UPDATE CHARTFEST 2009 Band Search Finalists Found

The NZ Music Month spotlight hits Christchurch again with the return of CHARTFEST - Christchurch’s largest annual indoor music festival with over 20 of Christchurch’s premier live acts rocking 4 stages in the Town Hall complex from 4pm til 10pm on Fri 29 May 2009.

Following the success from the inaugural 2008 event, CHARTFEST 2009 kicks off with a career and industry expo, music performance clinics, panel discussions, back stage tours, music gaming zone, giveaways, signing tent, prizes and much more. Everything you ever needed to know about the Christchurch music scene will be on show.

Christchurch’s best live acts are then set to rock 4 stages through a packed programme of multi-genre showcases all around the Town Hall complex. Stadium rock, dance floor-filling electro mashups, drum 'n' bass, indie guitar heroics, folk punk, alt country and ambient acoustic soul are just a few of the music styles that will be showcased at CHARTFEST.

Festival organiser and manager of CHART, Jeff Fulton said the festival taps into the rich vein of talent residing and originating from the garden city.“ CHARTFEST's aim is to encourage, involve, entertain and inspire the next music generation via a range of interactive music activities and showcases. Not only for aspiring musicians, but budding managers, producers, journalists, graphic designers and web developers... anyone passionate about a career in the wider music industry” he said.

“For our younger audience we’ve developed a Career Expo where they can rub shoulders with NZ music industry reps, discuss career options, meet some professional musicians and discover all the music-related training options available around town. There are music performance clinics featuring guitar, drums, bass, vocals, hiphop dance, lighting and staging and much more. We have the mind-blowing talents of Nick Gaffaney (Anika Moa, Goldenhorse) and Aaron Tokona (Weta) running the clinics amongst many others. For music fans there are plenty of incredible performances at an affordable price too. If it’s anything like last year, it will go nuts.”

Mr Fulton said another highlight of the festival is the CHARTFEST Christchurch Band Search competition in the leadup to the main event, which gives talented young musicians from around the city’s high schools the chance to gain exposure and help kick start their careers. Open to anyone at high school, finalists will be selected from initial heats during school lunchtimes from May 11th to 20th, then 3 finalists chosen and invited to participate in a live performance in front of a judging panel and audience on 22 May, with the winner opening CHARTFEST main stage on Friday 29 May.

Tickets are on sale from late February 2009 from Ticketek & Real Groovy.

Visit www.christchurchmusic.org.nz/events/chartfest09 for more information and to sign up for lineup announcements as they happen.