People in Your Neighbourhood Celebrating Diversity

People in Your Neighbourhood Celebrating ethnic diversity in music

New Zealand’s most innovative music collaboration, People in Your Neighbourhood (PIYN), is back for 2010. This year’s project features an exciting new cast of Kiwi producers, artists and performers who are co-writing and performing the PIYN show with the help of UK’s acclaimed string section Urban Soul Orchestra (USO), and London street poet and DJ Charlie Dark.

People in Your Neighbourhood, a British Council New Zealand initiative, encourages ethnically diverse communities to be part of a cross platform arts project engaging with some of the UK’s finest modern composers and musicians to create a live show. The shows take place in Auckland on Saturday 8 May, at the Erupt Lake Taupo Festival on Thursday 13 May and in Wellington on Saturday 15 May.

The shows open with Charlie Dark and his spoken word combined with an urban beats showcase. During his performance, he is accompanied by Urban Soul Orchestra strings; Violinist Stephen Hussey, Cellist Kwêsi Edman and Violinist Oakki Lau. Charlie Dark is best known for his work with Attica Blues, Alphabet Soup and the legendary Blacktronica nights. His flamboyant gestures and vocal gymnastics have made a dynamic impact on the UK poetry and performance scene and have taken Dark around the world. The Urban Soul Orchestra is an acclaimed UK string ensemble best known for its work with Soul II Soul, Groove Armada, Gabrielle, Jay-Z, Oasis and Grace Jones.

The second section of the PIYN show is led by local producer David 'Taay Ninh' Wright with a performance that explores his Vietnamese roots through a fusing of contemporary and traditional music, song, dance and visuals. In their first time performing together the performance will feature his mother, Vietnamese Opera vocalist Le Nuong. Based around a suite of five pieces the performance will explore a variety of themes; from the contrast of culture and displacement, to tradition and family. David’s recent projects include producing for the Electric Wire Hustle, a Wellington based soul funk trio.

Local DJ Andy ‘Submariner’ Morton will present a modern urban exploration of beats and sound. Calling on the talent of Brazilian Wellingtonian import Alda Rezende, as well as Ex Trinity Roots drummer Riki Gooch – this section sees a deep and accomplished modern producer work his magic with the USO string section, and musical beds with a surprise technological element.

“People in Your Neighbourhood aims to highlight the increasing multi-ethnicity of New Zealand and act as a vehicle for intercultural collaboration,” says event producer, Gareth Farry.
“We’re really excited to see what the group comes up with, particularly with the addition of acclaimed spoken word artist Charlie Dark and a new Urban Soul Orchestra line-up.”

People In Your Neighbourhood 2010 brings together cultural music from around the world with aspiring NZ urban creatives.

People in Your Neighbourhood shows:
Auckland Saturday 8 May, Winter Garden, Civic
Tickets available from www.the-edge.co.nz
Taupo Thursday 13 May, Erupt Festival
Tickets available from www.taupofest.co.nz
Wellington Saturday 15 May Overseas Terminal Events Centre
Tickets available from www.ticketek.co.nz

ENDS

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