Arts & Entertainment

Good old country style

ROBIN RAYMOND - The Marlborough Express

They might not be centrestage, but four experienced musicians will be the key to Sunday's Country Music in the Park concert at Pollard Park in Blenheim.

Picton theatre keen for members

The Marlborough Express

The Picton Little Theatre annual general meeting will be held on Tuesday next week.

Timing set for festival

Dates have been set for the annual Southern Jam Youth Jazz Festival in Blenheim.

Prolific artist delights in warm climate

ANGELA CROMPTON - The Marlborough Express

Impressions of the Marlborough landscape can be seen in new works by Blenheim painter Brian Badcock.

Weekly arts diary

The Marlborough Express

A weekly diary of events: Theatre, exhibitions, visiting artists and concerts

Art sale helps a family

Watching art enthusiasts out-do each other with the on-line bidding for Summer Jamieson's latest acrylic painting has been exciting for the Waihopai Valley artist.

Summer entertainment

The Marlborough Express

About 500 people turned out for the Marlborough 4 Fun Summer Concert in the Park at Pollard Park, in Blenheim, yesterday.

Kan is Garden's canary

The Marlborough Express

When comedian Raybon Kan plays at the Secret Garden in Blenheim on Sunday he will feel like the canary in a mine.

Old-time dance to shake, rattle & roll

JARED NICOLL - The Marlborough Express

An old-fashioned social will shake, rattle and roll the Wairau Valley on Saturday.

Still sailing strong

The Marlborough Express

Harry Lyon met Dave McArtney when he was 12 – the former just back from Britain with an electric guitar and chisel-toed shoes.

Gig guide

The Marlborough Express

A weekly diary of gigs around Marlborough

Voices will soon soar with Wilma

EMMA DANGERFIELD - © Fairfax NZ News

Scottish-born singing teacher Wilma Halliday is originally from Stirling, but ask around town and many know her from her days teaching here in Kaikoura.

Golden guitar winner to play again

EMMA DANGERFIELD - © Fairfax NZ News

A firm favourite at Fyffe House Music on the Lawn, Jess Robinson performs with the air of a true professional. So it is hard to believe that this is the only event she now sings at.

Tough and tender mixed in one film

MATT LAWREY - The Marlborough Express

If I were to ask you to sum up your philosophy on life in a nutshell, what would you say?

Carving faces and strong friendships

ANGELA CROMPTON - The Marlborough Express

Unity in the world is impossible if people judge one another by face value alone, says Auckland photographer Serena Giovanna Stevenson.

Artist's road trip memories

ANGELA CROMPTON - The Marlborough Express

Are We There Yet? is the title of an exhibition by artist Sirpa Alalaakkola opening at the Gillan Gallery Artist and Writers Retreat in Blenheim on Friday.

Fans give to quake appeal

The Marlborough Express

Theatre fans attending the Havelock Theatre Group's comedy show, The Weatherman, contributed $1100 to the Christchurch quake appeal.

Performances in the park

The Summer Concert Series 2012 starts again with a concert from 5pm till 8pm at Pollard Park this Sunday.

Beerfest a summer highlight

SAM MORTON - The Marlborough Express

Drylands Restaurant owner Dietmar Schnarre hopes to attract about 1000 "flavour freaks" to his first Summer Beerfest on Sunday.

Let's all face the music

SAM MORTON - The Marlborough Express

Blenheim Blues, Brews and BBQs organisers are hoping award-winning Kiwi band Opshop bring the numbers back to A&P Park for the annual festival tomorrow.

Opshop at the top

SAM MORTON - The Marlborough Express

Opshop vocalist Jason Kerrison grew up around music.

Guitarist hailed as top exponent

The Marlborough Express

Music is a gift to share – that is a philosophy guiding Australian guitarist Michael Fix.

Young artists need room to grow

EMMA DANGERFIELD - © Fairfax NZ News

A children's art teacher is appealing to the wider community in order to help expand her classes and accommodate many more budding young artists.

