Farm Music - Reset 2020: a Festival for Aotearoa

The sounds of rural Taranaki will be brought to life playfully and surprisingly by a collaboration of participants in Farm Music.

Renowned drummer, composer and educator Chris O’Connor pairs with sound installation artist Dr Bridget Johnson in partnership with the Taranaki Retreat and the Rural Support Trust to bring together a unique community arts collaboration focused on creativity, mental health and wellbeing support for participants.

Farm Music will bring men together over six weeks to explore innovative ways to play with sound and to create their improvised compositions and sound sculptures in a rural environment, from items found in their backyard, shed, paddock or garage.

The men will work with O’Connor (who has performed with musicians as diverse as Don McGlashan, Trinity Roots, Neil Finn, Nadia Reid, Leila Adu, Jeff Henderson and the Auckland Chamber Orchestra) and Johnson, Senior Lecturer at the Massey School of Music and Creative Media Production in Wellington.

Come to the festival to see this innovative installation work showcased, meet the participants and creative team and hear the sounds of rural Taranaki in a brand-new way.

Includes impromptu live performances.