The Wooden Box Band

Urban Aotearoa Folk

Group of six people standing in a line against a plain background, smiling and posing for the photo.

The Wooden Box Band are a six-piece folk outfit from Wellington who've been spinning stories and harmonies around Aotearoa for years. With guitars, trumpet, fiddle, bass, drums and vocals woven together by Paddy Burgin, Jessie Moss, Emily Clemett, Jeremy Desmond, Murray Costello and Sean Barker, they bring songs about real people, real places, and the landscape we call home.

This talented and ragged bunch of musicians have released multiple albums including their latest, ‘Broken River’ — a finalist in the Aotearoa NZ Folk Alliance ‘Album of the year’ award 2025.

Whether it's an intimate house concert or a packed festival stage, expect warm harmonies, a few laughs, and Aotearoa stories you may not have heard before. They're just a happy band who love making music together – and it shows.

Aotearoa NZ Folk Alliance‘Album of the Year’ Award 2025 winner for our latest album ‘Broken River’.

Circular award logo for the 2025 Aotearoa New Zealand Folk Alliance Folk Music Awards, featuring the event name and year in blue and black text.

Meet the band

A cheerful man with gray hair, wearing a black t-shirt and striped pants, placing a white fedora hat on his head against a plain light-colored wall.
Older man with gray hair wearing a black T-shirt and a white hat, standing against a plain white wall.
A woman with blonde hair smiling, wearing a black t-shirt, light blue jeans, and layered necklaces, posing against a plain light-colored wall.
A woman with blonde wavy hair smiling, wearing a black t-shirt, light blue jeans, layered gold necklaces, with her hands in her pockets against a plain white wall.

Paddy Burgin

Vocals / Guitar / Keys

Jessie Moss

Vocals / Guitar

A woman with long blonde hair wearing a brown hat, white blouse, and black pants, playing the violin.
Woman with long blonde hair wearing a brown hat, white eyelet blouse, black pants, and lace gloves, holding a violin against a plain wall.
A man with gray hair and glasses smiling, holding a large upright bass, standing against a plain white wall.
A man wearing glasses and a black shirt standing against a plain light-colored wall.

Emily Clemett

Vocals / Horn / Fiddle

Murray Costello

Bass / Great Shirts

A smiling man with short brown hair wearing a white button-up shirt with rolled-up sleeves, standing against a plain off-white wall.
A man with brown hair wearing a white long-sleeve button-up shirt with rolled-up sleeves, standing against a plain white wall.
A man with glasses and a beard holding drumsticks cross-armed, wearing a black jacket against a plain light-colored wall.
Smiling man with glasses, beard, and brown hair, wearing a black leather jacket, standing against a plain white wall.

Jeremy Desmond

Electric Guitar / Solos

Sean Barker

Drums / Banter

Music

Social media

We did it! This album, Broken River, was a LONG time coming. 8 years since our last release. Covid, loss and light. We got there. What a buzz to win this top folk award.
Our last gig of the year. Fri 12 Dec at Inverlochy Art School, Te Aro, Wellington. Sit back and chill for an early evening gig. If you wanna be like this audience, get in quick - limited tickets https://www.undertheradar.co.nz/gig/99807/Cushion-

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