Downstage Launches Soundstage, Kicking Off 7/19 With The Woolshed Sessions

Downstage launches Soundstage, an experiment in music presentation aimed at showcasing Wellington's hottest bands. Tailored for fans that prefer not to do battle with late nights and intoxicated punters, Sunday evening Soundstage gigs are the perfect chance to sit back with some friends, a glass of wine and enjoy the show.

Audiences benefit from seeing their favourite acts in an intimate, seated venue, alleviating annoying sightline issues that you often get watching bands in a bar. Not to mention the added benefit of a respectable 7pm start time!

Downstage Associate Producer Angela Green and curator of Soundstage says "Like a lot of Wellingtonians, I go out to gigs all the time. But nine times out of ten I can't see, or I can't stay for the whole gig because I have work the next day. Surely it's not just me that has that problem!"

Soundstage is more than just a concert in a different timeslot, it is a performance experience. Artistically, the bands have been challenged to put the theatrical environment at Downstage to good use and engage with the audience in a different way, whether premiering new songs, talking about their writing process, using film and projection or costume.

Angela explains, "I am really interested in bands that I know can put together a set that is specifically tailored for this audience. I want to hear their gorgeous, soft songs they don't normally play, I want to hear the stories behind the songs and I also want to bounce around in my seat when the band goes crazy."

Downstage Theatre has enjoyed successful music events in the past -Strike make regular appearances, along with Adam Page and The Lonesome Buckwhips. And who can forget Flight of the Conchords - High on Folk? The confirmed line up for 2009 consists of The Woolshed Sessions, Little Bushman, Samuel F Scott & The B.O.P, Rhian Sheehan and Spartacus R.

Kicking off the Soundstage on 19 July are The Woolshed Sessions - an incredible line-up of some of New Zealand's most respected independent musicians with brand new songs added to their original repertoire. Their self-titled album was recorded in an old woolshed in Takaka Valley, and recently received a four star review in the UK's Q Magazine. The Woolshed Sessions is a fresh approach for New Zealand songwriting and performance, distinguished by lashings of lap-steel guitar, lush vocal harmony sing-a-longs, taonga puoro and banjo punctuations.

19 July - The Woolshed Sessions
2 August - Little Bushman
20 September - Samuel F Scott and The B.O.P
18 October - Rhian Sheehan
15 November - Spartacus R

All events start at 7pm and last about 90 to 120 minutes. Tickets are $35, allocated seating. Visit www.downstage.co.nz/book for more information.