Tui for Best Folk Album - 2005 - Bob McNeill for his album Turn the Diesels - 2004 - Brendyn Montgomery and Mike Considine for the album Mountain Air write your comments about the article :: © 2006 Jazz News :: home page |