Iain Mitchell

5th July
Members $7 Non-members $12

Iain Mitchell cut his musical teeth (he now has eight left!) on school musicals singing the female lead in 'Annie get your Gun', the Mikado and the Admiral's daughter in 'The Pirates of Penzance'.

He grew up listening to his Grandpa Tam singing traditional songs from the Scottish Borders and discovered the revival while at school in Edinburgh through people such as Archie Fisher, Hamish Imlach, Hamish Henderson, Belle Stewart and The Corrie Folk Trio with Paddy Bell.

He started playing in Edinburgh Pubs at the tender age of 14 (only beer, no whisky) and played on the same bill as The Corries, Billy Connelly, Dick Gaughan, The Incredible String Band and many others. He took part in the Diddling competition at the very first Blairgowrie Traditional Folk Festival.

He arrived in New Zealand as a seafarer in the early eighties and married a local Auckland lass. Came out to live here in 1984 and since then has played (often more than once) at every major New Zealand folk festival and folk club. He was once described in Aucklands Metro magazine as having a voice like a Scottish gale. He has appeared on many a NZ folk recordings and worked with Paul Yielder on a much sought after recording Every Man and His Dog.

His sense of humour is legendary and his stories and opinions are wonderous to behold. His repertoire consists of Tradition Scottish and Irish material, with a sprinkling of English, contemporary and seafaring material. Now teaching in Hokitika he makes the occasional foray across the hill to Christchurch or its airport and this is a rare opportunity to listen to a master of his craft (while he has any teeth left!).

Support: TBA