This Weeks NZ Music Month Highlights

THIS WEEK’S NZ MUSIC MONTH HIGHLIGHTS…

It is Monday 7th of May - Day #7 of NZ Music Month 2007!

NZ Music Month 2007 isn’t even a week old, and already the ears have had a good clean-out, toes have been a-tappin, and crowds incited to sweat all over the place. Wellington kicked everything off on Tuesday with a lunchtime performance by Adi Dick attended by the Prime Minister, the Hon. Judith Tizard, and National MPs Georgina Te Heu Heu and Nicky Wagner. Later that night Christchurch hosted the official public launch of NZ Music Month at the Dux de Lux. A stunning all-Cantabrian lineup saw Fur Patrol play their first NZ show in two and a half years, alongside other awesome locals including Dukes, Pine, Black Market Art, Band Theft Auto and O.G.

Moving up the country, Auckland’s Galatos was the venue for a music industry showcase on Friday night that let plenty of great NZ acts show off their talents. Commencing with the Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra, the showcase treated a capacity crowd to performances by False Start, Fast Crew, Dukes, The Have, Luke Thompson, Fur Patrol, Lucid 3, Collapsing Cities, Motocade, and North Shore Pony Club. Phew! Big thanks to Samsung and Unitec for their support in making this happen. And a rousing Cheers to Lion Nathan for supplying the drinks!

Added to this, this year we kicked off the month with Hayley Westenra's album 'Treasure' as the number one album, Atlas with the number one single, and Opshop has the most airplay.

And this week…

Libraries up and down the country are celebrating the month with live bands, workshops and all matter of fun activities. This Wednesday DJ Definite plays at Mt Roskill Community Library, Auckland at 4pm, and on Thursday you can learn about taonga puoro (traditional Maori instruments) with Alistair Fraser at the Newtown Library in Wellington. Then it is onto ‘gothic pop’ act Haunted Love who play a lunchtime set at Dunedin City Library on Friday, followed by a set by DJ Shane at Christchurch Central Library on Saturday. To find out what is happening at the library close to you check out www.nzlibraries.com.

((Chart)) in association with NZ Trade & Enterprise present an opportunity for Christchurch artists and managers to meet international music licensing expert Bob Hunka on Thursday, 7-9pm at The Dux Lounge. Bob Hunka is a seasoned veteran of the US entertainment industry who has worked with the likes of Emmylou Harris, Johnny Cash… so pop along and learn some tricks of the trade.

This Thursday Miriam Clancy kicks off her last nationwide tour for a while as she looks again to some promising contacts she made on her last visit to the States. Catch her this Thursday at the Schooner Tavern, Auckland and in the next couple of weeks, shows in Hamilton, Palmerston North, Masterton, Wellington, Queenstown, Dunedin and Christchurch.

AUT is celebrating the month with a party every Friday night this month. This week there is Deja Voodoo and The Have on the bill, and in coming weeks you can look forward to performances by dDub, The Easy, The Managers and The WBC.