Music Commission News

Gig Starters and Spaceship are hosting a hui at 2pm on Sunday, November 6, where a crew of industry professionals, a local recording artist and a production technician will be discussing the need-to-knows of putting on your own all ages gig.

Spaceship: 114 Karamu Road North, Hastings

After the hui is a soundcheck / workshop, with the chance to watch and be part of a live production set-up. And then at 4pm, it’s gig time! We’re lucky to have TIA WARD and PERERI KING performing.

Guest crew
NZ Music Commission and Goodshirt front person – RODNEY FISHER
Venue Lighting / Sound technician – CAMERON LITHGOW
Pop artist born and raised in Hawkes Bay – TIA WARD
Musician and Educator – PERERI KING
Community Grants & Partnerships Advisor – KEV CARTER

All are welcome to attend, and it’s free entry – just make sure to RSVP at www.gigstarters.co.nz/rsvp

Event Poster and assets available here

This event has been made possible with help from Napier City Council, Hastings District Council, and NZ Music Commission.

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Gig Starters is an initiative run by the NZ Music Commission to inspire young people to put on gigs of their own all around Aotearoa.
‘Creating live gigs is an awesome way to make first steps into the industry as a musician or someone who is interested in a career behind the scenes in music. You’ll get to be part of putting on an event showcasing great local music, and learn new skills at the same time’ – Rodney Fisher, NZ Music Commission

Pereri King
Napier based singer/songwriter and Māori TV 5 Minutes of Fame 2021 winner Pereri King works independently as a teacher and storyteller in Matauranga Māori. He also studied acting at Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School in 2011 and views music as a great way to bring whānau and community together.

Tia Ward
Tia Ward is a young, up-and-coming Māori artist born and raised in Hawkes Bay, who has been performing her whole life and dreams of being a pop icon. Currently studying at Massey University, and at the beginning of a budding career, Tia feels she has many more stories to tell through her music. Her debut EP, Me & Me Too, a great reflection of her personal and charming roots-infused, pop songwriting is available on all digital platforms.

Cameron Lithgow
A well-known face on the local performing arts scene with a wealth of knowledge in sound and lighting, Cameron Lithgow is a key member in the running of The Common Room, and Spaceship venues. He also works for TOI TOI and is a part of delivering multiple shows year round. Always up for a yarn, Cam is excited to be welcoming the extended community to share advice and enjoy some music at Spaceship.

Rodney Fisher
Well-known in the music industry as the singer from Goodshirt, Rodney also has a background in music management, live events and content creation. He currently works at the NZ Music Commission as Special Projects and Events Manager and is responsible for creating the ‘Gig Starters’ initiative.

Kev Carter
Kev Carter is the Grants and Partnerships advisor for The Hastings District Council Chair of The Hawkes Bay Funders Forum. HDC offers funding support for creatives and artists to develop projects and events across the district. Prior to working in local government Kev was managing youth programmes and events in Auckland.

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It started as an event … Gig Starters began last year when the Music Commission ran a series of seminars in Auckland, Palmerston North, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin. The seminars in every town were followed by an all ages gig.
Then it became a zine … For the next part of the Gig Starters initiative we have created a zine style booklet called A Guide To All Ages Music Events In Aotearoa.

This booklet gives an overview of putting on entry level music events and offers advice and first-hand information from musicians and industry professionals, featuring Gussie Larkin from Mermaidens and Earth Tongue, music writer Gareth Shute, Shannon Novak (the founder of Safe Space Alliance) as well as the Music Commission’s Rodney Fisher.

The zine was illustrated by Moskon Review, an artist from Hamilton who has created many gig posters over the years and is part of the team at the local music venue ‘Last Place’.