Cafe 39 is a brand new venue for us. It's small and friendly and easy to get to - right on Ponsonby Rd. The food is good, Rene, the proprietor, is a really nice guy, and there's a garden bar out the back where you can still hear the music as the whole place is wired for sound.

No cover charge - we'll just pass the hat at some stage and your support for the music is always greatly appreciated.

MARK LAURENT & BRENDA LIDDIARD

Passionate Acoustic Music


(blues, folk, alt.country and acoustic rock)

For three decades Mark and Brenda have been playing music together, part of that secret army of ‘indie’ musicians who fly just below the commercial radar, playing grass-roots, mostly un-plugged music throughout New Zealand, Australia and the UK.

“The highlight of the entire evening took place when Mark launched into some blues during which he played blistering, brilliant acoustic guitar licks, while voice-mimicking lead guitar sounds note for note, nuance for nuance in a masterful display of technique and taste that stands as one of our clubs most memorable performances to this day. He almost brought the house down.”

Brendan Hanley, Byron Vista Social Club, Byron Bay, NSW

"Mark Laurent play’s the blues like his life depends on it! His guitar is just about as expressive as his vocals and confirms the guitar hero status that he earned several decades ago when his professional music career kicked off in the 1970’s.

His wife and performance partner Brenda Liddiard has a voice born of true folk, protest and alt country sentiments. Brenda has been greatly influenced by English and American acoustic music and found her niche as a songwriter during her passionate involvement with environmental and anti-nuclear issues dating from the 70’s and 80’s. Her album, Box of Memories, was a finalist in the 2013 Tui Awards for Best Folk Album.

Laurent and Liddiard together present an eclectic mix of material that can be ‘pin drop’ delicate, or sound like a full band! They sometimes pepper their sets with short bursts of poetry and stories of a road well traveled.

“Mark and Brenda are astute and seasoned performers. They are very well known on the acoustic music scene and between them have recorded. or contributed to, over 30 albums. It is very cool that we can host musicians of this calibre.”

Mark Raffills, poet, MC, Live @ Little & Local

"Mark's brilliance on guitar is matched by Brenda's instinctive mandolin. Their songs echo issues which touch the lives of us all – and are sung from the heart. No-one should miss this!”

Roger Giles, The Bunker, Devonport

“This fantastic duo never ceases to amaze me with the diversity of their songs, musicianship and poetry … sublime guitar and mandolin textures and soulful harmonies.”

Mike Moroney, Dunedin Folk Club