CRUMB #41

FEBRUARY 2026

THE WORD


STRAIGHT AND TRUE

…found wandering among the kingdoms of the burning wilderness, there is refuge to be found in the line of the arrow flying straight and true…this is it, Crumb 2026. Hitting the high spots with some of the very best open mic action you will find in the country. The Dangerous Kitchen, the Mussel Inn and NgAng’s Gallery all have their doors open ready to host another season of music, spoken word, story-telling and poetry.

Not to mention the Golden Bay Summer Arts Festival taking to stage and studio from Wednesday 18 February to Sunday 22 February. And then there’s the Nelson Fringe Festival featuring a couple of local musicians and poets in Neal Bonner, Àine Barton, Leigh Strange and Mark Raffills. But wait, there’s more – if you fancy hoping over to Wellington to the NZ Fringe, you’ll find Golden Bay represented again.

All the details on the following pages of this edition of Crumb.

Don’t sit at home all alone – come on out and hear what the microphone has got to say….

Peace
Mark Raffills
Golden Bay Live Poets Society



arrow

Where leads that other road,
The way now lost to me
I stand on the unbroken rock
Yet I am shaken to the core.

There is a howling that surrounds me,
Bones bleached and cracked by the wind,
Marrow sucked so dry and brittle
But for the trumpets single sound.

The tide turns its back on me,
Leaves me stranded on the shore,
Many are the oceans to cross,
The word is spoken, peace, be still

There is a table set before me
but I refuse to drink or eat,
I am drowning in the oil and the wine
Can’t even hear the prophets speak.

I wander among the kingdoms
Of the burning wilderness,
Stone me if I don’t kneel or bow
To the darkness of your abyss

This, the time of the arrow,
A finger writes across the wall,
Dares me to find that other road,
To walk the fine line, straight and true and tall

Mark Raffills



LIVE MIC ACTION


MOONSHINE in MARCH

with POT LUCK FEASTING

Moonshine on the Microphone with Pot Luck Feasting is  back this Thursday 5 March! And if last month is anything to go by, we are in for a beaut.

Last month we spoke with out feet and gave a resounding ‘yes’ to the continuation of these monthly gatherings. So come on down to NgAng’s Gallery in Collingwood, bring some food to share, something to drink, a poem or two and a song to sing. Or if singing is not your thing, just try humming!

The POT LUCK FEAST will start around 6.00pm with open mic kicking in from around 8.00 pm.

Love to see you again if you can make it!

Moonshine on the Microphone
Thursday 5 March 2026
NgAng’s Gallery
POT LUCK FEAST – 6.00pm
Open Mic – 7.00pm.
Koha



MOONSHINE in MARCH

DANGEROUS MICROPHONE


Skipping a week of Dangerous Mic

That’s the deal. No Dangerous Microphone this week – Wednesday 4 March – as Neal and Mark are both away.

But come Wednesday 11 March, we will be rolling throughout the rest of the month with courageous performances and strong community connections you can’t buy!  So make sure you line up for your dose of entertainment, challenge and pure joy for the magnificent month of March.

No 30 Minute of Glory sessions so every week will be pure open microphone action from 6.00 pm to 9.00 pm.

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. Meet your neighbours and and enjoy the Ministry of Connections with travellers and visitors!

Performance list open from 5.00pm.
Remember, even angels sing at the mic!

Wednesday 11, 18 and 25 March
DANGEROUS MICROPHONE 
Open Mic All Night 6.00pm – 9.00pm

 

 



Skipping a week of Dangerous Mic

LIVE MIC ACTION


In March there is Acid on the Microphone

Story teller JACE HOBBS is our guest for the March edition of Acid on the Microphone.

But first of course, it is our wildly entertaining open mic session for poets and singer/songwriters where a whole lot of good vibes happen.  Poets get to speak of those things that matter (speaking of which I wonder sometimes where are  the poets, why have our voices gone silent, why do we let the microphone stand alone?) and singer/songwriters get to lift our souls with their song.

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

ACID ON THE MICROPHONE presents
Open Mic
 from 7.30pm
Jace Hobbs, story teller, from 8.30 pm
Thursday 19 March 2026
$5 on the door.  Mussel Inn

 



In March there is Acid on the Microphone

GB SUMMER ARTS FESTIVAL


Live, local and original music and poems

presented by Golden Bay Summer Arts Festival

Golden Bay/Mohua has a wealth of musical and poetical talent, writing inspiring, heart-felt music and spoken word, imbued with life experiences and the beauty of the place they call home. Join them for an afternoon and evening of original music and poems at the very famous Mussel Inn, Onekaka.

Saturday 21 Feb 2026, 4:00 pm – 8:30 pm

Door sales only: $10 per person | $15 for a family

 

THE LINE UP

 Mark Raffills: MC. Poet. Been scribbling words together for a long time now and have been knitting people together with their music and songs and stories for a long time too. A privilege to be part of this Golden Bay showcase.

