Chris Priestley & Cameron Bennett
Chris Priestley and Cameron Bennett are two of New Zealand's foremost folk musicians and storytellers. Performing as a duo for us in 2026, they are often found touring as part of the seven-piece band Chris Priestley and the Unsung Heroes.
Their music draws on New Zealand's rich past, presenting evocative songs and stories about colonial rogues, rebels, and unsung folk heroes, offering a captivating blend of historical insight and musical artistry.
Chris Priestley, is a talented singer-songwriter and historian. A local entrepreneur and multi-time Tui Folk Music Award finalist, he is a significant figure in the Auckland music scene.
Cameron Bennett is a veteran journalist, lap steel player, and singer-songwriter. Cameron brings his narrative expertise and musical skill to the stage, playing dobro, acoustic, and lap steel guitar.
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Maybe you’ve never heard of the Taranaki Highwayman, the ghost of the Vulcan Hotel and the man who conquered the Niagara Falls in a barrel, only to slip to an untimely death on an orange peel in Onehunga…
Perhaps you’ve always assumed that the most compelling stories from the past come from somewhere else. Spoiler alert - they don’t!
Right here, written in the pages of our own New Zealand story is a line-up of characters up there with any gunslinger from the Wild West: heroes and villains, do-gooders and ne’er-do-wells, high-flyers and low-lifers - we’ve got more than our share.
It’s said the past informs the present, but how many of us know of, or were even taught of the characters who make up our own past and who helped shape who we’ve become? Not just the great and good, but those with dirt under their nails and blood on their hands; the sinew and gristle of our backstory. The multi-media show of original songs, written and performed by Chris Priestley and Cameron Bennett, guarantees to inform and entertain.
“This is a fascinating musical concept, based on actual people and events that occurred in our colonial history. You won’t believe your ears - or the incredible stories contained herein. Rogues, rebels and folk heroes, and a truly valuable exercise, bringing all this history together in music.” - NZ Musician Magazine
Listen to their 2013 album Unsung Heroes on: