The Performance Arcade - Fortune Favours Music Series Captures The Best Sounds Of Aotearoa

Fortune Favours Music Series captures the best sounds of Aotearoa

The Performance Arcade is a beloved free, award-winning summer festival that celebrates artists, live art, music and performances, delighting audiences with contemporary art and performance on the waterfront - outside the constraints of gallery or theatre spaces.

Amidst COVID Red Level restrictions, The Performance Arcade is proceeding with all possible care, becoming one of the few small-scale, open air events capable of going ahead under red.

Fortune Favours Music Series Director Reuben Topzand is proud to be celebrating the work of over 100 local artists, saying; “This year’s music series truly showcases some of the best of Pōneke’s music scene, with a massively diverse lineup of music, dance and drag.”

“This year features some exciting collaborations and firsts for the Arcade. These include local collectives such as Femme n Bass, who have curated a lineup of femme and non binary DJs, Pōneke Classical, who’ll be bringing us a string of classical performances, and MAWSA, who’ll be putting on an afternoon of top picks from Massey University music students. Each of these collaborations have helped widen the communities involved in the event, while also bringing a unique and diverse range of performers to the stage, helping to make this year’s programme so vibrant and enticing!”

The Arcade is lucky to be working with the passionate beer people from Fortune Favours, who have come on board as our Music Series naming sponsor and will be hosting our pop-up bar experience. It's a perfect match, with Fortune's manifesto of; “We celebrate those who are like us and seek to make their mark on the world. The Kiwi’s who create the extraordinary. The ‘I’m going to give it a crack’, ‘go hard’, ‘go all in’ types. You know who you are.”

Our artists come from all over Aotearoa and include crowd favourites such as KITA, Miles Calder, Sheeps, Alba Rose, Chica La Cumbia, Will McClean & The Zooks, Wiri Donna, Louis TM, SMP Ensemble and many more.

A few Fortune Favours Music Series highlights includes:

One third of the Femme n Bass crew, Lexi (aka DJ Gallexi) has became known for playing sets consisting exclusively of Britney Spears ‘Toxic’ mashups at some of NZ’s finest underground festivals and currently co-hosts the Friday Drive with Stella-Rae on Radio Active FM. “With my love for femme hip hop & soul expect 100% pleasure, 0% guilt.” Gallexi will be performing at 9pm, Sunday 27 February.

The capital's coolest classical music series is hitting The Performance Arcade to host a two hour set of experimental and explorative classical music from 5.30pm, Sunday 20 February. Clarinettist and Pōneke Classical Manager Leah Thomas says: “Get ready for bass saxophone loops, to be serenaded by flute and guitar, and push the boundaries on what is "classical music" with Martin Greshoff's string ensemble. Whether you know your Mozart from your Beethoven, or never listened to classical music before - this set will have something for you!”

Bringing the motivational, self-loving, aunty-energy that you never knew you needed is soul-pop singer Taylah Barker, who has opened for bands such as: Fly my Pretties, Troy Kingi and Hollie Smith, and will be performing 6pm, Friday 18 February. "More like The Performance ArcYAYde! I am thrilled to be performing again at the PA22. I'll be coming in hot with some brand spankin' new songs to share making this a uniquely intimate show, where I'll be showcasing a stripped back version of my tracks. I can't wait!"

South African-born artist InDuna brings his afro-pop infused, alternative hip-hop sound and sends a positive message of hope with a new EP that addresses acceptance, having pride in his heritage, saying: “Come along the waterfront on the 25th of February at 8pm and get a little taste of Africa in Wellington. I’m excited for our community to finally come together and to share my new EP with you all. Let’s look forward to the good days!”

Family friendly, accessible and the perfect date night or summer hang with friends - there is something for everyone at The Performance Arcade 2022 this summer on the beautiful Wellington Waterfront, Te Whanganui-a-Tara, (the site is behind Te Papa).

Check out the full Fortune Favours Music Series programme today at https://www.theperformancearcade.com/programme

© Scoop Media