The Unsung Heroes concert includes Chris Priestley, Cameron Bennett, Sonia Wilson, Nigel Gavin and Peter Elliott, telling stories from New Zealand’s settler past in finely crafted theatre, music and song with newspaper clippings, articles and poems that deftly introduce each song’s central character.
A photographic slideshow of historic images as accompaniment, with gorgeously evocative music and words and Elliott’s old style radio diction, sharp timing and dry humour all predictive of ways we have come to see ourselves.
Concerts throughout Auckland and a recent (world Tour) of the South Island have all been sellouts performing in such iconic places as the Vulcan Hotel,St Bathans, the Hokonui Moonshine Museum in Gore and Donovan’s Store in Okorito.
The songs are mostly originals – about actual people and events that occurred in our colonial past. Rogues, rebels, explorers, villains and heroes are rediscovered and illuminated visually, with spoken word and song - NZ Musician magazine described this as ‘a truly valuable exercise, bringing all this history together in music’.
Chris Priestley is the shows originator and writer, he is a gifted singer, songwriter and a NZ history buff. Unsung Heroes is Chris’s original creation.
Cameron Bennett is another storyteller. Music is his life-blood, as a singer- songwriter, guitarist, and lap steel player he delivers his own stories of our past that shaped who we are today.
Nigel Gavin is a multi award-winning musician from Long Island, New York, now resident in Auckland. Nigel’s own creation The Gitbox Rebellion and he is a guitarist with remarkable versatility who is respected globally.
Sonia Wilson is a human Womad festival. Her music has taken her from the streets of Paris, across the Kenyan savannah to remote Himalayan villages, and to her home now, New Zealand.
Peter Elliott is an award winning actor and presenter. He is passionate about NZ stories and history, and he narrates the show for each character, and plays cajon.
The show includes many of Auckland’s most colourful characters including Captain Lorraine an army balloonist, from Parnell, who turned showman. Don Buck who ran a camp for the homeless, and for whom the Auckland road was named.
Tiger Lil, a woman of dubious repute who taunted tricks and sometimes turned savage. Kimble Bent, a deserter who changed sides and learnt pacifism, Von Tempsky,a soldier, painter and musician killed in battle at Te Ngutu o te Manu and Darling Jennie, a 20 year old magicienne who thrilled many and died young. Explorers like Captain Moonlight and Joshua Morgan, and many others.
Those whose exploits saved others like Huria Matenga and still others for whom human life was worthless like the Burgess Gang. Then there are ghosts and murderers too. All this and singalong tunes and toe tapping ballads.
THE UNSUNG HEROES IN CONCERT, The Grey Lynn Community Library. Sunday, 16 October. Doors open 7pm and tickets are $25.