CRUMB #37

SEPTEMBER 2025

THE WORD

An accordion tune

The songs may play a little slower this September. The words may be spoken more softly than before as we gather around the microphone and observe the old accordion sitting on its own in the corner shadows of the room. Sadly, Patrick Riddett has died; he left his accordion behind.

This month the open microphone stands again at The Dangerous Kitchen in Takaka. It welcomes the monthly gathering of live poets and musicians to the Mussel Inn in Onekaka. And it prepares a feast of food, poem and song at NgAna’s Gallery in Collingwood. It bows its head in quiet respect and sadness.

You will find all the details on the following pages of this edition of CRUMB.

Peace
Mark Raffills
Golden Bay Live Poets Society

In the long shadows

for Patrick

There is a gathering down on the corner
where he used to play

The tune of his accordion hovers there
above Commercial Street

The place where song and flute and tune
used to dance and meet

We mingle there now in the long shadows
of the slow and dying day…

Mark Raffills

 

 

 

 

LIVE MIC ACTION

October Moonshine and Feasting

Here we go again with an explosive mix of pot luck feasting and moonshine on the microphone! It’s proved already that this is one kind of gathering we need and what a gathering we had last month. Come this Thursday, 2 October, we are dishing up another inviting pot luck feast along with poems and songs, at NgAng’s Gallery. 

The POT LUCK FEAST will start at  6.00pm. Bring some food and drink and hang out together and remind ourselves just how lucky we are to be in such a gem of a community.

And then, starting around 7.30pm, there will be the very fabulous and very intimate Moonshine on the Microphone open mic session.

Moonshine on the Microphone
Thursday 2 October 2025
NgAng’s Gallery
POT LUCK FEAST – 6.00pm
Open Mic – 7.30pm. Koha

October Moonshine and Feasting

LIVE MIC ACTION

ACID in October

 October’s edition of ACID ON THE MICROPHONE presented by Golden Bay Live Poets Society, gives ya poems, stories and music too!

Our Guest this month is universally-travelled story teller ROGER SANDERS – read about him over the page. Before Roger draws you into the magical world of story, the longest-running-ever open mic in Golden Bay will welcome one and all to tell the story of their own hearts through poem and song.

The open mic always uncovers  some unexpected treats as new and established performers present their work.  Participants can put their names on the performance list on the night. Musician alanjahjah will kick the evening off from around 7.15pm with dinner music to dine to.

ACID ON THE MICROPHONE presents
Open Mic from 7.30pm
Story teller ROGER SANDERS from 8.30pm
Thursday 30 October 2025
$5 on the door.  Mussel Inn

PS:In past years we have run a POETRY SLAM in October but this year we are taking a break from sending a Golden Bay/Nelson rep to the National finals which will be held in Wellington in November. We may be back next year depending on the level of spoken word performances our monthly Acid on the Microphone sessions throw up.

ACID in October

FEATURED GUEST ACID ON THE MICROPHONE

NEAL BONNER – Steel Strings & Poems

Sometimes he takes a page from punk poet John Cooper Clark; other times he draws from his own deep well of prose poems and holds captive a hushed audience.

Neal Bonner, originally from the UK and now resident of Golden Bay, is a poet of some substance. His words tell stories against a back drop of some stunning original music. He weaves his words around the steel strings of his guitar and creates a strong and resonate tapestry of word song that dances to its own tune.

He will be the featured artist  Acid on the Microphone  on Thursday 18 September at the Mussel Inn.

Neal’s performances are as engaging as they are beautiful and impossible to ignore. Starting life as a musician- and still a talented one at that – Neal has found his voice as a poet, wrapping his words around the steel strings of his guitar.

Neal’s poetry and music speak from personal perspectives and what moves him. He says, “I’m enjoying bringing this ‘real Neal’ experience to intimate audiences.

Neal Bonner
Acid on the Microphone
Thursday 18 September 2025
Mussel Inn.
Open Mic: 7.30 pm.
Neal Bonner: 8.30 pm
$5 on the door.

NEAL BONNER – Steel Strings & Poems

LIVE MIC ACTION

THE DANGEROUS MICROPHONE in October

It’s day light saving time and we got to have some fun at the Kitchen with The Dangerous Microphone shining for all its worth!

Come to the DANGEROUS KITCHEN on Wednesdays, and be prepare to be entertained, challenged and informed by courageous performances and strong community connections.
For October the Open Mic Sessions will run all night on 1st, 15th and 29th.  30 Minutes of Glory spots will be on 8 October with Robin & Lauren Swafford and on 22 October with Andy Cole & Matt Murphy
Looking forward to Wednesdays at the Dangerous Kitchen where the food and beverage service is fantastic and the hostesses and hosts make you feel right at home. We pass the koha bowl to support our performers on the 30 Minutes of Glory evenings.  Here’s the programme – this page and next…

Wednesday 1 October
DANGEROUS MICROPHONE 
Open Mic all night: 6.00pm – 9.00pm.

Wednesday 15 October
DANGEROUS MICROPHONE 
Open Mic all night: 6.00pm – 9.00pm.

Wednesday 29 October
DANGEROUS MICROPHONE 
Open Mic all night: 6.00pm – 9.00pm.

PTO FOR 30 MINUTES OF GLORY PROFILES

 

 

THE DANGEROUS MICROPHONE in October

LIVE MIC ACTION

30 Minutes of October Glory @ the Dangerous Microphone

Wednesday 8 October ROBIN & LAUREN SWAFFORD

DANGEROUS MICROPHONE
Open Mic: 6.00pm – 7.30pm. 30 Minutes of Glory featuring Robin & Lauren Swafford,  7.30pm – 8.00pm. Open Mic 8.00pm – 9.00pm.

