Gig Guide
The young talent in Southland’s music scene continues to soar after one Invercargill teenager was given the opportunity to open a show for one of New Zealand’s most popular artists.
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🏆Let’s help another Southlander win!
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🎤Vote for Gabriel Lal
🎤Smokefreerockquest‘s People’s Choice
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📲You can vote by texting Gabriellal to 407
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Teenage singer-songwriter Gabriel Lal continues to go from strength to strength with the latest announcement he’ll be opening for one of New Zealand’s biggest homegrown talents, Stan Walker.
The 17-year-old singer-songwriter will open for Walker’s New Takeover Tour show in Invercargill on October 26.
Lal said he was floored when he found out he would be Walker’s opening act.
“I was stunned, it’s such a humbling feeling,” he said.
“Stan is huge in the New Zealand music scene. I have a massive amount of respect for him as an artist.”
Lal, a Verdon College student, will play a 20-minute set before Walker takes the stage at Tillermans.
His set will feature covers of well-known songs as well as his own original compositions.
“I’m really excited to be playing my music for Invercargill and I hope they like the sound.”
A pianist and singer, Lal was named earlier this month in the top 30 for the Smokefreerockquest competition. With 9 of the 10 national final spots now filled, Lal is vying for the final spot as the ZM People’s Choice.
He’s currently in the top 3; members of the public can vote for him by texting “gabriellal” to 407 (texts cost 20c).
Fellow Verdon College student Sam Cullen has made it to the national final in the solo/duo section, the first time a Southland act has made it to the final in 27 years.
“The support so far has been amazing and I’m so grateful to the people of Southland who are behind me on this,” Lal said.
“It’d be great to join Sam in the final and have some strong Southland representation in the competition.”
Voting for Gabriel Lal the ZM People’s Choice closes on August 22.