Nelson Winter Music Festival

Awaken from your mid-winter slumber and head out to Nelson’s fiesta of world-class music ranging from dub to jazz to classical. | By Sarah Ryder
If you’re looking for a sure-fire way to make a quick buck, running a two-week music festival in the depths of a Nelson winter probably isn’t it. It’s notoriously difficult to prise us locals from the comfort of our couches and fires in winter – a fact to which many bar and restaurant owners can attest.

Yet the Nelson Winter Music Festival held in July is now in its seventeenth year, attracts around 5,000 punters and sells out tickets to the majority of its shows. So what’s going on?

The driving force behind the festival is Nelson School of Music manager Frances McElhinney. With her long dark hair, husky voice and laid-back glamour, you’d think she was a jazz singer herself, although she swears she’s not musically gifted.

“I’m an appreciator; we can’t all be on the stage. I grew up with musicians, I married a musician (Mike McElhinney, manager of The Radio Network Nelson), I work with musicians and I gave birth to a musician (Joe McElhinney, the drummer for Luger Boa) so music is something that’s very emotive and significant to me. And all musicians need an audience,” she says.

Luckily for the rest of us, it’s this passion for music that drives Frances to pull together a world-class line-up of live acts each year, working with just a skeleton staff and a tight budget. With a team of two full-timers (Frances and one other), two part-timers and the rest of the work done by contractors and volunteers, arranging the annual festival is a big ask, and the line-up is normally arranged months in advance.

When I spoke with Frances in May, arrangements were already well underway for 2011. So how does she go about selecting the acts?

“People often present themselves. Also the Performing Arts Network of NZ holds an annual performing arts market, which I went to for the first time this year. It was great because it meant that all the artists came prepared with their musical samples, promos, photos and bios. If they don’t have those, it creates a lot more work.”

“Sometimes I just stumble across an act (usually on someone’s recommendation), and MySpace is brilliant for being able to listen to different artists. All musicians should have a MySpace page,” she says.

According to Frances, it’s the quality of the shows that gets Nelsonians out in their droves for the festival in the depths of winter.

“There are a lot of music lovers out there who love listening to quality live music. Plus most of these bands wouldn’t otherwise come through Nelson. But we also work to keep the ticket prices accessible and affordable, and the early-bird incentive works really well,” she says.

The school’s impressive facilities are another reason that it regularly attracts quality acts, both nationally and internationally. The 100-year-old auditorium is acclaimed as having the best acoustic qualities in the southern hemisphere. And in 2009 – thanks to a generous donation by Nelson businessman Murray Sturgeon and his wife, Jocelyn – the school now boasts a brand new Steinway grand piano with a replacement value of $225,000.

Frances says the gift saved the school “around two years of intensive fundraising” and will help them continue to attract the best musicians from around the world.

“The reality is that a Steinway has a lot of mana; the name carries a certain cachet and respect. We have this beautiful auditorium and now a new Steinway. For a pianist, it doesn’t get much better than that,” she says.

The new Steinway was shipped directly from the Steinway factory in Hamburg, Germany, after being selected by London-based Australian pianist Piers Lane (who had previously played in the auditorium and knew the acoustics). Murray and Jocelyn Sturgeon also assisted in the selection process. Murray says visiting the factory was “a fantastic and most memorable occasion”. The piano was selected from amongst about 30 tested.

“While Piers was making his selection, Jocelyn and I had a guided tour around the factory. Piers found us and said, ‘Well, I’ve made my selection. Come and see what you think.’ He’d closed all of the lids, save three. He then played the same tune on each – Mendelssohn, I think it was – and it was an obvious choice.”

As long-time supporters of the school, Murray says he and Jocelyn thought the gift would be “a nice thing to do for the school and for the region”. While the Steinway doesn’t feature heavily in this year’s programme (the line-up was basically fixed by the time it arrived), it will be a big focus for 2011.

