Look out for Helen Webby and Davy Stuart, touring as String Wizardry for Arts On Tour NZ in September. Their program includes traditional Irish music, songs with a Scottish accent and some surprises along the way. Do check the Arts On Tour website for details: www.aotnz.co.nz
Press Release is below, and poster attached (click the blue link here to download)
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For immediate release
STRING WIZARDRY- Helen Webby and Davy Stuart AOTNZ Tour Sep 2015
They’re AOTZNZ favourites, equally at home in a concert hall or a shed. With the rapport that comes from over a decade of working together, harpist Helen Webby and guitar /bouzouki player Davy Stuart perform everything from the traditional music of Ireland and Scotland to contemporary compositions from New Zealand and around the world.
Helen plays a 34 string lever harp made by her brother Kim Webby and, sometimes while travelling, a 30 string carbon fibre harp made by Davy. Well-known as an instrument maker as well as a musician, Davy takes his own six string steel guitar and eight string guitar/bouzouki on tour.
“These two musicians have worked together for years and it shows. …The guitar and harp come together beautifully in these lovely Celtic tunes….There is a joyous sense of originality even in the well-known melodies….”Carolyn Mills, NZ Symphony Orchestra
“…one of the most special concerts I have seen in a long while….Helen and Davy are fine examples of the high standard of talent that exists in NZ…” Andrew Bicknell
For more information contact:
Diana Moir, AOTNZ media liaison, 03 355 2691, 021 126 5738, dhmoir@xtra.co.nz
Steve Thomas, Arts On Tour NZ Trust, aotnz@xtra.co.nz www.aotnz.co.nz
helenwebby@gmail.com 021 664 344, peacock@stuart.co.nz, www.stuart.co.nz/webby-stuart
CDs
“The Peacock’s Dance” 2001
“The Golden Strand” 2010
Helen Webby
Helen Webby studied music in Auckland, Holland and Germany, winning numerous scholarships from the Netherlands Government, the German Academic Exchange Service, Creative NZ, and the NZSO Alex Lindsay Trust. Alongside her role with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra (CSO), she performs with the NZ Symphony Orchestra and is a recording artist for Radio New Zealand. Throughout, Helen has maintained an interest in the Celtic harp, winning a prize at the 1990 International Carolan Harp Competition (Ireland). In 2008, Helen and Davy Stuart collaborated with New Zealand composers Gareth Farr and Chris Cree-Brown to tour a programme of new works and traditional music for Chamber Music NZ.
Davy Stuart
Historian by training, but musician and luthier by inclination, Davy Stuart has toured with Helen Webby since 2002. Brought up in Edinburgh, he came into contact with the thriving folk music revival of the 1970s at university, touring throughout Scotland, England and Europe. Moving to New Zealand in 1989, he turned his instrument-making vocation into a profession, while continuing to perform on his own and with others throughout Australasia. His instruments are owned by many well-known musicians including Irish performer, Christy Moore and Andy Irvine. Stuart instruments can be found in the UK, North and South America, throughout Europe, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Australia and New Zealand.
Itinerary
Sunday 6 September 2pm Balcairn
Mike Greer Homes Concert Series
Balcairn Public Hall
$25 incl afternoon tea.
Book: Sally Mac’s Amberley, Sefton Garage, Stan’s 7 Day Pharmacy Rangiora
Wednesday, 9th Sept. Southbridge
7.30pm House Concert at 12 O'Connell St, Southbridge
contact Dave Lloyd 03 3242884
Tuesday 8 September 7.30pm Ashburton
Ashburton Trust Event Centre
$25 Book: www.ticketdirect.co.nz or Event Centre box office
Friday 11 September 7.30pm Twizel
The Musterers Hut
$20 adult, $10 student
Book: Mackenzie Lotto Plus and Twizel Information Centre
Saturday 12 September 7.30pm Cromwell
St Andrews Anglican Church
Adult $25, SuperGold $20, Student/child $5
Book: Cromwell i-Site
Sunday 13 September 5.30pm Gore
Eastern Southland Gallery
$25 (concessions available)
Book: Eastern Southland Gallery
Monday 14th September 7.30pm Owaka
Owaka Community Memorial Centre
Price: Adults $25, Students $10 door sales
Tuesday 15th Sept; 8:00 p.m. Cordona Valley
Historic Cardrona Hall, Cardrona Valley.
Tickets $20 available in advance from Martin Curtis - phone 03 4438152 or at the door.
Thursday 17 September 7.30pm Hokitika
Old Lodge Theatre
Revell St
$20, students $12
Book: Hokitika Regent Theatre
Friday 18 September 7.30pm Reefton
Union Church
Shiel St
Adult $20, students $10, family $50
Book: 03 732 8542 or 03 732 8111
Saturday 19 September 8pm Onekaka
Mussel Inn
Book: Mussel Inn
Sunday 20 September Nelson
Fairfield House
Tickets $15 at door. Contact Libby 03 5449348
Tuesday 22 September 7pm Opotiki
Hiona Saint Stephens Church
$16 Book: Travel shop or door sales
Thursday 24 September 7.30pm Kauaeranga
Kauaeranga Hall
$20, pre-book $18
Book: Lotus Realm 214 Pollen St, or
kauaerangahallmusic@gmail.com
Txt 021912993 or Facebook
Friday 25 September Coromandel
Saturday 26 September 7.30pm Wanganui
Royal Wanganui Opera House
Adult $25, Senior $23, FOH $20, Student $15
Special rates for school groups
Book: Opera House or www.royaloperahouse.co.nz
Sunday 27 September 7pm New Plymouth
4th Wall Theatre
$25 Book: www.4thwalltheatre.co.nz
About Arts On Tour New Zealand
Arts On Tour New Zealand (AOTNZ) organises tours of outstanding New Zealand performers to rural and smaller centres in New Zealand. The trust receives funding from Creative New Zealand, support from Interislander, and liaises with local arts councils, repertory theatres and community groups to bring the best of musical and other talent to country districts. The AOTNZ programme is environmentally sustainable – artists travel to their audiences rather than the other way around. "