Otago University’s research library, archive and art gallery, Hocken Collections has a number of special events taking place throughout NZ Music Month.
Photo: Hocken Collections (from Lindsay Donovan papers)
Hocken is celebrating New Zealand Music Month with a number of music events including a talk from Dr. Graeme Downes, founding member and lead singer of iconic Dunedin band The Verlaines, on the creative process behind the band’s latest album Dunedin Spleen.
The talk takes place at 6pm on Thursday, May 16 in the Hocken Library Seminar Room.
There’s also a display in the Hocken foyer showcasing the richness of its music-related collections.
The display is open throughout May, Monday to Saturday from 10am to 5pm.
It presents images from Otago’s musical past including an image of Otago Univerity’s 1960 ‘capping sextet’ a – male vocal group that has been a feature of the student association’s Capping Show for over a century, a shot of 1960s Dunedin pop group The Catlins River Boys (above), and a photograph of the Dunedin Ladies’ Scottish Pipe Band.
Dunedin Ladies' Scottish Pipe Band performing for the British Sailors’ Society Seamen's Mission Appeal c. 1940s. Photo: Hocken Collections
Other events include Shakedown! A celebration of 60s Dunedin band culture, including music from The Titans and the Catlins River Boys, featuring music not heard for decades. It takes place at 6pm on Thursday, May 30 at the Hocken Library.
And Exploring Our Musical Worlds, an evening of talks from three post grad music researchers, exploring four different musical ‘worlds’, which takes place on Thursday, May 23 in te Hocken Library Seminar Room, and includes the following topics:
- Scotland's specialist music education - Sara Brown
- The 1960s Māori showband movement - Louise Kewene-Doig
- The remaking and reworking of the pop song - Amanda Mills
