Christchurch-based Red Panda formed early last year after the Edgeware Road youth conference, in response to calls for central city youth venues and events. Red Panda saw a need and decided they were the best people to help fill it, rather than waiting for someone else. Most of the Panda team are musicians, enthusiasts and people who have some industry experience.
tks: Most of us out of town folk have never heard of Red Panda, what are you guys all about?
rp: Well we are a group of people who decided the state of activities for young people in chch was pretty crap, and that there weren’t enough all ages shows going on since outofkilter had stopped putting on events. So we decided to revive the scene by putting on the sweet shows that when we were in high school always wished were all ages.
We actually really believe in all ages too… not just under 18. Most of the Panda people are in their late teens to late 20’s so we understand what its like to be frustrated youth, but also know what a good live show is like, and how to not treat teenagers like little children.
tks: What sort of music are you guys promoting?
rp: We’ve mainly been promoting indie bands so far, but we’ve got a couple of hardcore and metal shows planned on the horizon.
tks: It seems like a pretty damned good idea to get local music up and running. I know in Gemma and my experience it is great to have a kind of organisation to help get new bands out there. Are you strictly fresh artists or do you get in on the older, more established bands?
rp: We collaborate with both old bands and new ones. We try and help the new bands to develop a fanbase, and hook them up with shows with touring acts. We are basically just here to help them out and help put on all ages shows for touring bands.
tks: Is it a CHCH exclusive, or do you want help all the new bands on the (is)lands?
rp: Pretty much at this stage, we’re just based in chch, but we’ll help out of town bands as well as those based in the 03. We’ve done shows with a few touring acts like D-Rad, So So Modern and Thought Creature. If anyone from out of town wants to get involved we’re keen to hear from them. We are always open to suggestions.
tks: What is Red Panda’s favourite take away food?
rp: Chinese food of course… things with bamboo shoots in it.
tks: So…You’re hitting the all ages thing? I know when I was under-age I was dying for a place (other than emo-fest Wellington venue Zeal) to hang out and experience some good new music. Which venue do you guys do your thang at?
rp: We use a variety of spots, we used to do shows at the jetset which is now gone… sometimes we do outdoor shows in parks and stuff. We did a show at Science Alive! which is a science education centre. That was awesome. We’d like to do more of that kind of thing. Also we use our space, called “WE Hq” which we share with other community groups.
tks: Do you guys have the intention to do any Northern bound Red Panda tours? If so when?!!
rp: Not at this stage, but over a conversation late one night at Denny’s we discussed the possibility of having a red panda sports team that toured and played something like competitive ping pong against other bands and then put on shows with them… its a work in progress but it just might happen.
tks: If every great organisation has a main driving spirit/ethos, what is the main spirit/ethos behind Red Panda?
rp: Just having a good time really, showing kids what good local music is. Also giving people who aren’t old enough to go to bars a really good night out that is cheaper than going to the movies and safer than hanging out in a park with a bottle of cheap booze.
tks: What is Red Panda’s favourite bands/music scene(s)?
rp: Well bands like Bearcat really float our boat, I mean they have a song called Red Panda Blues! We’re doing a show with them in July. Also bands like Thought Creature, D-rad, So So and Bang Bang Eche have been really good to us. We also love The Insurgents and The O’lovelys, who are off doing the overseas thing at the moment, but we’ve already got plans for when The O’lovelys come home, but they don’t know it yet.
Thanks Red Panda!
by Hannah Simon
