NZ Music Month

NZ Music Month

The countdown has begun. With just two weeks until the launch of the thirteenth NZ Music Month, events are popping up over the country. There is plenty more news to come, but for starters here is a small taster of some of the upcoming events:

In Christchurch the City Council are hosting a free NZ Music Month Launch gig at Christchurch Central Library, 7pm on 1st May with The Eastern, Luckless and Katie Thompson. As well as the launch, there will be performances throughout the month at local libraries and venues.

Music site The Corner will be putting together the 7th annual Awesome Feeling compilation. Featuring up and coming talent from around the country, they’ll be revealing an artist each day from 1 May with the full compilation available for download at the end of the month.

95bFM’s bStreet takes place on May 2 all over the iconic K Road taking in both new and old venues and showcasing over twenty up and coming bands, DJ’s and artists. Entry to some of the venues will require a bCard.

The entire first week of May (4-10) is being transformed into New Zealand Music Week on RNZ Concert. In Global Sounds there’s the first episode in a series by Megan Collins on the music of immigrant societies in NZ. In Composer of the Week William Dart’s looking at Mozart Fellows who’ve gone through Otago University. RNZ's own concert recordings will be played Saturday at 3pm and every night at 8pm. Also featured are Eve de Castro-Robinson’s Len Lye, the Opera’s during Sound Lounge on Tuesday eve and Upbeat will have significant NZ content too.

On Friday 10 May, the NZ Symphony Orchestra will be debuting a fresh initiative called ‘Hear & Far’, where the orchestra celebrates home-grown contemporary compositions, alongside the works of international composers in a concert dedicated to Modern Masters. In this inaugural performance, John Psathas’ composition Orpheus in Rarohenga will be performed with the NZSO and the Wellington Orpheus Choir, who the piece was written for.

The Bay of Plenty Country Rock Festival will be held from 12 -14 May featuring over 45 bands on multiple stages. The hugely successful Eddie Low and Dennis Marsh will both be performing at the event.

The Dunedin Public Libraries are putting on a series of performances to showcase local talent. These are taking place every Thursday from 2 May, with one lunchtime performance and three evening performances.

The annual NZ Music Month Summit returns to Q Theatre in Auckland on May 25 and takes place from 10.00am to 5.00pm. The event will be comprised of four seminars with the theme ‘Your Music As A Business’ featuring panels of industry speakers. MMF Members will also have the opportunity for one-on-one networking sessions with the panelists after the seminars.

On the tour front, folk starlets Nadia Reid and Luckless take to the road together on a thirteen-day run of both islands; Heavy metal giants Beastwars are touring their new album Blood Becomes Fire; The Upbeats are taking their latest album Primitive Technique around the country through to the middle of May and then head across the ditch for more tour dates – and this is only just the beginning.

With hundreds of events, gigs and shows already scheduled throughout the country over May check your local gig guides and news outlets for all the information you need to celebrate 31 days of great music this NZ Music Month.

You'll be hearing more from us soon!

ENDS

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