Jon Sanders and Cousin Alice

I'm so excited to be able to present these two wonderful performers who are not often in New Zealand - Jon Sanders of Ireland and Cousin Alice from London.  

Guest Jon Sanders, bassouki player and guitarist, is one-half of the Alpaca Social Club which plays fresh sounds from exotic lands and is currently touring NZ with Arts on Tour.  The music has a flavour of Arabic, Celtic, funk, soul and gypsy jazz cultures and fans of ASC describe their live show as “a pyrotechnic display of dazzling virtuosity” and “a quantum leaping musical curiosity”.  The "quantum leaping" music of Jon Sanders has circumnavigated the globe many times over the last 25 years, entertaining thousands of listeners along the way. His compositions for drop D guitar, bouzouki and ukelele have been covered by bands and used in film, television and radio and he has performed in an impressive number of bands in the modern acoustic scene.

His last three albums, Zoukelele, Latitudes and Twigs of the Neem Tree have been critically acclaimed, earning him the title of "bold explorer" and his music as "pure magic".

Cousin Alice creates a completely unique sound, gritty, sweet, and heartfelt, delivered with a shot or two of humour. Her voice has been likened by one listener to "a cross between Tom Waits, Peggy Lee and Marianne Faithfull." Alice seduces audiences with her smoky voice and is a magnetic performer.  A talented singer/songwriter, she performs a collection of jazz standards, pop, nostalgia, blues and her own original work, accompanying herself on banjolele.   Based in London but raised in New Zealand, of Barbadian/ Welsh/ English/ Sephardi parentage, she draws on a rich infusion of Maori, Polynesian, Caribbean and Calypso culture.  

“Cousin Alice is unique. At a time when the jazz scene is awash with girl singers singing lovelorn lyrics at funereal tempos and living their Billie Holiday-esque fantasies along comes Alice with her banjolele and suddenly the clouds part, the sun shines and everything is just dandy.” Boisdale Blue Rhythm Band Leader

This Acoustic Live Event will be held at the lovely Ohau Community Hall, 14 Muhunoa West Rd, Ohau (on the opposite side of SH1/Ohau intersection.  Parking is plentiful, the hall is large and chairs will be spaced out, tea/coffee/refreshments will be available, the acoustics are beautiful and the guests amazing!  Vaccine passes will need to be sighted please, with mask wearing optional when seated. 

The concert will start at 3:00 pm with doors open at 2.30 pm Sunday 3rd April.  Advance bookings with Dale - dalewebb143@gmail.com - will be $15 pp and door sales $20 pp.  Contributions to afternoon tea would be greatly appreciated (as this is a not-for-profit show) and hot drinks are available.  We likely will finish up by 5:00 pm.  Come for a most enjoyable Sunday afternoon of exciting music and song!