Christchurch becomes a music-lover’s paradise

23 April 2013

Throughout May, Christchurch City Libraries is transforming Christchurch into a music-lover’s paradise as it hosts free performances by talented Kiwi artists to celebrate New Zealand Music Month.

The gigs kick off at 7pm on Wednesday 1 May, with The Eastern performing at Central Library Tuam with their brand of vocals/guitar/banjo that sounds as old-world as it does contemporary. Other performers appearing throughout May include harpist Helen Webby, Latin guitarist Doc Sanchez and freestyle songstress Nel Amore. One of the bigger events takes place at Aranui Library, with upbeat eight-piece reggae band Merchants of Flow taking the stage from 3.30pm on Wednesday 22 May.

Mayor Bob Parker says that with its massive and eclectic collection of CDs, tapes, LPs, music magazines and free online music, Christchurch City Libraries is already top of the list for many of Christchurch’s most discerning music fans – and that these gigs only cement that reputation.

With winter on its way, it will be a real pleasure to head indoors for Christchurch’s coolest music gigs, Mayor Parker says. With performances from 32 acts over four weeks and across 16 different libraries, including those in your own community, New Zealand Music Month is a great means of increasing awareness of local Christchurch music.

New Zealand Music Month, a national promotion run by the New Zealand Music Commission, first took place in 2001, and was designed as a way to increase the proportion of Kiwi songs on commercial radio. The successful campaign led to that proportion increasing from 10 per cent in 2000 to nearly 23 per cent in 2005. New Zealand Music Month has now turned its focus to increasing awareness of homegrown music. The Christchurch City Libraries are once again partnering with RDU, the Canterbury University Student’s Association radio station to showcase and broadcast the best musicians from around Canterbury.

Friday lunchtime concerts in the ReStart Mall will also host some talented NZ performers with appearances from Shayna King, The Bats, Luckless (Ivy Rossiter), Unfinished Business, The Tiny Lies and Katie Thompson.

For a full schedule of performances, please visit your nearest library or check Christchurch City Lbraries’ New Zealand Music Month calendar.