Venue of the Day - St Peters Hall

What drives you to bring live music to your area?
Paekākāriki has a long history as a fiercely independent staging post and watering hole on the way out of Wellington and into the blue and green beyond. As such its always been a welcome place for musicians to lay down their guitar cases. We welcome the musical renegades!

There's a thirst for good original New Zealand music here which has seen St Peter's Hall, with its terrific wooden acoustics become a favourite stop on the road - neatly an easy train ride from Wellington for audiences too - for many musicians from the Finns to the McGlashans and Dobbyns. Artists like Tami Nielson, Marlon Williams, Aldous Harding, The Eastern and Delaney Davidson have played here countless times, citing their love of the place and audiences and helping spread the word.

People are surprised how many people turn up! The other drive to have great music here is the hall itself. St Peter's celebrated its centenary last year. It was bought by the community off the local church back in the 90s and been lovingly restored by locals, complete recently with a great lighting system, deck and new green room - and it's the locals who help you put away the chairs at the end off the night.

What days of the week do you have live music?
Feminist punk bands on a Tuesday night have been surprised by how many people have come, but generally Friday to Sundays are the busiest, and the hall is busy most weekends.

Tell us about a favourite live music moment?
Wellington's The Rashkolnikovs have become an annual let-loose favourite of late, offering Russian Drunk Polka Punk that sends locals into wee units of whirling dervishes. It helps there's always a devilish afterparty to look forward to. Last time they were supported by a great new Paekakariki band The Travesties, who sang songs to much delight about local news like the fact we had two fruit and vegetables stores across the road from each other. So many good memories. But perhaps my favourite was one year The Yoot's, brass and more from Fat Freddy's Drop (among the neighbours) doing Te Reo Maori waiata singalong with a huge turnout from the tamariki including the local school kapa haka roopu - a really wild Christmas kanikani come together.

Please give us details of how and where people can find your venue?
St Peter's Hall is in the one and only Main Street of Paekakariki, Beach Road, Paekakariki, a short stroll from the railway platform and the rolling waves on the beach.

 - Mark Amery