Author: Peter Parnham

Nine Mile Creek: The whole nine miles

Nine Mile Creek (Australia)

An Australian four-piece contemporary bluegrass band and veterans of Kiwigrass 2019, Nine Mile Creek, will be back for Kiwigrass 2020.ย  Their humorous originals had the audiences at last years festival rippling with laughter.

Nine Mile Creek hails from Victoria and features Mark Pottenger on mandolin, Colin Weight on banjo, Andrew Barcham on double bass, and Doug Wallace on guitar with all members of the band sharing vocals.

The band plays traditional and original bluegrass, with a touch of swing.

It has a strong repertoire and is a regular contributor to the Mountain Pickers Associationโ€™s monthly nights at the foot of the Dandenong ranges in Victoria. They regularly feature at Australian bluegrass festivals, including Mountaingrass, Kelly Country Pick and the Foggy Mountain Bluegrass festival.

Win a Laurence Frangos-Rhodes guitar in the amazing Kiwigrass raffle

The Kiwigrass raffle is back with more fantastic prizes. All funds raised from the raffle go to support the Kiwigrass Trust.

Buy Raffle Ticket

First prize: Custom built D-18 Dreadnought style guitar

Laurence Frangos-Rhodes with his guitar.
photo by Ian Fisk.

You’ll see Laurence Frangos-Rhodes playing his blistering solos with Rhode Works and You, Me, Everybody, but have you noticed his guitar?ย  “His,” as in, he made it.

In addition to being an outstanding musician, songwriter, and singer, Laurence is also a luthier with a growing reputation and backlog of orders for custom made guitars.

Laurence’s custom Kiwigrass guitar is built to Martin D-18 specifications: mahogany back/ sides; Sitka spruce top; and Rosewood fretboard/bridge.

Some progress photos straight from the workshop of our young master luthier:

Second prize: Trenwith practice banjo

These cute little practice banjos are produced by Hamilton’s own Paul Trenwith QSM, to allow new banjo players to practice their rolls and fingerings without driving their loved ones crazy.
Paul Trenwith with practice banjo

More prizes will be announced soon!

Buy Raffle Ticket

US and Aussie bands top amazing bluegrass guest list for 2020

Performers and Instructors

We are pleased to announce our 2020 Kiwigrass artists.

  • Lonely Heartstring Band (US)
  • AJ Lee and Blue Summit (US)
  • Bluegrass Parkway (AU)
  • Coolgrass (AU)
  • Nine Mile Creek (AU)
  • Jean-Luc Leroux & Friends (New Caledonia)
  • Bluegrass & Beyond (NZ)
  • Downunderdogs (NZ)
  • The Hamilton County Bluegrass Band (NZ)
  • Hot Diggity (NZ)
  • Kaimai Express (NZ)
  • Melling Station Boys (NZ)
  • The Pipi Pickers (NZ)
  • Rhode Works (NZ)
  • Valley Bluegrass (NZ)
  • Wires and Wood (NZ)
  • You, Me, Everybody (NZ)

Academy Instructors

  • Guitar: George Clements, Sully Tuttle, Jesse Fichman
  • Banjo (3 finger Bluegrass): Gabe Hirshfeld, Paul Trenwith
  • Mandolin: Maddie Witler, AJ Lee, Paul Duff
  • Fiddle: Patrick M’gonigle, Jan Purat, Maria Duff
  • Bass: Charles Clements

Amazing Mandolin Raffle 2019

Our goal with Kiwigrass is to create a sustainable, ongoing festival for all of bluegrass-loving New Zealand. Part of that means raising money for future festivals.  Our primary fundraiser this year is our amazing raffle.

First prize is a custom made van der Gaag mandolin,  worth $2,500  and made from all New Zealand native timbers. Johan has been hard at work creating a special masterpiece just for Kiwigrass.

Lucky Paul Trenwith tries out the beautiful instrument.

Second prize is a Trenwith practice banjo, also known as a quiet banjo.  Made of all timber, this little banjo allows you to practice your mad bluegrass licks without driving your neighbours, partner, kids, or flatmates crazy.  A must-have for all keen banjo players!  Paul says he will have a variety of the little chaps for sale at Kiwigrass. They range in price from $250 for the plywood ones to $400 if it’s made of nice wood. 

“They’re all different,” he says. 

You’ll be able to buy tickets for the amazing raffle at the festival. $5 each, or 5 for $20.