Biography
Lothlorien came together in the first months of 1996 when Nicole Leonard, Chris Lloyd and Tamzin Wood joined forces. Leonard took on whistles, keyboards, Celtic harp, violin, mandolin and bodhran, Lloyd handled guitar, bouzouki, mandola and vocals, and Wood supplied vocals, bodhran and whistles. From that point the trio maintained a steady schedule of appearances at folk clubs throughout Auckland, New Zealand, adding guest spots at Titirangi, Tir na N'og, Devonport, East Coast and Troubadour as well as numerous private functions.
During 1997 the group, together with invited guests, filled the Pumphouse Theatre for a concert series called Celtic Voices. Their first official invitation to the Auckland Folk Festival arrived the following January, when they closed the Welcome Concert. Another sell-out evening took place at the Pumphouse in June 1998, followed by a pair of shows at Lopdell House in September. October brought a guest appearance at the Wellington Folk Festival, and the band returned once more to the Pumphouse in November.
In 1999 Lothlorien took part in the Auckland Folk Festival Invitation Concert, revisited Tir na N'og in August and performed again at the Katikati Folk Club in November before an especially appreciative crowd. January 2000 saw them back at the Auckland Folk Festival as official guests; the same month they issued their debut album, Greenwood Side. The timing of these milestones made the year stand out both personally and professionally. Further Celtic Voices presentations followed at Tir na N'og, Titirangi and the Pumphouse.
A still larger achievement arrived in 2001 when Greenwood Side received the Folk Album of the Year award at the Tui: New Zealand Music Awards, the country’s counterpart to the Grammys.
During 1997 the group, together with invited guests, filled the Pumphouse Theatre for a concert series called Celtic Voices. Their first official invitation to the Auckland Folk Festival arrived the following January, when they closed the Welcome Concert. Another sell-out evening took place at the Pumphouse in June 1998, followed by a pair of shows at Lopdell House in September. October brought a guest appearance at the Wellington Folk Festival, and the band returned once more to the Pumphouse in November.
In 1999 Lothlorien took part in the Auckland Folk Festival Invitation Concert, revisited Tir na N'og in August and performed again at the Katikati Folk Club in November before an especially appreciative crowd. January 2000 saw them back at the Auckland Folk Festival as official guests; the same month they issued their debut album, Greenwood Side. The timing of these milestones made the year stand out both personally and professionally. Further Celtic Voices presentations followed at Tir na N'og, Titirangi and the Pumphouse.
A still larger achievement arrived in 2001 when Greenwood Side received the Folk Album of the Year award at the Tui: New Zealand Music Awards, the country’s counterpart to the Grammys.
Albums
