Taranaki’s stacked summer music lineup
Taranaki is in for one of its best and busiest summers of music, even with the country’s borders being closed and Womad cancelled.
The next few months will see a strong Kiwi lineup with four major shows at the TSB Bowl of Brooklands, music almost nightly at Pukekura Park, five gigs at Oakura’s Butlers Reef and a range of other gigs scattered around from December to March.
Taranaki is a tour stop for some of New Zealand’s biggest bands including Six60, L.A.B, Crowded House, The Feelers, Shapeshifter, Katchafire, The Black Seeds, and Trinity Roots.
Chairman of The Most FM Mark Dickie believed even though the region had lost Womad it was still set up for a summer of entertainment.
‘‘It’s across a lot of genres it’s not just that same Kiwi lineup, there’s a good variety and something for everyone. So people know they’ll be getting a good show.’’
He was most looking forward to L.A.B. and Crowded House at the Bowl as well as Trinity Roots at Butlers Reef.
‘‘Butlers has got some great gigs out there.’’
The New Plymouth District Council-run TSB Festival of Lights lineup was especially good too, he said.
‘‘I take my hat off to the council in terms of the talent both local and national and there’s some international flavours in there too for those that need it.’’
In an emailed statement, New Plymouth District Council spokeswoman Jacqueline Baker said because of Covid-19 the council had to go local with its lineup.
‘‘And we’ve put together what we think is a pretty epic lineup.
‘‘Much like our holiday choices, we’re experiencing the best of what New Zealand has to offer.’’
Butlers Reef co-owner Tracey Craig said it was definitely the biggest year it had done.
It started in October with Blindspott, then had three more gigs, and now another five over summer and a local band for New Year’s Eve.
‘‘All the bands contact us because since The Mayfair closed down we’re the only music venue in Taranaki for bands this size because the Bowl is too big and TSB Showplace can be expensive.
‘‘This year has been nuts, I get five or six emails a day from different bands and gigs wanting to play.’’
‘‘This year has been nuts, I get five or six emails a day from different bands and gigs wanting to play.’’ Butlers Reef’s Tracey Craig