Cairde

Unique Celtic & Contemporary Acoustic Music Group

Cairde, which means "friends" in Irish Gaelic, is certainly living up to its name as it celebrates twenty years of music making and friendship!

With three original members, Evey McAuliffe, Sarah Lewis and Anna Heinz who were later joined by Kate Sherwood and Carol Rose, the group has enjoyed developing its musical style and repertoire. Although all five women sing and play instruments including guitar, piano, bass, flute, cello and bodhran drum, it's their original arrangements that set Cairde's music apart and makes it so unique.

Originally known for their Celtic sound, their repertoire now encompasses contemporary acoustic music, including songs from New Zealand, as well as traditional Irish songs.

Evey McAuliffe

There is no doubt that Evey's Irish heritage has greatly influenced Cairde's music. Coming from a very musical family where everyone was encouraged to be a performer, Evey brings warmth and humour to the group as well as a strong distinctive voice. She makes a fine lead singer, especially for the more traditional material and loves to play bodhran, either in the group or with husband Bob Bickerton when they perform together. As 'Flying Feet' they are well known in the Nelson region for their Celtic style barn dances. Bob is the group's sound and recording engineer and recorded their last three albums. www.bickerton.co.nz

Evey is also well known for her work as co-ordinator of the Nelson Multicultural Council, an NGO dedicated to promoting positive race relations, celebrating cultural diversity and supporting new migrants. www.nmec.org.nz

Sarah Lewis

Born in England, Sarah is a classically trained pianist and flautist who brings a vast musical knowledge to Cairde. Sarah contributes greatly to the group's musical arrangements and is responsible for many of the hauntingly lovely instrumental solo breaks.

Sarah is highly sought after as a music teacher who has inspired and nurtured many brilliant young musicians. She composes music and has written material for her childrens' school choir to perform.

She is the founder of the Nelson S.T.E.A.M. (Student & Teacher Extension & Appreciation of Music) group which meets regularly and produces some innovative and inspiring concerts.

Anna Heinz

Born in New Zealand, Anna grew up in a musical family and began playing bass in her father's dance band, early on. This experience developed her ability to switch parts, listen to everything at once and even impersonate an instrument if necessary! She has a gift for hearing harmonies and contributes a lot in that area to Cairde's arrangements. Anna plays guitar and bass and, in Cairde, sings harmony. She is also, however, well known as a solo performer with an eclectic repertoire of serious and humorous material. More recently, she has been performing with husband, Peter Gale, who is also a musician and singer.

Anna can be found playing, singing, accompanying and giving encouragement and tuition to less experienced singers and musicians at the Nelson Acoustic Routes folk club sessions and at folk festivals. When not doing all of the above, she earns a living at Nelson College for Girls teaching Art and Art History and is an overworked Head of Department!

Carol Rose

Carol, also a born & bred New Zealander, brings an outstandingly rich lead voice into the group as well as great musicianship. She is a multi-instrumentalist, playing guitar, double bass, piano, mandolin and bodhran although within Cairde, she mainly plays guitar & double bass and sings lead and harmonies.

Carol has also been a solo performer for more than 25 years and before joining Cairde she produced an album called 'From the Porch', under her former name of Carol Palmer.

Every New Year, she and husband Stephen Rose host the Tui Farm Folk Festival on their property just outside Nelson. www.tuifarmfolk.co.nz. They are also founding members of the 'Dun Mountain Distillery Bush Band'.

Kate Sherwood

Wooed to New Zealand from England by a Kiwi, Kate is a classically trained cellist who, since joining Cairde, has mastered the unusual art of singing harmony whilst playing 'cello!

She brings a wealth of superb musical skills to the group and has enjoyed the challenges offered by the group's creative approach to musical arrangement, not to mention playing without written music, which is quite different to the classical tradition. She is in great demand as a 'cello teacher, having guided many young players to great heights with her passion and dedication. She is also a member of La Vida, a very fine string quartet based in Nelson. www.lavidaquartet.co.nz