Songwriter / Musician New Zealand
"Helen has the gift of taking every day events and
spinning them into absolute gems of songs...
the whole evening was one out of the box."
(Susan Sutherland, Singer)
2021/22 gigs
Fri November 5
Helen Dorothy & PLot - Whanganui Musicians Club, Whanganui - CANCELLED (COVID RESTRICTIONS)
Sat November 6
Helen Dorothy & PLot - Wellington Bluegrass Society, Petone - CANCELLED
Sun November 7
Helen Dorothy & PLot - Firebird Cafe, Levin - CANCELLED
Fri November 12
Helen Dorothy & PLot - Sound Shed, Inglewood, Taranaki - CANCELLED
Tues December 14
TBC February 18
Double bill - Mainly Acoustic, Mayfair Cafe, Main St., Upper Hutt - 7.30pm - Bob Cooper-Grundy & Neil Billington; Helen Dorothy
Paul Ubana Jones (opened by Helen Dorothy) - St Peter's Hall, Beach Road, Paekakariki - 8pm
Past gigs / reviews
August 30, 2021
February 6, 2021
Helen Dorothy & PLot - Whangateau Folk Club, Whangateau Hall, 533 Leigh Road, Leigh - CANCELLED
Brunswick Acoustic Live Concert on the Lawn, Brunswick, Whanganui (Also feat. Andrew & Kirsten London)
November 13, 2020
The Old Fairy Factory, 76 Hovding St., Norsewood (Folk Night, also feat. MacRag & Dana Parkhill, Wyn Drabble, and the Norsewood Choir)
October 23, 2020
Wellington Folk Festival, Brookfield Outdoor Education Centre, Wainuiomata, Wellington (Balladeer Invitation Concert, feat. Neil Billington)
July 01, 2018
Devonport Folk Music Club, The Bunker, Mount Victoria, Devonport, Auckland (The Helen Dorothy Project feat. PLot)
June 30, 2018
Llama Lounge, Mt Manaia Bowling Club , Parua Bay 1341 Whangarei Heads Road, Whangarei (The Helen Dorothy Project feat. PLot)
June 29, 2018
Kumeu Live, Kumeu Arts Centre, 300 Main Rd, Kumeu, Auckland (The Helen Dorothy Project feat. PLot, with opening act Darlene Te Young)
June 28, 2018
Katikati Folk Club, The Resource Centre, 45 Beach Road, Katikati (The Helen Dorothy Project feat. PLot)
October 21, 2017
Wellington Folk Festival, Brookfield Outdoor Education Centre, Wainuiomata, Wellington (The Helen Dorothy Project - feat. Paul Symons, Lott and Neil Billington)
October 21, 2017
Wellington Folk Festival, Brookfield Outdoor Education Centre, Wainuiomata, Wellington (Song-writing workshop with The Helen Dorothy Project)
October 20, 2017
Wellington Folk Festival, Brookfield Outdoor Education Centre, Wainuiomata, Wellington (The Helen Dorothy Project - feat. Paul Symons, Lott and Neil Billington)
October 18, 2017
Bands On Board, InterIslander Ferry, 2:00 pm Picton-Wellington sailing (Helen Dorothy & PLot)
October 17, 2017
Mussel Inn, Onekaka, Golden Bay (Helen Dorothy & PLot)
October 15, 2017
Nelson Arts Festival (Pic's Granary Gigs), Granary Festival Cafe, Founders Heritage Park, Nelson (Helen Dorothy & PLot)
October 14, 2017
Bands On Board, InterIslander Ferry, 9:00 am Wellington-Picton sailing (Helen Dorothy & PLot)
October 13, 2017
Live at Tsunami, Tsumani Sound Studios, 70 Kimberley Rd, Horowhenua, Levin (Helen Dorothy & PLot)
October 12, 2017
Wellington Bluegrass Society, Petone Community Centre, Richmond St., Petone (The Helen Dorothy Project - feat. Paul Symons, Lott and Neil Billington)
May 08, 2017
Mainly Acoustic, Mayfair Cafe, Main St., Upper Hutt
April 28, 2017
Te Takere Culture and Community Centre, 10 Bath St., Levin (opening for Paul Ubana Jones)
February 03, 2017
St Peter's Village Hall, Paekakariki (Leonard Cohen/Bob Dylan tribute concert, performing with Janet Holborow)
November 26, 2016
Te Takere Culture and Community Centre, 10 Bath St., Levin (Sunday singer songwriter concert also feat. Nigel Parry, Ramon Oza)
