‘The Wall’ brings international acts to Hamilton

Hamilton’s nightlife scene has seen a shift of direction with the rise of The Wall.

In collaboration with Something Real (New Zealand music blog), the movement known as The Wall has set up shop in Hamilton.

The mid-week event held every Thursday at The Back Bar hosts international acts from around the world.

Bevan Nichols, creator of somethingreal.co.nz and driving force for The Wall, says the international flavour is overdue.

“Hamilton desperately needed something like this. For too long if you went out midweek, your only option was some glorified iPod playing top 40. The Wall has changed this.”

With DJs from Canada, France and Spain having played in the last three weeks, The Wall is gearing up for one of its biggest acts yet.

Danny Byrd, a household name in the underground music scene, will be playing at The Back Bar on the 5th of June with fellow British producer TAI.

Nichols is excited to see Byrd in the flesh.

“Drum and Bass is just so huge in this country, the fact Hospital Records come every year and host a stage at Rhythm and Vines is a perfect example of this. It’s rare for a genuine underground producer to break into the mainstream and still remain ‘cool’.”

Jared Mather, Hamilton DJ and blogger for Something Real, likes the variety of The Wall.

“Each artist brings their own style of music and genre to The Wall which means there is always something for anyone and a new experience each time.”

Bringing international acts to New Zealand hasn’t been easy.

“Many of us have lost thousands putting on these shows alongside sleepless nights and crazy hours all ‘for the good of the scene’,” Nichols says.

“The pre-sales, the door entries, buying a drink, even the odd facebook like go so far, they make it all possible.”

Visit The Wall’s facebook page for information on final release tickets for Danny Byrd: www.facebook.com/thewallhamilton

For the latest on electronic and underground music visit www.somethingreal.co.nz