When a bunch of musicians got together to play a concert organised by expat-Wellingtonian Age Pryor at his house in Piha not so long ago, it went so well that they decided they didn’t want it to be the last time. Not quite a band, but a collection of like-minded musicians who are all well-known in their own right, in April they share their songs as part of the non-profit series Old Hall Gigs.
The gig is particularly meaningful for Age Pryor, who hasn’t performed his own songs in his hometown for a number of years.
“It's been quite a while since I brought new songs to the stage in Wellington, and I'm excited about the show - everyone's tunes are beautiful, and most haven't been performed in public before.”
The lineup also includes Justin Firefly Clarke, Nigel Collins, and Deanne Krieg, who have each played alongside Age in various groups including Fly My Pretties, The Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra and the Woolshed Sessions. Ben Lemi will be straight off a tour with French for Rabbits, and plays in Trinity Roots.
Each of the musicians write songs and switch around on instruments, to make music which is "the soundtrack of our lives over the past few years – love & hate, life & death, forgiveness, fierceness, friendship, and everything that makes life worth living."
This gig sees Old Hall Gigs return to the site of its very first show, Vogelmorn Hall in Brooklyn. This event is a music-only special edition gig, a variation on the usual format of the series that has included dance, writers and film. Like all Old Hall Gigs, it will be seated and BYO, and starts on time. Audience members are encouraged to bring a cushion.
Old Hall Gigs presents: A Special Edition
Saturday April 22, 8pm
Vogelmorn Hall
Pre-sales $25/$20 from undertheradar.co.nz