Jack Ringhand, a 2011 Onalaska High graduate has taken a musical journey in life and now has found himself in beautiful New Zealand and highlighted on a recent Great River Folk Fest songwriting feature. Dave Schipper one of the first-round judges had to do a double take when he saw the gorgeous setting for the video and the new duo. Many might know Jack from his local gigs at Elmaro Vineyard or The Red Pines, but Dave remembered him for taking the stage during a break of a Rose River wedding gigs. The tall lanky high school kid played impromptu and was a hit for his sister’s wedding audience.
Jack went on to UW Madison for his nursing degree, and moved to New Zealand in 2017. Today Jack is in a group called Tall Folk, and they definitely have height, talent and a sense of humor saying their mission is to “Aim to elevate the good in times” and Lara in the group is described as being from a “Long line of long legs”. They have a debut live CD coming out in June 25th recorded in a Catlins’ beach with the assistance of Dunedin rocker Michael Morris.
The song “Poster” shared on the blog Jack described as straddling his emigration from Wisconsin to New Zealand, and since he still calls the Coulee Region his home writing the song helped him cope with the loss of the “old house in the river town”. Lara Robertson brings a softening to Jack’s Midwestern raspy almost old sounding vocals; just perfectly. The setting of the video is a beautiful 1861 Presbyterian Church in Dunedin New Zealand.
As part of being the week 6 highlight, it increases the chance for Jack to be named one of the last six finalists on July 1st. The fest has been featuring six songs each week and they would tell you that it’s some of the best curated 2 hours you would spend listening to music, (and they have reviewed over 12 hours to get to those songs). Week Six’s Highlights focuses on Stories and in addition to Jack’s song introduces you to an old cowboy wanting Jimmy Buffet to cover his song, a bank robbery, an African music legend, a Newfoundland sailor, a cock fighter ringmaster.
Here's hoping Jack continues his music journey and plans a trip back to the Coulee Region with a Tall Folk tour.
Read all the songwriter contest and watch music at:
https://greatriverfolkfestival.blogspot.com/2021/06/week-6-songwriter-highlights-story.html
