The annual ceremony for New Zealand’s prestigious songwriter’s prize the Apra Silver Scroll Awards will be at Wellington’s TSB Bank Arena on October 30.
The event has traditionally been held in Auckland and was last held in Wellington in 2004.Past winners include Ray Columbus, Hammond Gamble, Shona Laing, Dave Dobbyn, Bic Runga, Don McGlashan, Neil Finn, Chris Knox and Brooke Fraser. Last year’s winner was Lorde – Ella Yelich-O’Connor and Joel Little for Royals.
Apra has decided to return to Wellington to reach more of the Australasian Performing Right Association’s members.
“Music is synonymous with Wellington – the capital city is renowned for its vital music scene and close-knit music community.” says Apra spokesman Anthony Healey.
Wellington musician Luke Buda of the band Phoenix Foundation, won the award in 2009 for co-writing the song Apple Pie Bed with James Milne of Lawrence Arabia.
”Apart from the fact that the actual awards are highly respected, as they are voted on by other musicians, composers and songwriters, [it’s] a great chance to catch up with a bunch of people you don’t get to see that often,” he said.
”It’s just marvellous that finally after being held hostage in Auckland for too long, the Silver Scrolls Awards is coming to Wellington,” joked Black Seeds and Fly My Pretties’ frontman Barnaby Weir.
”I’ll get to go and join in on celebrating our countries finest songwriters in person.”
The event will also include the winner of the Sounz Contemporary and Apra Maioha awards, for excellence in contemporary composition and Maori music, the Most Played New Zealand Works awards, and an induction into the NZ Music Hall of Fame.
Wellington City Council is also backing the event. “The awards have a long history of recognising excellence, and it’s Wellington’s pleasure to welcome the awards back to our vibrant music community for 2014,” says Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown.
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