Welcome back May and welcome back NZ Music Month. It’s the first of May and that means NZ Music Month is officially underway – New Zealand’s annual celebration of homegrown music and the people who make it!
 
It’s 31 days of celebrating local music in our venues, schools, libraries, parks, on our screens and on our stereos. With over 800 events around the country listed on our gig guide already, this year’s celebrations are busier than ever.  And back by popular demand, NZ Music Month t-shirts are available at the nzmusicmonth.co.nz website.
 
NZ Music Month Manager Simon Woods says "NZ Music Month is a time when we shine a light on those amazingly talented music makers and the music they create. Kiwi musicians here and abroad contribute so much to our culture and speak to us through their art about what it is to be a New Zealander. This May you will find local music throughout the country, in venues, clubs, community spaces and coming out of our music playing speakers."
 
NZ Music Commission Chief Executive Cath Andersen said “New Zealand music continues to excel locally and internationally. Once again we can celebrate the musical talent that New Zealand has to offer. We hope that music fans all across New Zealand get out to support their local musicians this May.”
 
To get the NZ Music Month celebrations of to a loud and fast start, iHeartRadio and Radio Hauraki with thanks to 2degrees present Shihad three gigs in one day - starting in Christchurch at midday, followed by Wellington before their evening show in Auckland.
 
Kane Strang is helping to kick of the month in Christchurch, performing at the NZ Music Month Launch at the Christchurch Art Gallery. Nadia Reid and Anthonie Tonnon are preparing for their European travels performing at The Wine Cellar in Auckland while the Dunedin City Library are hosting the Nook & Cranny Music Festival where you can explore the City Library's 4 floors to find more than 45 original musical performances hidden in the nooks and crannies of the building.

Other events this May include Tom Larkin sharing his knowledge at a CHART Artist Development Seminar on May 2nd at the Issac Theatre Royal in Christchurch.
 
The NZ Symphony Orchestra presents Aotearoa Plus with Bramwell Tovey leading the NZSO with the world premiere of his orchestral suite, “Time Tracks” in both Auckland, 6th May, and Wellington, 7th May.
 
Elsewhere, Pass The Gat are at SIT Centrestage in Invercargill on May 7th with the Topp Twins & the APO performing at the Auckland Town Hall on May 14th. Also on May 14th Ladi6 & guests make their way south to perform at the Lake Wanaka Centre while Tahuna Breaks play their final show at The Studio in Auckland.
 
Other NZ musicians on tour during May include The Jordan Luck Band, Doprah, Yumi Zouma, Soccer Practise, James Reid, Avalanche City, Gray Bartlett, Into The East, Rootz Konekt and Drax Project. The kiwi music variety show Quintessentially Kiwi is out on the road and the Demon Energy Battle of The Bands 2016 National Championship is on throughout all of May.
 
Also check out the Rialto Channel (TV) – Thirteenth Floor Sessions, featuring intimate studio performances by an amazing selection of local artists every evening throughout month; while Seen and Heard, an art exhibition featuring art works made by musicians are on show at Depot in Devonport until May 18th.
 
This is only a small selection of the many events happening all over New Zealand during the first week of May, for a full run down of events, updates, links and info about all the fantastic music on offer this May check out -
 
NZMusicMonth.co.nz
Facebook.com/NZMusicMonth
@NZMusicMonth (Instagram & Twitter)