Up to 160 die-hard fans of Kiwi music turned out for the first of two New Zealand Music Month concerts, featuring a slew of Wairarapa bands and performers.
Musician Raymon Butler co-organised the Saturday night concert at King Street Live, which featured folk country soloist Nick Wilsden, veteran guitar manLenny "T" Te Whare, and college bands Koia, Lakota and the Voyagers. and Back to the Remedy.
Butler said he and Koia bandmates Jason Ireland and Jarrod Rowlands had brought the performers together with the aim of supporting Wairarapa bands and musicians and the King Street Live venue.
He said it was only the second time Lakota and the Voyagers had played a public concert and the event had been held to also allow younger bands and players to gain experience and a wider following.
"The younger bands have limited opportunities to perform here, and we were aiming to display the young talent we have and give them a chance to play."
College bands including Koia, Front Back & Sides, Cast a Shadow and Back to the Remedy are running the Wai Beat concert at Wairarapa College on Friday, also part of Music Month events in Masterton. Wellington reggae band Newtown Rocksteady are also to appear as special guests.
Up with People promoter Mark Rogers, who helped organise Wai Beat, earlier told the Wairarapa Times-Age a central focus for organisers had been the lack of live music events for young people in the region.
