The River Sounds Festival, a not-for-profit music festival about mental health, finding hope and choosing life has now released their amazing line-up of NZ artists. The event which is to be held in Katikati, Bay of Plenty on Friday 4th of January 2019, is proud to be supporting Lifeline Aotearoa & The Mental Health Foundation of NZ (TMHF) with all profits from the festival. The festival is being coordinated by The Project Collective and hosted by the Temperton Family.
Next year marks 10 years since the Temperton family lost their beloved brother and son, Ben, who sadly took his own life after a decade long struggle with mental illness. The Tempertons decided to host the River Sounds Festival to celebrate the life of Ben and to raise awareness around mental illness and suicide in the hope that doing so may save other families from the grief they have suffered. They hope that by sharing their story, it will encourage others to share their stories too and as a community it will help to reduce some of the stigma that continues to surround mental illness. You can read more about the Tempertons story online at www.everyonehurts.com.
Sophie Temperton, one of the festivals organisers, says “there is this preconception that because mental illness is a serious issue it cannot be spoken about freely without darkening the mood. We want to really challenge this perception by creating a fun and positive festival environment that still inspires open conversation about mental illness. Ben would want us to remember him with a smile on our faces. He would want us to encourage others to speak freely without fear of judgement and he would want a day and night filled with music, joy and gratitude for life.”
The 2019 lineup features a diverse array of acts, spanning across a number of genres including folk, soul, blues, rock and more. Louis Baker will be bringing the soul with his captivating vocals and timeless melodies. Sure-to-be crowd favorites, Swamp Thing, will have everyone on their feet dancing throughout their energetic blues set. Auckland four piece band, Alae will be delivering their sophisticated brand of indie-pop and the Bay area’s own Joseph & Maia will be sure to charm the crowd with their honest songwriting and raw, emotional vocals.
Duo M*A*S*H will be making their long-awaited debut at the festival and you can expect a selection of eclectic vinyl to keep your ears happy. Molly & The Chromatics have a sound that demands to be heard live, with a two-piece horns section, expect a dynamic, highly danceable set. Newcomer Solomon Crook, blends heartful songwriting and soulful vocals to create a sound that is truly unique.
Auckland based singer-songwriter Greta Bull will weave beautiful stories for the audience through her powerful and emotive vocals. 90 days, a talented group of seasoned musicians, will be bringing some quintessential, foot stomping blues to the lineup. Local band, Raw Deal, will no doubt have everyone singing along as they take on all the classics from the 60’s through to the 90’s. Finally, Rubita are a straight up modern gem that like to be a little bit jazzy with their sound.
The festival will of course be putting mental health awareness front and center. Sam the Barber, a popular mental health advocate in NZ, will be acting as MC and bringing his usual brand of charismatic banter to the stage while also tackling the tough topics. SYD Workshops will be hosting the ‘shine bright’ tent, a place to get jazzed up for the festival, whether it is face paint, glitter, or a fun costume, it is all about looking and feeling good. The festival will also have a dedicated safe space for conversations about mental health or simply getting to know new friends, known as the Yurt of Truth. Finally, there will be an area to get crafty and add to the Tree of Remembrance, a place to hang a memorial for a lost loved one.
