Latest news with #MusicMonth
NZ Herald
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
Rolling Stone AU/NZ: Seven Kiwi artists feature on prestigious Future 25 list
As New Zealand's Music Month comes to an end, seven Kiwi artists can celebrate being named as the acts that people should be most excited about this year. Rolling Stone AU/NZ magazine has revealed its second annual Future 25 list, citing a diverse array of acts across Australasia and covering
Scoop
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Mighty: A Small Venue With A Big Voice Lands In Te Komititanga
In celebration of NZ Music Month, a new musical experience is coming to the heart of the city, and it's not what you'd expect. From Tuesday 26 May to Sunday 1 June, a custom-built mini theatre called Mighty will pop up in Te Komititanga, offering the most intimate live gigs you'll find anywhere in Aotearoa. Completely free. Built around a 10-foot shipping container and clad to look like an old-fashioned theatre - complete with red velvet curtains, a rug and a standing lamp - Mighty offers front-row seats to unforgettable performances from some of our most talented songwriters. Each show invites just 4–6 people at a time into the cosy interior, where they'll hear one song, performed totally live and completely acoustic. No mics. No tech tricks. Just voice and guitar or keys. With 20 performances over the week and a line-up of exceptional local talent, there's a twist: while all performers will be announced in advance, their set times will stay secret. It's songwriter roulette, designed to surprise and delight. Some of our brightest lights and rising stars will be performing, including Tiny Ruins, Anna Coddington, Julia Deans, Lips, Romi Wrights, Phoebe Rings, Jazmine Mary, HINA, PARK RD, Rewind Fields, Jol Mulholland + more. Mighty celebrates the power of a single song, shared in person. Live. Acoustic. Solo. Mighty is a love letter to live music, reminding us that sometimes the smallest stages create the biggest moments.
Scoop
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
The Nukes Drop ‘Max The Musical Mosquito', And Hit The Road With Free School Shows
This NZ Music Month, there's something in the air and it's not just a mozzie. Say hello to Max the Musical Mosquito, the brand-new song from Aotearoa's favourite ukulele trio The Nukes. It's a catchy, country-swinging, brain-tickling tune about an airplane-obsessed kid who is woken in the middle of the night by a ukulele-playing mosquito, and it's leading the charge on their new kids' EP Creature Feature which will be released on Friday 30 May proudly supported by NZ On Air's Children's Music Fund. You'll find it on digital platforms Spotify, Apple Music etc from May 30, with the video premiering on YouTube the same day. It's also on this month's NZ On Air's New Tracks Kids compilation. Now in their 15th year, The Nukes are a three-piece powerhouse of musical mischief, storytelling and heart. Founding frontman Dave Parker brings sparkle and swagger on vocals and uke, joined by fellow founding member. Ben Collier, the cool, calm, and quietly brilliant force on slide and lead ukulele. And introducing the freshest face on the block, Dave's son Josh (JayP) Parker, who officially joined the band in 2023. Max the Musical Mosquito also comes to life in a gloriously animated music video by Wellington animator Ross Payne, a technicolour, toe-tapping fever dream that's part hoedown, part surreal bedtime story. To celebrate Max, The Nukes are buzzing into schools with free, high-energy workshops, part concert, part jam session, all fun. Kids will learn a few chords and before long they're up strumming along with the band. No music experience needed. The Nukes bring everything they need, songs, sheets, and serious good vibes. It's hands-on, laugh-out-loud learning that leaves kids inspired, noisy, and totally hooked on the uke. ' The idea came to me in the early hours of a warm, rainy night,' says Dave Parker. ' There was a pesky mozzie buzzing around and I was in that half-awake dream state where I thought, is this mosquito just being annoying, or is it actually playing a tune? Suddenly I had this image of a musical mosquito flying in and jamming on the uke, and Max was born.' Whether it's songs about worms (Worms, winner of the 2020 APRA Children's video of the Year), flightless birds, or ukulele-playing insects, The Nukes craft smart, quirky tunes that never talk down to kids and always invite them in. Beloved by audiences of all ages, The Nukes blend vaudeville, folk, swing, pop and country with signature silliness and soul. They've played everywhere from WOMAD and Splore to town halls, classrooms, arts festivals and even the Bluff Oyster Festival and no matter the setting, they leave hearts full and toes tapping.
