Support your local musicians and artists
Posted on Thursday 2 April 2020
Photo: Lift Off Abel Tasman, taken by Leroy Bull Photography
One thing that Nelson Tasman does incredibly well is create. Whether that’s art, music, food or beverages, the desire to craft extraordinary things is just a part of our local culture.
Our expressive community is made up of a range of independent ground-breaking artists and musicians, drawing inspiration from the natural beauty that surrounds us. Visitors are often surprised by the depth of talent that exists here, as they attend events, markets and shows that showcase the passion our locals have for creating art, culture and music.
Saturday mornings in the city consist of busking performances, whilst evening dining is complemented by the sweet sound of music. Gigs and music festivals form the foundation of a vibrant year-round events calendar, including Opera in the Park, Bay Dreams Festival and the Adam Chamber Music Festival. The ability to experience these extraordinary performances in the flesh is simply not possible right now, but that doesn’t mean we can’t appreciate some local tunes from the comfort of our couch.
At this very moment, we are all feeling the impacts of the nationwide lockdown, and every business will be adjusting to a new normal – whatever that may be. As we take steps to stop the spread of COVID-19, our self-employed musicians and artists, along with other businesses, are grappling with a range of challenges, including gig cancellations and performance postponements.
As a community, we have become accustomed to rallying together in times of crises – floods, cyclones, bush fires and viruses... it seems that nothing will stop us from igniting our community spirit and showing the love in any way that we can.
Whether you’re working from home, self-isolating or just taking a stroll during the lockdown period, music is sure to bring a feeling of calm amongst the chaos. So, we encourage you over the next few weeks to become a truly conscious music listener and support your local artists. Plug in your headphones, turn the volume up loud, and listen to the sweet sounds of Nelson Tasman!
Here’s some tips to support your local artists:
- Give them some serious streaming attention by subscribing via different platforms (Spotify, Youtube, iTunes). Whilst they may not earn big bucks from this, every royalty they receive from the platform counts.
- Spread the word with friends and family about the songs you can’t help but keep on replay.
- Text your favourite radio stations to request local music, or comment on their social media accounts to place your requests. The artists will earn royalties from any commercial radio play and it costs you nothing to show them support via these avenues.
- And of course, when this is all over, make sure to support them when they are once again able to perform live at our regional gigs and festivals!
During a time when it seems tough to physically explore and feel connected to your local area, we hope this Spotify playlist made up of a diverse range of Nelson Tasman artists enables you to feel connected to the Nelson Tasman creative community.
Do you know of a local musician who isn’t on the playlist? Flick us an email at website@nelsontasman.nz or message us on Facebook, and we will be sure to add them!