Robin and Lauren have been playing together for many years in church, cafes and for dances. They  will thump, twang and warble their way through some well known ‘covers’ to sing (and dance) to.

Wednesday 22 October ANDY COLE & MATT MURPHY

DANGEROUS MICROPHONE
Open Mic: 6.00pm – 7.30pm. 30 Minutes of Glory featuring Andy Cole & Matt Murphy  7.30pm – 8.00pm. Open Mic 8.00pm – 9.00pm.

The A & M Radio Show comprises Andy Cole and Matt Murphy, assisted on occasion by helpful friends. The duo was conceived a couple of years ago. Both well into their dotage, Matt and Andy share a passion for making music that has only grown over the sixty odd years that have passed since their teenage years. Matt is an experienced drummer, while Andy coaxes big sounds from a beautiful Yamaha 12 String. His songs for the most part are unashamedly covers, but it is known he keeps a fair smattering of original numbers under his hat.

 

 

 

SCRIBES ON THE MIC

It’s on again! Revite Cafe in Motueka is inviting all poets, wordsmiths and spokenword artists to speak their hearts at the second instalment of their new open mic show.

SCRIBES ON THE MIC, this Saturday 4 October at the Cafe, 265 High Street (in the arcade), Motueka. 7.00pm. $5 entry. Come on down to speak some words or just have a listen, enjoy some tasty fare and beverages and mix in some delightful company – it would be good to see you there. MC for the night is NEAL BONNER.

MONDAY NIGHT SINGALONG IS BACK

Monday night sing-a-long with Craig Denham starts again at the Mussel Inn on Monday 13 October.  The sessions will run right through until Christmas. So bring your voice and love of song at 7.00pm every Monday. Acoustic instruments welcome too! And we might hear a story or two from Graig’s recently completed musical odyssey through Europe and Hawaii…

 

OPEN MICROPHONE

SCRIBES ON THE MIC

It’s on again! Revite Cafe in Motueka is inviting all poets, wordsmiths and spokenword artists to speak their hearts at the second instalment of their new open mic show.

SCRIBES ON THE MIC, this Saturday 4 October at the Cafe, 265 High Street (in the arcade), Motueka. 7.00pm. $5 entry.

Come on down to speak some words or just have a listen, enjoy some tasty fare and beverages and mix in some delightful company – it would be good to see you there. MC for the night is NEAL BONNER.

 

LOCAL BODY ELECTIONS 2025

Standing up for Golden Bay

These are the people who are standing in the upcoming local body elections.

Golden Bay Community Board:

Mark Raffills, Henry Dixon, Clarissa Bruning, Sunshine Appleby, Grant Knowles, Rodney Ward and Axel Downard-Wilke.
These seven people are vying for four positions on the Community Board.

Golden Bay TDC Ward Councillor:

Mark Hume, Julian Hall, Axel Downard-Wilke, Celia Butler, Rod Barker.
These five people are vying for two Ward Councillor positions.

You can meet all these wonderful people at
MEET THE CANDIDATES
Sunday 7 September at Collingwood Area School 2.00pm
Sunday 7 September at Takaka Senior Citizens Hall. 7.00pm

Voting papers will be delivered week beginning 8 September.
The actual election date is Saturday 11 October 2025.

if you don’t vote, the whole thing becomes a joke

 

Standing up for Golden Bay

LIVE AT THE MUSSEL INN

OCTOBER AT THE MUSSEL INN

Sat 4th
ALBI AND THE WOLVES – FUN RAISER TOUR.  tickets $20 door $25

Thurs 9th
QUIZ NIGHT – All welcome

Sat 11th
THE GREAT COMMISEBRATION –
Local council election day gathering. All sides welcome!  6pm

Sun 12th
SILENT MOVIES LIVE.  Charlie Chaplins “The Kid and A Dogs Life” accompanied by original scores. Tickets $30. 7.30pm

Mon 13th
He’s back!
SINGALONG ‘ROUND THE PIANO
with CRAIG DENHAM – All welcome 7pm

Tues 14th
LORD ROCHESTER  –
Scotland’s Greatest Rock And Roll Band (Pictured left)
Tickets $30

Thurs 16th
ACID ON THE MICROPHONE
a BIG open microphone night

Mon 20th
SINGALONG ‘ROUND THE PIANO
with CRAIG DENHAM – All welcome 7pm

Weds 22nd
ANTIPODES
$20 tickets $25 door

Thurs 23rd
QUIZ NIGHT – All welcome

Sat 25th TOO MANY CHIEFS
$30 tickets $40 door

Mon 27th
SINGALONG ‘ROUND THE PIANO
with CRAIG DENHAM – All welcome 7pm

Fri 31st
THE RIWAKA HIGHROLLERS
$15 door

OCTOBER AT THE MUSSEL INN

Make Use of CRUMB

subscribe to CRUMB

In CRUMB you will find all the events sponsored by Golden Bay Live Poets Society plus a few other gigs and community happenings.

If you would like to be kept up to date with open microphone events happening around the Bay, then subscribe to CRUMB here

And you can even submit a gig or event that you want us to know about.

 

 

 

 

 

GOT A GIG, EVENT, NEW BOOK or RECORDING COMING UP ??

Got events or gigs coming up that you’d like to let CRUMB readers know about, please email the details, jpeg pics and jpeg posters to: mark@drycrust.com  or use the link below:

submit a gig or event 

And if you have a new book of  poems, stories coming out, or a new recording of songs, let us know and we can let our small but dedicated readership in on the action.