Eclectic mix of music impresses all

EMMA DANGERFIELD - © Fairfax NZ News

The annual celebration of local musical talent, Music on the Lawn, was held at Fyffe House on Saturday afternoon.

Publican chasing the funny money

IAN ALLEN - The Marlborough Express

Rolling around the floor would get you kicked out of most pubs.

Quake appeal to benefit

The Marlborough Express

The Havelock Theatre Company Committee will donate proceeds from the performance of The Weatherman tomorrow night to the Christchurch Earthquake appeal.

Learning lines a learning curve

ANGELA CROMPTON - The Marlborough Express

A woman fixated with the weather because she needs to get her family's washing dry is a fitting character for the Havelock Theatre Company's new show, The Weatherman.

Fincher triumphs; just as predicted

MATT LAWREY - The Marlborough Express

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (R16)

Dance stars

JARED NICOLL - The Marlborough Express

Blenheim dance students will show the crowd what they are made of at their academy's registration day.

Opshop play Blues, Brews

JARED NICOLL - The Marlborough Express

The organisers of the Blues, Brews and BBQs have told their favourite stories and revealed what makes the festival such a success.

Blues, brews and rockers

SAM MORTON - The Marlborough Express

Experience won't be a problem for Wellington band Hitchcock Railway when they take to the stage on Saturday for the annual Blues, Brews and BBQs festival at A & P Park.

New focus for quake-hit artist

ANGELA CROMPTON - The Marlborough Express

Water colours are a favourite medium for Christchurch artist Marilyn Bennett, but the city's frequent earthquakes have prompted her to take up acrylics.

Artist sells work for hospice

SONIA BEAL - The Marlborough Express

About 30 people visited the home of Blenheim landscape painter Thirza Davies on Friday and Saturday, mulling over artworks at her Art in the Garden sale.

Havelock show for appeal

ANGELA CROMPTON - The Marlborough Express

The Christchurch earthquake appeal is the charity nominated to receive one night's takings from Havelock Theatre Company's latest production, The Weatherman.

Workshops introduce children to art

ANGELA CROMPTON - The Marlborough Express

Birthdays and Christmas time are a group of young artists' first suggestions when asked what they most care about.

Country singer vows to return

JARED NICOLL - The Marlborough Express

Overall winner of the Gourmet Paradise Country Music awards, Jayne Evans, drove further than any other competitor this weekend and had such a great time in Blenheim, she did not want to leave.

New paintings a swansong

ANGELA CROMPTON - The Marlborough Express

A patina of experience is how artist Michael Smither describes his new exhibition, Central Otago.

Never too late for a new approach

The Marlborough Express

Blenheim landscape painter Thirza Davies has decided it is time for a change.

Witty outlook on forecasts

The Marlborough Express

Weather forecasts will never be the same after people see the Havelock Theatre Company's latest production, The Weatherman, says writer, producer and cast member Rick Edmonds.

Healing quake wounds

The Marlborough Express

A dedication to the Christchurch earthquake is included among 13 paintings in an exhibition by Kaikoura-based artist Ruth Stirnimann.

Chris covers all the musical bases

SIMON WONG - The Marlborough Express

With his bushy beard, long hair and heavy metal band T-shirt, Nelson man Chris Whitnell looks like he would be more at home at a rock concert than a country music awards show.

Versatile guitarist back

ANGELA CROMPTON - The Marlborough Express

A performer described as Australia's virtuoso of acoustic roots and blues is bringing his guitars to Marlborough this month.

'Hypnotic' blues group

The Marlborough Express

Wild, angry, hypnotic and sensual is how a London music reviewer describes calypso-blues act Tom Rodwell & Storehouse.

Gourmet Awards to finish earlier

ANGELA CROMPTON - The Marlborough Express

Songs that tell stories are a definition of country music and many can be heard this weekend at the annual Gourmet Paradise Country Music Awards in Blenheim.