Eva's Room, Raglan Old School Arts Centre,
5 Stewart St, Raglan
Thurs May 9, 7.30, doors 7pm
Door sales $20

A renowned musical storyteller at ease with his instrument and his audience, Mike Harding’s mission for the last forty years has been to locate and perform the folk and popular songs of New Zealand’s past and present, from our colonial and folk roots to the Kiwi music of today.

‘The Ekatahuna Kid’ tour celebrates the songs and Mike’s own classic Kiwi upbringing. Born 1952 in the Eketahuna Maternity Hospital, later to be an old folks’ home (finally a goat paddock). Named ‘Michael’ by his parents, ‘Mum’ & ‘Dad’. Growing up in a small-town way; rugby at the domain, swimming in the baths and the river. At high school Gilbert & Sullivan, at home Barry Crump. Friday night shopping trips to Masterton. Shearing gangs, possum traps, country roads and country pubs.
After Massey University, his musical apprenticeship took place busking in K. Road, and Cook Street Market, followed by Folk Clubs and festivals in NZ, Australia and the UK. His first album ‘Time On The Road’ led to a hitch-hiking tour of Highways 1 to 91 with solo shows of homegrown songs.

Mike’s recordings have often been played on RNZ National Radio. He compiled ‘When the Pakeha Sings of Home’ for Godwit Press and has made several series of programmes for National Radio on New Zealand music.
Further recordings include:
‘From the Edge’ (Folk Record of the Year 1987); ‘One For You’; ‘Songs Of Local Folk’ and ‘From The Tracks’ for broadcast on National Radio and released by Replay Radio on cassette, 1989-1996; ‘Home Is Where The Heart Is’ and ‘Shaky Isles’.