Uptown celebrates NZ Music Month with a showcase of incredible local talent

Uptown is celebrating New Zealand Music Month and the rich musical history of the area, with a showcase of local talent this Thursday 25 May at the Fridge & Flagon.

FREE TICKETS AVAILABLE HERE

Running for the third year in a row, ‘Local Voices’ is an annual event hosted by the Uptown Business Association, that promotes music and the arts within this vibrant community. Three incredible bands with direct ties to the local area will be performing; five-piece clean-pop / indie-rock act Marmalade, experimental pop project Rewind Fields, and jazz improvisation band The Parussini x Barrand Project.

“The whole idea of ‘Local Voices’ is to really actively create a sense of community and place, with locals playing for locals,” says Uptown event coordinator, Rachel Hamilton. “We’re really proud to be running this event for the third year in a row, to celebrate the history of music in this area of Auckland, and encourage the future of the arts in Uptown by supporting our local musicians.”

“The bands we have lined up for this year are amazing!”

First up on the night will be Marmalade; a five-piece band made up of a group of friends that write music in their living room. Swinging somewhere between clean-pop and indie-rock, Marmalade’s soaring female vocals and honest lyricism float above a steady musical backbone to create a juicy jar full of sounds. Marmalade members Koen and Jemilah are co-hosts and frequent writers for Uptown’s legendary music publication The 13th Floor, based on Symonds Street.

Second to perform will be Rewind Fields; the experimental pop recording project of Auckland singer-songwriter Callum Lee. Described often as dreamy, ethereal, and nostalgic, with clear nods towards the sunny Californian sounds of the 50s and 60s, Rewind Fields is a meeting place between the old and new. Callum is a songwriting teacher based in Uptown, who focuses on applying learnt theory and technical skills through the creative process of songwriting and improvisation.

Closing the night will be The Parussini x Barrand Project, who are back by popular demand after wowing audiences at the 2022 ‘Local Voices‘. Made up of UoA Jazz Performance undergraduates and postgraduates, the listeners are in for a night of improvisation and collaborative music making presented through a mixture of jazz standards.

The area of Uptown, which incorporates Eden Terrace, Newton and Grafton, has a rich history of music; with The Powerstation, Bungalow Bills, The 13th Floor and Roundhead Studios being just some of the music spaces that help make Uptown the creative community that it is.

Held this year at one of Uptown’s hidden gems, The Fridge & Flagon, gig goers will get to enjoy some of their most interesting or hard to find beers from around Aotearoa and the world, at a special price for the night. Uptown favourite Delissimo Deli Cafe will be providing delicious savoury treats to go down with those incredible beers.

This is a night you don’t want to miss. Make sure to reserve your free spot!

Register for your free ticket to Uptown ‘Local Voices’ HERE

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