This is a journey into Sound, the Dunedin Sound. Here the term Dunedin Sound is not used as a label to define a type of music or band but rather to examine the place Dunedin and the music created there. Music with such a rich diversity, the fact that it is made in Dunedin is often the only common denominator.

What is the recipe that creates music so respected not just by the grateful inhabitants of the city but also on the National and International stage?

Undoubtedly an important ingredient in any city music scene is the health and vitality of its live music. The Crown Hotel still holds the torch for the 80's iconic venues and today you can see a great new band play beneath walls holding a rich archive of gig posters from days gone by. Like in any city today Dunedin venues face challenges.

Important local venues 'Chicks hotel' and 'Taste Merchants' have closed their doors while 'Sammy's' is up for sale. Despite this, Dunedin retains a busy and exciting live scene with some fantastic smaller venues coming to the fore such as the 'Inch Bar' joined by relative newcomer the 'Dog with Two Tails' which recently took out the Hospitality New Zealand Award for Excellence, Best Cafe 2016. These venues have full gig calendars covering all forms of music.

The importance of such grassroots venues cannot be underestimated; it is essential artists have places to start out, develop and work on their craft and such venues are key providing an intimate atmosphere where all the nuances of the music and the artist can be fully appreciated. Notable larger venues such as the intriguing Hall attached to Plato restaurant and Coronation Hall in Maori Hill (an old haunt of Flying Nun bands) host live music.

For those in the know there are more hidden gems like the Attic and None Gallery hosting gigs. All contribute to a vibrant live music scene, the envy of many a larger city.

Radio is a vital component to nurture and encourage new music. In this regard Dunedin is fortunate to have the student station 'Radio One'. The station plays a high percentage of local music and promotes and sponsors live music. Digital advances assist new Dunedin musicians as Radio One streams online and via podcast to a wider audience.

Some brilliant Dunedin bands have current connections to the station. Hope Robertson from 'Death and the Maiden' works there and Skye Strange of 'Strange Harvest 'co- hosts a music show.

Dunedin is fortunate to have excellent musical educational facilities and educators from its schools to University where front man of Flying Nun band the Verlaines Grame Downes still teachers contemporary song writing. He is joined in this endeavour by Ian Chapman who did his PhD on David Bowie; what better background to help foster musical talent? Michael Mcleod of the awesome band 'Shifting Sands' went through the University's contemporary music course.

Affordable accommodation and rehearsal space in the city are attractive to musicians working in an industry where as the saying goes 'the money is no good'. Dunedin's very geographical isolation has been mooted as a factor in its unique sound and partly responsible for fostering an essential supporting environment between music makers.

Established Dunedin artists are certainly lending an appreciated hand to younger bands notably Ian Henderson of 'The Puddle' and his sterling work with 'Fishrider Records'.
Whatever the ingredients promoting the wealth and breadth of fantastic music in Dunedin its appreciation is not restricted to the inhabitants of this small but artistically rich city.

Dunedin music is wining recognition, plaudits and awards nationally and internationally. There are too many notable examples to include all in this piece. The band 'Opposite Sex' has just returned from a tour of the U.S. and their latest album 'Hamlet' has been described by respected BBC DJ Marc Jones as 'absolutely brilliant'. Kylie Price flies the flag on the country music scene and has just taken out 2 major music awards in the U.S.

Dunedin has a folk superstar in Nadia Reid whom Billboard in the U.S. describes as the 'saviour of folk music'. Nationally Dunedin's classical musical excellence is recognised with a best classical album finals nomination for composer Anthony Ritchie with alternative Pop artist Kane Strang also making the finals. The list could, should and undoubtedly will go on.

Today Dunedin music has its historical legacy, its current excellent artists and support at local government level with Dunedin's Arts and Cultural Strategy being adopted and actively promoted. The strategy is known as 'Ara Toi' (translating as the 'arts pathway').The 'Ara Toi' covers broad strategies to strengthen arts and culture in Dunedin.

A fine example of 'Ara Toi' is the 'Amped' music project which nurtures and showcases young emerging musical talent. What the amped project is clearly showing is that the future of Dunedin Music is indeed sound.

Bio -Ian Loughran is a Dunedin writer, poet, comic and broadcaster and hosts the music show 'Sidewalking' on Radio One.