New Zealand Music Month

Christchurch City Libraries celebrates NZ Music Month during May every year. Find out more about this month-long celebration, and our music resources. Pick up a copy of our New Zealand Music Month programme in libraries or view individual gigs in our events calendar.

NZ Music Month

Live with the library

During May Christchurch City Libraries will play host to range of musical performances by local singers and musicians covering a variety of genres - from music for kids to brass bands, from rock to chamber music - and much more.

Adam McGrath
Adam McGrath live at the Isaac Theatre Royal. Image supplied.

For this year's celebrations we're working with local musician Adam McGrath of The Eastern who will be spending time in our libraries all over Christchurch, exploring our digital and physical resources, and connecting with the people of Christchurch by hearing their stories and discussing their lives/loves/losses. He will use much of what he discovers to inspire new works, songs and music, and during May, Adam will be performing a series of “Live with the Library” concerts, during which he will tell his stories of the people of Christchurch.

Explore individual gigs in our events calendar.

About New Zealand Music Month

NZ Music Month was first celebrated in 2001. That May, only 6 per cent of album sales for the month were by New Zealand acts. Aiming to boost homegrown music, the initiative gave the media a chance to showcase local talent.

After five years of NZ Music Month, homegrown acts made up 29 per cent of albums sold, and there was similar increase in radio airplay. In the last couple of years, the month has started to become a truly national celebration, with the public encouraged to show their support through attending events, buying music and wearing the T-shirt.

NZ Music Month is a partnership between the NZ Music Commission and a number of other organisations including songwriters’ association APRA, Independent Music NZ, NZ On Air, the Radio Broadcasters Association and Recorded Music New Zealand.

Music at Christchurch City Libraries

We have music resources including CDs, tapes, LPs and DVDs as well as thousands of music scores, music magazines, and online music in eResources.

Explore our page about New Zealand music including:

Maori Music

Previous years

See what we did in:
2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, and 2004.

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