Hamilton leads the way with new music initiative
6th of December 2012
The Hamilton Live Music Trust, in conjunction with Hamilton City Council, are leading the way with a new initiative to
showcase Hamilton’s musical talent.
A sound system was installed in Garden Place, Hamilton’s city square, last year as part of the City Heart CBD
revitalisation project. This upgrade allowed a unique opportunity to showcase local musicians as well as creating a
positive atmosphere in the public space.
Originally, it was proposed that the sound system should use unpopular music as a deterrent for anti-social behaviour.
Hamilton Live Music trustee and former Communications and Events Coordinator for Arts Waikato Nick Johnston, approached
Hamilton City Council to propose a more positive alternative.
“We found Hamilton City Council to be very open to the idea, and greatly appreciate the opportunity to adopt this
initiative,” says Hamilton Live Music Trustee Lauren K. Bell.
Hamilton City Council recently announced the Hamilton Arts Agenda, which has five main priorities including growing
visibility and community engagement in the arts, integrating art into a wide range of activity in the city, as well as
collaboration and partnership. The Hamilton Live Music Trust believes HCC has ticked many of these boxes with the local
music initiative.
“Hamilton City Council has demonstrated in this project that they are a council that is supportive of its local
musicians and the work they produce” says Lauren K. Bell “We believe that Hamilton may be the first city council in New
Zealand to have an initiative like this, and we hope the idea might be adopted by other cities to positively showcase
their local talent too”.
The Hamilton Live Music Trust is incredibly proud of the eclectic playlist that features pop, rock, reggae, soul, jazz,
blues and dub among many other genres, created by artists both from New Zealand and around the world. The music
selection was provided by local student radio station Contact FM with assistance from community radio station Free FM
Hamilton.
Below are some examples of music featured on the playlist:
Local bands/musicians
The Shrugs, Cornerstone Roots, Strayhound, Kimbra, The Good Fun, Sora Shima, Dick Dynamite and the Doppelgangers,
Knights of the Dub Table, The Datsuns, The Hollow Grinders, The Deadly Deaths, The Changing Same, Milk Train, Trucker,
Inchworm, Dynamo Go, Doteyes, Chatchy, Katchafire, Terrorball, Tui Soundsystem, Chris Thompson, The Dusk, The Lookie
Loos.
New Zealand bands/musicians
Sola Rosa, Liam Finn, Lawrence Arabia, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Ladi6, An Emerald City, The Eversons, Shapeshifter, The
Naked and Famous, The Drab Doo-Riffs, The Bats, The Chills, Sneaky Feelings, Look Blue Go Purple, Fat Freddy’s Drop,
Phoenix Foundation, Pie Warmer, Sherpa, Dear Time’s Waste, Don McGlashan, Dictaphone Blues, Garageland, Dylan Storey,
Bannerman.
International bands/musicians
Feist, Neko Case, TV on the Radio, SBTRKT, Caribou, Little Dragon, Gorillaz, Blur, Mogwai, Bobby Womack, The Shins,
Arcade Fire, Beck, Cinematic Orchestra, Black Keys, Deerhunter, Vampire Weekend, Grizzly Bear, Wilco, Janelle Monae,
Band of Horses, The Clash, Jaga Jazzist, Aloe Blacc, Cults.
Hamilton Live Music Trust
Established in 2007 by the Hamilton Community Arts Council, the Hamilton Live Music Trust has advocated on behalf of
Hamilton musicians as well as being the driving force behind many local music projects including the Waikato Music Expo
2012, 2013.
Contact FM – student radio station based at the University of Waikato. Currently operates on the low power FM frequency
88.1FM as well as streaming online.
ENDS