Bob Cooper-Grundy

8 December 2023 – Bob Cooper-Grundy and Kate Marshall

The Levin Folk Music Club meets again Friday 8 December with special guests Bob Cooper-Grundy and Kate Marshall.

Bob and Kate are based in the Wairarapa but play gigs regularly around the southern half of the North Island. The song list veers between swing sounds of Texas, mixed with the blues and jazz served up in the Bob and Kate way.

Bob has pursued obscurity now for some 50 odd years playing blues guitar and singing country songs. He has opened for Guy Clark, Townes van Zandt, Tom Russell and Jimmy LaFave. He plays finger picking and slide guitar.

Kate plays violin, accordion and flute and sings quite beautifully. She started with classical piano and singing in choirs. In this gig she might add in her new secret weapon of jazz glockenspiel!

Bob and Kate have played at most of the folk clubs in the Wellington area, at Folk Festivals as well as at Jazz in Martinborough. Kate has played with all female supergroup The Raven Mavens while Bob has done the odd gig with harmonica maestro Neil Billington.

Together they have provided some extra textures for Butter Wouldn’t Melt’s recent performances at the Auckland and Wellington Folk Festivals.

For more information check out Kate Marshall and Bob Cooper-Grundy on the web.

Doors open at 7:00 pm and the evening begins at 7:30 pm with a blackboard of performers, where there is an opportunity for musicians to put their name up for an item. The guests perform after supper and the drawing of the raffle.

Admission, which includes a light supper, is $7 for members, $12 for non-members and $3 for students. Cash only (no eftpos facilities).

The venue is the Horowhenua Scottish Society Hall, 155 Bartholomew Road, corner Bartholomew Road and Middlesex Street, Levin.

Come and enjoy a night of fun and music!

Kate Marshall and Bob Cooper-Grundy
Image source: Bob Cooper-Grundy and Kate Marshall

By Siteboss • News • 0 • Tags: Bob Cooper-Grundy, Kate Marshall

August Concert with Bob and Kate

The LFMC concert featuring Bob Cooper-Grundy and Kate Marshall will go ahead as planned on Friday 14 August – Doors open 7pm with the guests performing after an open mic and intermission. Due to Covid Level 2 conditions, the Committee will ensure distancing of chairs, sanitizers and hygiene as much as possible, with masks optional. Supper is not being provided but you are welcome to bring your own snacks and beverage.

Our guests are multi-instrumentalists and play various genres of music (but mainly Americana/blues) very well indeed. Kate adds beautiful vocals and her skills on piano accordian and flute/fiddle are legendary. Bob has a great voice for the blues and his resonator guitar is a special treat for his fans. Looking forward to hearing them again after their 2019 concert here was cancelled. Hope you can make it along as our upcoming concerts may be in jeopardy.

There will be an open mic followed by a floor spot by Kevin Watson prior to the main concert. Come by 7pm to add your name to the compere’s list.

In AGM news: Our 2020 committee comprises Dianne Madill as Chairperson, Val Jenkins as Treasurer, Jean Hollis as Secretary, with Dale Webb as PR/Bookings and John Jenkins as committee members. Thanks for the support of these hardworking members, and if you can offer your time on a concert night for either setup/kitchen/cleanup/other – that would be amazing and much appreciated.

By Chairperson • AGM, Guest Artists, News • 0 • Tags: Bob Cooper-Grundy, Elections, Kate Marshall, Kevin Watson

Sept 13th Concert Guests

Bob & Kate

Bob Cooper-Grundy and Kate Marshall are based in the Wairarapa but play gigs regularly around the southern half of the North Island. The song list veers between swing sounds of Texas, mixed with the blues, bluegrass, something approaching jazz and some Pop songs served up in the Bob and Kate way.

Bob Cooper-Grundy has pursued obscurity now for some 40 odd years, having played with some famous people in London including the drummers of The Pogues and the Woodentops. He enjoys playing blues guitar and singing country songs.

Kate Marshall plays violin, accordion and flute and sings quite beautifully. She started with classical piano and singing in choirs and you don’t have to listen that carefully to hear Bach and Mozart lurking behind Bob Wills and Memphis Minnie.

They have played at most of the folk clubs in the Wellington area, at the Wellington, Auckland and Dunedin Folk Festivals and at Jazz in Martinborough. You can catch them at many cafes and pubs in the region. Check out their Bob and Kate facebook page for details. Adding Neil Billington’s astonishing harmonica playing to the mix puts the emphasis on the Blues and provides even more opportunities for swapping ideas and stealing licks.

Bob, Kate and Neil met at music festivals where they would sit around jamming and enjoying each others music and improvisations. These jam sessions often became long musical conversations as the quickwitted musicians tried to outdo or steal ideas from one another. If one of them was performing and spotted the others in the audience, eyes would light up and a sudden guest spot would appear on the bill! Most recently they have played together at a cajun restaurant in Wellington, the Mayfair in Upper Hutt and most recently at Jazz in Martinborough.