Music

Need coffee? Fancy a beverage pre or post show? Or have you just finished performing and you need somewhere to unwind and meet other artists, audiences and crew?
No fear! (Almost) every night of the Fest we’ve got you covered at East St Festival Hub with post-show gigs, excellent beverages and food to save the planet by.

Dance and spoken word, song and pure energy, this exciting new work from Fua Creative celebrates growth, culture and new life — and the energy, experiences and creative excellence of the rangatahi of Waiharakeke Blenheim who co-created MATALA.

The tūi chatters, the kākā cackles, and the kererū coos: each bird has its distinctive sounds from the moment they hatch. Te Taiao (the natural world) shapes their growth, stance, and song, until they are finally set to soar across the sky.

Enduring materials, beaten, hollowed, carved, and polished to sing songs of the past and breathe life into the future. This is music of, and for, Aotearoa.

A special pre-Festival event

Missing international travel? Get your dancing shoes on and explore the far flung reaches of African Jazz with the most charismatic of saxophonists, Thabani Gapara.

As imugi 이무기, Tāmaki Makaurau’s Carl Ruwhiu and Yery Cho navigate the slipstream between the listless ennui of late 90’s downbeat and trip-hop, silicon smooth synth-pop, and the undeniable bounce of modern R&B.

We’re told to expect a ‘psychedelic mash of futurist guitar jank and meditative croon’. Are you curious yet?

Following hot on the heels of their self-titled debut, Pōneke-based musical wonders KITA make their Whakatū premiere with their dreamscape of synth-pop, layering stunning melodies over soulful beats.

Ready for a night of hip-hop and dancehall with a reggae backbone? Oof yes!

What would the love child of Courtney Love and The Gathering look like?

Catch The Beths while you can Whakatū, ‘cos trust me — they’ll be taking off again real quick!

Nelson Symphony Orchestra in association with NCMA present a tribute to the big screen.

How does a surfer of Lebanese/Aotearoa origin become a flamenco guitar star in Spain?

Some of Aotearoa’s finest music luminaries gather at NCMA for one night only, with the Lucien Johnson Quartet promising a sumptuous evening of mesmerising music.

Both deeply immersed in classical piano and masterful improvisation, Nils Frahm and Flavio Villani have the same worldview.

From Dolly to the (Dixie) Chicks, The F Word is a journey of feminism through country music, from 1952 — the 1st female country artist at #1 – to today.

Many moons ago, a different kind of superhero ruled this side of the Pacific: Māui-Tikitiki-A-Taranga.

Taite Music Prize 2021 winner Reb Fountain will premier material from her highly anticipated new album IRIS along with songs from her self titled Flying Nun debut.