String Wizardy AOTNZ Tour 29 July – 22 August

For immediate release

String Wizardy AOTNZ Tour 29 July – 22 August

String wizardry and Celtic magic - that’s the music Davy Stuart, guitar player and harp player Helen Webby make together. Principal harpist with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, Helen Webby is also New Zealand’s top Celtic harpist. Multi-instrumentalist (and renowned instrument maker) Davy Stuart is also one of the top Celtic performers in New Zealand, winning three NZ Folk Album of the Year awards for his work with Scottish Kiwi bands Rua and Claddagh.

On this tour, for the first time, they add vocals to their mix of Scottish and Irish traditional music. (See itinerary below).

Helen plays a 34 string harp made by her brother, Whangarei based Kim Webby, and Davy plays a steel-strung six string guitar and an 8 string guitar/bouzouki – both made, of course, by Davy.

“…one of the most special concerts I have seen in a long while…It takes a special combination of person, talent and on the spot ability to entertain….Helen and Davy are fine examples of the high standard of talent that exists in NZ…”Andrew Bicknell

“The range of colour and expression that this combination of instruments produced took me quite by surprise. ….Here was a concert guaranteed to put a spring in your step for the rest of the day.” Timothy Jones, the Press

For more information contact:
Arts On Tour NZ Trust, aotnz@xtra.co.nz or www.aotnz.co.nz
www.stuart.co.nz/webby-stuart

CDs
"The Peacock's Dance" 2001
“The Golden Strand" 2010

Helen Webby
Helen Webby studied music in Auckland, Holland and Germany, winning numerous scholarships from the Netherlands Government, the German Academic Exchange Service, Creative NZ, and the NZSO Alex Lindsay Trust. Alongside her role with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra (CSO), she performs with the NZ Symphony Orchestra and is a recording artist for Radio New Zealand. Throughout, Helen has maintained an interest in the Celtic harp, winning a prize at the 1990 International Carolan Harp Competition (Ireland). In 2008, Helen and Davy Stuart collaborated with New Zealand composers Gareth Farr and Chris Cree-Brown to tour a programme of new works and traditional music for Chamber Music NZ. Late last year, she travelled to Japan with the CSO, where the highlight was performing in the earthquake devastated city of Sendai. [1]

Davy Stuart
Historian by training, but musician and luthier by inclination, Davy Stuart has toured with Helen Webby since 2002. Brought up in Edinburgh, he came into contact with the thriving folk music revival of the 1970s at university, touring throughout Scotland, England and Europe for the next few years as a performer. Moving to New Zealand in 1989, he turned his instrument-making vocation into a profession, while continuing to perform on his own and with others throughout Australasia.

His instruments are owned by many well-known musicians including Irish performer, Christy Moore and Andy Irvine. In addition, Stuart instruments can be found in the UK, North and South America, throughout Europe, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Dubai and Australia and New Zealand.

Itinerary
Sunday 29 July 7.30pm Christchurch
Christchurch Folk Music Club, Irish Society Rooms, Domain Terrace, Spreydon
Tickets at door from 7pm, members $10.00, non-members $15.00
http://folkmusic.org.nz/helen-webby-davy-stuart.php
Saturday 4 August 7.30pm Ashburton
Ashburton Trust Event Centre
$25 each; $22.50 for 2 or 3; $20 each for 4 or more; door sales all $25
Book: Event Centre Box office or www.ticketdirect.co.nz
Sunday 5 August 7.30pm Dunedin
New Edinburgh Folk Club, The Church, 50 Dundas St
Tuesday 7 August 8pm Gore
Eastern Southland Gallery
$25 Book: Eastern Southland Gallery
Wednesday 8 August 7.30pm Roxburgh
Goldfields Hotel $20 door sales
Thursday 9 August 7.30pm Alexandra
The Cellar Door
$20 Book: Alexandra Information Centre
Friday 10 August 7.30pm Cromwell
Bannockburn Community Church
Adults $25; SuperGold $20; Student/Child $5; Book: Cromwell I-Site
Saturday 11 August 7.30pm Okarito
Donovan’s Store
$25 Book: Debbie 03 753 4017 or Edwina 03 753 4014
Sunday 12 August 2.30pm Reefton
Union Church, Shiel St
Adults $10; Students $5; Family $20; door sales only
Tuesday 14 August 7.30pm Upper Hutt
Mainly Acoustic Music Club, Mayfair Cafe
Tickets at door
Wednesday 15 August 7.30pm Hastings
Assembly Room, Hawke’s Bay Opera House
Adult $25; Senior/student $20; Groups 10 or more $15; Encore Club $18
Book: www.ticketek.co.nz or 0800 TICKETEK
Thursday 16 August 7pm Opotiki
Hiona St. Stephen’s Church, Church St
$20 Book: The Travel Shop
Friday 17 August 7.30pm Thames
Kauaeranga Hall
$15 Book: Nancy 868 9664 or Lisa 868 5999
Saturday 18 August 3pm Coromandel
Anglican Church Hall, Tiki Rd
$25; Concessions $20. Book: Coromandel I-Site
Sunday 19 August 7.30pm Kerikeri
Downstairs at the Turner Centre
Adults $35; Seniors $30; Students 18 and under $5
Book: Turner Centre 0800 200 411 www.centakeri.com
Tuesday 21 August 7.30pm Omapere
Copthorne Hokianga
$15 Door sales
Wednesday 22 August 7.30pm Kaitaia
Taipa Bay Resort, Doubtless Bay
$45 Dinner and Show
Book: Finders Kaitaia; Doubtless Bay Information Centre Mangonui

Arts On Tour New Zealand
Arts On Tour New Zealand (AOTNZ) organises tours of outstanding New Zealand performers to rural and smaller centres in New Zealand. The trust receives funding from Creative New Zealand and liaises with local arts councils, repertory theatres and community groups to bring the best of musical and theatrical talent to country districts. www.aotnz.co.nz

[1] Author Fiona Farrell includes an interview with Helen in her book ‘The Quake Year’ (Canterbury University Press). Helen describes her actions and reactions following the 22 February 2011 Christchurch earthquake, culminating in the visit to Japan.

ENDS

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