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2 /
8 / 2004 - CD competition
winners
This months two competition winners
are: J Adams of Christchurch, NZ & Maurice Mullany
of Kaiapoi, Canterbury, NZ. Congratuations and thank
you to all who entered. Look out for more competitions
soon.
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29 / 7 / 2004 -
Distance teaching Initiative
Find out
more
Many people in New Zealand have
poor access to Irish music tuition. I have been
thinking about what I could do to make teaching
avaible on a more regular basis. As a consequence
I have started a distance teaching project where
I will make myself available through CD's, correspondence,
telephone or video for one off "lessons". If you
are interested in the idea then please email me
at mail@brendyn.net
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29
/ 7 / 2004 - Launch
of Avoca House Music
Avoca House Music is my new music
business. It is the offical outlet and distillation
of all of my previous endevours. With the launch
of the offical business name I felt that it was
appropriate to rebrand the website. Avoca House
Music will bring you all the same quality products
and services as before as well as a few new ones.
Design is part of the brief of Avoca House Music.
Specialising in design for musicians Avoca house
can meet all your graphic needs .
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2003
Tui winner - "Best folk Album"
NZ music and entertainment awards
Mountain Air
Reviews
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"I'm delighted, it
was an unexpected bonus, even just to make the finalists
was quite a thrill. I think it also speaks for the
production values of the CD for which Ian McAllister
of Sweet Juice studios is almost souly responsible.
I'm very grateful for all the contributions musically
and otherwise that went into the CD. Several people
deserve specific mention. My Mother, Jan Blythe,
without whose monetary and organisational skills
the CD would not have happened, James Wilkinson
for his sterling role the production team, Ian for
the sound and last but not least (form my own point
of view) Mike Considine for his contribution to
my music not only on this CD but also his support
and encouragement over the last couple of years,
it is a real privilege and an honour to play with
one of Irish Traditional music's elite."
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6 / 11 / 2003
- First Class Honours - M.A.
in Traditional Irish Music Performance
A pleasant surprise
Well I have to say that was a bit of a shock. I wasn't
expecting that at all. I knew that I had passed the course
but..... I'm thrilled really and once again I want to
give thanks to all those who have helped make this possible
(listed in an earlier news item). The future holds a gig
in Dunedin in December (details)
and then touring Bob McNeill's new album in the new year.
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2 / 11 / 2003 -
North Island Tour - October 2003
With Bob McNeill and Louise Evans
I'm just back from a very enjoyable two
weeks in the North Island with Bob McNeill. We also shared
four of the gigs with Fiddle player Louise Evans. It was
a fun trip and I got to see a lot of the North Island
that I haven't ever seen including trips to the Hokianga
and to Waiheke Island to name a couple of the high points.
Musicially it was great with sold out venues in Napier,
Hamilton, the Bunker in Auckland and solid crowds in other
places. We finished up at the Wellington Folk Festival.
We had planned to tour the south island in November but
the rugby world cup has put a spanner in the works and
all dates are now off. They may be rescheduled but at
this stage we are unsure as to when.
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5 / 5 / 2003 - Shennaghys
Jiu
Festival on the Isle of Mann
I am just back from a week on the Isle
of Mann, which is a very beautiful little Island between
Great Britan and Ireland. We (myself, Cinzia Curtis, Katie
Lawrance and Bob (?)) were playing a week long festival
based in the northern town of Ramsey. Despite a level
of relaxedness that permated throught to the organisational
side of things it was a very enjoyable week. There was
a great Galithian piper there Anton
Davila whom I would throughly recommend you see if
you get the chance. He has a CD out soon - so look out
for him. Go there if you get the chance - it is very like
N.Z. in some ways and percularly reminisent of the West
coast attitude to life!
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