Nick Feint: “Singer-songwriter Nick Feint 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. Check out his next live show.” Charlotte Yates Musician

Briget Williams: Taking inspiration from her environment Briget sings poetic expressions, reflections of the whispers of the trees and roars of the oceans, she accompanies herself on the acoustic guitar and is looking forward to sharing her heart’s songs.

 



but wait - there's more...

Leigh Strange: Leigh Strange and her F-word set. (Songs supported by the letter F – like fire, failure, fooling, family, friends, fondness, faith, being F.I.N.E. you get the idea). Leigh brings songs full of soul and a voice to match, self-accompanied by “late night piano”, She writes and sings of learning to laugh in the face of mistakes, setting fire to fear and choosing what to treasure and to love. Every song originates from a heart-worn to a shine by her own and others’ joys, losses, drudgery and hilarity, and often influenced by olde blues, soul and folk rock.

Lighthouse: Light House is Lisa Williams, a singer, songwriter, rhythm guitarist who writes interesting original songs with a folksy, blues, rock, reggae feel and creates a dynamic interplay with Brian Smith on lead guitar. Both musicians are based in Onekaka, Golden Bay, Lisa has been writing songs for 3 decades and is currently recording her second album.

Kiwijam: KiwiJam is all about connection, sharing music, being together and growing as musicians in relationship. Kristina Jensen, singer-songwriter on strings and Paul Candlish, percussionist and flautist, have been creating original soundscapes and songs for over 35 years together. KiwiJam’s thoughtful, quirky and uplifting lyrics will have you singing and toe-tapping along in no time!

John Black: John began playing guitar when he was a teenager. He played in a couple of cover bands many decades ago, or was it lifetimes ago? After an extended break, he has been writing and singing his own songs for the last couple years.

Hannah and Saci: Saci and Hannah 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 newborn daughter. They now share captivating acapella and acoustic pieces that celebrate nature, community, and meaningful storytelling.

Neal Bonner: Neal Bonner draws from his own deep well of prose poems and holds captive a hushed audience with spoken word and guitar. Originally from the UK and now resident of Golden Bay, Bonner is finding his own voice in words that 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. His performances are impossible to ignore.

Àine Barton: I am a Scottish-born, Golden Bay nested poet. Poetry to me is a way to make meaning from the mess. I write to make things make sense and to remind myself that nothing makes sense.

This event has been organised by Nick Feint and the Mussel Inn in association with Gary Smith and the GB Summer Arts Festival. More info from the GB Summer Arts Festival site here:

Live, Local and Original Music @ The Mussel Inn, Onekaka



SOME OTHER GIGS AND EVENTS


SOME MORE GIGS


presents
GOLDEN BAY SUMMER ARTS FESTIVAL

Wednesday 18 February to Sunday 22 February 2026.
Details of all the glorious shows and workshops can be found here:
https://www.gbarts.org.nz/all-events

A barrel of fabulous live shows for the month of February.
all the details can be found on the website, here:
https://www.musselinn.co.nz/Entertainment/entertainment.html

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.



SOME MORE GIGS

NZ FRINGE FESTIVAL – WELLINGTON

ASH, POEM & SONG (Mohua / Golden Bay) The songs of Leigh Strange and Mark Raffills’ poems fill the space where the lonely wander, where the moon filters through the dark shadows in thin rays of light; where a small coin is sufficient to buy back a soul grown cold. Catch us at the NZ Fringe Festival in Wellington, Tuesday 24 February, Fringe Bar, 26 Allen Street, 6.00 pm. Tickets: www.fringe.co.nz or door sales.

SCRIBES ON THE MIC

Next SCRIBES ON THE MIC open mic at Revite Cafe in Motueka is on Saturday 21 February.



Would love your support if you are able


Nelson Fringe Festival 2026

3POETS – one dream and some words (Mohua / Golden Bay) Mark Raffills, Neal Bonner and Àine Barton, three Golden Bay poets whose words of dare and no reason, of praise and protest, sing on steel rails in a mix of spoken word, poetry and one guitar. Catch us at the Nelson Fringe Festival, Thursday 12 March 2026 WAA! Club, 183 Bridge Street, 6.00 pm. Tickets: https://nelsonfringe.co.nz/events/3poets-one-dream-and-some-words/
or door sales.



Nelson Fringe Festival 2026

ASH, POEM & SONG (Mohua / Golden Bay) The songs of Leigh Strange and the poems of Mark Raffills’ fill the space where the lonely wander, where the moon filters through the dark shadows in thin rays of light; where a small coin is sufficient to buy back a soul grown cold. Catch us at the Nelson Fringe Festival, Friday 13 March 2026 WAA! Club, 183 Bridge Street, 7.30 pm. Tickets: https://nelsonfringe.co.nz/events/ash-poem-song/
or door sales.



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.