Caitlin Smith Bio

Vocals for:
2020 Caitlin Smith’s Imaginary Band You Have Reached Your Destination. A studio recording of original songs by Caitlin. 
2013 The Fondue Set Down To The Rind. A live recording of the final Fondue Set gig at the Taupo Arts Festival in 2004. The recording was recently rediscovered. Featuring Caitlin, Nigel Gavin and Steve Gerrish.
2013 Caitlin Smith Stories To TellThe Thorndon Project. A CD released in conjunction with the Parents Of Visually Impaired New Zealand (PVINZ)
2006 The Dylan Storey Band ‘Bones’, Linn Lorkin ‘Kiwiana’
2005 The Caitlin Smith Group ‘Aurere’. Formed and performed with alt.folk/country acapella harmony trio The Sextons
2004 SJD ‘Southern Lights’, Lorina Harding ‘Clean Break’, Richard Watt, film soundtrack to ‘Lands Of Our Fathers’ documentary with Oliver Mtukudzi and Whirimako Black. Nairobi Trio, D-Dub, Davey G and the Engines of Efficiency. Backing vocals for NZ Idol winner Ben Lummis’ #1 hit single ‘They Can’t Take That Away’
2003 Concord Dawn – ‘Let it Go’. Short film theme song with Brunettes and Don McGlashan ‘Sweet as Candy’, For Bob Frisbee – the Rainy Days. Featured on ‘Journeys’, a CD released comprised entirely of blind artists. Two tracks accompanied by Jann Rutherford.
2002 Magik and Rose, Feature film Soundtrack
2001 Pitch Black, Tidemarks with Ross Mullins, Eddie Rayner ‘Play it Straight’ – ‘Letting Go’
2000 The Fondue Set CD ‘In a Blue Vein’. ‘Read about it’ – Books in Homes theme song with Toi Iti, written by Dave Dobbyn and Jan Hellreigel
1999 The Fondue Set CD ‘Stick a Fork in it’.
Television Appearances: Festivals:
  • Wanganui Arts Festival
  • AK03
  • Peace in the Park – performer and MC
  • Thredbo Global Music Festival (Australia)
  • Festival of Romance
  • Christchurch Jazz Festival
  • Wellington International Jazz Festival
  • Waiheke Jazz Festival (Headline artist 5 years)
  • Waiheke Food and Fine Festival
  • Devonport Food and Wine Festival
  • Taranaki Festival
  • Tauranga Arts Festival
  • Manly Jazz Festival (Australia)
  • Ponsonby Music Festival
  • Taupo Arts Festival
  • Rotorua Streetfest
  • North Shore Sounds
  • NorthShore Events
  • Music in Parks
  • Gulf Harbour
  • ‘NZ National Fielddays’ at Mystery Creek
  • AK05
  • Giant Leap (Festival of Disability)
  • Wairarapa ‘Summer Hummer’
  • Whangamata Art Fusion Festival
  • Raglan Jazz and Blues Festival
  • Waitakere Sounds
  • Going West
  • Winter Jazz at the Auckland Art Gallery
  • Queenstown Winterfestival (3 years)
  • Zoomusic
  • Rakino Island Jazz and Art Festival
Students (include…)
Aaron and Janna – Grande Cobra April Pohio – worship leader Asey Lio and Cushla – Fou Nature Betty Ann Monga – Ardijah Bjorn Peterson – Open Souls Claire Holmes – Farmer Pimp Dave Yetton – JPSE, Subliminals Elizabeth Walker Hannah Hegan Helena Struthers / Kerry Glockling – Auckland Navy Band James Moore – The Lure of Shoes Jared – Ruptus Jack Penny Ashton – Hot Pink Simon Hislop Daniel and Lloyd – International Flannel Neil Newton – Hozomeen Tim Stewart – Supergroove / Svelte Dylan Storey – The Dylan Storey Band Maryrose Crook – The Renderers Paul Kauri – worship leader Cindy Ruakere Brodie – The Have Kate Martin – Meatbix, solo artist Andrea Howarth Katia MacKenzie Damien – Blindspot Lisa Crawley Zeisha – Likely Story artist Bex Reilly – Schummacker & Baitercell Aja Rock Lucy Graves Jiwan Rai Dave Klein – Smile Foundation Jasmine Collins Hollie Smith – Trinity Roots Victoria Girling-Butcher and band – Lucid 3 Jimmy and Dion – The D4 Peter Marshall – The Holidaymakers Pete, Scott and Rob – Tourist Ana Strong Jonathan Edwards Oliver Driver Teresa Healey Elizabeth McRae Lana Nesnas – Australian Cast of Dirty Dancing Catherine Tunks Ivy Rossiter Lauren Mitchell Hayden Booth Jeff Cox Siobhan Marshall – Outrageous Fortune Fiona McGeogh Hayley Hansell Tina Fotu Brendon Turner Dolf de Datsun – The Datsuns Jessica Meffen – Subware Kathryn van Beek – Peachy Kean / Jonnie Rose Kevin Brown / Todd Landers – Quiver Nikora Lewis Libby Huirua – Parachute Band Matt Mitcheson – Springfield Cy Winstanley – Springfield and solo (currently based in London) Karleena – K’Lee Nesian Mystik Sean Strum – Eye TV Morgan Fairhead – ATC Neil Watson – Unification, The Blends, Anika Moa’s band Josephine Costain – Ishta Godfrey de Grut – Che Fu Richard Watt The Rock and Roll Machine Renee – Tadpole Anika Moa Purr Ladi 6 Run for Cover Michelle Crompton – Aerial Birgette Maria O’Flaherty – jazz soloist Charlotte Yates Kate Bartlett – actress Nicholas McCauley – Crash Politic Philip Gluckman – Smile Foundation Sam – Devil Gate Drive Bob Cardy – Shaft Belinda, Dee, Nadine, Nicki – Mary Josh Winsdor – Hippo Eats Dwarf Richard Manic – Runninghouse (Best Vocalist in 2004’s Battle of the Bands) Tanya Horo – Marvey King Erik Johanson – Leonard Trudy Lile – Mojave Nakita – (Best Vocalist 2005 Smokefree Rockquest) Danielle – Auckland Samba Alex Grayson – Shakey Ground Nick Rosenberg and many other soloists from ‘Heaven Bent’, ‘Jubilation’ and ‘One Voice’ choirs
