“I think music in itself is healing. It’s an explosive expression of humanity. It’s something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we’re from, we’re all touched by music.” ~ Billy Joel
Our musical mission
We couldn’t have said it better ourselves, Billy. How lucky we are to be able to experience and explore music in a myriad of ways in our own back yard.
Mostly Music started in 2022 with one clear intention: create a gig guide and ensure people know that there are many great gigs going on in this part of the world! That goal was quickly realised, and we’ve sent a weekly gig guide out ever since we launched.
Our journey is now about a much bigger movement.
We believe music is vital to society. It transcends generations, brings people together, and drives cultural and social change. However, despite its importance, we as a society sometimes struggles to fully recognise music’s vital role.
Today, the challenges Mostly Music faces go beyond simply sharing event information. There is a need for greater awareness of music's contribution to all generations, affordable spaces where musicians can perform, and opportunities for individuals at any stage of their musical journey to receive the support they need to thrive. For us this looks like seeking adequate funding to support the work that we’re doing — because it’s making a difference!
In Aotearoa we are fortunate to be surrounded by countless opportunities to experience live music, with Kāpiti and Horowhenua alone often hosting at least 15 live music events each week, especially during the summer months. Our first challenge was to create a platform which meant the community could find out about these events in time to experience them.
Our mission has evolved from simply gathering event details to becoming a central hub for everything related to local music. We're not just listing events; we're building a community that actively supports musicians, venues, and music lovers alike. Our vision is bigger than just sharing information — it's about creating a sustainable platform where music thrives in every corner of our region.
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Community Connection: We’re dedicated to connecting local musicians, venues, and music lovers by providing a centralised space to promote and celebrate live music events and the local music scene
Artist & Venue Support: We're committed to promoting local talent, providing resources to musicians, and giving venues the exposure they deserve for hosting incredible events
Building a Thriving Music Ecosystem: We're not just about promoting concerts. We're creating long-term support for the local music industry, ensuring a vibrant and sustainable scene
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Discrimination against any kind of musician: everyone is equal on this platform, and we embrace diversity
Discrimination against genres: everything from death metal to traditional waiata to free jazz is welcome
Excluding covers gigs from the event calendar: Kāpiti and Horowhenua’s music communities are alive and well with some phenomenal original artists, and it just so happens that some of these artists also play covers in various ensembles at our local venues from time to time. Supporting them supports their journey as an original artist
Short-term impact: this is not just a temporary fix for event listings. We’re building a platform for long-term, meaningful contributions to the local music scene
What started as a small collective of local musicians frustrated by the lack of a central music event listing has now blossomed into a powerful resource for the entire local music scene. We were tired of hearing about gigs too late and seeing scattered event info online, so we built Mostly Music as a solution.
We care deeply about music being shared and appreciated for the inclusive, soulful art form that it is — it’s really as simple as that. So having one dedicated public place where anyone could visit and see what’s coming up around town was our first priority when we began designing what Mostly Music could be.
As we move forward, we’re focused on creating sustainable opportunities for musicians, venues, and creatives working in the music industry, and we will continue growing as an inclusive platform where music lovers and creators can connect, collaborate, and thrive.
Mostly Music in your neighbourhood?
Right now our focus is on live music events in Kāpiti and Horowhenua because that’s the place we call home, and supporting our own community is at the forefront of our minds. But we also recognise that the digital infrastructure we have carefully created would be useful in other communities, and that there are further opportunities to help support creatives working in the music industry. If you'd like to see Mostly Music in your town, or have ideas on how we can work together, we’d love to hear from you. The journey continues to surprise and delight us, and we would love to help other communities in the same way we’ve helped ours.