A legendary music group that makes music from invented instruments such as plastic drainpipes and rose to fame for its protests against nuclear testing in the Pacific will be having a hoot in Gore, Stewart Island and Arrowtown in September.

From Scratch is based in Auckland and was founded in 1974 by sound and intermedia artist Phil Dadson, artist and educator Bruce Barber, performance artist Gray Nichol and writer Geoff Chapple.

Dadson has pretty much fronted the DIY music group ever since, performing with an ever-changing and eclectic line up of musicians, such as The Mutton Birds’ Don McGlashan, record producer and engineer Wayne Laird and Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra percussionist Shane Currey.  

The current lineup teams Dadson and Currey with environmental engineer and drummer Adrian Croucher and alt-rock veteran Darryn Harkness.

The From Scratch tour, PAX/PACIFICA, is being promoted by Arts on Tour NZ.

A few decades after coming together, the group still has some urgent environmental messages to bang on about.

Arts on Tour NZ publicity material describes the show as “an upbeat conch-call to the fallout of nuclear testing and climate change in the Pacific’’.

The audience can expect a “magical sonic journey with original DIY instruments, creating rhythms and sounds and an unforgettable Pacifica message for eyes and ears of all ages’’. 

An aerial view of the plastic pipe instruments used by From Scratch. PHOTO: MICHAEL DOHERTY

The band will perform their “stunning historic work, Pacific 3, 2, 1, Zero’’, written as a protest against French nuclear weapons testing and waste dumping in the Pacific. 

Names of Pacific islands contaminated by nuclear tests are sung and shouted during the piece, which ends with an urgent polyrhythmic PVC pipe section, followed by the solemn tolling of aluminium bell-poles, according to Wikipedia.

New Zealand art critic Wystan Curnow has described From Scratch as "among the greatest in any art form to come out of this country”.

The group tours arts festivals around the world and has produced a rhythm workbook for percussion students.

East Gore Art Gallery programmes officer Marcella Geddes said the gallery was “absolutely delighted’’ to be hosting From Scratch.

“The inventive, highly rhythmic percussion group is like no other,” she said.

The group is touring many small towns in New Zealand.

Southland itinerary:

Saturday 12 September: 7:30pm, Arrowtown Community Hall, $25. Book: Eventbrite.co.nz.

Sunday 13 September: 8pm, Gore, St Andrews Church Hall, $30 General Admission; $25 Gallery Members; $15 Students. Book: Gore Visitor Centre, 7 Norfolk Street, Gore, phone 03 203 9288, [email protected].

Monday 14 September: 8pm, Stewart Island, Stewart Island Community Centre $25. Book: Door sales.