They found a bond through their guitar building. Madill, being the more established and experienced of the two, was kind and generous and began helping MacKenzie develop his skills.
Sticky problems were solved through collaboration and Madill’s formal woodworking skills were shared with each visit.
Aside from the guitar building, both men had an interest in each other’s music. They decided to try a short stage performance at the last Mid-Winter Holler in February last year.
Their music was well received and as a result of encouragement and suggestion, an experimental concert at the Wellington Bluegrass Society followed.
Although both men have different approaches to the music, the common thread of the folk music tradition allows an intuitive understanding of the music.
Because of this, adaptation to each other’s repertoires followed naturally. Their music is underpinned by vast repertoires, harmony vocals, solid flat picking and the possibility of an appearance of the pedal steel guitar that Jack has been teaching himself to play.
The pair are coming to the Hokowhitu Bowling Club this weekend through Bent Horseshoe promotions as Luthier’s Corner.
Bent Horseshoe’s Steve Tolley said it promises to be an interesting and rewarding evening, as theirs was a unique pairing.
“...steeped in a combined rich history of decades of involvement in this art, complete with unique stories and a perspective born of the pursuit of both luthiery and music,” he said.
WHO: Luthiers Corner.
WHERE: The Hokowhitu Bowling Club.
WHEN: Saturday, August 24.
HOW MUCH: $20 at the door