Henpicked and The Crimson Club's Mad Hatters Tea Party

The Crimson Club, hailing from Paekakariki and Henpicked, from Otaki are joining forces to throw a “Mad Hatter's Tea Party”.

After playing at the Kapiti Expo in March, the musicians realised they shared a similar love of playing good music, celebrating life and dressing up.

“When I heard Henpicked I thought they would go really well with The Crimson Club,” says Crimson Club singer Shona Jaunas. “We both have a bit of a quirky sense of humour and we both like getting dressed up in costumes and making a performance that takes people on a journey. Not only that but both groups feature accordion, an instrument which lends itself to the sound of a shared evening amongst friends.”

The Mad Hatter's Tea Party came from the idea of bringing the audience into a different world and involving them in creating an evening which transports everyone to a place of wonder and imagination.

“We are inviting people to dress up, not only as characters from the original Mad Hatter's Tea Party but as any sort of character that is inspired from the Mad Hatter's sense of fantasy and frivolity,” says cellist Janet Holborow.

The Crimson Club have been entertaining audiences for the past three years in Kapiti and Wellington. Their multi-instrumentalist line-up features Shona Jaunas (vocals, violin), Melissa Garber (accordion, theremin, vocals, percussion) and Janet Holborow (cello, vocals, alto flute and bass drum). Last year their Whirlwind Worldwide Wellington Tour graced halls around the Wellington region finishing with a season at Bats Theatre. Ewen Coleman from the Dominon Post wrote, “experienced musicians who work together exceptionally well and have a great time on stage.”

Henpicked features international award-winning songwriter Dean Murray, guitar, Carylann Martin keyboards and accordion, Kirsten London bass, and Anje Glindemann on drums and backing vocals. Their inspiration lies somewhere between Cash-Cline and the Warratahs, creating a sumptuous twang with a side of tasty vocal melody. They recently played at the Woollaston Nelson Jazz and Blues Festival.

Their 2010 album Astroturf was reviewed in NZ Musician Magazine as “a cheerful, mellow, Kiwi-accented delight.”

As has become a tradition at Crimson Club performances, there will be prizes for best dressed as well as maddest hat.