Turn it up this May _{by Madelaine Empson}

This May marks a massive musical milestone: 25 years of NZ Music Month | Te Marama Puoro o Aotearoa.

“NZ Music Month | Te Marama Puoro o Aotearoa is an opportunity to highlight our incredible artists and the music community right across the country”, NZ Music Commission chief executive Cath Andersen says. “This month is all about supporting the local music scene – streaming local, seeing local, and buying local. With over 500 events and nearly 100 releases registered so far, there is truly something for everyone – and the list is growing every day.”

Just some of the Wellington events on that list include the launch of the iconic Smokefree Rockquest and Showquest competitions for 2025 on May the 7^th at Parliament’s Grand Hall. Featuring performances from Rockquest alumni Georgia Lines and Troy Kingi, last year’s Rockquest and Smokefree Tangata Beats winners Top Shelf and Emerson, and previous Showquest and Rockshop Bandquest national winners Rangikura School, turn up and turn it up to celebrate Aotearoa’s only nationwide, live, original music, youth event. Meanwhile, the Battle of the Bands rages on, with the Wellington final of the National Championship at the end of the month at Valhalla. Rock on!

Rounding out NZ Music Month in swingin’ style are the Aotearoa Music Awards on May the 29^th – check out our 60 years of Tūī story on page six for the scoop on the finalists – and NZ Music T-Shirt Day on May the 30^th. This cornerstone event encourages Kiwis to wear their favourite artist or band tees on the day to show support to MusicHelps, an incredible charity that uses the power of music to change the lives of thousands of New Zealanders in need, by donating to their appeal. Here’s some of the Regional News team rocking their NZ Music Month T-shirts!

Celebrating music from New Zealand and the people who make it, get amongst and find out more at www.nzmusicmonth.co.nz