 | nz music month
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Performances | Māori music - live + on video | NZ CDs | NZ Music Books | Back to Popular Music |
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| Secret CD Competition
People who borrowed NZ CDs during May were in to win a $20 music voucher from one of our sponsors.
Wellington City Libraries appreciates the generous sponsorship of the
Secret CD competition by Real Groovy and Musicworks.
NZ classical music fans, check out SOUNZ's Composer Photo Quizes.
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May Performance programme |
| Thu 11 | 1.30 | Central | Black Bart and the Cowgirls |
| Thu 11 | 5.30 | Ruth Gotlieb | SOS |
| Sat 13 | 1.00 | Central | Mere Boynton (website + bio) |
| Thu 18 | 1.30 | Central | Zirkus |
| Sun 21 | 1.30 | Central | Toni Huata (website + bio) |
| Thurs 25 | 1.30 | Central | Lorenzo e la Cura |
| Thurs 25 | 4.00 | Ruth Gotlieb | Leo Barrer |
| Fri 26 | 1.00 | Central | String Quartet |
| Fri 26 | 1.30 | Miramar | Holy Cross School composition students |
| Mon 29 | 1.30 | Miramar | Miramar Central School recorder group |
| Tues 30 | 2.00 | Ruth Gotlieb | Kilbirnie School senior choir |
| Wed 31 | 1.00 | Central | Wellington City Council and
Wellington City Libraries Waiata Group |
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| Performer Info
SOS - playing a solo accoustic gig on SOS project material.
Black Bart & the Cowgirls - a trio of acoustic, banjo and spoons playing hillbilly music.
Zirkus Big Band - an exciting 16 piece jazz band that performs all original compositions, all over the place. Better keep a look out over your shoulder with this lot loose in the library! It promises to be a dynamic and memorable show.
Lorenzo e la Cura - hear songs in the Southern Italian tradition, from the sixteenth century through to the present day. Instruments include Italian and Moroccan tamburelli, carcavas, scacciapensieri (jew's harps), bullroarers, and more.
Leo Barrer - music to read books by.
String Quartet - classical musicians who play with the National Youth Orchestra, Wellington Youth Orchestra, Australian Youth Orchestra and Victoria Academy.
WCC and Library Waiata Group - a short bracket of well known waiata.
Image © John Williams | |
| Mere Boynton & Toni Huata
Two prominent Māori performers to sing at Wellington City Libraries
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Mere Boynton (Te Aitanga a Mahaki, Ngati Oneone and Tuhoe descent)
Central Library Saturday 13 May 1.00 pm
Mere Tokorahi Boynton is a Māori singer and actor. She has developed a style of singing that draws on both her classical training at the Conservatorium of Music in Wellington and her taha Māori.
In 2005 Mere launched her debut CD Waikohu' (The Mist), an eclectic range of compositions which have been given different vocal and musical treatments, from kapahaka style to classical string quartet with karanga.
website
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Toni Huata (Ngāti Kahungunu, Rongowhakaata)
Central Library Sunday 21 May 1.30 pm
Toni Huata's style and strength as a performer allows her to stand confidently in te Ao Māori and non-Māori worlds. She brings forth sounds and feelings from the past, mixes it with today's international musical influences to present a sound for the future. Toni's music reflects her deep spiritual roots that came from being raised with the traditions of Māori culture and song and her whakapapa (geneology).
Toni has played support to The Neville Brothers (USA), Sentivo (UK) and Te Vaka (NZ/Tokelau) and at the New Zealand International Festival of Arts.
website
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| Māori music daily
Haere mai koutou ki te Kohikohinga Maori!
Māori music video programmes playing 12.30 pm daily (Sundays at 1.30 pm).
Māori Collection
2nd floor
Central Library
Programmes:
Ray Ahipene-Mercer: a segment from the Marae, Te iwi television series. A profile on Wellington guitar maker, musician and founder of the Wellington Clean Water Campaign. (25 min)
Moteatea 2: A programme from the Waka Huia television series. In November 1998 a conference was held at Waikato University to bring together commentators from various tribal areas to see performances of traditional songs and explanations of each waiata. Also discussions with Hirini Melbourne, Timoti Karetu, Pae Ruha, Huirangi Waikarepuru about the use of pakeha tunes and reviving moteatea with different tunes. In Māori (60 min)
Haka: A programme from the Waka Huia television series. Discussions with Timoti Karetu, Te Kepa Stirling and Pita Sharples on the history, the different forms and origins of the haka and also how haka is performed today. In Māori (60 min)
Hirini Melbourne: A programme from the Waka Huia television series. Singer, songwriter and educator Hirini Melbourne talks about his career and music and performs several songs. In Māori (40 min)
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| CD picks
 | Dubscapes and Dancetracks by Diwata.
