Denny and Jon are well known performers at the Christchurch Folk Music Club and are among Canterbury's finest exponents of acoustic music. They continually delight audiences with their eclectic collection of contemporary and traditional songs played from the heart and delivered with the ease of many year's performance experience behind them.
Jon's superb guitar technique and broad range of styles compliments Denny's warm expressive singing beautifully, and as a solo instrumentalist, Jon's mastery of the blues and ragtime styles spellbinds!
Together they have performed at-
WHITECLIFFS FESTIVAL
THE CANTERBURY FOLK FESTIVAL
CARDRONA FESTIVAL
WHARE FLAT FESTIVAL
CHRISTCHURCH SUMMERTIMES EVENTS
And have supported international artists-
RALPH MCTELL
KIERAN GOSS
TONY MCMANUS
Individually, they have performed and recorded with many other musicians and are continuously involved in a variety of other musical projects. They are both members of the long-standing and award winning Celtic group – RUA.
JON HOOKER-
Jon originates from Oxford, England and has resided in Christchurch, New Zealand since l986.
During this time he has gained an exemplary reputation as a guitarist's guitarist, as well as earning a reputation as an exceptional accompanist, a dedicated guitar tutor and skilled transcriber of acoustic guitar music.
Jon has performed at numerous Music Festivals and Events in a variety of combinations. He also performs solo guitar concerts as well as conducting a variety of guitar workshops.
Jon currently holds residency at the Southern Blues Bar, where he continues to explore his interest in Blues guitar styles. He also performs regularly for the Christchurch City Council and The Arts Centre, Christchurch.
Highlights in his career to date include-
Supporting English Playwright, John Mortimer
on a Poetry/Prose Tour in the U.K.
Supporting English Folk legend Ralph McTell on his 1995 tour of
New Zealand
Concert performances and tours with the Celtic Band "RUA".
As Denny's guitarist, he explores past and present influences; from the English styling of Davey Graham and Bert Jansch to the American styles of Merle Travis and Bill Broonzy.
Jon's superb playing can be heard on a variety of recordings and he is currently working on his first solo album. Through Jon's involvement and support of new and established artists, Christchurch has gained both musically and culturally.
"Exquisite fingerpicking........"
"Brilliantly accomplished playing........."
"Glories in the possibilities of the guitar..........."
Denny Stanway-
From the highly acclaimed "Acoustic Confusion" days to the internationally successful award-winning band "RUA," Denny has for the past two decades, been at the cutting edge of independent New Zealand music.
Starting from the innovative "Auckland Acoustics" platform along with such artists as Brendan Power, Wayne Gillespie and Katherine Tait. Then moving on to the international stage of World Music with "RUA".
Performing in sell-out concerts such as the Millennium Celebration of Santiago in Northern Spain, The Festivale de Interceltique, Lorient,
France and the Edinburgh International Festival of the Arts in Scotland. She has consistently maintained a musical standard that has garnered praise from critics at home and abroad. Country to blues to Celtic, she has that rare ability to meld the heart of the song to originality and personal interpretation.For many years she has appeared on ,both,National TV and Radio. Denny is also the current President of the Christchurch Folk Club.
Affectionately known as The Ballad section of Rua, Denny and Jon perform music that is rich and expressive, beautifully arranged and musically powerful!
"Wonderfully powerful vocals.............."
"The consummate singer............."
"A voice you won't soon forget, she touched the heart of the audience."
"She has been performing and recording mainly acoustic music with a strong emphasise on alternate/acoustic music for over twenty years!"
"A true 'diva'of song!"
