Mark Laurent & Brenda Liddiard
Acoustic Music with Passion
" two of New Zealand's finest singer/songwriters ... amazing guitar work ... punchy mandolin ... tongue in cheek humour ... plenty of feeling"
Wellington Folk Festival
"Mark and Brenda are artists who come from the heart. Their music speaks a universal language that seems to touch every audience they play to. The atmosphere they create is intimate, warm, playful and rich with meaning and a wise knowing of shared experience that baths their audience with a sense of belonging."
Rex McCann - Author
We’re part of that secret army of ‘indie’ musicians who fly just below the commercial radar, playing grass-roots music in an “unplugged” style. We’ve been touring New Zealand, Australia & the UK for 20 years, and what we enjoy most is to connect with audiences on an intimate level. We love playing acoustic clubs, small theatres, house concerts, churches - wherever people want to come close and really listen. But we can also be found jamming in a crowded cafe/bar, or filling large open spaces, like city squares or festival marquees, with the sound of guitars, mandolin, Rowan lute and harmonies.
We’re both songwriters, with our own styles, so we’ve become each others’ backing band. Mark has a penchant for acoustic rock, blues & reggae, whereas Brenda’s songs lean more towards new folk & alt. country. So what you get is an eclectic mix of material, that can be ‘pin drop’ delicate, or sound like a 4-piece band! We often pepper our shows with short bursts of poetry as well, just to keep things interesting.
“I guess at every gig there is someone who is hearing you for the first time, so as a first timer, thank you both for an awesome evening of discovery, enjoyment and appreciation. There is a welcome in your presence that invites your audience into every song and poem. You present your works in an atmosphere of inclusiveness which draws your audience into sharing rather than being at a ‘performance’. And your songs are lovely – a beautiful purity of melody and themes of wisdom so often hidden and overlooked in the ordinary things of life. So refreshing!”
Suzie McCarthy
(Auckland – ‘Poetry Live’ gig, Grand Central, Ponsonby, 2006 )
"When this duo appeared on the scene, everyone took notice. Mark's brilliance on guitar is matched by Brenda's instinctive mandolin accompaniments. Their songs are contemporary, self-penned, and echo issues which touch the lives of us all – and they are sung from the heart. No-one should miss this!"
Devonport Folk Club
In a programme packed with musical gems played and sung by a truly great line-up, it might have been hard to be a stand-out act, but believe me, the Kiwi duo of Mark Laurent & Brenda Liddiard managed to do just that.
Byron Vista Social Club
Byron Bay, Australia
Photo: Nigel Atkins
JUST A FEW OF THE PLACES WE’VE PLAYED IN RECENT YEARS
Auckland:
St Matthews-in-the-City
One2One
The Civic (Auckland08 Arts Festival)
Bunker Hill Folk Review
Titirangi Folk Club
East Coast Bays Folk Club
The Thirsty Dog
Devonport Folk Club
Waikato/Bay of Plenty/Coromandel:
Tauranga Art Gallery
Nectar Bar (Thames)
Karangahake Acoustic Music Club
Whangamata Jazz & Blues Festival (2008)
Hot Waves Cafe (Hot Water Beach)
Blacksands Cafe/Bar (Raglan)
Hamilton Acoustic Music Club
The Wallace Art Gallery (Morrinsville)
L & P Cafe (Paeroa)
Hamilton Acoustic Music Club
Wellington/Kapiti
Mojo Acoustic (Wellington)
Kapiti Live Music Club
Wellington Bluegrass Society
Mainly Acoustic (Upper Hutt)
River Pa (Waikanae)
The Ruby Lounge (Wellington)
South Island:
Fat Eddies (Christchurch)
Cathedral Square (Christchurch City Council Concert)
Timaru Festival of the Roses
The Penguin Club (Oamaru)
Le Cafe (Picton)
Cinema Paradiso (Wanaka)
The Bush Lounge (Karamea)
New Edinburgh Folk Club (Dunedin)
The Music Centre of Christchurch
UK
The World’s End (London)
The White Horse Folk Club (Sussex)
The Underground Theatre (Eastbourne)