A free pop-up community concert will showcase some of Southland’s young musical talent this Friday. 

South Alive and Southern District Health Board have organised the concert to celebrate Smokefree May, Youth Week and New Zealand Music Month. 

The free event will be held from 3.15pm at South Alive Community Park on Ness Street, Invercargill. 

Jo Grimwood of Public Health South, who helped organise the event, says the concert is a great way to celebrate the coinciding of the smokefree, youth and New Zealand music initiatives.

“It’s aligned really nicely. The students who we have performing are preparing for the Smokefree Rock Quest, which is held in Invercargill next month. These amazing rangitahi (young people) are really open to sharing with the community, with people coming along.”

“We’ve tried to do this twice before, but the weather just hasn’t been good. It’s looking good for Friday though, 15 degrees on overcast, but that’ll do.”

The concert will be promoting the Smokefree ‘We’re Backing You’ campaign, which puts a positive and supportive spin on people’s journey to quit smoking, says Grimwood.  

“90 per cent of New Zealanders don’t smoke, and we are working towards the goal of smoke free by 2025.”

“We need to keep engaging with the rangitahi. We need to remember it’s a new generation we are dealing with and we need to keep message strong.” 

Attendees are encouraged to bring a picnic blanket, some healthy snacks and a drink bottle. 

Food and drinks will also be available. 

Featured musicians include The Terrace, Tahla Ward, Cloud Nine, Jorja Glassey, Brianna Loan, and Meadow Bodkin-Allen.

The event is smokefree and vapefree,

See South Alive’s website for more details: https://www.southalive.org.nz/southalive-events/