Y$O / Southside showcase

Creator: Y$O / Samuel Verlinden
Artform: music and performance
Timeframe: Saturday 9th April
Location: Mangere Arts Centre

Rising 24 year old Auckland Artist Sam V is spearheading the new generation of R&B in NZ. A noted singer/songwriter, performer, choirmaster and director, Sam V has been working diligently to create platforms engraved within the kaupapa of elevating fellow young & ascending talent. 

One of those platforms is Auckland based collective, Young & $lept On (Y$O). Started in 2019 by Sam V and producer, EDY - the duo noticed a lack of live performance opportunities for growing artists. Not to be discouraged, they started hosting their own shows at various K Road venues, gradually rising from smaller venues (such as the Wine Cellar) to the esteemed Tuning Fork, which Y$O has sold out twice. 

Having hosted 10 shows in Auckland over the last 2 years, Y$O has fast built a reputation for showcasing and promoting some of the best talent NZ has to offer including Aidan Fine, JARNA, Kaysh, Rei, Mikey Mayz, bKIDD, Church & AP, Cee Blu, Disciple Pati & The Westernguide. 

On Saturday April 9th in tandem with Auckland City of Music (ACOM) and AucklandLive, Sam V is excited to announce Y$O’s first ever Southside Showcase, taking place at the Mangere Arts Centre featuring a host of rising and established talent such as Disciple Pati, Sonatane Kaufusi, JARNA, William Fepuleai, D Money the Don and Y$O. 

Auckland UNESCO City of Music have also allocated a grant toward this project through the “Young Gig-Makers Grant” which is supported by AucklandLive.