Halfway through the second half 'Leader and Co-founder' Barnaby Weir invited everyone to have a drink afterwards. “Come and chat. Tell me your stories. You could meet your fiancée here tonight. It’s happened before! People tell me they’ve used our songs for weddings, funerals, birthdays.” Barnaby reminisced about the time he and Loops Record’s Mikee Tucker went for a drink in Cuba Street and hatched a plan for a show that brought together artists from a range of underappreciated or discovered Welly bands and then record the show and release an album. That was 2004. The album was Live At Bats. Who knew 20 years on they’d still be at it? Creating new music and collaborating with multi artists, many who have gone from virtual obscurity to household names, and, in the recent case of Anna Coddington, winners of this year’s APRA awards.

Fly My Pretties is a genuine institution. And people love it. Barnaby thanked everyone for taking a risk, paying for a ticket for music they’d never listened to, collaborations with people they’d possibly never heard of. But that was the Kaupapa. And there’s a lot of love and trust in that.

A cheerful chap leaned over and told me he was at the original Bats Theatre gig, and he was keenly following many of the new artists he’d been introduced to over the years through the FMP shows. That wasn’t the only story I heard this evening. As long-term fans, three ladies had ‘hoofed it’ (their word) from Invercargill and two sisters (‘who couldn’t miss the show’) had flown down today, especially, from Tauranga on an early morning flight.

This year the show was a stripped back affair. In previous iterations there were collabs with graffiti artists like Flox, archivists, film makers and elaborate stories and accompanying animations and film footage. One early concert had a pioneer theme (The Return Of Fly My Pretties – 2005), everyone dressed appropriately, archive footage blended into the slideshow and illustrations that surrounded the stage with images of pioneers, forests and bird life – all in gorgeous grainy sepia tones. The third re-incarnation (Fly My Pretties – A Story – 2009) even featured an eco-friendly kid’s story with narration from Barnaby’s dad, legendary broadcaster Dick Weir. But over time the shows have become more about the music, less about the theatrics.

The mission is the same, though. Find some new artists and look to promote their talents by working on new material or re-working their songs into a larger band situation. This year's efforts spawned 15 new songs, which we got to hear tonight.

I feel this year’s show was perfect for the moment. Beginning with a Karakia and Powhiri from Tawaz and AJA.The early part of the show was a true celebration of tikanga and Te Reo Maori. It is perfect for where we are as a nation, looking back to move forward but also embracing our own whakapapa and reo.

AJA (aka Aja Wairere Ropata – Ngati Raukawa, Te Atiawa ki Whakarongotai, Ngati Toa Rangatira, Ngati Porou) has a soulful, yet strong vocal presence. She performed her mana-inducing second single Kawai (2020) and a new FMP one, the sweet Everflowing (backed by two other of tonight’s wahine ‘choir’ – Taylah and Riiki Reid).Both draw heavily on her own Kaupapa as a Maori musician. The latter had a wai theme, waters of life flowing through, rapids and still moments.

In 2022 she took out the APRA Maioha Award for her Waiata Te Iho. Audiences who’ve been to CubaDupa and Newton Festivals would have enjoyed her Waiata already. But for these ears, it was, like many in tonight’s crowd the first time. And what a pleasure. And working with Taylah and Riiki, there was just a warm glowing feel in the music.

Palmerston North born Tawaz (Tawaroa Kawana – Rangitane) is a strong advocate of Waiata Te Reo Maori. He’s performed with the likes of Stan Walker, Troy Kingi and Maisey Rika. He was also a finalist for the 2024 APRA Maioha Award. He had two Waiata in tonight’s show. The first reminded me of Moana and The Moa Hunter’s classic AEIOU – Akona Te Reo. AEIOU had that strong, reo positive theme and catchy hook chorus that had everyone singing along.

With help from Taylah, Tawaz’s next song has a strong message. The song is based on a well-known tongikura by King Tawhiao:

Ki te kotahi te kakaho ka whati ki te kapuia, e kore e whati. (If there is but one reed it will break, but if it is bunched together it will not.)

A perfect sentiment for today’s political environment.

