Donkey Punk - Rocking The House For A Worthy Cause

An Auckland teen rock band is working hard to raise money for young New Zealanders suffering from cancer. Rock band, Donkeypunk, is going to play a benefit concert for cancer suffers in Auckland on April 28.

Donkey Punk.

“Donkey Punk approached us with the offer to fund raise at a concert. They were also affected by a college friend who experienced cancer, which is what had prompted them to think of CanTeen,” says Allie Chetwynd, Auckland CanTeen spokesperson.

Donkeypunk is a relatively new band and their goal is to support charities like canteen. “This is a great opportunity for us to join forces with ‘Canteen’ and rock the house for a worthy cause that we all believe in.”

The band is donating 50% of the total proceeds to Canteen which is a charity that supports cancer suffers between the ages of 13 and 24. CanTeen not only serves patients but their families as well, as both are affected by the cancer experience.

This event will not only provide some much needed financial assistance but it will give the band some relevant exposure as well. “This is a very relevant cause for our demographic fan base,” says Sam Polwart, lead vocals for the band.

A major focus of the charity is to host a range of events for both patients and family members says Sarah Maud the Auckland Canteen representative. The donation from Donkeypunk will assist with these events.

“These events normalise the effects of cancer on our lives as we are given opportunities to talk about our experience with people who have been through a similar situation,” says Ms Maud.

Helping a charity is important to each of the band members. “CanTeen’ has been involved in all of our high school lives growing up and it seemed fit to return the favour,” says Mr Polwart.

Donkypunk’s music is “diverse rock punk” sound. The show will kick off with other rock bands including Catalyst, Alison lake, November Zulu at Freyberg Place in Central Auckland.

But the band members cannot quit there day jobs just yet as their first album is only around 50% complete. “We are scheduled to have it finished and released by the end of the Christmas,” says Mr Polwart.

Fans can expect the next album to include a few New Zealand artists. “We have just finished recording some of the synthesised parts for the album performed by our good friend Carlos Voight,” says Mr Polwart.

Donkeypunk love New Zealand music and are inspired by bands such as Steriogram, Shihad, Blindspot and the Datsuns.

While New Zealand is their home the band plans to take their music to the Asian & Australian Markets as well as further abroad. “Several plans are already in place however our group is constantly searching for new opportunities to take our music outside New Zealand,” says Mr Polwart.

The band has been working to achieve each of their goals. “Releasing a radio single & music video to going on a tour for the first time together, we have achieved everything ourselves without assistance from management or a financial backer. To us that’s pretty awesome,” says Mr Polwart.

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