Spotlight: Auckland Live Celebrates NZ Music Month 2023

Brightening up our wet and moody Monday morning, Te Marama Puoro o Aotearoa / NZ Music Month is back — celebrating our dazzlingly diverse local music culture with a smörgåsbord of events happening throughout the month of May. Auckland Live have put together a knockout programme honouring this year's official theme of "community and collaboration", commencing with legendary (and infamously tricky) trivia tradition Quiz Night: The Great New Zealand Music Challenge hosted by Taylor MacGregor — who literally fights for your right to party with SaveOurVenues — happening in The Civic's resplendent Wintergarden on 11th May. Start memorising every page of Stranded In Paradise and Hip Hop Music in Aotearoa, sign up your team HERE, and check out the full suite of 2023 Auckland Live NZ Music Month events below, celebrating Tāmaki Makaurau’s (a UNESCO City of Music) musical heritage, artists and communities — including exhibitions, workshops, NZ Music T-shirt Day (in support of MusicHelps) and more, with even more announcements to be revealed in the coming weeks...

Quiz Night: The Great New Zealand Music Challenge
Thursday 11th May, 6pm - The Civic Wintergarden ($18 per person, or $120 for a group of 8 people / $15 per person)

We're looking forward to this one. Music trivia superfans are invited to test their mettle at ‘Quiz Night: The Great New Zealand Music Challenge.' Hosted by Taylor MacGregor and held at the iconic Wintergarden at The Civic, teams will compete in a special New Zealand music themed quiz for great prizes (and honour) while enjoying a range of performances from some of New Zealand’s greatest up-and-coming acts.

Digital Buskers & FromThePit
Thursday 4th May to Saturday 26th May - Aotea Square (free)

Aotea Square will come to life with an interactive digital and physical experience on the Auckland Live Digital Stage, developed by DOTDOT. The ‘Digital Buskers’ will invite audiences to crank open a digital curtain revealing a series of unique performances in virtual worlds. The Digital Stage will also play host to ‘FromThePit,’ a curated collection of the most recent creative works from New Zealand’s best music photographers.

Auckland Town Hall Tours: NZ Music Month Edition
Sunday 21st and Saturday 27th May - Auckland Town Hall ($25)

This twist on the fabulous Auckland Town Hall Tours will give music fans the chance to connect with the origins and history of one of our oldest standing venues with ‘Auckland Town Hall Tours: New Zealand Music Month Edition.’ Curated by award-winning author and musician Gareth Shute, our passionate tour guides will take audiences through the halls of a venue steeped in music history with commentary weaving in local stories and knowledge especially curated for this New Zealand Music Month (Shute will also be re-doing his musical history walks from previous years this month — one around Queen St and another around the K Rd area).

Pick & Battle
Saturday 27th May - Concert Chamber, Auckland Town Hall, 11am start (free)

‘Projekt Team,’ New Zealand’s freshest all-style street dance collective will join forces with Auckland Live for ‘Pick and Battle,’ a whānau friendly celebration of New Zealand music and dance. Join the audience at this one-off special event to pick the classic New Zealand song the crew will battle it out to. Then, stick around for a workshop with mini crew ‘Prototype’ and ultra-cool street dancer ‘Happy Feet’ to learn some sweet moves. Limited tickets available!

New Zealand Music T-Shirt Day - Friday 26th May

Auckland Live is also proud to support New Zealand Music T-Shirt Day, returning on Friday 26 May. Kiwis are encouraged to wear their favourite Kiwi artists or bands merch to raise awareness and funds for MusicHelps, a resource providing mental health and financial support for those in the industry. Find out more information, including how to donate, on the website.

For information on all events across Te Marama Puoro o Aotearoa | New Zealand Music Month supported by Auckland Live, please visit aucklandlive.co.nz

Press release:

Auckland Live is proud to celebrate Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland’s musical heritage, artists and communities this May with a programme designed for TE MARAMA PUORO O AOTEAROA | New Zealand Music Month.

May holds immense significance in the cultural identity of Aotearoa, celebrating the homegrown talent New Zealander’s know and love. As a UNESCO City of Music, Tāmaki Makaurau has a special reason to this May.

With this year’s theme of ‘community and collaboration,’ the Auckland Live Celebrates New Zealand Music Month programme features events that invite audiences to interact with virtual performances, dance along with professionals, celebrate the musical history of Auckland and more.