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by New Zealand Broadcasting School students

A month in orange: live music back with a bang

Culture

Hannah Powell
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Flux celebrates its first weekend back in April.  Photos by Finn McCall and Frances Scrimgeour

Four weeks since the traffic light changed, live music venues are happy to be back in full swing. Many are excited to host events again with minimal disruption from Covid-19.

After closing its doors during red, Flux co-owner Finn McCall says the home of house and techno is relieved to be back.

“Everyone’s shown big support, everyone’s come out. It’s been busy almost every single night.”

Although red gave the venue breathing space and time to re-evaluate, McCall is glad to return with new acts, production ideas, drinks and food.

The biggest adjustment for McCall has been the late nights and seven-day isolation. Although in orange, the city is not out of the woods yet.

“That’s definitely been a hard thing, knowing that Covid is still in the community in Christchurch,” McCall said.

Two Minds co-founder Corban Tupou said they were blessed to have the very first night back in the Flux courtyard. The collective was able to host their Homecoming gig, rescheduled from their first nationwide summer tour earlier in the year.

Tupou said it was three months of sitting and eagerly waiting to pick up where they left off. 

"There was a feeling in the air that people were itching to get back on the dance floor, shake off some energy in a way that they haven't been able to do for some time."

He said after that night he felt elated.

"It feels good to have a lot of the things we've been working on in the shadows come back into the light.

"We've got a lot of things we're really excited to bring into the world this year and throwing gigs is a massive part of those ideas."

 

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Event manager Ross Jones has been filling up Dux Central's calendar since. 

With a history of live music through its three branches Dux Live, Dux Central, and Dux Deluxe, Jones has been working hard to bring students into the central bar. 

After the announcement of orange, Dux Central was able to get back to hosting their Thursday student night 'Colour'.

Before then, Jones said he had booked more bands for Dux than he had seen play.

"I started Colour as I wanted to get a bit of momentum going," Jones said.

"The whole basis of [Colour] is amplifying local artists and originals...with little to no drum and bass later on."

'Colour' gigs started back last week, in line with university students returning for their second term. 

The gigs have been stop-start since the beginning of last year. But with free hot dogs, cheap drinks, and a bus to and from the UC campus, it's expected Dux will see a clean run without Covid disruption.

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Another venue of local importance, Smash Palace, has just celebrated its 10-year anniversary. 

Owner Johnny Moore said they wouldn't have been able to do it if it wasn't for the change in traffic light.

The lead-up to the event was only a few days’ notice but certainly brought a bustling crowd. 

"Because we've had so many events over the last two years cancelled, we were reluctant to do anything...[but] we just thought, bugger it, we can do it and we will do it". 

Moore says the return has been fantastic.

With live music venues back at it, Christchurch city can focus on accommodating the local music scene once again. 

An orange light is bright enough to bring those back through the doors and onto the dancefloor.