Two of the biggest-name acts in the 2010 line up are dDub, the Auckland seven-piece rock/roots band who will play the opening concert, and Luger Boa, headed by frontman Jimmy Christmas of The D4 fame.

dDub’s Derek Browne (lead vocals/guitar) says the band loves playing in Nelson. “We played in Nelson a couple of years ago at the Winter Fest and it was awesome; a great bunch of people and the crowds are really good.”

dDub was started by Derek about 8 or 9 years ago, and many musicians have come and gone since. The current line-up includes Matt Shanks (bass/backup vocals (BVs)), Chris Grant (drums), Steve Fulford (guitar/BVs), Andrew Hall (sax/trumpet/BVs) and Tim Atkinson (sax).

“We started out jamming with acoustic stuff and just built it from there. It was a really slow-starting band; it was pretty organic,” says Derek. “The cool thing about being a live band is, because you’re playing live heaps, the sound keeps changing and that’s a good thing. I think we’ve become a lot more defined in our ‘dDub’ sound.”

Luger Boa was formed after The D4 called it quits in 2006. Lead singer/guitarist Jimmy Christmas set about working on a new project he would eventually name Luger Boa, and their debut album ‘Mutate or Die’ was released in 2008. They’re currently working on a new one, due for release later this year.

Christmas says the band (Ryan Thomas (guitar), Sam Lockley (guitar), Simon Nicholls (bass) and Joe Mac (drums)) “never takes anything for granted”, and they’ll be working hard to put on a “high-energy show with a touch of soul” when they play in Nelson.

“We have our high-energy rock ’n’ roll moments but we’re also very melodic. Musically, the quality is very high and the band are all well-skilled musicians,” he says.

Christmas says playing music in front of a live crowd is the ultimate energy buzz. Music also provides “an outlet for the darker, more introspective parts of my psyche”.

“Since I was a kid, music was something that connected with me emotionally, and I’m an emotional guy. I’ve just signed on for a lifetime of highs and lows with music, instead of the safer middle ground.”

Christmas says the inspiration for his songs simply comes from life. “It might sound clichéd and vague, but it’s an opportunity to explore the range of emotions. Right now, it means everything to me.”


SIDEBAR

HISTORY

Nelson School of Music’s Winter Festival is now in its seventeenth year. The festival started back in 1994 as a one-off celebration of the school’s 100th birthday.

The first Winter Festival featured such Kiwi music luminaries as Dame Malvina Major, Michael Houstoun, Tim Finn, Dave Dobbyn, Moana and the Moahunters and Shona Laing.

Nelson School of Music manager Frances McElhinney says the original concept was very much about “celebrating this fantastic venue that we have”. It proved so successful that it was made an annual event. Under Pete Rainey’s direction during the 1990s, the festival broadened its focus, incorporating theatre and comedy as well as music.

Today, the Winter Festival runs over two weeks and attracts around 5,000 visitors. The focus is firmly back on music, with acts ranging from classical to rock, from children’s concerts to those for the ‘serious’ music buffs, and includes local, national and international talent.


THIS YEAR’S LINE-UP

It might be a cliché, but this year’s line-up really does feature something for everyone. Whether your tastes run to classical or rock, reggae or jazz, there’ll be something to get you off the couch:

If you love rock, roots and reggae…

dDub’s opening party is a must. Renowned for their ‘cranking and skanking’ live shows, dDub never fails to connect with the crowd. dDub’s Derek Browne describes their sound as “kind of like Fat Freddy’s Drop on speed – dubby but upbeat”.

If you’re up for some high-energy, high-octane sound…

Don’t miss Luger Boa, supported by local band The Immigrants. The brainchild of The D4 legend Jimmy Christmas, Luger Boa encapsulates everything a great rock band should be. Described by The Rock radio station as “high-intensity rock ’n’ roll with a groove like The Hives meets Bowie meets AC/DC”.

STRIKE’s high-energy drumming is the festival’s grand finale, featuring the exhilaration of live percussionists who beat, bang, hammer and cajole a range of traditional and custom-made instruments into life in an exciting concert. STRIKE is also running drumming workshops on the Saturday prior, and workshop participants will be invited to perform on stage alongside them.

If you love the sound of a live orchestra or brass band…

Dress up in your best Bond gears and check out the James Bond party by the Nelson Symphony Orchestra with Tim Beveridge and special guests Tina Cross and Taisha (both of The Lady Killers’ fame) as well as jazz siren Caitlin Smith. The concert will showcase the songs and music from the iconic James Bond films between 1962’s Dr No to 2008’s Quantum of Solace. For Bond fans, it will be a perfect night of entertainment to leave you both shaken and stirred…

The Tasman Brass Ensemble plays a wide variety of music ranging from Bach to The Beatles. Described by The Nelson Mail as “a tonic for the musically depressed”, the group is a combination of veteran talent and experience, and youthful energy and vigour.

