Kaipara College rock out with Ekko Park

KAIPARA COLLEGE ROCK OUT WITH EKKO PARK ‘KNOW HOPE’ ALBUM RELEASE

NZ rock band EKKO PARK release their highly anticipated second album 'Know Hope' on October 30 and are thrilled to announce Kaipara College will host the very first public gig to celebrate the album on Saturday October 31.

Over the past few months Ekko Park have been mentoring student bands at Kaipara College. This came about because a student from the college reached out to the band viaFacebook in the lead up to the SmokeFree RockQuest. Lead singer Joe Walsh shares “… she asked if we would like to come out and listen to the early drafts of their songs and help them work the songs up to the best level possible. We had so much fun watching these kids dropping their inhibitions and just rocking out. We gave advice were we could, but ultimately we just helped them find what was already inside them.”

Ekko Park were so inspired by their time with these students they decided to play the very first public gig launching their new album 'Know Hope' at Kaipara College on Saturday October 31. “In a time when you have to worry about where music is going, it’s so refreshing to see these young bands keeping the music dream alive.” Four of the schools bands; Iron Viper, Luring Lucifer, Elisabeth Street, Illuminartists, will play as support acts to open the show. Students will also manage the gig, lighting and sound.

Kaipara College have recently embraced a new focus on modern music. Nick Roberts Kaipara College Deputy Principal says “it was understood that our students could not see the relevance of classical music in their life context. To talk about plainchant and reading orchestral scores was alien to the students when they wanted to play metal and punk.” In response “a decision was made by the school to sell its broken and poorly conditioned classical instruments and purchase the best modern instruments we could afford. Classical music is now offered as the interest arises. ”

This approach has seen the music students celebrate many successes Mr Roberts proudly shares; “Kaipara College has been the PlayItStrange Trust NZ Music School of the Year three times. This year alone there were over one hundred Kaipara College musicians in the SmokeFree RockQuest. Beth Stewart and Josh Somervell wrote one of the twowinning theme songs to 2015’s FIFA Under Twenty World Cup and Katie Ashworth is currently visiting Japan for five weeks as part of her prize for winning the PEACESongwriting competition. Not bad for a small rural school!”

The Ekko Park 'Know Hope' release gig at Kaipara College on October 31 is a free event and will be open to all, starting at 5.30pm. It is a non-ticketed event and there will be an entry limit of 300 at any one time. Kaipara College is a smoke, alcohol and drug free location.

Following their launch gig at Kaipara College Ekko Park will embark on a nationwide tour with Dead Letter Circus (Australia) to celebrate the launch of their new album. Playing at the Kings Arms Auckland on November 19, Allen Street Rock Club Christchurch on November 20 and Bodega Wellington on November 21.

Tickets on sale now from www.nztix.co.nz

‘KNOW HOPE’ is available in all good music store and digitally from OCTOBER 30.

ENDS

© Scoop Media