Penni Bousfield

Penni Bousfield is an singer, musician, actor and director who spent her teenage years and some of her early 20s in Hamilton and lived there again from 1998 to 2002.

Penni was First Lieutenant in the McGillicuddy Flying Claymore's first mock battle (in the 90s she ran for Parliament as the Otago candidate for the McGillicuddy Serious Party and towards the end of the party's life she was No 2 on the party list).

In her early Hamilton years Penni was a member of the [Hamilton Folk Club] and served one term as club secretary. In the early 80s she sang and played guitar in short-lived all-female folk group [Hersterics] with Felicity Saxby, Nettie Kinmont and others. Penni then formed [Desperate Measures] with Glen Fuller (vocals,guitar) and Dave Lloyd (vocals, guitar and appalachian dulcimer) . The trio played blues, traditional english folk and contemporary folk around Hamilton and Auckland folk scenes. In an effort to match the guys' musicianship on guitar Penni forged a reputation as the pre-eminent kazoo player in the upper N. Island (an effort since overtaken by Graeme Cairns and a hollowed-out carrot). She moved to Auckland in 1982, where she formed folk-punk trio [Siren].

In the latter period of living in Hamilton she was a singer in girl-groupHell's Belles and the Hamiltones. She also collaborated with Dan Howard in the studio-only band 88 ( Eighty Eight). Penni was the main vocalist and sings three tracks on 88's ep Cool Drop.Penni co-wrote 'Close Your Eyes' and 'Whatever Happens' with Howard, the latter taking its lyrics from the writings of Roman philosopher Marcus Aurelius. She also wrote 'Angel' (the video is on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nS1e22CjnTY ).'Close Your Eyes' appeared on Hamilton compilation Year Zero and 'Angel' on Zero Point One.

She now lives in New Plymouth and plays in alt country duo Gazebo Girls.