Gondola Gigs launches with 10-year-old Three Houses Down singer

Skyline Rotorua Gondola Gigs is back for its third year celebrating homegrown music as part of New Zealand Music Month.

Top New Zealand artists such as Three Houses Down and The Phoenix Foundation have performed acoustically as they travelled up the side of Mt Ngongotaha inside one of the iconic Skyline gondolas.

This year Rotorua-based artists include Kindred and a special performance from Myra Dawn Spooner with a beautiful song composed by Te Awhina Kaiwai-Wanikau and sung in te reo.

Gondola Gigs throws the spotlight on talented music makers while Lake Rotorua and the city provide a stunning backdrop. Two videos a week will be released on the Skyline Facebook page and then loaded on to its website to be enjoyed on demand.

Skyline Rotorua sales and marketing manager David Blackmore said the filming of Gondola Gigs was half the fun as the performers got used to the cabin space for fully unplugged performances.

"We think it's really special to include a performance completely in te reo this year, to also celebrate New Zealand's Maori culture.

Gondola Gigs: Let's Join Hands - Kindred

We are proud to support local performers here in Rotorua - so sit back and enjoy this brand new song from a great Rotorua band, Kindred. Unplugged especially for #NZMusicMonth 2017! NZ Music Month, Rotorua NZ, Rotorua Daily Post, Kindred, 100% Pure New Zealand

Posted by Skyline Rotorua on Wednesday, 3 May 2017

"We're excited to release the new videos for 2017 with beautiful music and a spotlight on locals we're proud of in the music scene," he said.

The first video released this week and found on Skyline's Facebook page is by one of Aotearoa's most loved family bands, Three Houses Down, with the single

Love and Affection

written and sung by 10-year-old Nicholas Pome.

Nicholas is the son of founding member Rob Pome who goes by the stage name General Fiyah.

The Otara-based band realised Nicholas wasn't just a great singer, he was composing his own original material - one of which turned into the song Love and Affection.

"I wrote this song because I had a crush on this girl at school but she had no interest in me," said Nicholas.

"I soon discovered that all I needed in this day and age is the love of my family and I wanted to make clear, especially to those that have been there for me since day one - like grandpa - that I wanted to be there for them, just as they are there for me."

To see the latest video release, check out the Skyline Rotorua Facebook page: facebook.com/SkylineRotorua and follow the hashtag: #gondolagigs