Terry Free (UK/NZ)

Born in London’s East End, Terry Free has been performing in New Zealand since 1977, sharing the traditional songs and stories of his British roots with audiences across the country.

A familiar figure on the New Zealand folk scene, Terry began performing at Titirangi Folk Club before becoming a regular at clubs and festivals throughout the country. His love of traditional song grew from the songs he heard from his father and grandfather, and was further shaped by the singing of two of his musical heroes, Mike Waterson and Peter Bellamy.

Terry has spent much of his musical life singing British traditional ballads, working songs and the occasional Music Hall favourite. He performed with Jo Taylor and Jono Lonie as Tinkers with Talent, whose self-titled album was a finalist in the 2004 Tui Awards for Best Folk Album. He later spent a decade with SuperSheep, a five-piece group devoted to entirely unaccompanied traditional song, performing at folk clubs and festivals throughout the North Island.

Over the years, Terry’s interest has also extended to the songs of Gypsy and Traveller singers, including Mary Ann Haynes and Levi Smith. For him, singing these songs is about more than preserving the past: it is about keeping them alive by passing them on to other singers and new generations.

Having appeared as a solo guest at the Auckland Folk Festival in 1997, Terry is delighted to return as a featured guest in 2027.