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MARTIN DE RUYTER/STUFF
Singer Florence McNabb, Kahu Sanson-Burnett and drummer Maisie Lucas from Parallel Park, a local band taking part “Commotion”, a youth music workshop weekend in Nelson.
Eighty young people from the top of the south are descending on Nelson to immerse themselves in a weekend of music with professional artists, including a public concert together on Saturday night.
The high school students, Te Pukenaga (NMIT) students and others aged 14-21, were due to join artists including Joel Shaldbolt from L.A.B., hip hop artist Mazbou Q, Rei and MC Tali, for the “Commotion Youth Music Colab” event, now in its second year.
Co-organiser Scott Burnett said 19 industry heavyweights – 14 from around the country and five local – were taking part, in genres spanning pop, hip hop, rock and electronica.
They would tutor the young people on Saturday and Sunday during the day, on topics like songwriting, stage craft and music production at workshops at Te Pukenaga (NMIT).
MARTIN DE RUYTER/STUFF
Laughton Kora, centre, teaches students Duncan Petre, left, Otis Agnew and Tyler Curtis during the Own the Stage class at the Commotion event at the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology in 2022.
The artists would perform a showcase concert with and alongside the youth musicians at the Nelson Centre of Musical Arts on Saturday night, for which tickets were still available.
Performances by youth musicians included Rockquest national final top 30 acts Parallel Park, Tangent, Georgie Levien, and Jola Burns.
Musicians including Huia Hamon and MC Tali would perform on their own, with some artists playing along with co-lab bands, Burnett said.
Shadbolt was also due to perform L.A.B. song “Take it Away” with Nayland College bands Muted and The De Campos Club.
Burnett and his sister-in-law Emily Sanson – who both had “music teens” – set up the event as volunteers after going to a similar event called Yami in Wanaka.
“The purpose really is to expose kids who are musical to inspiration and content that they otherwise couldn’t get in Nelson,” Burnett said.
MARTIN DE RUYTER/STUFF
Commotion volunteer organisers Emily Sanson and Scott Burnett at last year’s event at NMIT.
“The concept hits home for a lot of New Zealand artists, musicians who enjoy giving back in some form.”
Laughton Kora who tutored at the inaugural event, recalled “a real cool opportunity to hang out with young creatives, some great production and just a beautiful community”.
Jade Bradnock was among the 50 participants at last year’s Commotion, and said attending changed her perspective on the music industry.
“I now know there are so many more jobs I could get that aren’t just being a singer.”
Eight acts released tracks on Spotify after last year’s event.
The event was advertised mainly through schools, with participants paying $120 of the approximately $800 cost of taking part, and sponsors and organisations including funding the rest of the cost, Burnett said.
The event was free for 12 scholarship participants.
Local support came from Nelson City Council, NBS Bank, Beggs Music, Tasman District Council, Freshchoice Nelson, Rockquest Productions, Kaimahi Trust, VenueTech and Viva La Vaca.
Tickets to the concert at the NCMA auditorium are available from NCMA or the Commotion website, https://commotion.nz/showcase
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