Em Griffiths (fiddle/voice) Dave Flynn (guitar/mandolin/voice) Lee Corbett Barton (mandola/banjo/mandolin/voice)
About: Created in 2026 for Dave Flynn’s annual New Zealand tours, Flynn is joined by Wellington-based Em Griffiths and Kawerau-based Lee Corbett Barton in this new virtuoso trio specialising in Celtic music, ancient and contemporary. Since forming, the trio have toured around New Zealand to great acclaim, including a sold out performance at The Shambles Theatre, Rotorua, supported by Rotorua District Council’s Creative Communties Scheme.
Expect: A Celtic celebration of the 20th anniversary Flynn’s groundbreaking debut album Draíocht– a magical mix of songs and instrumentals. Be immersed in the Kiwi-Celtic suite *Sketches of Aotearoa*, alongside rich vocal harmonies, stirring reels and jigs, and the occasional tin whistle!
What the critics say:
An interesting and intriguing collection from a tunesmith, instrumentalist and composer, Dave Flynn is a name to conjure with and Draíocht is very definitely worth an open-minded listen – Irish Music Magazine
Draiocht is Gaelic for magic, and it certainly suffuses this solo debut…He closes with an interesting, slow version of Drowsy Maggie that brings out the delights of the tune to round out an album that is, yes, magic – Sing Out! Magazine
Perfect for: Folk/Arts festivals, community halls, mid-sized concert venues.
Listen: Explore the rich blend of melody, harmony and rhythm on the album Draíocht
Audiences: The photos from Flynn’s Celtic Strings Feb 2026 Concert in The Shambles Theatre, Rotorua show the wide demograhpic the trio appeals to. (Photos by Celia Walshe)