Diwata is the solo project of AJ Hickling. Heavily influenced and inspired by the depth and simplicity of tribal music and indigenous instruments, this collection spans five years in the creation. It has taken him around the country connecting with the sounds of the land and the souls of the people. It draws deeply on the richness of environmental soundscapes, and subtly connects these with the musician's art. The The music of Diwata ranges from summery dub, to primal, driving tribal trance. Diwata features indigenous instruments including Yidake (digeridoo), global percussion, native flutes and voice, although this album uses a more standard western instrumentation that the previous albums. (Real Groovy, Highlighted Review)
A.J Hickling of Diwata performs at Kilbirnie Library on May 11th showcasing his new 'S.O.S Project'.
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 | East of Eden by Graham Brazier.
East of Eden was released in 2004. All 14 songs were written by him, indeed an extremely poetic man judging by the lyrics. He has a wonderful hard raw voice, made for blues/rock. Unfortunately I only ever listen to the first song, 'Long Gone for Good'. I play it over repeatedly whenever I put this CD on. It is brilliant. On it he plays electric guitar & synthesiser, harmonica, acoustic guitar, slide guitar and of course does the vocals. What an amazing guy. Maybe I'll try the other songs, but it's so hard not go back and play 'Long Gone for Good' just one more time. I love it. (Linda)
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 | Pink flying saucers over the Southern Alps by various Flying Nun artists.
The most accessible of Flying Nun's compilations, full of heavenly pop hits by The Chills (duh), The Clean, The Bats, Tall Dwarfs... everyone you'd expect. My favourites include the 3Ds bent sea-shanty 'Sing-song', the Able Tasman's delerious 'Hold me 1' and Straitjacket Fits' water-falling guitars in 'Bad Note For A Heart'. The album gets weirder and noisier near the end with pieces like Bailter Space's intense and surprisingly melodic 'Fish eye'. Note: we've got the earlier 1-cd version. (Karen)
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 | Prayers be answered by Dance Exponents.
One of the first NZ albums I ever owned on vinyl back in the day - before they lost the 'Dance' from their name. 'Victoria' made me think of the mysterious & sleazy adult world that I imagined my grown-up cousins (one of whom was also called Victoria) inhabited at the time. A genuine Kiwi classic the album also contains 'I'll say goodbye (even though I'm blue)' and a bunch of great lesser known tracks like 'Your best friend loves me too' & 'Just me & you'. (Mark)
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 | Special Surprise by Luke Buda.
From the Phoenix Foundation's Luke Buda, perhaps more similar to the lazier pace of the band's debut Horse power than last year's louder Pegasus. Melodic whimsical pop that sometimes feels like play (they do like their odd noises), and othertimes comes together. I've let it stay in the background where it's sunny and pleasant, but when the quirky sounds and interesting lyrics wriggle into your head, you realise there's more. (Karen)
|  | Live at Bats by Fly My Pretties.
Representing Wellington with the true Kiwi accent. Upbeat sounds with lots of variation. (Jenni)
|  | Dominant Species by King Kapisi.
A welcome return from his high falutin' last album which was too 'bling' for many. Some solid tracks and some tricky rhymes. Go the cabbage. (Ben)
|  | Available light by Dave Dobbyn.
The most moving album I have listened to in a very long time. I played it over and over and enjoyed it more and more. (Kini)
|  | Based on a True Story by Fat Freddy's Drop.
This is the best album I've listened to in so long now. Full of amazing vocals and harmonies, lots of funky beats and bass, it stayed in my stereo for a long time! This seven-piece Wellington band play dub, jazz, dance-music and soul, all packed into one tightly-orchestrated album. Guest vocalists Hollie Smith, Ladi6 and P Digsss lend their voices, while some other well-known NZ musicians lend their musical talents to the pool. The rhythmic melodies will warm the soul through the cold winter days and nights! (Hannah C)
|  | Count Backwards From 10 by Strawpeople.
This CD is really mellow in places and ideal for chilling out on a hot day with a cool 'soda' in your hand... But it is also upbeat enough to catch yourself grooving and humming along to it. The perfect CD for a summer car journey. (Kini)
| | Valid by Starlings.
Venomous New Zealand classic penned by ex-Dance exponents Guitar Slinger Chris Sheehan. Break beats and heroin form an uneasy alliance that roots around in the detritus of failed relationships and bad habits. (Mark H.)
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| Book picks
 | Stranded in paradise : New Zealand rock and roll, 1955 to the modern era by John Dix.
