Māori Music Month 2017 Launches
1 AUGUST 2017
For Immediate Release
Māori Music Month 2017 Launches
with the Announcement of
The 10th Annual Waiata Māori
Music Award Finalists
August 1, 2017 - The Waiata Māori Music Awards are kicking off Te Marama Pūoru Waiata Māori (Māori Music Month) this August with the announcement of the 2017 awards finalists.
Now in its 10th year, the Waiata Māori Music Awards celebrate excellence in Māori music and also aim to acknowledge and honour the keepers, teachers, promoters, creators and performers of this cultural taonga.
The awards were established by the late composer and teacher Tama Huata ONZM (Ngāti Kahungungu), a renowned leader in and champion of the performing arts. Tama’s daughter Ellison now helms the awards and says: “The calibre of the finalists in our 10th anniversary year is a great testament to the quality and diversity of Māori composers, musicians and performers that we have in Aotearoa. The Waiata Māori Music Awards provide a unique opportunity to celebrate both our traditional and contemporary Māori musical artists.”
Acclaimed singer/songwriters Rob Ruha, Maisey Rika, Tama Waipara and Taisha Tari are the official Ambassadors of the Waiata Māori Music Awards and they will be joining the finalists as the winners are revealed at this year’s ceremony in Hastings on the evening ofFriday September 15th.
The
2017 Waiata Māori Music Awards finalists are:
Best Māori Traditional Album
Hikoikoi, Grove Roots
Auaha, Auaha
Tira, Maisey Rika
Best Māori Urban Rap/Hip Hop/RnB
Album
Me, My Selfie & Ice Pro, Taipari
Waaka
A Place to Stand, Rei
4108sis, Rugged and Wylde
AvonTales, Melodownz
Best Māori Urban Roots/Reggae
Album
Hikoikoi, Grove Roots
Dance Hall Vol 1, Israel
Starr
Love not War, NLC
Best Māori Pop Album
Guitar Party at Uncle’s Bach, Troy
Kingi
Written in the Stars, Maaka
Fiso
Tira, Maisey Rika
Best Māori Male Solo Artist
Troy Kingi
Maaka Fiso
Teeks
Seth Haapu
Best
Māori Female Solo Artist
Toni Huata
Pianika Duncan
Maisey Rika
Best
Song by a Māori Artist
Written in the Stars, Maaka
Fiso
Never Be Apart, Teeks
Te Kura, Grove Roots
Mohaka, Toni Huata
Taku Mana, Maisey Rika
Best Māori Songwriter
Maaka Fiso
Teeks
Grove Roots
Toni Huata
Maisey Rika
Best
Video by a Māori Artist
Lost Soul, Valkyrie
Ru ana te Whenua, Alien
Weaponry
New Take Over, Stan Walker
If Only, Teeks
Wairua, Maimoa
Throughout the
month of August during Te Marama Pūoru Waiata Māori,
students nationwide will enjoy teaching and mentoring from
Māori musicians in schools, while the MTG Hawke’s Bay
will honour Māori Music Month with a series of events,
including: exhibition of Taonga Pūoro (traditional Māori
musical instruments, vocal technique and composition) and
workshops with renowned musician Matiu Bartlett; as well as
the Waiata Māori Music Symposium – a panel discussion on
the local music industry.
Key Dates for Te Marama Pūoru Waiata Māori & the Waiata Māori Music Awards
Date: August 1st – 31st
Venue:
Nationwide
Activity: Māori Musicians in Schools –
vocals, composition, turntablism and mentoring
Date:
August 1st – 31st
Venue: MTG Museum Hawkes
Bay
Activity: Entertaining Exhibition Experience – a
Charles Ropitini curated the exhibition - He Manu Tīoriori.
The exhibition gives an incredible insight into the social
history of Ngāti Kahungunu through music, shining the light
on musicians such as Paraire Tomoana, Walter Smith, Ruru
Karatiana, Johnny “The Maori Cowboy” Cooper and Tama
Huata.
Date: August 1st – 31st
Venue:
Aotearoa’s Most Talented - Nationwide
Activity:
Emerging Artist Talent search Online Competition
Date: Friday August 11th
Venue: Sydney, Australia
– Max Watts House of Music, The Entertainment Quarter,
Moore Park
Activity: Celebrating Māori Music Month in
concert with Sons of Zion
Date: Saturday August
12th
Venue: Brisbane, Australia – The Back
Room
Activity: Celebrating Māori Music Month in concert
with Sons of Zion
Dates: Monday August 14th –
Friday August 18th
Venue: MTG Hawke’s Bay
Activity:
Taonga Pūoro workshop and exhibition with Matiu Bartlett
Dates: Monday August 21st – Friday August
25th
Venue: Takitimu Performing Arts School
Activity:
Various workshops
Dates: Monday August 28th –
Friday September 1st
Venue: MTG Hawke’s
Bay
Activity: Taonga Pūoro workshop and exhibition with
Matiu Bartlett
Date: Saturday September
2nd
Venue: MTG Theatre
Activity: Celebration concert
starring Ngāti Kahungunu Taikura
Date: Thursday
September 14th
Venue: MTG Hawke’s Bay
Actiivty:
Waiata Māori Music Symposium - Panel discussion on the
Music Industry
Date: Thursday September
14th
Venue: Bar 2013, Hastings
Activity: Open Mic
Night
Date: Friday September 15th
Venue: Clubs
Hastings
Activity: 7am Breakfast with the stars
(including finalists & awards ambassadors)
Date:
Friday September 15th
Venue: Clubs Hastings
Activity:
10th Waiata Māori Music Awards
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