Library Gigs to Celebrate NZ Music Month
Tuesday 3 May 2011, 8:00AM
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Wellington libraries will turn into temporary concert venues - showcasing young local talent - to help celebrate New Zealand Music Month in May.
Up-and-coming young artists will perform afternoon gigs at Wellington Central Library and at the Ruth Gotlieb (Kilbirnie), Newtown, Johnsonville and Karori branch libraries. There will also be evening performances at ZEAL and The Jimmy Bar at the St James Theatre. These free events will take place Monday 16 to Friday 20 May.
Wellington City Council is organising these live performances in partnership with Play It Strange, a trust established in 2003 to encourage young New Zealanders to develop interests and skills in songwriting and musical performance. Councillor Ray Ahipene-Mercer, Portfolio Leader for Arts and Culture, and an accomplished rock 'n' roll guitarist himself, says: "This is a great opportunity for young people to perform their original work. These free events will showcase the extraordinary talent of young people in Wellington."
The month will kick-off with a concert at Parliament on Tuesday 3 May. Mike Chunn, Chief Executive Officer of Play It Strange, says: "It is a privilege to work with young artists and support them to develop their musical talents. There's an honesty and bravery in the songs that young New Zealanders are writing today. Our premier graduate, Annah Mac, has started making inroads in the starmaking machinery. And her sister who played at the Beehive show last year is following suit."
On Monday 30 and Tuesday 31 May, Toi Pōneke Arts Centre will hold free workshops for independent musicians. The workshop on Monday is for musicians who want to break into the Australian market and will be full of hits and tips for people who have already crossed the Tasman.
This is followed on Tuesday with the launch of the Independent Musician's Publicity Toolkit - with a live performance from Mara TK. The toolkit is a musician's essential guide to self-publicity and online marketing.
For a full list of events, times and venues in Wellington for New Zealand Music Month, visit: