Jan and Bevis - East Coast Folk Club

Jan Elliott/Bevis England… bringing a wealth of musical material to life with individuality and flair.

Jan and Bevis met in late 2012 at a concert at the Llama Lounge and have been getting to know each other, through their music, ever since. Both have been in various musical line-ups and bring novel arrangements to a rich variety of material.

With two guitars and two voices they create a unique tapestry of sound. They are enjoying exploring great songs and giving them new life.

Jan Elliott, a singer songwriter and member of the Christchurch Folk Club for many years, has been a regular performer around Christchurch and Canterbury, and at festivals. She won the ‘CTV (Canterbury Television) Talent Quest’ and was awarded a 30-minute TV appearance called Jan Rapley Live at Bourbon St which featured a number of Christchurch’s notable performers. She also features on the CD called ‘Christchurch Folk and Acoustic’ produced by Christchurch Folk Club with two songs.

Jan’s influences are contemporary artists such as Joni Mitchell, Shawn Colvin and The Indigo Girls. Her own songs are compelling and quirky with lyrics that will move and touch your heart. Jan’s voice has been described as ‘pure’ and ‘beautiful’.

When Bevis England was given his first guitar he quickly lost interest in his classical piano lessons. Years later he was playing at pubs and restaurants, festivals and folk clubs in Edinburgh, Denmark, Colorado and Hong Kong. When Bevis returned to Auckland he became a regular performer at Poles Apart and Titirangi folk clubs and was a founding member of Thursday (with Sieffe La Trobe, in 1986).

He has since played festivals and clubs throughout New Zealand. As a member of Gumdiggers Bush Band he played electric bass and guitar at corporate events, private functions and the Auckland Folk Festival, where he has also performed solo.

Bevis is known as an innovative guitarist and lyricist.