‘Māoriland Presents’ performances to be released for NZ Music Month
To celebrate New Zealand Music Month, Māoriland is releasing performances and Q&A’s with some of this country’s most celebrated musicians recorded live at the Māoriland Hub.
In 2020 Māoriland Presents was launched to bring musicians of Aotearoa to the intimate stage of the Māoriland Hub in Ōtaki.
15 artists have played on the Māoriland Presents stage including Anika Moa, Tama Waipara, Troy Kingi, Anna Coddington, Shayne Carter, Te Kaahu, Maisey Rika, Nadia Reid, Trinity Roots, Sam V, The Modern Māori Quartet, Laughton Kora, Delaney Davidson, The Māori Sidesteps and Julia Deans.
Māoriland Presents’ Dylan Herkes Tekai said the kaupapa was launched to support artists and the community following the first Covid-19 lockdown.
“Māoriland Presents is unique in that an artist is able to share both their music and are also interviewed on stage making for an insightful and intimate experience for both the artist and the audience.” said Dylan.
Māoriland Presents is a kaupapa of the Māoriland Charitable Trust, best known for hosting the largest Indigenous Film Festival in the world – Māoriland Film Festival. Māoriland operates year-round from the Māoriland Hub in Ōtaki, a center of excellence for Māori and Indigenous film and creativity. The Māoriland Hub is a former department store and has a performance space with high ceilings and wooden floors that has hosted events for audiences of up to 350.
The artists are interviewed on stage by master Māori broadcaster and Ōtaki resident Tainui Stephens who is a consummate fan of all music. “There are very few mid sized venues left in the North Island therefore bands and artists on tour or looking to connect with audiences have found a welcome home at Māoriland,” said Tainui.
Intimate performances from artists Nadia Reid, Delaney Davidson and Estere will be made available on YouTube from Friday May 19.