October 27, 2016
Bent Horseshoe Cafe, Hokowhitu Bowling Club, 279 Albert St, Palmerston North (opening for Paul Ubana Jones)
October 21, 2016
Wellington Folk Festival, Brookfield Outdoor Education Centre, Wainuiomata, Wellington (Pukerua Bay Folk Club concert)
July 22, 2016
St Peter's Village Hall, Paekakariki (Koha variety concert, performing with Neil Billington)
May 12, 2016
Te Takere Culture and Community Centre, 10 Bath St, Levin (lunchtime guest concert)
May 11, 2016
Acoustic Routes, Roseneath School Hall, 13 Maida Vale Rd, Roseneath, Wellington (supporting Other Roads)
October 24, 2015
Wellington Folk Festival, Brookfield Outdoor Education Centre, Wainuiomata, Wellington (invitation concert)
October 12, 2015
Mainly Acoustic, Mayfair Cafe, Main St., Upper Hutt (supporting Mark Laurent and Brenda Liddiard)
September 30, 2015
Pukerua Bay Folk Club, Pukerua Bay (guest)
June 26, 2015
Resonator House, Khandallah (double-bill house concert with Vikki Clayton)
January 01, 2015
Whare Flat Folk Festival 2014/15 (final concert)
December 30, 2014
Whare Flat Folk Festival 2014/15 (guest)
August 10, 2014
Devonport Folk Music Club, The Bunker, Mount Victoria, Devonport, Auckland (guest)
August 08, 2014
Titirangi Folk Music Club, Titirangi, Auckland (guest)
July 17, 2014
Wellington Bluegrass Society, Petone Community Centre, Richmond St., Petone (guest)
May 21, 2014
Acoustic Routes, Roseneath School Hall, 13 Maida Vale Rd, Roseneath, Wellington (guest)
May 12, 2014
Mainly Acoustic, Mayfair Cafe, Main St., Upper Hutt (supporting Portable Panic)
February 28, 2014
Coasters Musical Theatre, 15 Hinemoa St., Paraparaumu (supporting Jez Lowe)
February 22, 2014
Topor Bistro, 3 Beach Road, Plimmerton (lunchtime, Topor’s Summer Sundays)
October 25, 2013
Wellington Folk Festival, Brookfield Outdoor Education Centre, Wainuiomata, Wellington (invitation concert)
October 07, 2013
Mainly Acoustic, Mayfair Cafe, Main St., Upper Hutt (supporting Neil Billington)
August 08, 2013
Mojo Acoustic, Mojo Cafe, 161 Willis Street, Wellington
November 17, 2012
Christchurch Folk Music Club, The Irish Society Hall, 29 Domain Terrace, Spreydon, Christchurch (guest)
November 10, 2012
Acoustic Routes Nelson, Yaza Cafe, Montgomery Square, Nelson (guest)
November 07, 2012
Mussel Inn, Onekaka, Golden Bay
October 11, 2012
Mojo Acoustic, Mojo Cafe, 161 Willis Street, Wellington
May 26, 2012
Acoustic Routes Kiwiana Concert, Meow, Edward Street, Wellington
November 17, 2011
House Concert, Otaki (supporting Richard Grainger & Chris Parkinson)
November 04, 2011
Fences Fall album launch
Michael O'Leary poems to songs, St. Peter's Hall, Paekakariki (also featuring Gilbert Haisman, Kayte Edwards, Al Witham, Francis Mills, Brian Romeril and Niels Gedge)
October 21, 2011
Song-writer's Forum (featuring Anthony J. Clarke along with local artists), Wellington Folk Festival, Brookfield Outdoor Education Centre, Wainuiomata, Wellington
September 08, 2011
Mojo Acoustic, Mojo Cafe, Willis St., Wellington (with Fiona Smythe)
July 15, 2011
Museum of City and Sea, Queen's Wharf, 3 Jervois Quay, Wellington (guest)
March 26, 2011
Meow, Edward Street, Wellington (supporting Ken Nicol)
October 23, 2010
Wellington Folk Festival, Brookfield Outdoor Education Centre, Wainuiomata, Wellington (final concert, featuring Fiona Smythe and Richard Prowse)
October 22, 2010
Wellington Folk Festival, Brookfield Outdoor Education Centre, Wainuiomata, Wellington (guest, featuring Fiona Smythe and Richard Prowse)
October 14, 2010
Palmerston North Folk Music Club, Theosophical Hall, Palmerston North (with Niels Gedge and Fiona Smythe)
