01 May 2014 - 0 Comments

It’s the first day of May. That means NZ Music Month is officially underway – New Zealand’s annual celebration of great homegrown music and the people who make it! 31 days of celebrating local music in our venues, libraries, schools, parks, on our screens and on our stereos.

To kick it all off, The Beck's Sets presents two free shows on Thursday 1^st May in Auckland – first a free lunch time concert of contemporary baroque pop by Silver Scroll and Taite Prize-winner Lawrence Arabia in Takutai Square, Britomart. 

Then artist’s She's So Rad, Delete Delete and Paquin playlater in the evening at Tyler Street Garage. The full line-up of Beck’s Sets can be found here: www.facebook.com/becksnz

Elsewhere, Dunedin City Libraries is launching its incredible May programme with a lunchtime concert by Golden Guitar winner Kylie Price. Christchurch is celebrating with a free concert by critically acclaimed country artist Marlon Williams at New Brighton Library. Jason Kerrison (from OpShop) plays the beautiful Morrell & Co, and the first ladies of pop Anika Moa and Julia Deans are also in the Garden City getting NZ Music Month off to the perfect start at Wunderbar.

A selection of Event Highlights for NZ Music Month May 2014

2014 Vodafone Pacific Music Awards
Thursday 8 May, Vodafone Events Centre, Manukau

Dreams Lie Deeper: A Tribute to the Pike River Miners
with Dave Dobbyn, Orpheus Choir of Wellington, Wellington Brass Band and Wellington Young Voices
http://premier.ticketek.co.nz/shows/show.aspx?sh=ORPHEUS14
Saturday 10 May, Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington

Fledge and YNot Productions present Giving Up
Featuring a 90 minute rotating play – with six performances each day, art installations, screenings of films, live performances by Fledge musicians and more http://fledge.co.nz/news/2014/4/3/giving-up
Auckland’s historic Victoria Theatre over two days:  May 10^th and 11^th

MMF Music Managers Awards
http://www.mmf.co.nz/events/mmf/past/finalists-announced-for-the-2014-music-managers-awards/
Wednesday May 14

Dave McCartney Gutter Black Book Launch & Tribute (Auckland Writers Festival)
http://www.the-edge.co.nz/gutterblack.aspx
Friday 16 May, Lower NZI Room, Aotea Centre, Auckland

Tied To The Tracks Art Exhibition
From Tuesday 20 May, Tyler Street Garage, Auckland

NZ Country Music Awards 2014
Friday 23 May - SBS St James Theatre, Irk Street, Gore

The Official NZ Music Month Summit 2014
Hosted by the NZ Music Commission and Music Managers Forum NZ.  Covering sessions on Artist Development, Song Writing and International Markets. Speakers include manager Scott Maclachlan (Lorde, Sol3 Mio), manager Paul McKessar (The Naked and Famous), songwriter and publisher Paul McLaney, and manager Craig Pearce (The Phoenix Foundation)
Saturday 24 May, Auckland Museum Auditorium

Hook Line and Sing-a-long Islands
by Julia Tu'uga, Maxine Vaihu and Meleseini Puletau from St Pius X Catholic Primary will be performed in schools around the country at noon on May 30th.  All schools welcome http://hooklineandsingalong.com/

NZ Music Month day in Levin
Eight locations around the main street will host musicians performing, with 64 performances over the day. 30 shops are involved in the day with installations and displays.
Saturday May 31^st.

Family friendly free events

World Vision Kids for Kids – Everything is Ka Pai
Kids for Kids is back in 2014 with its iconic mass choir performances. Kids for Kids presents a brand new show Everything is Ka Pai, fronted by Jackie Clarke and showcasing our own talented kiwi kids as its stars! 
http://www.kidsforkids.org.nz/index.php/dates-and-locations

Auckland Library http://www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/EN/Events/Events/Pages/nzmm.aspx 
Palmerston North Library http://citylibrary.pncc.govt.nz/
Christchurch Library http://christchurchcitylibraries.com/Events/NZMusicMonth/
Dunedin Library http://www.dunedinlibraries.govt.nz/events/new-zealand-music-month

Check your local library for what’s happening in your area.

A small selection of Live Music Highlights

Julia Deans & Anika Moa The New Hearts Tourette Tour
http://www.undertheradar.co.nz/tour/3481/Anika-Moa-and-Julia-Deans---New-Hearts-Tourrette.utr

Tourettes & Ben Salter Party Tricks and Boring Secrets Tour
http://www.eventfinder.co.nz/2014/tourettes-ben-salter/auckland/leigh

Sherpa Blues & Oranges Tour
http://cheeseontoast.co.nz/2014/04/24/news-sherpa-announce-album-release-tour-and-reveal-brand-new-music-video/

Great North Up In Smoke Tour  
http://www.undertheradar.co.nz/tour/3533/Great-North---Up-In-Smoke-Tour.utr

The Phoenix Foundation Tom's Lunch EP Release Tour
http://www.eventfinder.co.nz/news/2014/04/the-phoenix-foundation-ltomrs-lunchr-ep-release-tour

Blacklistt Always Tour
http://www.therock.net.nz/LiveRock/BlacklisttAlwaysTour.aspx

NZSQ with James Campbell – CMNZ Tour 2014
featuring new works composed by New Zealanders
http://www.nzsq.co.nz/concerts-tickets/schedule/

Jan Hellriegel + special guests
http://www.eventfinder.co.nz/2014/jan-hellriegel-special-guests/auckland/mt-eden

APRA & Kiwi FM present Covered!
with Voom, Tom Lark, Pikachunes, Tyra Hammond & The Eversons
(artists perform their three favourite Kiwi songs)
http://nzmusic.org.nz/news/artist/apra-amcos-and-kiwi-fm-announce-covered/

The Naked and Famous with She's So Rad
http://www.powerstation.net.nz/shows/naked-famous-may-2014

Lawrence Arabia Plays His Albums In Full
http://www.eventfinder.co.nz/news/2014/03/lawrence-arabia-plays-his-albums-in-full

Dawn Raid 15^th Anniversary Shows in Auckland and Wellington
http://dawnraid.co.nz/dawn-raid-15th-anniversary-nz-aus-tour-2014/

May Album Releases:

Tiny Ruins – Brightly Painted One
Great North – Up In Smoke
The Phoenix Foundation – Tom's Lunch EP
Popstrangers – Fortuna
Sherpa – Blues & Oranges
Bailey – iXL EP
I/NO WHY – Weathered EP
Jayson Norris – Save My Soul EP (Produced by Tiki Taane)

New Releases:

Aldous Harding – Aldous Harding
Astro Children – Proteus
Estere – Estere
Flip Grater – Pigalle
Husk – Indigo Mountain EP
Liam Finn – The Nihilist
Matthias Jordan – The Sound of Asia EP
Midge Marsden – Back To The Well
New Zealand Chamber Soloists – Corybas: The Piano Chamber Music of John Psathas
Suren Unka – El Chupacabra
Third3ye – On3ness
Tristan Carter / Gareth Farr / Jack Hooker / Anton Killin – NAGA: New Music For Gamelan
Various Artists – Pacific Reggae Vol. 2 (mixed by DJ Sir-Vere & Clubkingz)
Vorn – More Songs About Girls and the Apocalypse
Zen Mantra – How Many Padmes Hum?

For a full run down of events, updates, links and info about all the fantastic music on offer this May, follow us at:

http://www.nzmusicmonth.co.nz/ 
www.Facebook.com/NZMusicMonth
@NZMusicMonth (Instagram & Twitter)

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