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Music in New England
For a country its size, New England's music scene is one of the most vibrant around. A diverse range of interests has allowed many genres to flourish across the country. The most significant of these have been the alternative, classical and popular genres, which between them make up about 80% of the music and concert sales.
With such a diverse and large music community, services such as studios and music stores for mushroomed in the major centres. A significant development has been the establishment and protection of local record labels, which have gone a long way to encourage and develop music talent.
Genres
Almost any type of music you can imagine is played and heard in New England. Pop, punk, metal, baroque, country, world or jazz are just some of genres that can be heard in clubs, pubs and other venues all over the country. The nation prides itself on diversity, and the musical tastes of its people reflect this. However for all the diversity, there are still three major genres that most turn to when they listen to music.
Alternative - New England has inherited a thriving pop-punk culture from Australia, with groups like Hat Head and Glory by Day enjoyed widespread success overseas. Pop-punk is especially popular amongst younger listeners and those with a more "alternative" perspective on the world.
Classical - Classical music is also respected and enjoyed, with many New Englanders attending performances by the Armidale Symphony Orchestra and the National Philharmonic Orchestra. John Waterhouse is New England's most prominent classical composer.
Popular - Pop music from Australia, Europe and the United States is enjoyed by almost all the community. Locally, famous artists include rock group Sand Tide, who have had three US top ten tracks in the last three years. Solo Pop singers Lauren Nicks and Charlie Henry are well loved locally and abroad. Grafton's James Ferguson is a well known Rock and Folk singer.
Popular music artists usually perform in pubs and clubs, and for big shows will often hire out sporting stadiums for live shows.
Labels
New England has two major record labels and a third smaller label. Almost all local music performers belong to one of these labels. None of the local labels are affiliated or owned by the huge musical behemoths that exist in the US, Australia and Europe. New England's cultural protection laws largely prevent this from occurring. The labels are:
New Digital – New Digital was one of the first labels to utilise only digital media when it was established in 2016. New Digital does not release albums for sale on disk (CDs are now long gone and have been replaced by SuperDisks or SDs). All sales are provided through a variety of digital music stores of which there are three in New England.
New Digital has many of the most popular artists in New England on its books, including Charlie Henry, Seb Owen and Sammy Michelle.
Image – The second largest label, Image has a number of more established artists signed, including James Ferguson and Sand Tide. Unlike its large rival, Image has a mixed sales mode, with digital sales being complimented by the sales of SuperDisks. Whilst this mixed mode selling has been a cost disadvantage, the ability for older people to utilise technology they prefer (older folk have consistently purchased disks over the user digital music stores) means the SD sales provide some advantage for Image over its digital only rival.
RTNE Records – RTNE, the national broadcaster, owns and operates a small label for its various musical interests. The flagship artists on the label is the Armidale Symphony Orchestra, but a number of smaller folk and country artists are also on RTNE as part of it's obligation to uphold New England's cultural; diversity. Most of RTNE Record's sales are via digital music stores, but a significant amount are still made on SDs
Venues
A favourite past time of almost every New Englander is go out to a live concert. Most people will go out once every few weeks, although those more dedicated souls can be seen out every week. As you expect, almost any genre can be heard at the various locations that have opened to entertain. Unlike the old days, when venues were smoky, crowded and uncomfortable places, the average venue nowadays is airy, comfortable and clean. New England's public health laws would not allow it any other way.
Some of the more well known venues include:
- Laureldale Hotel - Armidale (Rock and Punk)
- Drummond Park Music Dome - Armidale (Classical)
- Parkview Hotel - Grafton (Rock)
- Tattersall's Hotel - Armidale (Jazz)
- Seven's Nightclub - Armidale (Pop and Dance)
- Club Hotel - Guyra (Country)
- Shelly Beach Hotel - Port Macquarie (Punk)
Music of New England
Alternative: Glory by Day · Hat Head · Seb Owen
Classical: Armidale Symphony Orchestra · National Philharmonic Orchestra · John Waterhouse
Popular Artists: James Ferguson · Charlie Henry · Sammy Michelle · Lauren Nicks · Sand Tide · Wonderfish
