31 May 2010
Ok, just a few days of NZ Music Month to go – meaning it is time to dig deep and cram a last batch of shows in. That’s exactly what we’re going to be doing, what with our full diaries and all, but in the event your next six nights aren’t booked solid, here are a few tip-offs about gigs happening around the country.
Tonight sees NZ Music Month Unplugged take place at The Copper Room in Takapuna with performances by Lisa Crawley , Kirsten Morrell and Lydia Cole. As if you needed another reason to head along, the show doubles as a fundraiser for Raukatauri Music Therapy Centre with all contributions going towards providing music therapy for special needs children of school age and younger.
Tomorrow night sees another fundraiser take place in Auckland featuring Street Chant (who recently opened for Dead Weather’s Aussie tour), Death Valley and Autumn Splendour. Organised by film writer, DJ, all around good guy (and more besides) Aaron Yap, Cancer Cure Circus takes place at Whammy Bar with all show proceeds going towards his dad’s treatment and medical expenses.
Auckland aside, Friday sees a couple of events of note take place. Christchurch is counting down to the return of CHARTFEST – the annual multi-stage indoor NZ Music Month festival and music industry expo - in the Christchurch Town Hall Complex from 1pm-11pm. CHARTFEST boasts performances by Flying Nun legends The Verlaines, Die! Die! Die!, Electric Wire Hustle Soundsystem, Clap Clap Riot, RDU98.5FM RoundUp winners Sleepy Age, Dictaphone Blues, The Eastern and more. This is also the venue for the NZ Music Commission and Music Managers Forum ‘How To Get Heard In The UK’ seminars currently taking place around NZ with Flash Taylor (A&R Manager, Sony ATV – UK) and Ande McPherson, (ex Head of XFM UK, GM of George FM). Other speakers include Roger Shepherd, Graeme Downes, Bruce Russell and experienced music industry representatives.
Refusing to be tied down to any particular city, Heart Jam will be pumping all over Aotearoa. At 10am this Friday around 59,000 pupils from primary and intermediate schools all over the place will be helping kids with heart conditions by forming New Zealand’s largest aerobics class. What’s more, they will have a fitting soundtrack for NZ Music Month with Kiwi band Minuit having composed and recorded a song specifically for the event.
Ok, on to a few brief highlights of other things you might want to check out over the next few days…
TONIGHT
Save Fleet! at Whammy and Wine Cellar, Auckland
w/ The Wicks, Pikachunes, Let Me Go Drone, Coach, Great North, Luckless, and poets
The Naked And Famous & Kids Of 88 at San Francisco Bathhouse, Wellington
Footnote Dance Presents: 2010 Made In New Zealand at The Opera House, Wellington
Featuring original works choreographed by Sarah Foster and Malia Johnstone to new works by Eden Mulholland (from Motocade) and Andrew Foster
Jackie Bristow at Careys Bay Hotel, Dunedin
THURSDAY
Nightchoir Album Release at Kings Arms, Auckland
With special guests Steve Abel and Flip Grater
The Jordan Luck Band at Bodega, Wellington
Anika Moa at Revolver, Queenstown
The Twitch at Chicks Hotel, Port Chalmers
FRIDAY
Fat Freddys Drop at Bruce Mason Centre, Takapuna
Dear Time's Waste at Auckland Central Library (4pm)
Real Groove's Awesome Feeling 4 @ Cassette Number Nine, Auckland
w/ The Drab Doo-Riffs, Diana Rozz, Mothers of Darkness, Sam Hamilton and introducing Leno Lovecraft
The Phoenix Foundation Album Release (night two) at San Francisco Bathhouse, Wellington
SATURDAY
Fat Freddys Drop at Bruce Mason Centre, Takapuna
Brains, Hairdos, Sidewalk Meese, Sam Hamilton, DJ Giorgio Mordor at Whammy, Auckland
Juice TV NZ Music Month Showcase at Windsor Castle, Auckland
w/ Jayson Norris, Seth Hapu, Opshop, Scribe vs Savage
The Outsiders Album Release at Poverty Bay Club, Gisborne
Wahine Toa Tour ft Ariana Tikao, Hannah Howes
at St Peters Hall, Paekakariki
Pig Out at Mighty Mighty, Wellington
Grayson Gilmour Album Release at Chicks Hotel, Port Chalmers