Ballads to Blues

A yearly showcase of NZ Folk Artists
and ANZFA Folk Music Awards ceremony

January 3rd , Hanover Hall, Dunedin

The Ballads to Blues '26 showcase of the finest in NZ folk and acoustic music.

This year's guest artists are Nelson trio RD1 — Craig Denham (accordion, keyboards, whistles and vocals), Nathan Torvik (guitar, bass, mandolin, cello) and the queen of Lonesome Mountain music Callie Crider from North Carolina on vocals, mandolin and fiddle — NZ’s queen of trad Chris Penman and outstanding Dunedin singer/songwriter Lara Rose. As always the house band is the ever-dynamic Dunedin Ceilidh Orchestra.

Once again we are proud to host the 2025 ANZFA Folk Music Awards.

Twelve kiwi artists entered twelve great albums, and the members have spoken. The six ANZFA Folk Music Award finalists are: Ari Leason for Hello Darling, BB Bowness for Goodtime Revival, Butter Wouldn't Melt for Where the Roots Grow Deep, Jean Reid for And Aye She Sings, Sammy Leary for Old Bush Road and The Wooden Box Band for Broken River — they are vying for any of five possible awards, Best Traditional, Best Kiwiana, Best Original, Best Americana and the overall member’s choice: Best Folk Album 2025.