Poet's New CD to be launched by mayor

‘Fences Fall’, a new CD of songs with lyrics by Paekakariki poet Michael O’Leary,(above at his PhD graduation earlier this year) will be launched by Mayor Jenny Rowan on Guy Fawkes night (Nov 5) at St Peter’s Hall in Paekakariki.

The launch party will feature live music by performers on the CD. The songs, written mostly by well-known Kapiti songwriters, are described as “Kiwi re-invention of the folk traditions and boldly literate rock music associated with Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, the Beatles, Irish folk song, and the seminal sounds of blues and country.”

“The launch will be quite a party,” says Michael O’Leary.  “The CD features about 20 great Kapiti Coast musicians.  Most of them are well-known performers with CDs of their own, and the party will see them turning on, for most part, their raunchy dance music side.”

Michael O’Leary is described by Dr. Neilson Wright as “… a powerful writer (who) never falls into mediocrity and consistently shows a strain of genius.”

He has written 20 books of poetry and fiction, and is a trustee of the Poetry Archive of New Zealand.  He also runs the Earl of Seacliff Art Workshop (E.S.A.W.) which has published works by Hone Tuwhare, David Eggleton, Elizabeth Smither, Greg O’Brien, John Pule and others.

The songs on ‘Fences Fall’ are by singer-songwriters Helen Dorothy, Kayte Edwards, Niels Gedge, Francis Mills and Al Witham, with instrumental numbers by Gilbert Haisman and Brian Romeril.  It was recorded at Ross McDermott’s Soundsgood studios in Paraparaumu.   It will be available at a special launch price of $20.

Doors for the launch party will open at 7.30.  Admission is $5. Tickets are on sale at the Paekakariki Fruiterer and door sales will be available.