That was followed by another new song called Night Sweats from Barnaby and Louis TM helped out with a funky number called Face The Sun. Then Louis invited us to Take My Hand And Fly for a beautiful ballad, guaranteed to become a staple in future FMP sets. Another, See Me Flying got some appreciated airtime, too. Louis TM will be one to watch, for sure. His deep and soulful voice works well with his own keyboard-based grooves. As part of the night he was, after 15 years of backing countless others including Ria Hall and jamming with the California Honeydrops - releasing his own solo project Shelter For A Broken Heart.

Te Whanganui A Tara dream pop sensation, Riiki Reid is another newbie to the FMP lineup. Her usual mix of vocal and dance elements were on show tonight, as a charming and polished performer. Usually, she’s on stage with an old Fender Mustang but that was left aside to perform two perfectly sweet numbers Share Your Love and Energy. Both were wonderful bangers and had the people jigging away in their seats, itching to get up and groove.

So far Kiwi artist Taylah has flown under my radar. Not much on the usual channels to date. Let’s hope that changes. But that’s the great thing about the FMP whanau, embracing new and up and coming talent. Taylah’s music is compelling and fiery. Her themes are about empowerment and correcting the balance in sexual politics. Her recent single Undies was all about that. Her poetic lyricism also draws on her own Maori heritage, too. She’s opened for Dragon, Hollie Smith and Troy Kingi. Tonight, she did three powerful songs – Fire Fight, her latest single Okay ("A love letter to my younger self about resilience"), and a blistering number, in the style of those big bombastic 50’s hits, called Red Flags. This was a true highlight, full of gusto and power – helped by appropriately dramatic lighting and graphics, a true trademark of every FMP show

The second half, as in past shows was a chance to relive previous great FMP tracks. This was essentially the core band – Barnaby Weir, Aaron Stewart (first time on bass for FMP), Nigel Patterson (keyboards for FMP since 2009), Iraia Whakamoe (drums), Ryan Prebble (guitars), and Laughton Kora (guitars, vocals, MD). A last-minute addition was a delightful double acoustic version of Old Friend performed by Barnaby and Prebble (The Nudge).It was a hit back on 2009’s FMP - A Story show/tour/album and still holds up really well.

The crowd finally got to their feet for the Bats’ classic Bag Of Money and Laughton’s crazy hit Harry Potato. Kora, one of the show directors with Barnaby Weir and is a FMP staple, alongside keyboardist Nigel Patterson and Nudge boys Iraia Whakamoe (drums), Ryan Prebble (guitar) and ‘Mr Fixer’ (and guest keyboardist) James Coyle (also The Nudge). Kora is outrageous in his long Chinese coat and huge oversized red bowler hat, exuding manic energy on nearly every song, including Nice’n’Easy and the show staple Let’s Roll which also first surfaced at the original Bats show along with Lucky. There was a nod to Welly’s inclement weather with Heavy Weather. The party continued with All The Goodness and the expected blistering finale Never Blown Like It’s Gonna, one of my favs, especially when Prebble gets to let loose and go nuts with psychedelic riffing.

Tonight’s show was special for a number of reasons. First it was the final of three, held at the newly refurbished Great Hall at Massey University (once The Dominion Museum, a quiet place of dusty contemplation with glass cages full of stolen taonga from conquests around the empire). It was also a recording session for a new FMP album, and film. Students from Massey’s School of Music And Screen Arts Te Rewa O Puanga were operating the cameras and the huge 5M LED screen that projected Mike Bridgman and Jamie Robertson’s amazing visuals is also owned by the school – possibly the largest outside Eden Park!

The FMP Show Elemental was set to embody the true spirit of Fly My Pretties – collaboration, sharing, aroha and whanau – and I think they did this. It was clear to see the fun, energy and love in the room. The artists appreciated it and we, the audience sure did, too. As I said earlier people came for near and far, the cheered and celebrated (if in our polite Wellington way).But FMP is a beloved taonga for the Capital. It started here and remains part of Wellington. I think everyone knows that!

Photo Credit: Tim Gruar

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  APT.
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  GOOD LUCK, BABE!
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