Scoop
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Christchurch's Steffany Beck Embraces Her Inner Cowgirl On Her Rollicking New Anthem, ‘Country Strong'
Christchurch's very own rising country-pop star Steffany Beck has released her first song of 2025, the rocking 'n' rowdy anthem, ' Country Strong '. 2025 is indeed looking strong for Steffany, having grabbed the attention of music consultant Steve Guest, who has worked with Dolly Parton for over 20 years, and now resides in NZ, when he saw her play her hit ' What Would Dolly Do?' randomly at a fair in Rangiora last year. Steve is now mentoring Steffany in the ways of international country music alongside Bianca Lindstrom - ex Sony Australia - who is a marketing genius in the music industry. There are plans afoot to elevate Steffany as the country music scene continues to explode. Beck is one of the first performers to be confirmed to play at The Isaac Theatre Royal in Christchurch (date to be announced), as part of the theatre's initiative ' Live and Local', and NZ Music Month, which gives artists the opportunity to showcase their talents and their voices onstage at the prestigious venue and help them on their musical journeys. Steve Guest said, " Steffany is a talented singer and songwriter with a relentless work ethic. Her songs are very good. She reminds me of a young Dolly Parton, and we all know how her hard work paid off. Stef has a promising future ahead, with opportunities in Nashville, Europe, and beyond. I'm glad to be part of her journey.' Bianca Lindstrom from Issac Theatre Royal said, " Steffany is the real deal - equal parts talent, grit, and pure country heart. She writes with authenticity, performs with joy, and works like someone who knows exactly where she's going. ' Country Strong' isn't just a great song - it's a statement. I'm thrilled to be supporting her journey as she sets her sights on the world stage.' A rock 'n' roll, toe-tappin', ode to country music, ' Country Strong ' was co-written with longtime collaborator Nick Burson, who stumbled across the song's killer riff while playing around with some song ideas at home in Steffany 's living room. 'I was like 'Woah! What was that? Play it again',' Steffany says. 'Once I heard it the second time the lyrics and melody just started pouring out of me. When inspiration strikes, it strikes hot, and this song was like lightning.' Steffany says that the inspiration for the lyrics for ' Country Strong ' comes from the phenomenal popularity of country music right now. 'Country music has always been cool. But there is a worldwide movement right now and this song embodies it - connecting our country roots to the worldwide modern country music fever,' she explains. The palpable energy of ' Country Strong ' is captured in a slick music video made by Neato Productions. It features members of the Christchurch Western Riding Association and saw Steffany brushing up on her horse wrangling and riding skills and embracing her inner cowgirl. 'I had four riding sessions and literally practiced daily for a couple of weeks to improve my lasso skills. I was so determined to look like a natural born cowgirl. The horse, Elle, which I was blessed to ride, was perfect for me. She was a patient, experienced showgirl, who knew how to make a rookie look like a pro,' says Steffany. Supported by NZ on Air and recorded and produced by Andy and Victoria Knopp (The Response), ' Country Strong ' is the first single from Steffany this year, and follows the release of her 2024 EP, PILLARS, which received a rave review from MuzicNZ: ' It's hard to find fault in the songwriting… Beck proves she has a knack for writing a catchy hook, all while telling compelling and heartfelt stories.' PILLARS and now ' Country Strong ' have established Steffany as 'one to watch' on New Zealand's country-pop music scene and showcase a talented artist, who's enjoying the ride. 'I feel strong and confident in who I am and ' Country Strong ' reflects me embracing being strong, loving country music and having a hell of a good time doing it.' To celebrate the release of ' Country Strong ', Steffany is playing a string of shows, including this weekend's Country Rock Music Festival in the Bay of Islands (May 9 and 10), the Live and Local Showcase in Christchurch (May 11) and Go Live Festival (August 23). About Steffany Beck: Steffany Beck is a country pop singer-songwriter with an impressive list of career highlights, including her country debut EP, PILLARS, recorded with multi-award winning producer Ben Edwards. The EP charted at #6 in The Top 20 NZ Albums. Steffany has written with celebrated New Zealand singer-songwriter Bic Runga and has performed live with legends such as Jason Kerrison and Anika Moa. She has won a national songwriting competition and is a semi-finalist for the International Songwriting Competition. This past summer, Steffany performed at Christmas in the Park, NZ Spirit Festival, Summer Sundays, South Island Wine and Food Festival, opening for Kaylee Bell, and many more! On top of that Steffany Beck partnered up with Miranda Easten to release girl power country duet single ' Hell & Back ' charting at #12 on the Tasmanian & OZCMR Top 40 Country Chart.
