To celebrate NZ Music Month (ha!), we thought we’d take a look – from our perspective - at the state of the original music scene here in Kirikiriroa, warts n all. In a city where the teaching of 'the arts' seems to be being compromised, it's easy to get down about how art and music in Hamilton are valued. It appears to some degree that there are a huge amount of people that are interested in having original live music in their city, but way fewer who actively support it or get involved. That's not necessarily a criticism, more of an observation, and of course there are often valid reasons why this is the case. Anyway...here goes with the good, the bad and the ugly.
The good Let’s open with the positives. Important this, because there are some, and that hasn’t always been the case.
The bad Are these issues Hamilton specific? Who knows.
The ugly Again while some of these may not be only issues in Hamilton, they are real issues hindering the development of our local music scene.
Conclusion Dunno really! Are we any worse off than other cities? We might be. Although for a city of 150,000 people I’m not sure. I can say from experience that it’s not a great place to be in a band or a lover of independent original live music, that’s for sure. Yes, we are only 80 minutes from Auckland and the neat shows and bands that they have. But it could be so much better. The big worry is where it is all heading, where will we be in five years’ time if the lack of new bands continues to be a thing. Ah well. What can you do eh?
4 Comments
Richard Varey
7/5/2017 10:50:01 am
I'm baffled as to why a city of this size can't sustain more than one independent record store, especially for used records.
Reply
HUP
11/5/2017 04:46:31 pm
Totally agree. Massive amount of the population not actively into music maybe?
Reply
Okay, I know I’m probably going to be criticized by some for not being ‘now’ and ‘today’ but I have been involved in the Hamilton Music scene at some level for most of my life.
Reply
HUP
11/5/2017 04:59:38 pm
Lots of interesting points, thanks for commenting. 'Young and exciting' was mentioned because most of the new music we like is being made by bands in their early twenties or learlier. Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, Palmerston North, Auckland - all these cities have great new young bands playing really good stuff. Hamilton seems to be behind in this regard for whatever reason. Not having an active 'student radio' station is a big part of this - each of those centres has one. Palmy even has the council-funded 'The Stomach' - a low cost venue/studio/practice facility - can you imagine HCC ever funding that? Anyway thanks again :)
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
Archives
July 2022
|