Kawerau musician Lee Corbett Barton is returning to the stage this weekend as part of a new Celtic folk trio touring the lower North Island, with a free concert in Rotorua on Saturday night.

Flynn’s Celtic Strings brings together Corbett Barton with acclaimed Irish composer and guitarist Dave Flynn and Wellington-based Celtic musician and music teacher Em Griffiths for an evening of Celtic songs, tunes and storytelling at Shambles Theatre.

For Corbett Barton, a long-time

figure in the Eastern Bay music scene, the tour marks a special opportunity to play alongside artists he admires.

“Dave is in a different league musically,” said Corbett Barton.

Flynn, who hails from Dublin, has just returned from a 34-date European tour and said Flynn’s Celtic Strings was a brand-new project he was keen to bring to the Bay of Plenty.

“This is a new trio I’ve put together, so I can bring my Irish-style music around New Zealand,” Flynn said.

“I’ve toured here several times as a solo guitarist and collaborated with many musicians, including the New Zealand String Quartet and the late Whakatāne legend Tait Kora.

“During those projects I worked separately with Em and Lee, and I enjoyed working with them both so much that I thought they’d be brilliant to bring together with me as this new trio, Flynn’s Celtic Strings.”

Griffiths brings more than 20 years’ experience in performance and teaching, with skills spanning classical violin, Celtic fiddle, tin whistle, singing and calling céilí dances.

Though Corbett Barton is well known in his professional role as Kawerau District Council manager of economic and cultural development, music has long been a central part of his life.

Eastern Bay audiences will remember his performances with the late John McKay, playing Irish tunes and popular music.

“John was a bit of a character and well known around the Eastern Bay of Plenty. We entertained at the Craic for many years and did gigs here and there.”

Corbett Barton was involved in Flynn’s tour last year, playing a couple of gigs with him in the Eastern Bay, including at a marae.

He jumped at the chance to work with Flynn again this year.

The Rotorua concert celebrates the 20th anniversary of Flynn’s debut album Draíocht – Irish Gaelic for “magic”.

“We’ll be playing a lot off that album, along with some Celtic classics,” Flynn said.

“Among those is Lee’s great version of The Galway Shawl.”

The trio will all sing as well as play, with Griffiths on fiddle, Corbett Barton on mandolin, mandola and banjo, and Flynn on guitar and mandolin.

For Corbett Barton, the music carries deep personal meaning.

Raised in the UK, he inherited his love of folk and traditional music from his late father, Ralph Corbett Barton.

“I was dragged around the UK as a kid watching Dad play and going to folk festivals,” he said.

“It was ingrained into my psyche, especially folk and traditional music, including Celtic.”

After his father passed away, Corbett Barton inherited his instruments, a mandolin, mandola and banjo, and committed himself to learning them – a journey that has continued since he moved to New Zealand more than 25 years ago.

“There will be a couple of other numbers we will throw into the mix which my dad wrote and which have never been performed since he passed away.”

The Rotorua gig looks to be an enjoyable outing: “This is the stuff that life makes memories of. I am super excited.”

Although the tour includes just three venues, a second leg is planned for June, and Corbett Barton hopes an Eastern Bay performance can be added.

“We’re delighted to be bringing this as a free show to Rotorua’s Shambles Theatre,” said Flynn, “with the kind support of Rotorua District Council’s Creative Communities Fund”.

Flynn's Celtic Strings
■ Where: Shambles Theatre, Rotorua
■ When: 7.30pm, Saturday, February 14
■ Cost: Free/registration: www.eventfinda.co.nz