The Spinoff
07-05-2025
- Politics
- The Spinoff
Echo Chamber: Winston Peters still wants to know what a woman is
Wednesday's question time saw our MPs discuss women, wildlife and… what was that? Something about NZ Music Month? Only 3.2% of The Spinoff's readership supports us financially. We need to grow that to 4% this year to keep creating the work you love. Please sign up to be a member today. Sitting under urgency this week in light of the Equal Pay Amendment Bill, parliament has had its mind stuck on a particularly large set of voters: women – their work, their protections in the workplace, how much they're worth, how they've compared themselves to men. But, how could the opposition possibly accuse the government of undermining women if there is no legal definition for these beings? Much to think about. So – given everything – it made sense for National backbencher Nancy Lu to be the first to speak during Wednesday's question time and ask some cosy questions intended for her fellow female colleague, Nicola Willis. But the finance minister was nowhere to be seen – until she walked into the chamber halfway through her cabinet colleague Paul Goldsmith speaking for her, saying something about 'fiscal discipline'. Willis ran-walked to her desk, while everyone around her roared with laughter – half the chamber with her, the other half at her. Labour leader Chris Hipkins, who often has the energy of a school kid desperate to remind the teacher there was homework due, shot to his feet to raise a point of order. Mr Speaker, he began, we seem to be in a perilous position – I have never seen in my 17 years in this House a minister speaking on behalf of another minister who has now shown up. So now what? No, there's no need for this, the minister is now in the House and is thus able to answer her own questions, Hipkins was told. 'We could go on for a long time,' Brownlee remarked. Hipkins is the kind of man to take that as an invitation, rather than a warning, but instead he gave in. Willis took over. But when Lu asked what it might take for the government to achieve its fiscal strategy, the opposition benches beat the minister to it. 'Showing up on time!' Labour deputy leader Carmel Sepuloni cried. 'Taking off women!' With Christopher Luxon out of town, Winston Peters played acting prime minister and assured Hipkins that, 'with the usual caveats', he did 'most certainly' stand by the government's actions. He also most certainly didn't accept Hipkins' assertion that changes to the pay equity process would be a balancing of the books at the expense of women workers, especially when the opposition leader should be more concerned about 'what a woman is'. 'Is his definition of a woman someone who gets paid less than a man?' Hipkins pressed. Still in the process of being passed under urgency this week is the Wildlife (Authorisations) Amendment Bill, which would retrospectively authorise the 'incidental killing of wildlife that inevitably occurs during the carrying out of otherwise lawful activities' (as is the official line). The bill comes on the back of a recent High Court ruling that the Department of Conservation had acted unlawfully in allowing Waka Kotahi to kill protected species while building a Taranaki highway. An attempted sleight of hand on Peters by the Greens co-leader Marama Davidson, questioning how long the government had given the public to submit on the bill, had caught out the wrong person. That was a question better suited for the select committee, not the prime minister, Brownlee told her. 'There isn't one,' Greens co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick reminded the speaker. 'It's under urgency.' But Peters was willing to answer anyway: 'Long enough for us to come up with some very sound, practical and workable legislation.' And anyway, Peters declared, Davidson's concerns about the Department of Conservation now having to meet these new expectations would be softened if she just asked everyone around the country to put their hands up and volunteer for the agency, and they definitely wouldn't mind not being paid for it. The suggestion had Te Pāti Māori co-leaders Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Rawiri Waititi in stitches, the two barely holding themselves together as they convulsed with laughter behind their desks. Would they just be women volunteers, Waititi suggested. Nearly 45 minutes of question time had passed before the workplace relations minister Brooke van Velden, who made it her task to update the pay equity scheme ahead of the budget, was questioned in the House. Labour's Jan Tinetti wondered if the minister agreed with NZ Herald political editor Thomas Coughlan that the act's amendments and the process of passing them under urgency were 'deeply wrong?' No, van Velden said, she didn't care for Coughlan's reckons – she had another well-respected journalist on her side: Mike Hosking. Just the mention of his name sent the opposition benches spiralling with laughter, and the speaker asked van Velden to hold off on quoting the Newstalk ZB host until 'the excitement settles down'. Hosking had praised Kristine Bartlett – a 'hero' and 'very likeable woman' – whose activism transformed the Equal Pay Act into what it was. But then the feelings-obsessed Labour Party leapt all over it, and now mechanics were being compared to rest home workers, and someone ought to do something, he reckoned. 'That's why Brooke van Velden has announced pay equity is going to be, quite rightly, tipped up and sorted out,' van Velden finished. At the end of the session, Brownlee gave Goldsmith an opportunity to shout out one of his own portfolios, one oft championed by the government already: arts and culture (and heritage). Goldsmith seemed surprised anyone had even noticed the pin on his lapel – it's NZ Music Month, he replied, and that is the badge I am wearing. 'I thought you could say something more than that!' Brownlee scoffed. Meanwhile, Swarbrick threw her hands up in the air in disbelief of the minister's ignorance. Her hands flailed above her head, ran through her hair and dragged down her face as Brownlee offered Goldsmith two more chances to let parliament know that there was in fact an NZ Music Month event happening in the building within a matter of hours, and members were welcome to attend. It must have been a frustrating session to be the Greens co-leader – alongside union members and environmentalists, musicians make up the other third of Swarbrick's voter base.
