NCMA’s Lunchtime Series: Musical chameleon Bob Bickerton

A specialist in Celtic music, Bob Bickerton has performed solo and in folk groups at most major concert venues, folk festivals and arts festivals around New Zealand in the past 40 years featuring instruments including uilleann pipes, harp, flute, whistles, guitar and bodhran.

In recent years he has become a practitioner of taonga puoro, the traditional instruments of Maori,having been inspired by Hirini Melbourne, Richard Nunns and Brian Flintoff. He has worked collaboratively with Richard Nunns, Aroha Yates-Smith and Glen Colquhoun and a recent project with Brian Flintoff, Robin Slow, Ariana Tikao, Solomon Rahui and Holly Tikao-Weir is the exhibition Nga Hau Ngakau which is touring nationally.

Two of Bob’s CDs have been finalists in the New Zealand Music Awards and he has been involved in many recording projects for film and television. He has performed and recorded with a wide variety of contemporary, ethnic music groups, choirs and orchestras including the NZSO. As a songwriter his The Close Shave has received international acclaim having been recorded by numerous performers and groups overseas.

In 2015 he was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to music following many years presenting music programmes in schools right around New Zealand.

The inspiration for this concert comes from a definition of the chameleon, which Bob found uncannily reflective of himself: a small slow-moving Old World lizard with a long extensible tongue, protruding eyes that rotateindependently, and a highly developed ability to change colour.

Expect music of old Ireland, sounds of Aotearoa, all mixed in with a broad soundscape inspired by natural sounds and synthesis.

Proudly supported by Nelson Pine Industries.
Series passes are available at $100 (+ service fee) per term.

Cash and eftpos available for door sales at Nelson Centre of Musical Arts from 9am – 5pm, Monday to Friday and one hour prior to the scheduled performance time.

Please contact Nelson Centre of Musical Arts if you require wheelchair seating on 03 548 9477 or music@ncma.nz.