Songs and stories around the Sandcastle campfire
Steve de Feu and Tina Bridgeman at The Sandcastle. Photo: Ina Holst.
Motel proprietor Steve du Feu and singer/songwriter Tina Bridgman are inviting guests and locals to share songs and stories around the campfire at The Sandcastle in Pohara Valley.
A trial run just before Christmas proved so popular that it encouraged them to make it a regular Monday evening event over the summer months.
"It's mainly for guests but it's also open to the public," said Steve. "The people who came to the first campfire and songs evening were absolutely spellbound. Many people, especially those who live in cities, never experience sitting around a fire."
"I had the idea when travelling in Australia, and at the campgrounds in the evenings they had someone come around talking about some topic and it linked people to the place they were visiting."
The stories to be told here focus on Golden Bay's history and the natural world, but also invite others to join in with their own stories.
"The campfire is the best place to share stories and songs, and not everyone has the chance to do this, especially in such a beautiful environment. How many people throughout history have sat around the fire telling stories?" said Tina. "We also invite other acoustic musicians to contact us."
For Tina, who started playing the guitar as a teenager, music is an integral part of every day life and something she "cannot stay away from". She is also well known from her voice workshops and public performances. Tina has produced three CDs, Hearth, Deep Sun Inside and In the Company of You, which are available from Artisans. The guitarist with the gentle voice gets inspiration from nature and finds great parallels in real life, and her songs tell stories about love, spirit and nature.
Steve said many of his guests leave the Bay, this "little speck of peace", quite transformed.
For relaxing Monday evenings, join Songs and Stories, 8-10pm at The Sandcastle in Haile Lane, Pohara.
Ina Holst
