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It’s the first day of May. That means NZ Music Month is officially underway – New Zealand’s annual celebration of great homegrown music and the people who make it! 

31 days of celebrating local music in our venues, libraries, schools, parks, on our screens and on our stereos..

To kick it all off, The Beck's Sets presents two free shows on Thursday 1st May in Auckland – first a free lunch time concert of contemporary baroque pop by Silver Scroll and Taite Prize-winner Lawrence Arabia in Takutai Square,Britomart.

Then artist’s She's So Rad, Delete Delete and Paquin play later in the evening at Tyler Street Garage. 

Elsewhere, Dunedin City Libraries is launching its incredible May programme with a lunchtime concert by Golden Guitar winner Kylie Price.  Christchurch is celebrating with a free concert by critically acclaimed country artist Marlon Williams at New Brighton Library.  Jason Kerrison plays the beautiful Morrell & Co, and the first ladies of pop

Anika Moa and Julia Deans are also in the Garden City getting NZ MusicMonth off to the perfect start at Wunderbar.

A selection of Event Highlights for NZ Music Month May 2014

2014 Vodafone Pacific Music Awards
Thursday 8 May, Vodafone Events Centre, Manukau

Dreams Lie Deeper: A Tribute to the Pike River Miners
with Dave Dobbyn, Orpheus Choir of Wellington, Wellington Brass Band and Wellington Young Voices
Saturday 10 May, Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington

Fledge and YNot Productions present Giving Up
Featuring a 90 minute rotating play – with six performances each day, art installations, screenings of films, live performances by Fledge musicians and more.
Auckland’s historic Victoria Theatre over two days:  May 10th and 11th

MMF Music Managers Awards
Wednesday May 14

Dave McCartney Gutter Black Book Launch & Tribute (Auckland Writers Festival)
Friday 16 May, Lower NZI Room, Aotea Centre, Auckland

Tied To The Tracks Art Exhibition
From Tuesday 20 May, Tyler Street Garage, Auckland

NZ Country Music Awards 2014
Friday 23 May - SBS St James Theatre, Irk Street, Gore

The Official NZ Music Month Summit 2014
Hosted by the NZ Music Commission and Music Managers Forum NZ.  Covering sessions on Artist Development, Song Writing and International Markets.  Speakers include manager Scott Maclachlan (Lorde, Sol3 Mio), manager Paul McKessar (The Naked and Famous), songwriter and publisher Paul McLaney, and manager Craig Pearce (The Phoenix Foundation)
Saturday 24 May, Auckland Museum Auditorium

Hook Line and Sing-a-long Islands
by Julia Tu'uga, Maxine Vaihu and Meleseini Puletau from St Pius X Catholic Primary will be performed in schools around the country at noon on May 30th  All schools welcome.

NZ Music Month day in Levin
Eight locations around the main street will host musicians performing, with 64 performances over the day.  30 shops are involved in the day with installations and displays. Saturday May 31st

Family friendly free events

World Vision Kids for Kids – Everything is Ka Pai
Kids for Kids is back in 2014 with its iconic mass choir performances.  Kids for Kids presents a brand new show Everything is Ka Pai, fronted by Jackie Clarke and showcasing our own talented kiwi kids as its stars!
Auckland Library
Palmerston North Library
Christchurch Library
Dunedin Library

Check your local library for what’s happening in your area.

A small selection of Live Music Highlights

Julia Deans & Anika Moa The New Hearts Tourette Tour 
Tourettes & Ben Salter Party Tricks and Boring Secrets Tour 
Sherpa Blues & Oranges Tour
Great North Up In Smoke Tour 
The Phoenix Foundation Tom's Lunch EP Release Tour 
Blacklistt Always Tour 
NZSQ with James Campbell – CMNZ Tour 2014 featuring new works composed by New Zealanders
Jan Hellriegel + special guests
APRA & Kiwi FM present Covered!
with Voom, Tom Lark, Pikachunes, Tyra Hammond & The Eversons (artists perform their three favourite Kiwi songs)
The Naked & Famous with She's So Rad
Lawrence Arabia Plays His Albums In Full
Dawn Raid 15th Anniversary Shows in Auckland and Wellington

May Album Releases:

• Tiny Ruins – Brightly Painted One
• Great North – Up In Smoke
• The Phoenix Foundation – Tom's Lunch EP
• Pop Strangers – Fortuna
• Sherpa – Blues & Oranges
• Bailey – iXL EP
• NO WHY – Weathered EP
• Jayson Norris – Save My Soul EP (Produced by TikiTaane)

New Releases:

• Aldous Harding – Aldous Harding
• Astro Children – Proteus
• Estere – Estere
• Flip Grater – Pigalle
• HUSK – Indigo Mountain EP
• Liam Finn – The Nihilist
• Matthias Jordan – The Sound of Asia EP
• Midge Marsden – Back To The Well
• New Zealand Chamber Soloists – Corybas: The Piano Chamber Music of John Psathas
• Suren Unka – El Chupacabra
• Third3ye – On3ness
• Tristan Carter / Gareth Farr / Jack Hooker / Anton Killin – NAGA: New Music For Gamelan
• Various Artists – Pacific Reggae Vol. 2 (mixed by Sir-Vere & Clubkingz)
• Vorn – More Songs About Girls and the Apocalypse
• Zen Mantra – How Many Padmes Hum?

For a full run down of events, updates, links and info about all the fantastic music on offer this May, follow us at:

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Media Release: NZ Music Commission