May 1st marks the beginning of NZ Music Month 2017.  The theme for this year is finding something new – a new band, new tracks or a new album by a New Zealand artist.

NZ Music Month is an annual event managed by the New Zealand Music Commission Te Reo Reka o Aotearoa.  The purpose of NZ Music Month is to celebrate and grow awareness of home-grown music.

“NZ Music Month has a way of throwing up the unexpected; that song, artist or event that you experience that captures you in a way that only music can. There are plenty of opportunities for people to experience local music this May, so make the effort and see what new musical adventures await.” said NZ Music Month Manager, Simon Woods.

Music Commission Chief Executive Cath Andersen says “This year the focus of NZ Music Month is music discovery – most people now have a favourite local artist, so we think May is the perfect time to try and find your new favourite New Zealand band.”

There is a huge volume of events nationwide to cater for every musical taste.

Again libraries from across New Zealand are hosting concerts, exhibitions and showing films that celebrate local music with over a hundred events featuring an amazing array of artists scheduled nationwide.

The Christchurch Music Trust CHART has a programme including the NZ Music Month CHART Showcase on 11 May at The Darkroom; and Wanaka will again play host to the YAMI Sound Summit, a weekend of music industry workshops, panels, and showcases for anyone aged from 10 to 110 years.

Levin is having its fourth annual NZ Music Month Day, a community event with local performers playing at a dozen locations across the Horowhenua township.

The Carter Observatory in Wellington has four special NZ Music Month concerts, featuring live performances by some of the capital’s best artists.  Also in Wellington is a special NZ Music Month Mothers Day show Takitimu Karanga, hosted by Toni Huata with special guests including Betty-anne Monga and Mara TK.

The Otara Music And Arts Centre are holding a free workshop series every Saturday in May, including hip hop music production and a Drummers Day Out; and the Official NZ Music Month Summit will be held by the Music Managers Forum and NZ Music Commission at the Auckland Museum on 20 May, coinciding with the final weekend of the landmark Volume: Making Music in Aotearoa exhibition.

Prime TV will be playing New Zealand music documentaries in the Tuesday evening Prime Rocks slot throughout May, and the Rialto Channel are back with their 13th Floor NZ Music Month sessions every night in May, featuring exclusive performances filmed for 13thfloor.co.nz every evening at 8:30pm.

Not only will there be events happening throughout the country, but New Zealand artists are performing across the globe this May.

“We know that people all over the world are listening to New Zealand artists, and this May we will also be highlighting some of the amazing achievements and in-roads our musicians are making internationally.”

For more information go to www.nzmusicmonth.co.nz - follow on Twitter @nzmusicmonth, or Facebook - facebook.com/nzmusicmonth/