A distinctive blend of live Irish music and historic imagery will take to the stage in Thames next month, as Sean Kelly & Friends present an intimate, multi-sensory performance that brings the past to life.
The show combines traditional Irish music with rare Super 8 footage filmed between 1958 and 1988 by Kelly’s father, a passionate cine enthusiast who captured everyday life in Derry and Donegal. The result is a performance that is as much about storytelling as it is about music.
Kelly, a long-time figure in New Zealand’s Irish music scene, will perform on vocals, whistles, bodhran and guitar, joined by fiddle and mandolin player Jono Lonie and cellist and audiovisual operator Maree Limpus.
Alongside the music, audiences can expect personal insights and historical context, with Kelly weaving in reflections on a turbulent period in the history of Northern Ireland.
The production avoids modern effects, instead relying on authentic imagery and live performance to create what organisers describe as a “sensory-rich experience” designed to both entertain and enlighten.
The show has already drawn praise from previous venues, with the Lyric Theatre describing it as “a soulful and innovative performance” where “storytelling doesn’t need to shout to be heard — it can whisper through grainy film, rustle through the strings of a guitar, and settle gently in the heart.”
Kelly has been based in New Zealand since 1990 and has performed with a range of Irish acts over the decades, including Roisin Dubh and The Celtic Flyers. He has also performed Ireland’s Call at Eden Park during All Blacks tests against Ireland and shared the stage with internationally renowned group The Chieftains, as well as duetting with Florence Welch.
The Thames performance is expected to appeal to both lovers of traditional music and those interested in history and visual storytelling, offering a rare glimpse into Ireland’s past through the lens of family archives and live interpretation.
EVENT DETAILS
📍 Kauaeranga Hall, Thames
📅 Saturday 2 May
⏰ 7:30pm
🎟️ $28 door / $25 pre-book
🔗 Book online: khallmusic.nz
🛒 Tickets also available at Garden Music, 712 Pollen St, Thames