If you’re a classical fan…

Violinist Josef Spacek – winner of the Michael Hill International Violin Competition – accompanied by Michael Houstoun on the Nelson School of Music’s new Steinway piano is a must-see. Recently graduated from the Curtis Institute of Music, Josef Spacek will begin post-graduate studies at Juilliard with Itzak Perlman later this year. His programme weaves music from diverse cultures and traditions into a stunning display of virtuosity and musicianship.

The three essentials of the Nelson School of Music – teaching, performance and the beauty of the historic auditorium – come together in the celebration of young people and their musical skills. This year’s concert features current students who have achieved scholarships on a range of instruments from wind to brass to strings and, of course, the new piano. The Schola Musica Youth Chamber Orchestra adds to this concert.

If you want to hear the school’s 100-year-old organ being played in expert hands…

Feel the foundations shake when renowned concert organist Kemp English puts the school’s magnificent three-manual organ through its paces. After a six-year hiatus, English is back in town to give the organ the treatment he made famous with the Stormin’ Norma CDs. Come and enjoy the thrilling, thunderous sound and discover why Mozart described the organ as the ‘King of Instruments’.

If you love a bit of Irish music…

Originally known for their Celtic sound, Cairde’s acoustic sound now covers contemporary songs from New Zealand as well as traditional Irish songs. Collectively, Cairde produce beautiful harmonies, and their original arrangements set the music apart and make it unique.

If you’re into funk/soul/jazz…

Iva Lamkum describes her sound as “street soul”. This 23-year-old from Wellington (of Samoan/Chinese heritage) has been tipped as ‘one to watch’ by Rip it Up magazine, and many are picking this extraordinary singer/songwriter to go far. Her soulfully rich voice delivers a funk-soul sound peppered with elements of jazz and rock. Backed by her band of outstanding top Wellington musicians, don’t miss this up-and-comer.

You’ll also want to check out Like Someone in Love: The life and death of Chet Baker. Through songs and narrative, this play looks at legendary jazz trumpeter Chet Baker’s successes, weaknesses, demise and sudden death. It combines beautifully melodic music, raw dialogue and insight. The line-up features David Goldthorpe (vocals and trumpet), Liam Ryan (piano), Mostyn Cole (double bass) and Doug Stenhouse (drums).

If you want to boogie down to some old favourites…

Get your dancing shoes on and head out to Tom Sharplin and The Cadillacs. Tom performs classic rock ’n’ roll songs in his own style, like Heartbreak Hotel, Pretty Woman, Crazy Little Thing Called Love and Ten Guitars.

If you’re a Bob Dylan fan…

Get along to Graham Wardrop and friends playing the songs of music legend Bob Dylan, from the classics to his more recent hits.

If you want something to take the kids to…

The Funky Monkeys have been singing and dancing for young audiences around Aotearoa since 2003. As a live act, audiences are presented with fun, original songs boasting a wide palette of musical genres, including rock, country, hip-hop, funk, classical and new wave. Kids are encouraged to get up and join in the fun. Good, wholesome family entertainment is what these guys do best.

LaLaLuna is an internationally-acclaimed theatre sensation for the young and the young at heart. LaLaLuna is a surreal, whimsical tale of the moon’s caretaker as he struggles to relight the darkened moon after the lights go out. LaLaLuna is circus, theatre and film woven together with a poetic and comical physical language of its own.

At Ferdinand and Friends (4-8 year olds), children will hear the story of the bull who just wanted to ‘smell the flowers’. Movie Mania is for older kids (7-11 year olds) and features music and slides from Lord of the Rings, Star Wars and Harry Potter films. Kids can win prizes by dressing up as their favourite movie character.


The Nelson Winter Music Festival runs from 9-25 July 2010. For a full copy of the programme, check out www.nelsonwinterfestival.co.nz or pick up a copy from the library, retails stores or at the Nelson School of Music (48 Nile Street, ph 548 9477).