A new exhibition is set to pull the curtain back on Auckland’s legendary live music scene from 15 April at Central City Library. Encore! invites all Aucklanders to turn up the volume on their wildest concert memories and celebrate the enduring power of live music in Tāmaki Makaurau.
As a UNESCO-recognised City of Music, Auckland has a soul built on sound. Encore! dives deep into Auckland Libraries’ vast archival treasure trove. It unearths rare ticket stubs, sound recordings, photographs, magazines and hand-drawn posters to tell the stories of the iconic venues and thrilling nights that have defined Auckland’s cultural life. From jazz at The Crystal Palace Theatre in the 1960s and progressive rock at Granny’s and Granpa’s in the 1970s to dance music at The Box in the 1990s.
“Whether you were front-row at a sweat-soaked punk gig or haven’t yet experienced the intimacy of a smoky jazz club, Encore! offers a bridge across decades and genres”, says Zoe Colling, Lead Curator, Auckland Council Libraries.
Image reference: Bob Marley concert ticket, 1979. Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections (Reference: Eph‑Item00052/01).
“This exhibition explores the ‘traces’ that live music experiences leave behind: the ticket stubs kept from our best concerts, the magazines that reviewed our favourite performances, and the souvenir records we listened to on repeat at home. Encore! is an invitation to relive your wildest concert memories or discover the legendary scenes you only wish you’d been there to see first-hand.”
The collection showcases events ranging from the Talking Heads at the Town Hall in the 1970s, Summer Series concerts in Albert Park in the early 2000s to a small open mic night at Temple Bar in the 1990s.
“Music builds connection and a sense of belonging,” says Community Committee Deputy Chair, Councillor Bo Burns.
“By exploring these stories, Encore! provides an opportunity to step back in time and replay these memories that all Aucklanders can relate to, no matter your musical tastes. Come along and discover the sprawling sounds, the iconic faces and electric spaces that make our city hum.”
Image reference: Stuart Page. Fatal Jelly Space at the Powerstation, Mount Eden, 1989. Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections (Reference: 273 PAG038/08).
Encore! launches on 15 April. To keep the rhythm going, the exhibition will be accompanied by an exciting line-up of live musical events of different genres, scheduled throughout its 6-month run at Central City Library.
What to expect at Encore!:
- Relive legendary moments: Experience the scale of a sold-out Western Springs gig or the intimacy of a dancehall gig at Galatos.
- The venue evolution: Learn how iconic spaces changed names and how the music played there has shifted over time.
- Share your story: Visitors are invited to recall their best live music memories and share them in the exhibition.
- Deep dives: Explore the richness of music material held in Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections! Tune into the wider programme of events surrounding the exhibition, like Opening Day on April 18 for live DJ-ing and Vinyl giveaways.