The Dunedin Folk Club is set to celebrate half a century of music and community with a Golden Anniversary Festival over Anzac weekend, marking a significant milestone for one of the city’s enduring cultural institutions.
Founded in 1975, the club has served as a cornerstone for folk music enthusiasts, providing a space to share skills, stories, and a collective love for the art form. The 50th anniversary celebrations, scheduled for April 25 and 26, will feature a packed programme of events designed to honour the club’s rich history and vibrant present.
While much of the weekend is dedicated to members past and present, the public is invited to join the festivities at a special Showcase Concert on Saturday, April 25. The concert will take place from 7.30pm at the club’s headquarters in the Opoho Bowling Club on Lovelock Avenue.
A showcase of southern folk
The Anzac Day Showcase Concert will feature eight of the club’s most stalwart acts, presenting a diverse tapestry of the styles nurtured by the club over the years. The line-up includes renowned local performers such as Catgut and Steel, Sean Manning, Lindsey Shields and John Meddings, Neil Copeland, Vic McDonald, John Egenes, the Moroney family, and Valley Bluegrass.
Audiences can expect a journey through a range of folk traditions, from traditional Celtic tunes and American bluegrass to contemporary Americana. Bernadette Moroney, the club’s special events co-ordinator, said the selection process was a challenging task.
So, we selected eight acts, which will give the audience a taste of what we do.
Mrs Moroney noted that the extraordinary variety of styles within the folk genre is a key reason for the club’s longevity and sustained appeal. A single evening, she explained, is hardly enough time to capture the full breadth of music explored by its many talented members.
From university rooms to city stalwart
The club’s journey began in the mid-1970s, a fertile period for folk music globally. It was originally formed from the merger of the University Folk Club and the 12 Fret Folk Club, first taking the name the New Edinburgh Folk Club before later becoming the Dunedin Folk Club as it is known today.
Like many grassroots organisations, the club has navigated its share of challenges over the past five decades. Mrs Moroney acknowledges the cyclical nature of the folk scene but points to a recent resurgence in connectivity and collaboration.
"We have had our ups and downs over the years, and so have folk clubs across New Zealand, but the establishment of the Aotearoa NZ Folk Alliance several years ago has strengthened networks throughout the county again," she says.
This national body, the Aotearoa New Zealand Folk Alliance, has been instrumental in creating a more cohesive touring circuit, benefiting local clubs and musicians alike. The University of Otago, from whose folk club the current organisation partly grew, continues to be a hub of local activity, with a recent BioBlitz aiming to map campus life further highlighting the vibrant community spirit.
A hub for local and travelling musicians
Beyond its major festivals, the Dunedin Folk Club maintains a busy, year-round schedule. It hosts weekly club nights on Sundays and popular open mic sessions every Thursday, offering a consistent platform for both seasoned performers and emerging artists to hone their craft.
This regular programming has cemented its role as a vital part of Dunedin’s live music landscape, which also includes major events like the annual Wild Dunedin festival. Mrs Moroney says the club is a crucial stop for artists travelling the country.
"From October to May, we have a constant stream of musicians from New Zealand and overseas travelling through the country, so we are able to host their performances in Dunedin, which is great," she says. The Whare Flat Folk Festival, held over New Year near Dunedin, is another key event on the national folk calendar, further underscoring the region’s importance to the genre.
The upcoming Golden Anniversary Festival is also a reunion, with members travelling from across the country to attend. "We have people coming from all around the country for the celebrations, and we will have the chance to hear the stories about the foundation and history of the club," Mrs Moroney says.
The weekend will include member-exclusive events such as talks on the club's history, open mic sessions, bush poetry, a celebration dinner, and a session dedicated to the folk revival music of the 1960s and 1970s. As the nation prepares for these celebrations, other parts of the country are recovering from recent events, with residents of Hamilton breathing a sigh of relief as Cyclone Vaianu moves offshore.
After an evening of music and memories, attendees might explore the city's culinary scene, with many options in Dunedin’s best restaurants for dinner. Looking forward to the Anzac weekend festivities, Mrs Moroney says the atmosphere is one of joyful anticipation. "It’s going to be a great weekend of celebration."
Tickets for the Dunedin Folk Club 50th anniversary Showcase Concert are available online via Humanitix, with booking essential as numbers are limited.
