Get inside the mind of the singer-songwriter. Listen to the ideas inside the lyrics. Enjoy live music!
Young artists to veterans. Trip hop to folk noir. Acid jazz to country. Indie rock to waiata. All with a Wairarapa connection.
The singer-songwriter concert INSIDE THE SONG happens just once – Saturday September 30, at 6pm. Doors open 5.30.
The night will open with Keepa Smith who specializes in Polynesian entertainment. He will sing and discuss waiata by the songwriting and kapa haka legend, Tommy Taurima (Rongomaiwahine, Kahungunu) who passed in 2019. “Uncle Tommy” Taurima’s music is traditionally Māori waiata based on myths and legends with complex harmony structures.
Flying Nun artist Vera Ellen won Best Alternative Artist at the Aotearoa Music Awards and was nominated for the Taite Prize. Recently in South Wairarapa as the inaugural Singer-Songwriter-in-Residence with New Zealand Pacific Studio, she is working on her fourth album. Asked to describe her music in five words, Vera says, “Vulnerable, rough around the edges.”
Pianist and singer-songwriter Meg Hunter has opened for Hinemoana Baker and Reb Fountain | Dave Khan, and has won awards at Talent Wairarapa and Smokefree Rockquest. Meg says, “My style is alternative/indie/pop similar to Lorde, BENEE, Billie Eilish, with jazz and soul influences.”
Singer-songwriter and Kuranui College student Maria Gale is in the band Non-Applicable which recently won the APRA best lyric award at Smokefree Rockquest for their song, Aces. Maria says, “Our band is a mixture of rock, alt pop, indie rock, and with elements of punk. We’ve been influenced by Red Hot Chili Peppers, Elton John, Green Day, The Backseat Lovers, and Goodkid.”
Brian Belluomini (guitar wizard) and Ryan Coles (lead vocals) are a songwriting/composition duo of Sandcastle, the local acid jazz, trip-hop 9-piece band that opened for Stan Walker. They describe their music as “Progressive Neo-Soul with a little twist of Funk.”
Last but certainly not least, Barry Saunders. Lead singer and songwriter of The Warratahs, which has been together for an astounding 37 years, he writes poetic lyrics that have become part of the Aotearoa landscape. He has said that he likes “outsider” songs that seem “to come from another older world.”
Who will hold all of these performers together as MC? Cimone Grayson. She has a background in dance and artist management, and is the person who led the team to bring Stan Walker to Wairarapa a few months back. She works as a Community Facilitator with Ka Pai Carterton.
Vera Ellen will also lead a free workshop for teens to explore their voice and creativity at 11am on the day – thanks to support from Wairarapa Library Service. Spaces are limited – sign up with Wairarapa Word: events.waiword@gmail.com.
Presented by Wairarapa Word, in partnership with Wairarapa Library Service, Carterton Events Centre, Carterton Creative Communities, Meg Hunter Music, New Zealand Pacific Studio, and Almo’s Books.
Concert tickets are just $15 for adults and $5 for students, available from Carterton Events Centre, in person or online, www.cartertonec.co.nz. The concert will be held in the Te Mahau Foyer.
