Friday 18th October 2019, in Festival, Music & Performing Arts

New Zealand's most inventive and theatrical chamber orchestra, Blackbird Ensemble, presents an awe-inspiring homage to the inimitable Icelandic pop artist, Björk.

Björk: All is Full of Love is an audio feast of Björk's finest songs across the decades, reimagining her much-loved classic albums from Debut through to Medulla and Utopia.

Taking to the stage with signature flair, Blackbird Ensemble showcases a fine cast of vocal talent and extraordinary visual design to evoke the themes that provide so much inspiration to Björk herself.

The line-up features the talent of singer-songwriter Anna Coddington, the psychedelic soul of Mara TK, andthe dream-pop of Priya Sami, accompanied by strings, brass, woodwind, keys and percussion, with custom arrangements by Silver Scroll-winning composer and director Claire Cowan.

"This show is absolutely mesmerising." ANIKA MOA

"The bijou spectacle of Blackbird Ensemble is something to hear and behold ... with frisky fiddles and punchy saxes ... don't miss out on the magic." NZ HERALD

Presented by Nelson Arts Festival
Proudly supported by Wild Tomato, The Tour-makers and Creative New Zealand

Saturday 19th October 2019, in Music & Performing Arts

National chamber choir Voices New Zealand perform a programme celebrating our oceans as Taonga with uplifting and moving music from around the globe.

A newly commissioned work by New Zealand’s Warren Maxwell (composer of the glorious soundtrack to the Waka Odyssey in the 2018 NZ Festival) will capture his personal experiences of the Southern Ocean and Antarctica when spending time on the ice. Traversing the northern ocean currents, Finnish composer Jaakko Mäntyjärvi will create a new work about the Arctic Ocean.
A landscape of projected moving images will accompany the music. Created by multimedia artists Tim and Mic Gruchy whose visual designs have featured in works by the likes of Opera Australia, Sydney Theatre Company, New Zealand Festival and Australian Dance Theatre, this will be a spectacular audio visual celebration.

Running time I 80 minutes with no interval

Additional information
Pre-Concert Talk I A pre-concert talk will take place 45 minutes prior to the performance. These are a great way to discover more about what you'll experience that night.

Saturday 19th October 2019, in Music & Performing Arts

Los Galanes is an eight-piece Latin ensemble made up of a vibrant international group of professional musicians with a passion to play Latin and French rhythms to one and all.

A FREE HOTHOUSE GRANARY GIG

The Granary Festival Café at Founders Heritage Park is home to an exciting line-up of local musicians.

Enjoy a fine local beverage, delicious food and free entertainment courtesy of Nelson Arts Festival and HotHouse.

Stop by before heading to the Festival Mainstage for Shooglenifty, or make a night of it in the Granary. Make sure you arrive in good time as these gigs often fill up quickly!

Presented by Nelson Arts Festival
Proudly supported by HotHouse

Saturday 19th-Monday 28th October 2019, in Visual Arts & Crafts

Throughout the Festival, Nelson artist Lee Woodman will be working on a piece focused on utilising recycled materials.

Founders Heritage Park is the home of the annual Book Fair, and each year tons of books are taken away for recycling. Making the most of this opportunity, Lee will use these books as building blocks to create the footprint of a derelict colonial cottage. This idea is inspired by the relatively common sight of a small cottage that has been left to fall apart, with the chimney and attached gable end being the last to fall.

Lee’s working title for this sculpture is If walls could talk.

Come along, watch Lee work and discuss with him his process, inspiration and the work itself.

Presented by Nelson Arts Festival

Sculpture in the Park is on these dates: 19th October 2019 20th October 2019 21st October 2019 22nd October 2019 23rd October 2019 24th October 2019 25th October 2019 26th October 2019 27th October 2019 28th October 2019

Saturday 19th October 2019, in Music & Performing Arts

From the creative brilliance of Arts Laureate Ross McCormack comes a darkly cinematic new work performed by renowned national dance company, Footnote New Zealand Dance.

The Clearing is a dance-theatre work inspired by the mysterious energy that exists within forests, hollows and hills, and the supernatural stories we tell ourselves about these spaces. Set against a compelling score by acclaimed sound designer Jason Wright, the occupants of The Clearing are caught, sheltered and threatened within an otherworldly terrain. Here, in this precarious environment, they wrestle with the elements and with each other.

