CHARTFEST 2010

by Nicole Reddington and Laura De Haro

The third CHARTFEST took place on Friday 28 May 2010. It was a great end to the 10th New Zealand Music Month. Pulse was there to check it out.

It all started with the Ukulele Orchestra Competition. They were attempting to break a world record by having the largest ukulele orchestra, but that will have to happen next year.

The afternoon went on with music demonstrations and technology workshops. We got to talk to ‘H’ from The Beat Studios who had just given us an awesome drumming demo. He is an ex-Jazz School pupil who also gigs and teaches drums to anybody, from ages five to 55.

Hamish Oliver

We also spoke to Hamish Oliver who did a clinic on Digital Music Creation. He is a composer and a teacher at the CPIT Jazz School and he shared some tips on how to get yourself out there. Mostly it all comes down to networking, using MySpace is a good one, and then it’s just who you know and word of mouth. Believe in yourself and sell it!

Sacha Vee

We got to interview the latest local sensation, Sacha Vee. She took a vocal styles clinic and got everybody to sing. We started by asking her about her study at CPIT.

A brief chat with soul singer Sacha Vee [2min 15sec .MP3, 2.1Mb]

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If you are thinking about having a singing career like Sacha, or anything else to do with jazz or rock for that matter, head to the CPIT Jazz School. We had a chat with one of her tutors there, Darren Pickering (of Departure Lounge and Oval Office), who told us about their audition-based entry criteria.

T’Nealle Worsley from Bang Bang Eche

Hanging around was T’Nealle Worsley from the boisterous Bang Bang Eche. She loves our libraries, especially when she didn’t have internet at home and she could use it at the libraries for free.

A chat with T'Nealle from Bang Bang Eche [1 min 50 sec .MP3, 1.7Mb]

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The bands take the stage

The Eastern

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the pulse te auaha's Chartfest 2010 photoset

After talking to so many people we got to have a listen to some of our local talent. First we went to hear Lyttelton's The Eastern. They are an Americana-inspired group featuring Jess Shanks, their accomplished banjo player who has spearheaded a banjo revival in Christchurch. They had everybody on their feet dancing and even brought some of the audience on stage.

DJ Benny Tones, The Transistors

Next up was DJ Benny Tones in the coolest indoor tent you have ever seen. It made you feel like you were in a rave out in the bush somewhere - only warmer!
Then we jumped around to The Transistors who had a nicely frantic pace going on and there was plenty of room to throw yourself around the dance floor.

The Verlaines

Leaving our favourites to last, we got to see The Verlaines. These guys have been around since the early 80s when New Zealand's most famous record label Flying Nun was getting started.

They played a mixture of their old and new stuff including their signature song Death and the Maiden. Its famous chorus"Verlaine Verlaine Verlaine" had people of every age dancing. Their complex rhythms and intertwining melodies brought them a huge audience roar at the end.

Photos

If you want a better idea of what we got up to, check out our Flickr photos.

June 2010

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