Bernie Griffen is the front man for the Auckland folk-blues-country band Bernie Griffen and The Grifters. Their recently released first album “Everything So Far” has been hailed as New Zealand’s best-ever folk album, and Griffen’s performance as using every inch of a voice reminiscent of Johnny Cash and Tom Waits.
Bernie also performs with his long-time partner Kirsten Warner, and they recently completed a national tour singing Griffen originals, duets and country classics. They play will feature for Music at the Old School with renowned, local folk singer-song writer Chris Thompson. (Raglan Old School Arts Centre, Friday, May 17, doors open 7 PM.)
Kirsten also performs her own poetry, combining their talents for a memorable evening of songs and stories. She is an accomplished and nationally published writer and journalist, whose wry and entertaining poems bring out her own strong voice and perspective.
Bernie Griffen’s songs are melodic and memorable, soulful tales of the meanderings of a life well and truly lived on the fringes – full of love, pathos and colourful stories. His haunting song “29 Diamonds” about Pike River speaks empathetically and simply from the heart in response to the disaster.
Bernie is the host of radio 95 bFM’s Americana show “Border Radio”, and co-founder and a driving force behind the country-punk roadshow-extravaganza “The Gunslinger’s Ball”.
Kirsten Warner and Bernie Griffen with Chris Thompson
Musci at the Old School
Raglan Old School Arts Centre, Friday, May 17, doors open 7 PM.
For further information, contact:
Kirsten Warner and Bernie Griffen, 09 838 4197
Bernie Griffen, 021 236 0354, Kirsten Warner 021 236 0354