CHRIS PRIESTLEY & THE UNSUNG HEROES
Dunedin Folk Club, 80 Lovelock Avenue, Opoho, Dunedin
20/03/2022 - 20/03/2022
Otago Pioneer Women's Hall, 362 Moray Place, Dunedin
21/03/2022 - 21/03/2022
Production Details
The Unsung Heroes tell stories from New Zealand’s settler past in finely crafted theatre, music, and song, with old newspaper articles & Poems that deftly introduce each song’s central character. A photographic slideshow of historic images as accompaniment, with, gorgeously evocative music and words, and Elliott’s old style radio diction, sharp timing, and dry humour all predictive of ways we have come to see ourselves
Reviews:
“This is a fascinating musical concept, based on actual people and events that occurred in our colonial history. You won’t believe your ears – or
the incredible stories contained herein. Rogues, rebels and folk heroes, and a truly valuable exercise, bringing all this history together in music.” – NZ Musician Magazine Musically
“Chris has written some beautiful melodies and he has a wonderful, simple, direct singing style. He has surrounded himself with some of Auckland’s finest players. The end result is the most entertaining New Zealand history lesson you’re likely to encounter this (or any) year.” – Marty Duda. The 13th Floor
“I was struck by its charm. It’s simplicity, but mostly by the stories it contained. Stories about us, about this place. Stories about people we
hadn’t heard of. All of them helping to create the wonderful tapestry, unique in the world, of Aotearoa and the brave folk that came and settled here.”
Dunedin Folk Club, 80 Lovelock Avenue, Opoho Dunedin 9030
SUN 20 March
07:30pm
Otago Pioneer Women’s Memorial Hall, 362 Moray Place Dunedin 9016
MON 21 March
07:30pm
$10.00 – $20.00
GET TICKETS*
*Fees may apply
Peter Elliott, Narrator
Cameron Bennett, Vocals & Dobro Guitar
Sonia Wilson, Vocals
Chris Priestley, Vocals, Guitar
Nigel Gavin, 7 String Guitar
Theatre , Music ,
3 hrs
A moving night and riveting history lesson
Review by Ali East 22nd Mar 2022
The Opoho Bowling club, also the home of the Edinburgh Folk Club, was packed out with an enthusiastic crowd causing several people to be turned away.
The show was the brainchild of Auckland musician Chris Priestly who wrote and sang many of the songs. Others were sung by guitarist and TV journalist Cameron Bennett and French singer Sonia Wilson. The four musicians, Priestly, Bennett, Wilson and accomplished guitarist Nigel Gavin (all consummate performers) produced a polished blend of musical harmony that was unique to each song.
Each song told the story of an infamous villain or renowned heroine from our country’s past, introduced evocatively in character by actor Peter Elliot and accompanied by an impressive collection of projected old photographs. Two poems narrated by Elliot were sensitively accompanied by versatile guitarist Nigel Gavin. Wilson sang a soulful ‘Weeping waters’ by Helen Dorothy about the 1953 Tangiwae disaster while Bennett wrote and sang several songs, including one, particularly well received, about the ghost of the Vulcan hotel.
However, it was the local content that drew the biggest applause with Larnach’s lament and a song about the Hillside Engineering Workshops, recently restored to service. Other dramatic ballads told the tale of serial arsonist Cyrus Haley, shot while escaping from the Dunedin jail, and the sad and sordid tale of the Otago baby ‘saver’ Minnie Dean.
Overall it was a moving night of evocative music that was also a riveting history lesson.
Following their two Dunedin shows Unsung Heroes head to Gore on Tuesday 22nd to play at the Hokonui Moonshine Museum, followed by shows in Geraldine 25th; Oamaru 26th; Okarito 29th; Reefton 30th; Picton 31st and Nelson April 1st and 2nd.
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