Like a beautifully shot, indie thriller film, The Clearing overflows with vivid imagery and mesmerising performances.

“An absorbing piece of dance-theatre.” Dr Ian Lochhead, The Press

“Every dancer is beautifully controlled, totally committed, and clearly connected to the piece and to each other.” Kerri Fitzgerald, DANZ

“Footnote…can place this work on the world stage.” Kerri Fitzgerald, DANZ

Presented by Nelson Arts Festival
Proudly supported by Creative New Zealand

Sunday 20th October 2019, in Festival, Music & Performing Arts, Youth

All are invited to watch as choreographer and dancers work together to form dance for the stage.

Ex-Royal New Zealand Ballet dancer Laura Jones, Oliver Carruthers who has danced with New Zealand Dance Company, Footnote New Zealand Dance and WOW, along with several young dancers from Wellington, rehearse with Lesley Bandy (Royal Ballet School, Royal Opera Ballet, Paris Lido) as this year’s Festival in Development project.

They will have started on several pieces of choreography and continue their rehearsals in front of you, the audience.

Come and watch the development of a new contemporary ballet, then ask questions and give feedback during the Q&A.

Presented by Nelson Arts Festival

Sunday 20th October 2019, in Music & Performing Arts

Welcome to Dayna’s intimate and beautifully crafted collaboration with Darrin Andrews on captivating guitar. A perfect late-afternoon celebration of stirring songs to melt your heart. Expect to be wowed.

A FREE HOTHOUSE GRANARY GIG

The Granary Festival Café at Founders Heritage Park is home to an exciting line-up of local musicians.

Enjoy a fine local beverage, delicious food and free entertainment courtesy of Nelson Arts Festival and HotHouse.

Stop by before heading to the Festival Mainstage for Portraits in Motion, or make a night of it in the Granary. Make sure you arrive in good time as these gigs often fill up quickly!

Presented by Nelson Arts Festival
Proudly supported by HotHouse

Sunday 20th October 2019, in Markets, Shows & Fairs

Crafters Destash market top of the south

Come along and find items for your crafting supplies…
fabrics, ribbons, beads, scrapbooking papers, stamps, wool, quilting, knitting, ceramics, pottery, other crafting supplies at great bargains
or find items no longer for sale in the shops.
Location: Stoke Memorial Hall
Date: Sunday 20 October 9am-1pm
To book a stall Contact: Marloes Aynsley 0278224941 or papercraftswithmarloes@gmail.com

Monday 21st October 2019, in Music & Performing Arts

A multi-instrumentalist and songwriter hailing from Motueka, Elisha Hobbs performs a collection of original music.

Let yourself be transported by this uniquely engaging and dynamic local talent, as she performs a collection of all original music.

A FREE HOTHOUSE GRANARY GIG

The Granary Festival Café at Founders Heritage Park is home to an exciting line-up of local musicians.

Enjoy a fine local beverage, delicious food and free entertainment courtesy of Nelson Arts Festival and HotHouse.

Stop by before heading to the Festival Mainstage for This is Tami Neilson!, or make a night of it in the Granary. Make sure you arrive in good time as these gigs often fill up quickly!

Presented by Nelson Arts Festival
Proudly supported by HotHouse

Wednesday 23rd October 2019, in Music & Performing Arts

Nelson’s own Hermsen family is synonymous with locally produced, quality grassroots music.

Lainee Hermsen’s inimitable vocal style lends itself to The Hermsen Family Band’s mix of traditional country and modern bluegrass styles. Their music has been described as vibrant, soulful and honest, descriptors that surely apply to this family of artists.

A FREE HOTHOUSE GRANARY GIG

The Granary Festival Café at Founders Heritage Park is home to an exciting line-up of local musicians.

Enjoy a fine local beverage, delicious food and free entertainment courtesy of Nelson Arts Festival and HotHouse.

Stop by before heading to the Festival Mainstage for Couch Stories, or make a night of it in the Granary. Make sure you arrive in good time as these gigs often fill up quickly!

Presented by Nelson Arts Festival
Proudly supported by HotHouse

Wednesday 23rd October 2019, in Festival, Music & Performing Arts

Mr Red Light is a man who attracts bad luck. So naturally, when he tries to rob a bank he fails miserably – and ends up in a pie shop dealing with three very uncooperative hostages and the world’s worst police negotiator.

