09 February 2012 - 0 Comments

Returning this year is Malcolm Haynes from Glastonbury Festival who has become a valuable champion of NZ music in the UK and this year brings with him Glastonbury Festival’s World Music Stage director, Derek Dodd. And for the first time, the powerhouse duo of Paula Henderson and Chris Smith of Womad International will be in attendance.

Sounds Aotearoa has stacked up an impressive array of successes including 2011 attendees Electric Wire Hustle and Bella Kalolo performing at Glastonbury and The Big Chill in the UK. Maisey Rika has been able to travel to Hawaii and mainland U.S. and Moana and The Tribe, Batucada Sound Machine, Pacific Curls and 1814 have had opportunities across Asia-Pacific including Penang, Korea and across Australia.

Sounds Aotearoa is designed to expose NZ music to the global market and build capacity within the industry and to also expose the overseas delegates to some of NZ’s finest talent via performance showcases.  With presenters from major festivals like Womad, Glastonbury, Vision Sound and Music (UK), Sziget Festival (Hungary) and Dreaming Festival (Australia), Sounds Aotearoa gives NZ musicians valuable insight & the face to face connections they need to break into overseas markets.

The line-up of presenters also includes: Andrew Messingham from the Vision, Sound & Music Event(UK), and Min Kim from Ulsan World Music Festival (Korea). Simon Raynor (AWME Melbourne), Fruszina Szep (Sziget Festival, Hungary) and Jordan Verzaar (Top Shelf Productions, Australia) are joined by local industry experts Belinda Jones (Creative New Zealand), David McLaughlin (McLaughlin Law) and Jeffery Stothers (Southbound Music Distrubtion).  Returning is Vicki Gordon (VGM Media, Australia), Sam Cook from Dreaming Festival (Australia) for the currently confirmed line-up.

Launched in 2010 by director Emere Wano (Tihi) in conjunction with the Taranaki Arts and Festival Trust (TAFT), Sounds Aotearoa deliberately precedes the ever popular Womad New Zealand festival so that international guests can take in both of these national events and experience five days of the best of national and international sounds and networking opportunities. 

Sounds Aotearoa will take place on Wednesday 14 and Thursday 15 March 2012 at TSB Showplace, 92 Devon St, New Plymouth, Taranaki.

Registrations for the conference aspect of the two-day event are open now via the official website http://www.soundsaotearoa.com/

SOUNDS AOTEAROA ARTIST SHOWCASE PUBLIC TICKETS ON SALE NOW

Ten bands - two nights

At Matinee, 69 Devon St West, New Plymouth
14 & 15 March 2012

Presales $30 per night or $50 for both nights.
Door sales $40 per night.
Tickets on sale now through http://www.eventfinder.co.nz/2012/sounds-aotearoa-showcase-sessions/new-plymouth

THE ARTISTS (evening showcases)

Clap Clap Riot - Clap Clap Riot are a band drenched in rock n’ roll and sprinkled with pop sweetness, packed with edgy hooks and mixed with wild vocals.

Eddie Numbers - They’re quickly getting a name for themselves on the Auckland music scene for their exciting, high energy live performances where rehearsed songs are interspersed with improvised rhymes

Iva Lamkum – a sophisticated, intelligent and unique sound that sees this Wellingtonian throwing her own special twist and rich inimitable voice into the mix

Knights of the Dub Table - Hamilton 6 piece, Knights of the DUB table combine elements of Reggae, Drum n Bass, Dubstep, Hip-Hop and Rock into their own fusion of Dub flavoured music with powerful high-energy performances that leave crowds wanting more.

Kolab –through their combined love of old jazz, Funk and Soul records; Classy Raps; and Old School Party Vibes Kolab have developed their fun, yet cool and sophisticated style and a very loyal and substantial fanbase.

The Mamaku Project - created in the breathtaking wilderness of West-coast Aotearoa, this one-of-a-kind poetry rides infectious earthy grooves and with their unique and festive style The Mamaku Project has been making waves in the NZ and international Arts/Music Festival scene since 2006

Nga Tae - Nga Tae have achieved remarkable success in their short life since forming in time to perform as part of the New Zealand contingent at AWME in Melbourne in Novemeber 2010

The Nudge - The Nudge pie is a concotion of a blues and rock base, with a deep swamp filling, and a raucous party crust

Scratch 22 - Already an established DJ, representing NZ at the Redbull Thre3style world finals in Paris 2010, Scratch has featured on international compilations from Nightmares on Wax, Ministry of Sound, and DJ Kicks.

Tomorrow People - a studio project turned live stage show, Wellington based eight-piece Tomorrow People are purveyors of what they describe as ‘sunshine reggae’. Focused on providing a mid-tempo sound that, while clearly reggae-centric, adds touches of dancehall ragga to its colour.

Thanks to www.soundsaotearoa.com for this story.

Comments

Return to News Archive