Half Light: Paekākāriki

Driving, hypnotic Celtic music from two of New Zealand's top players

Half Light are two virtuoso players of original music combining the sounds of wooden flute, whistles, guitars and an array of pedal sounds.

They play original music that is deeply rooted in the Celtic traditions, drawing also from a wide variety of other musical styles such as American music, Indian classical, middle eastern and classical music.

The music is transportive. It takes you on a journey to faraway lands with primeval forests soaring mountain tops and wooden glades where the faerfolk dance. There will be toe tapping jigs, reels, polkas, slides and all the heart lifting dance music of Ireland and Scotland, expertly weaved in with songs and that paint a picture or tell a story so real you can touch it.

Their conversational style pieces weave mellifluous flute and whistle melodies with expert fingerstyle guitar, which morphs into driving rhythm guitar as the pair reach full tilt. When the pair really get going, bringing to bear all the energy of timeless traditions mixed with boundless creativity, the music makes you want to leap from your chair and dance.