Teaching institutions and groups:
  • The BBC including Alan Glenn for ‘Kidnapped’
  • Shortland Street, South Pacific Pictures
  • Voice overs (Colin Hogg for documentaries, Slingshot CEO for TV ad campaign included)
  • Warmed up Courtney Love and Hole members for the Big Day out 1999
  • Choirs (Destiny Church, Hot Flush, Buddhist Centre)
  • Barbershop quartets including NZ’s current champions
  • Vocal tutor at MAINZ
  • Vocal tutor at Auckland University SCAPA and Education departments
  • Vocal tutor at Unitec
  • Vocal Tutor at Southern Institute of Technology
  • Vocal workshops for the NorthShore Events Festival and for the Temple live music venue (Formerly on Queen St) and for Wellington Jazz Polytech students
  • Establishing and editing PVC, the short lived web-based Professional Vocalists’ Collective
Special events:
  • Taste Auckland 2012
  • Cisco Jazz Series soloist with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra (APO) in a Tribute to Mavis Rivers, Aotea Centre (2000)
  • The Four Senses – Multimedia Concert for the deaf, Featured soloist with signing choir
  • Performer for two years running at the Silver Scroll Awards
  • 2000 – Recipient of the Blind Foundation’s Blind Achiever 2000 Award
  • Performing for Books in Homes and Gifted Kids functions and visiting primary schools as a role model in the Books in Schools program
  • Ellerslie Flower Show (three years running)
  • Opening of the Poverty Bay Club, Gisborne
  • Opening Newmarket Cock and Bull
  • Opening Starzz nightclub
  • Opening of the Chancery Shopping Precinct, CBD
  • Wrap parties for ‘Young Hercules’ and ‘Hercules’ TV series
  • Opening of Borders, Auckland CBD
  • Opening of Opus Bar and Brasserie, Ponsonby
  • Opening of Butterfly Creek, Manukau City
  • Opening of the Office Bar, CBD
  • Millenium Marathon, Waikato
  • Re-opening of the refurbished Civic, CBD
  • Private Functions for: BMW, Coke, Vodafone, Heinz-Watties, The Italian Navy, Barfoot and Thompson, ROCOM, ROCPAC, Nokia, The Knowledge Wave, Consultus, TVNZ, The H.O.G Rally (Harley Davison Owners Group) Hamilton and many, many others…
Literally hundreds of weddings to the point of being cited as “Caitlin Smith: NZ’s Wedding Singer” in NZ Bride and Groom Magazine I have organised and MC’d several successful public performance student nights called SingingHeads. Most at the Temple (Queen Street), as part of the Grey Lynn Festival and at Atomic 121 Cafe, (now Cafe One2One) in Ponsonby – these events eagerly anticipated and appreciated by ‘standing room only’ audiences. You might have heard television ads I’ve recorded for:
  • Fly Buys, ‘You’ve Got What It Takes’
  • Meridian Energy
  • Merlot
  • Office Max
  • Marley Spouting – I’m In Love With The Rain’
  • The everyday Egg
  • Free Breast Cancer screening – ‘Free’
  • Subaru ‘Total Control’
  • Sky City ‘The Golden Touch’
  • Sky Television (…to name a few)
Or the ‘deranged cabaret’ and free jazz improvisation:
  • Regular member of the ‘Vitamin S’ pool of musicians. These are random collaborative free music performances at The Odeon Lounge and the Wine Cellar
  • The Civic Theatre’s 75th Birthday Celebrations
  • ‘Stark Night’ Cabaret written by Rochelle Bright
  • Love and the Imposter
  • Birds Of Paradise
There are live performances in Jazz Clubs including:
  • With The Blue Bottom Stompers – Tauranga Jazz Club, Te Rapa, Hamilton Jazz Club, Howick Jazz Club
  • With Band – Hamilton Jazz Society
  • With The Vintage Jazz Band, Pumphouse
Residencies with my various bands:
  • The Drake in Freeman’s Bay 2005 – 2008
  • Opus Bar and Brasserie (2003 – 2005)
  • Iguacu Restaurant (1997-2005)
  • Rakinos (1997-2003)
  • Matchlounge (2004/5)
  • Mecca Chancery (2003 -)
  • Otto in Metropolis (2001 – 2002)
  • The Gables (1998-2002)
  • The London Bar (1998 -)
  • Quattro (1997-1998)
  • Cock & Bull Restaurant & Bar
  • Hotel Debrett (2009 – 2016)
  • Flare, SkyCity (2020 – )
Discography: