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A Birthday Celebration At Alligator Creek Farm, Waiwera. January 7, 2017
Posted: January 9th, 2017 by Keith Levy | Leave a comment

Love Death And Geraniums at Orewa’s Estuary Art’s Centre. November 25, 2016
Posted: November 27th, 2016 by Keith Levy | Leave a comment

I was at the Orewa Arts Centre on Friday November 25 and had the pleasure and privilege of witnessing a concert titled ‘Love Death And Geraniums’ by The Roaming Rhymester Keith Levy and The Dirt Road Orchestra from nearby Puhoi. Keith tells his original stories from the heart and they cover all of life’s emotions that matter. From love to sadness to social and political injustice. He accompanies himself with simple chords picked in minimalist style on his classical guitar and is backed too on selected stories by The Dirt Road Orchestra’s internationally acclaimed violin virtuoso Murray van Hoorn who’s sensitive fiddling adds another voice to Keith’s stories. Keith’s ‘He’s My Brother’ would stir the hardest heart and ‘He Lives In A Bus’ is not only his own story but also speaks of injustices in our own ‘free land’. Keith is Jewish and this comes across very clearly as does his Kiwiness but his stories are universal.. His unique rendition of ‘Suzanne’ really blew me away as he and The Dirt Road Orchestra honoured the late great Leonard Cohen. The Dirt Road Orchestra are five excellent musicians and sing with marvelous harmonies. Their lyrics written by Andy Hamilton and Matt Jones paint pictures of New Zealand life that most in the audience would identify with. Their performing with Keith is a very special, unique and refreshing experience. Having been a Folk Singer/Songwriter here on the New Zealand Folk Music for many years I’m in a position to applaud Keith and The Dirt Road Orchestra for breaking out of the mold of most local entertainers. They can stand proudly on the international stage.

Bob Lovell. New Zealander, Romany Singer, Songwriter and Performer.

Fundraising Concert at Russell’s Christ Church. November 12, 2016
Posted: November 12th, 2016 by Keith Levy | Leave a comment

Keith. Thank you so much for sharing your insightful and brilliantly written stories in rhyme with us this evening at Christ Church in Russell. I thoroughly enjoyed your humour, honesty and the blatant truths you so cleverly exposed about our world and the way we live in it.

Wil Zwanikken. Russell, Bay of Islands.

Storytelling at The Tea Rose Cafe. June 24, 2016
Posted: October 27th, 2016 by Keith Levy | 1 comment

What a wonderful evening. The venue was intimate in our lovely village of Thames, with Jennifer Neale, our hostess and chef of beautiful food at The Tea Rose Cafe, a hub of warmth. Keith the Storyteller delivered his insightful, clever and funny rhyme with lovely gentle guitar and his warm rich voice and great vibes enhanced it all. A mix of material that captured so much. Childhood mischief, life experiences and growth, misfortunes and love. Laughter and a slight welling of tears instead of sitting at home observing the news of current affairs discussions and feeling anger and detesting examples of excessive greed, lack of ethics and great poverty, being able to share a smile and glassy eyes with others who share human values and care. Words presented succinctly that said so much. On arriving home my husband announced it a 12 out of 10 evening. And he can be hard to please. That says it all.

Love and hugs. Makalea Hauser. Thames.

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Kings Theatre Performance, Kawakawa. July 24, 2016
Posted: October 12th, 2016 by Keith Levy | Leave a comment

If you need anything done, give the job to a busy person and I am busy, so when Mary suggested we go to hear a storyteller in an old and cold movie theatre in Kawakawa, a small town in Northland, I was far from keen. We were met by Keith wearing a Bowler Hat and a warm, welcoming smile. As he fiddled with some sound equipment and picked a few guitar chords I thought, here we go, perhaps I can have a little nap. To my surprise, his quiet voice and gentle melodic guitar playing got my attention and I found myself caught up in his storytelling, his views on the world, people, relationships and his honesty. The only ways to really engage with an audience are with truth, humour and deep commitment. Keith has all of these qualities and his timing, vocal sound and subject matter ensured my full attention. And gratefulness too, to Mary for overcoming my reluctance to being there. I came away with many thoughts but none so telling as to remember to tell those close that I love them. Not only on birthdays or at Christmas but every day, time or moment that you mean it. Perhaps it was also no surprise that Keith and I had a past friendship in our early school years in Eastbourne and Days Bay on the east coast of Wellington many years ago. It really is a small world…

Roger Wyatt, Russell, Bay of Islands, New Zealand