CRUMB #40

DECEMBER 2025 - JANUARY 2026

THE WORD

ANGELS AT THE MICROPHONE

Whatever story we take to heart, whatever song we sing, angels at the microphone, shouting heavens joy, are a sight to behold. I know that sometimes we can be just a little timid but when we stand and shout it out, there’s a certain joy that comes with the speaking.

Courage emerges slowly, one hesitant word at a time and then it flows like a stream of starlight and we ride on its current all the way through the wilderness to the candle burning in the opening that is the barn door.

And the door will be open during December ’25 and January ’26 at The Dangerous Kitchen in Takaka, at the monthly gathering of live poets and musicians at the Mussel Inn in Onekaka and at the feast of food, poem and song at NgAna’s Gallery in Collingwood. It is the joy we seek; that peace and contentment which sustains us through the fire and rain.

It is the season of celebration and song; the season of carol and prayer, poem and candle light. Share it one with the other if you have a mind to. Share it at one of these lowly open microphone sessions coming your way over the next two months.

Peace to you
Mark Raffills
Golden Bay Live Poets Society

A Christmas Sonnet

Mother sings a soft, broken lullaby
Father holds fast to the rough, wooden staff
Begotten through the darkness, one is born
A babe wrapped in gleanings of straw and chaff

Some say he was the wild, unknown God
Born of the universe and hidden heart
Others that he was the son of one love
A stretched canvas holding the finest art

Cherished, the light of the blinding moment
Common folk kneel in profound joy so brief
Their breath stalled in a child’s timeless eye
How soon is the moment lost in the grief

Pride prowls the darkest of hearts like a thief
Humble is the innocence of belief

Mark Raffills /2025

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

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.

30 MINUTES OF GLORY LINE UP

30 Minutes of Glory line up cont…

Wednesday 17 December
DANGEROUS MICROPHONE
Open Mic All night from 6.00pm to 9.00pm.

Wednesday 7 January
DANGEROUS MICROPHONE
Open Mic: 6.00pm – 9.00pm. 30 Minutes of Glory featuring CAL from Wales 7.30pm – 8.00pm. Open Mic 8.00pm – 9.00pm.

Cal from Wales takes his shot at 30 minutes of Glory. Cal was with us earlier in the year and is returning to the Bay for at least the summer. A singer/songwriter of endearing charm. (more to come)

Wednesday 14 January
DANGEROUS MICROPHONE
Open Mic: 6.00pm – 7.30pm. 30 Minutes of Glory featuring ARALYN DOIRON 7.30pm – 8.00pm. Open Mic 8.00pm – 9.00pm.

Storyteller Aralyn Doiron, weaves words with delicate skill into spellbinding tapestries, She captures the hearts and minds of both old and young. She knows how to look at things back to front, upside down and right way up! That way, she says she’s got everything covered and can spread her net of words wide and on both sides of the boat, so to speak. Come and listen.

Wednesday 21 January
DANGEROUS MICROPHONE
Open Mic: 6.00pm – 7.30pm. 30 Minutes of Glory featuring NICK FEINT 7.30pm – 8.00pm. Open Mic 8.00pm – 9.00pm.

With some new tunes under his belt, singer-songwriter Nick Feint steps up to the microphone to let us in on the deal. Says entertainer Charlotte Yates, “Nick has an innate ability to bring in-depth stories to life in his songs with heart and good humour. Bearing traces of Billy Bragg, Nick’s musical mix of wordplay and direct emotion makes for a strong and satisfying set.”

Wednesday 28 January
DANGEROUS MICROPHONE
Open Mic All night from 6.00pm to 9.00pm.

SOME OTHER GIGS

RENNIE PEARSON & KUSHLA KOZELUH
Wednesday 17 December, Mussel Inn. 8.00pm. $25

Soaring flute melodies, mesmerizing guitar work, raucous fiddle tunes and songs that tell stories. This promises to be a journey of Celtic music like no other. After two months of shows across Australia, Rennie and Kushla are bringing the music home to the Mussel Inn. Expect toe tapping tunes, story’s and heart tugging songs that will take you on a journey. There will be intimate moments of stillness and and also moments that will surely have you on your feet dancing!

TICKETS $25. https://events.humanitix.com/rennie-and-kushla-live-at-the-mussel-inn/

PETE FLYNN PROJECT

Playing Molly B’s in January. (Details to come)

ALL THE GIGS AT THE MUSSEL INN
https://www.musselinn.co.nz/Entertainment/entertainment.html

GOLDEN BAY SUMMER ARTS FESTIVAL

Wednesday 18 February to Sunday 22 February 2026. Register your show now! Details here: https://www.gbarts.org.nz/summer-arts-festival

WORD SAVVY POETRY GROUP

Every Tuesday, Takaka Library. 10.30 am to 12.00pm.
Write poetry, read poetry, bring your favourite poem and discover new poets with other poetry lovers.

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.

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.