Easter Weekend, 7 - 8 April 2012

The beautiful High Country town of Naseby will again present the Bards Ballads & Bulldust Festival at Easter 2012.

The weekend activities will be hosted by award-winning high country balladeer, Phil Garland and based around the historic Ancient Briton Pub, which is again holding this highly successful event. Visitors will be treated to some top quality Kiwi folk & country music along with bush poetry relevant to the New Zealand High Country.

The Bards, Ballads & Bulldust festival is the only one of its kind in the country, where the emphasis is on the spoken word in the form of bush poetry. Bush balladry has been an integral part of our national heritage since the 1890s, but its profile has remained small, going largely un-noticed and un-recognised until the birth of Bards Ballads & Bulldust. Our indigenous bush poets are finally getting some of the accolades they richly deserve thanks to Naseby and the Bards, Ballads & Bulldust Festival.

Naseby (2000 feet above worry level) is the historic capital of the High Country and best known as the home of curling. Where better to experience high country life at its exhilerating best. Visitors can see a town changed little from the earliest beginnings of the Otago goldrush, whilst at the same time visit wonderfully preserved and historic buildings set amidst some of the most stunning landscapes and oldest gold diggings in Central Otago.

Ancient Briton Miners Cottage Post Office The Chronicle

(Naseby Buildings: The Ancient Briton Hotel, a miner's cottage, the old post office, the offices of "The Chronicle")

Guests

This year's guests include:-

  • Mike Harding (New Plymouth)
  • Paul Bond (Motueka)
  • Mike McPhee (Poet & songwriter Catlins)
  • Keith Scott (oral historian & writer Dunedin)
  • Dusty Spittle (Cromwell)
  • Phil Garland (Nth Canterbury)

Mike Harding Paul Bond Mike McPhee

(Mike Harding, Paul Bond, Mike McPhee)

Keith Scott Dusty Spittle Phil Garland

(Keith Scott, Dusty Spittle, Phil Garland)

Programme

Good Friday
Welcome and informal gathering in the Ancient Briton Pub, Naseby with music session from all comers. A chance to join in!

Saturday Morning
7:30 am. A high country breakfast, followed by a "Gold Mining Mini-concert: an informal concert of goldmining songs and verses: a tribute to the discovery of gold in Central Otago in 1861, 150 years ago.

Saturday
Live performances throughout the day from invited poets and musicians in and around the Ancient Briton Hotel.

Sunday Morning
7:30 am. A high country breakfast, followed by a "Gold Mining Mini-concert: an informal concert of goldmining songs and verses: a tribute to the discovery of gold in Central Otago in 1862, 150 years ago.

Sunday
Live performances continue from about 10:00 am throughout the day featuring invited poets and musicians in and around the Ancient Briton.

Sunday Night
Open performers night at the Ancient Briton, when invited guests will share the stage with all comers.


♦ There may be a small admission charge for some events.

♦ Well priced meals and snacks available from the town hotels and local Cafe throughout the weekend

♦ Accommodation should still be available at the two local hotels, two motels and the camping ground. Further accommodation can be found at Ranfurly only 20 minutes away. However early bookings are advised!

♦ For further information contact the programme oganiser Phil Garland at pgarland(at)xtra.co.nz. *

♦ Accommodation sources in Naseby are found at http://www.accommodationz.co.nz/naseby-accommodation2.shtml

Accommodation

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