October 02, 2010
Lembas Cafe, Raumati Beach, Kapiti Coast
September 13, 2010
Hamilton Acoustic Music Club, Biddy Mulligan's Irish Pub, 742 Victoria St, Hamilton (guest)
September 12, 2010
Devonport Folk Music Club, The Bunker, Mount Victoria, Devonport, Auckland (guest)
September 10, 2010
Titirangi Folk Music Club, Titirangi, Auckland (guest)
July 31, 2010
Niels Gedge's CD launch, Ruby Lounge, Bond St., Wellington (support, and backing vocals)
March 27, 2010
Acoustic Routes at Ruby Lounge, Bond St, Wellington (supporting Laurie Dameron)
February 11, 2010
Mojo Acoustic, Mojo Cafe, 161 Willis St., Wellington
February 05, 2010
Festival of the Elements, Pataka, Porirua (guest)
December 16, 2009
The Welsh Dragon Bar, Cambridge Terrace, Wellington
October 23, 2009
Acoustic Routes 40th Anniversary Concert, Wellington Folk Festival, Wainuiomata
July 25, 2009
Toi Poneke (Arts Centre), Abel Smith St., Wellington (guest, featuring John Sutherland, Richard Prowse, Murray Kilpatrick)
June 24, 2009
Welsh Dragon Bar, Cambridge Terrace, Wellington
April 03, 2009
The Going Away album launch
Wellington Bluegrass Society, Petone Community Centre, Richmond St., Petone (with guests Fiona Smythe, Richard Prowse, Duncan Davidson, Robbie Duncan, Chris Price)
February 05, 2009
Mojo Acoustic, Mojo Cafe, Willis St., Wellington
November 06, 2008
Palmerston North Folk Music Club, Theosophical Hall, Palmerston North
August 02, 2008
Devonport Folk Music Club, The Bunker, Mount Victoria, Devonport, Auckland
July 07, 2008
Mainly Acoustic, Mayfair Cafe, Main St., Upper Hutt
June 12, 2008
Levin Folk Club, Horowhenua Scottish Society Hall, Levin
March 08, 2008
Mainly Acoustic Concert, Harcourts Park, Upper Hutt
March 05, 2008
Pukerua Bay Folk Club, Pukerua Bay
November 17, 2007
Cross Creek Blues Club, Tin Hut, Featherston
October 06, 2007
Cable Car Museum, Wellington
Light Time & Sound October 2017 tour
Combining their musical powers for the good of mankind...
Helen Dorothy with:
- PLot, the gloriously groovy combination of Paul Symons and Lott!
- and guest appearances from virtuoso harmonica player Neil Billington
"Helen Dorothy enchanted us with her evocative, clever lyrics and beautiful guitar and mandola playing which together create such vivid images... For me, Helen is a taonga whose songs reflect the beauty and fragility of our natural heritage in a unique and compelling way."
Philippa Boy,
The Balladeer, July 2012
"Ken Nicol (formerly of Steeleye Span and The Albion Band) says he "loves the material, and the honesty she exudes."
Phil Widdows, Presenter,
June 2011
"One by one, the songs were presented to us as polished jewels"
Carol Bean,
Musician, 2009
"Her songs are beautiful windows into things she has noticed about the New Zealand landscape, its wildlife and people... Poignant stories of hardship and plain human suffering captured in some of the most heart-rending songs that will have the toughest amongst us swallowing hard... Dorothy is a master of her craft, and as well as playing her guitar in haunting tunings that few mimic, she draws in a range of musicians in their own right to add to the musical journey."
President,
Acoustic Routes, 2009
"Weaving a delicate web, her compositions, melodies and lyrics are succulent fine food for the senses, worth savouring..."
Mainly Acoustic, 2008
"Helen's song-writing and guitar playing are striking, individual and beautiful. Her material includes environmental themes, strong imagery and really innovative guitar playing."
President,
Acoustic Routes, 2008