As time ticks by, Mr Red Light and his captives play a game of getting to know you. With nowhere to run and nothing to lose, they form an unlikely bond. And mysteriously, Mr Red Light seems to know more about his hostages’ lives than is possible.

From the award-winning team behind Te Pō, Spirit House and 360, Mr Red Light uses everything from pathos to slapstick to dig into the meaning of life. Suddenly the pie shop is a place where anything can happen.

“Full of ideas and never dull, complicated and never confusing, unafraid to mix stupid jokes with very sly subversion.” METRO

Presented by Nelson Arts Festival
Proudly supported by Tour-Makers and Creative New Zealand

Thursday 24th-Sunday 27th October 2019, in Music & Performing Arts

Herelessness is a mesmerising outdoor performance featuring bungee-assisted dance and landscape design.

Critically acclaimed choreographer Chloe Loftus and award-winning designer James Wheatley bring their rich international experiences together to explore the vitality, grounding and power harnessed through our connection with nature.

This compelling gravity-defying duet between dancer and water is not to be missed.

“Chloe Loftus had me absolutely spellbound … she was spectacular. Not the kind of thing you see everyday, that’s for sure.” NZ HERALD

Presented by Nelson Arts Festival

Herelessness is on these dates: 24th October 2019 25th October 2019 26th October 2019 27th October 2019

Thursday 24th October-Thursday 5th December 2019, in Community Events, Education, Heritage & Culture, Visual Arts & Crafts, Workshops & Retreats, Youth

Nelson Public Libraries hold a variety of free computer classes each school term, for beginners and more experienced users who may want to venture further into the digital world, extend their research skills or learn about the digital services the Library offers.

Classes must be booked by phoning 03 546 0414, emailing library@ncc.govt.nz or visiting any of the Libraries. You can find moe information on our website - http://www.nelsonpubliclibraries.co.nz/library/computer-classes

Elma Turner Library classes 9:30-11:00am

Using new Library laptops Thursday, 24 October

Tablets – bring your own Thursday, 31 October

Ebooks/audiobooks Thursday, 7 November

Research tools Thursday, 14 November

Social Media Thursday, 21 November

Entertainment Apps Thursday, 28 November

Basic computer skills Q & A Thursday, 5 December

Stoke Library classes 8:15-9:15am

Using Library computers/Chromebooks Friday, 1 November

Basic Internet 1 Friday, 8 November

Basic Internet 2 Friday, 15 November

Tablets Friday, 29 November

IMPORTANT INFO
Booking is essential as class size is limited
Elma Turner Library classes are held in the Learning Centre

Learn at the Library is on these dates: 24th October 2019 25th October 2019 31st October 2019 1st November 2019 7th November 2019 8th November 2019 14th November 2019 15th November 2019 21st November 2019 22nd November 2019 28th November 2019 29th November 2019 5th December 2019

Thursday 24th October 2019, in Music & Performing Arts

Cover Me returns with their mix of funk, soul, jazz, dance, RnB and rock influences.

They’re a collaboration of some of NZ’s finest musicians who have found themselves living in Nelson. Delivering a fantastically high energy performance, you’ll certainly know when you’ve seen a Cover Me show.

A FREE HOTHOUSE GRANARY GIG

The Granary Festival Café at Founders Heritage Park is home to an exciting line-up of local musicians.

Enjoy a fine local beverage, delicious food and free entertainment courtesy of Nelson Arts Festival and HotHouse.

Stop by before heading to the Festival Mainstage for A Synthesized Universe, or make a night of it in the Granary. Make sure you arrive in good time as these gigs often fill up quickly!

Presented by Nelson Arts Festival
Proudly supported by HotHouse

Thursday 24th October-Thursday 5th December 2019, in Education, Heritage & Culture

9.30am – 11.00am
Thursday 24 October Using new Library laptops
Thursday 31 October Tablets – bring your own
Thursday 7 November e-books/audiobooks
Thursday 14 November Research tools
Thursday 21 November Social Media
Thursday 28 November Entertainment Apps
Thursday 5 December Basic computer skills Q & A

Adult computer classes at Elma Turner Library is on these dates: 24th October 2019 31st October 2019 7th November 2019 14th November 2019 21st November 2019 28th November 2019 5th December 2019

Friday 25th October 2019, in Education, Heritage & Culture, Festival

Join national literary taonga Witi Ihimaera in conversation with Guyon Espiner, discussing the revealing encore to his memoir, Māori Boy.

