Music to put street on the festivalmap
The organiser of a new music festival in Palmerston North is hoping to transform the way people view George St, if only for a day.
Palmerston North City Council culture co-ordinator Axel De Maupeou D’ableiges said Music on George would bring 16 acts to the street, and neighbouring Coleman Mall, on March 3 for an evening of live music.
‘‘The music scene here has huge potential, but little opportunity to express itself,’’ Mr De Maupeou D’ableiges said.
The event was not just about showcasing the city’s music scene but about encouraging people to appreciate what they saw, and potentially ignored, every day.
‘‘Imagine you come here, you think ‘I know this street’, but it’s completely different,’’ he said. ‘‘I want people to see George St in a new way.’’
Musicians taking part ranged ‘‘from cellists and classical to blues, ukulele and accordion’’.
Among them, is the Bing Turkby Ensemble. Frontman Craig Johnston, aka Bing Turkby, said it would be good to have an opportunity to showcase the city’s music scene. ‘‘It can be tricky to find venues,’’ he said. ‘‘ You have to travel a lot, to Whanganui, Napier, Wellington. You have to put a lot of effort into organising it. So it’s awesome to have something else happening.’’
Mr De Maupeou D’ableiges said he was starting small, but there was potential to expand the event to take in other parts of the city or different forms of art.
Several business owners in George St and Coleman Mall were organising special offers and activities around the Music on George event, Mr De Maupeou D’ableiges said. He expected the festival would be a boost for retailers, especially cafes.
‘‘I want people to come here, stay and enjoy themselves. If they stay, they’ll eat and drink and listen to music,’’ he said. ‘‘If people say afterwards ‘I didn’t know this artist [before]’, then I’ve done my job.’’
The concert is one-third of the Zest Music on the Streets festival. One hundred and thirty secondary and intermediate school pupils will perform throughout the city in a buskers festival organised by the Palmerston North Rotary Club.
Meanwhile, the Access Manawatu radio station is behind a week-long series of lunchtime concerts in The Square leading up to March 3.