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

December and the moon and feasting shine on

Last gathering for the year at NgAng’s Gallery in Collingwood so lets see if you can make it down for a community pot luck feast and some gorgeous poem telling and song singing.

The mix of pot luck feasting and moonshine on the microphone continues to unite us.  Thanks for turning out and giving the thumbs up to this community-making gathering. We need one another in good times and in dark times.  Moonshine and Feasting is happening this Thursday, 4 December so bring some food to share, something to drink, a poem or two and a song to sing.  The POT LUCK FEAST will start at  6.00pm.

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 4 December 2025
NgAng’s Gallery
POT LUCK FEAST – 6.00pm
Open Mic – 7.30pm. Koha

December and the moon and feasting shine on

LIVE MIC ACTION

the microphone has got acid on it

 ACID ON THE MICROPHONE is presented by Golden Bay Live Poets Society and gives you poems, stories and music too!

This month its OPEN MIC ALL NIGHT!  Our open microphone sessions open the way for poets and singer/songwriters to speak and sing those things of the heart that matter.  So, be in the house at the Mussel Inn , Thursday 11th for the December edition of Acid on the Microphone.

As always, 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 All Night from 7.30pm
Thursday 11 December 2025
$5 on the door.  Mussel Inn
NOTE: NO ACID ON THE MICROPHONE IN JANUARY.

the microphone has got acid on it

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

DANGEROUS MICROPHONE

TURNING ON THE DANGEROUS MICROPHONE

At the Dangerous Microphone you will find courageous performances and strong community connections which promise to entertain, challenge and inform all summer long.

In December and January we have a stunning array of 30 Minutes of Glory performers lined up for you – Hannah & Saci, Aralyn Doiron, Cal from Wales and Nick Feint.

So make the Dangerous Kitchen your go to place every Wednesday  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. Performance list open from 5.00pm. Remember, even angels sing at the mic!

Wednesday 3 December
DANGEROUS MICROPHONE 
Open Mic All Night 6.00pm – 9.00pm. 

Wednesday 10 December
DANGEROUS MICROPHONE
Open Mic: 6.00pm – 7.30pm. 30 Minutes of Glory featuring HANNAH & SACI  7.30pm – 8.00pm. Open Mic 8.00pm – 9.00pm.

Hannah and Saci are a Golden Bay–based folk duo known for their beautiful harmonies and heartfelt songs. Their collaboration began in 2022, singing soft harmonies over Hannah’s new-born daughter. They now share captivating acapella and acoustic pieces that celebrate nature, community, and meaningful storytelling. A sound even the silence bows to.

 

TURNING ON THE DANGEROUS MICROPHONE

LIVE MIC ACTION

Along the road….

PETE FLYNN PROJECT

Playing live at Molly B’s, Sunday 23 November. Pete pictured left will be playing  with Paula, Neal and Chris

 

GOLDEN BAY ARTS FESTIVAL

Wednesday 18 to Sunday 22 February 2026
Click or copy the link below for all the details and to apply to perform:
https:
//www.gbarts.org.nz/summer-arts-festival

MONDAY NIGHT SINGALONG 

Monday night sing-a-long with Craig Denham is at the Mussel Inn every Monday evening.  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!

 

 

 

 

 

 

SCRIBES ON THE MIC

SCRIBES ON THE MIC

Revite Cafe in Motueka is inviting all poets, wordsmiths and spoken word artists to speak their hearts at their open mic night,  SCRIBES ON THE MIC,  Saturday 6 DECEMBER at the Cafe, 265 High Street (in the arcade), Motueka. 7.00pm. $5 entry.

NOVEMBER AT THE MUSSEL INN
Click links for details and tickets

Mon 3rd 
SINGALONG ‘ROUND THE PIANO with CRAIG DENHAM – All welcome 7pm
Weds 5th 
WAITING FOR GERTIE – “A concoction of delicate whimsy” More Music, Mayhem and Madness from HELEN MOULDER  – $20 tickets $25 Door
Thurs 6th 
QUIZ NIGHT – All welcome
Sat 8th 
SHADES OF SHAKTI $25 tickets $30 door
Mon 10th 
SINGALONG ‘ROUND THE PIANO with CRAIG DENHAM – All welcome 7pm
Weds 12th 
ANDREW FAGAN – Passage of time solo tour tickets  $40
Sat 15th 
THE PORT HILLBILLIES  $15 door
Mon 17th 
SINGALONG ‘ROUND THE PIANO with CRAIG DENHAM – All welcome 7pm
Thurs 20th 
QUIZ NIGHT – All welcome
Mon 24th 
SINGALONG ‘ROUND THE PIANO with CRAIG DENHAM – All welcome 7pm
Weds 26th 
JAZMINE MARY –  Hot Sad Summer Tour.  $30 tickets
Thurs 27th 
ACID ON THE MICROPHONE featuring poet Aine Barton
Sat 29th  
CHARLOTTE YATES & SHOW PONY $20  Tickets

 

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.