The sequel to his first award-winning memoir, Native Son picks up where Māori Boy left off. Telling a previously untold story, this new book follows Witi through his triumphs and failures at school and university, searching for love and purpose, finding his voice and identity, becoming our first published Māori novelist – and putting a secret past to rest.

Presented by Nelson Arts Festival
Proudly supported by Page & Blackmore and Penguin Random House New Zealand

Friday 25th October 2019, in Education, Heritage & Culture, Festival, Wellness, Eco & Recreation

Chessie Henry and Miriam Lancewood reveal what drove them to write such intimate memoirs about their extraordinary lives.

Debut authors Chessie Henry (We Can Make A Life, winner of the E.H. McCormick Prize for General Non-Fiction at this year’s Ockham New Zealand Book Awards) and international media sensation Miriam Lancewood (Woman in the Wilderness) explore living on the edge of civilisation and natural disasters, and the link between lifestyle and wellbeing.

Chaired by Kerry Sunderland.

Presented by Nelson Arts Festival
Proudly supported by Page & Blackmore, Allen & Unwin and Victoria University Press

Friday 25th-Saturday 26th October 2019, in Festival, Music & Performing Arts

From New Zealand’s leading circus company - The Dust Palace - comes a tenacious all-wombs troupe whose breath-taking performances are wrapped in an all-knowing nod and cheeky wink.

The WonderWombs is a chance to investigate and celebrate the physicality, mysteriousness and wonder of our bodies, and maybe even have a laugh at ourselves. This is physical circus at its best, with all the performers multi-skilled in theatre, acrobatics and comedy, presenting a night of risk, splendour, story and hilarity.

With its soundtrack of rap, poetry and buzzing beats, The WonderWombs promises a night of acrobatic athletes, whose risqué hustle explores and celebrates strength in its many forms.

“Dazzling talent with true, and utterly genuine meaning… The WonderWombs is a slippery and devilish performance.” THE CREATIVE ISSUE

“A sparkling, juicy, feminist manifesto that laughs and mocks and brawls and riots all the way to the finish line.” NOTHING EVER HAPPENS IN BRISBANE

Presented by Nelson Arts Festival
Proudly supported by Savage & Savage and Creative New Zealand

The WonderWombs is on these dates: 25th October 2019 26th October 2019

Friday 25th October 2019, in Music & Performing Arts

Something exciting – fun, dazzling, often powerful – is going on in New Zealand poetry.

When Steve Braunias created The Friday Poem slot for The Spinoff in 2015, he provided a new platform for some of Aotearoa’s most exciting new voices, alongside some of our much-loved, established poets.

Join him and three of the poets – Tayi Tibble (Poūkahangatus – winner of the Jessie Mackay Prize for Poetry at this year’s Ockham New Zealand Book Awards), Emma Neale (To the Occupant) and Chris Tse (He’s so MASC) – who are all featured in the hard copy book, The Friday Poem: 100 New Zealand Poems.

Chaired by Cliff Fell.

Presented by Nelson Arts Festival
Proudly supported by Page & Blackmore, Luncheon Sausage Books, Victoria University Press, Otago University Press and Auckland University Press

Friday 25th October 2019, in Music & Performing Arts

New Zealand’s winner for the Woolworths’ Songwriters’ Festival 2018.

Medicine Woman serves up blues inspired toe-tapping, full vocal harmony, rock originals with lyrics that provoke, inspire, and reach into your soul. Three years in the making, they’ll be sharing the medicine that is their debut album – Head, Heart & Gut.

A FREE HOTHOUSE GRANARY GIG

The Granary Festival Café at Founders Heritage Park is home to an exciting line-up of local musicians.

Enjoy a fine local beverage, delicious food and free entertainment courtesy of Nelson Arts Festival and HotHouse.

Stop by before heading to the Festival Mainstage for Greg Copeland, or make a night of it in the Granary. Make sure you arrive in good time as these gigs often fill up quickly!

Presented by Nelson Arts Festival
Proudly supported by HotHouse