The original iconic history of new Zealand rock and roll: fully revised and updated. Charting the amazing and sometimes hilarious course of Kiwi music since the first rock and roll recording in 1955, this is the history loud and proud, including new chapters on the impact of rap and hip hop, the coming of age of the local recording industry and the international success of Kiwi musicians from Neil Finn and Bic Runga to The Datsuns and Scribe. Extensively illustrated throughout, with dynamic new images from the modern era by rock photographer Garry Brandon. (Real Groovy)
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 | Making music in New Zealand by Gareth Shute.
Making Music in New Zealand examines the reality of being a local musician. It collects together comments by popular musicians from various fields of music, from rock to electronica to hip hop, along with quotes from other major players in the industry. It covers: getting started; songwriting; practising and playing live; touring; promotion; recording; the industry; and surviving as a musician. The text is complemented by a stunning range of black-and-white photographs. The result is a book that gives an engaging insight into the life of a local musician, which will appeal to those who are seeking a career in music and those who are simply interested in finding out more about music in New Zealand and the musicians that create it. (Real Groovy)
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 | Hip hop music in Aotearoa by Gareth Shute.
The first book to examine New Zealand's hip hop scene, Hip Hop Music in Aotearoa looks at the music's evolution, from its early roots with Upper Hutt Posse, through to MC OJ & Rhythm Slave and 3 The Hard Way in the early 1990s and Che Fu, King Kapisi, Scribe and Nesian Mystik in the present day. The book features interviews with these and other prominent musicians and discusses the journey New Zealand hip hop has taken to become the mainstream, popular art form it is today. (Reed Books)
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Sweetwaters : the untold story by Daniel Keighley.
Sweetwaters, the iconic festival that brought so many people together during the heyday of sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll, took a very public and controversial turn for the worse in 1999. Sweetwaters the book, as told by festival organiser Daniel Keighley, sets the record straight. This is a riveting look at an exhilarating period of music and creativity - the musicians Elvis Costello, Talking Heads, Eurythmics, The Psychedelic Furs, UB40, The Pretenders and Simple Minds, as well the cream of the Kiwi crop, the people and personalities of the time. This fascinating autobiography details Keighley's involvement in and passion for connecting music and people, and is a blow-by-blow, 'behind the scenes' account of the now notorious 1999 festival. (Zenith)
Counting the beat : a history of New Zealand song by Gordon Spittle.
This book started out as a collection of local songs to be used as a guitar tutor. So it has the lyrics and guitar chords of 50 popular New Zealand songs, from the ancient but enduring Maori stick game chant E Papa and the old rugby anthem On The Ball, through Opo the Dolphin and Cheryl Moana Marie, to the Finn brothers' Always Take the Weather with You and the Muttonbirds' Dominion Road. But beyond that Gordon discusses the when and why of the songs and their composers. It is an eclectic collection of revealing biographies and interviews. (NZ Folk Song)
New Zealand music charts 1966-1996 : the singles and New Zealand music charts 1975-2000 : albums by Dean Scapolo.
A full listing of every single and album to ever make the official New Zealand chart since their inceptions, including peak position, title, mini-artist-biography (Wherever possible), weeks on charts. NB: Hopefully there will be a new book coming to replace both of them, with more information, including as much label and catalogue information as possible, plus as many certifications as possible. (NZMIC)
For the record : a history of the recording industry in New Zealand.
Beginning with the first New Zealand recorded & produced music in the 1940's through to contemporary times. Includes some great record covers and in depth information on record labels like Flying Nun.
Have you checked the children?" : punk and postpunk music in New Zealand, 1977-1981 by Wade Ronald Churton.
The history of & the punk scene in New Zealand circa the late 70s early 80s.
When rock got rolling : the Wellington scene, 1958-1970 by Roger Watkins.
Foreword by Ray Columbus. Arranged alphabetically by rock band.
Hostage to the beat : the Auckland scene, 1955-1970 by Roger Watkins.
A survey of bands and performers with groups featured alphabetically.
Kiwi rock by Tim Davey & Horst Puschmann.
North meets south : popular music in Aotearoa/New Zealand by Philip Hayward, Tony Mitchell and Roy Shuker.
The Oxford history of New Zealand music by John Mansfield Thomson.
NZ music month : May 2005.
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Now you've done our New Zealand Music Month Quiz, why not try another challenge? SOUNZ is a music information centre which provides, fosters and promotes the music of New Zealand composers through a range of services, projects and activities. The staff at SOUNZ have created a quiz for New Zealand Music Month on Wellington Composers.
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| Visit our Popular Music page for news and more reviews |
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New Zealand music on CD at Wellington City Libraries.
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