Today was the beginning of New Zealand music month. Every May for the last 10 years, New Zealand has celebrated our own music. The Auckland band, Opshop, decided to do something different to celebrate 10 years of New Zealand Music month. They hired a 50-seat plane – with help from sponsors – and played 10 gigs in one day in 10 different places.

The first gig was at Christchurch airport at 6am this morning. The plane then flew to Timaru for gig number 2, then it circled over Mt Cook while the band played gig number 3. They landed next at Hokitika, then Nelson. Then they flew to the North Island. Gig number 5 was in Wanganui from 2.05pm to 2.25pm. Next was Hastings, then Gisborne, then Hamilton and finally Auckland for their last gig. Each gig, except the last, was 20 minutes long. All were free.

Some people were lucky enough to win seats on the plane to travel with the band.

The band released their Pins and Needles video today too. Opshop is a four-man rock band which has been very popular in New Zealand and overseas for the last seven years. Their two albums You are Here, and Second-Hand Planet have sold more than 1m copies each.

Their website is www.opshopmusic.com. Also look at http://www.nzmusicmonth.co.nz/

to find out more about New Zealand music month.

Questions to think about

Does a band have to travel overseas if it wants to sell albums?

Why do we have New Zealand Music Month?