Batucada Blog

Summer Sampler 2023

A dramatically grey-sky day on Wellington’s waterfront

Wellington Batucada at the Summer Sampler 2023. Photo by Tom Etuata.

One of the good things about our 2021 uniform (the red and yellow one) is that it’s visible from space, pretty much. When you’re sitting outside at Mac’s Brewery having a quick beer before the gig, you can spot your fellow band members walking along the waterfront from miles away. It’s quite handy.

Continue reading

Pablo’s Art Auction 2022

Art for art’s sake

Wellington Batucada at Pablo's Art Auction 2022. Photo by Rebecca Routhan.

Over the last 20 years Pablo’s Art Auction has gone from a small “Cuba Street vibe” alternative event to a rather up-market affair attended by Wellington’s literati, glitterati, art-erati and everything else-erati. It’s quite a big deal these days, and raises funds for Pablo’s Art Studios’ day-to-day work, providing art therapy, materials, art experiences and creative opportunities of all kinds to people who need them.

Continue reading

Lumino Festival 2022

We’re singing and dancing in the rain!

Wellington Batucada at the Lumino Festival 2022. Photo by Nath Young.

Have you ever done that thing (probably when you were a kid) when you’re walking home from school – maybe with your mates who are coming round for tea – and the heavens open (no-one has an umbrella or a raincoat) and by the time you get home you’re all soaked to the skin and so high and excited by the sheer wet madness of it all that it ends up being one of the BEST DAYS EVER. Yeah no me neither.

Oh OK then, yes of course I did. Mum went a bit mad, as you can imagine, but the fact that I can remember it all in such detail all these years later says something about what a special experience it was.

This is the story of what that experience feels like when you’re grown-ups doing a drumming and dancing show on Wellington’s waterfront. In a tropical deluge.

Continue reading

Day of the Dead – Mexican cultural festival 2022

Celebrating our ancestors together

Wellington Batucada at Day of the Dead 2022. Photo by Tom Etuata.

Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) festivities unfold over the first two days of November in an explosion of color and life-affirming joy. The theme is death, but the point is to demonstrate love and respect for deceased family members. In towns and cities throughout Mexico, revelers don funky makeup and costumes, hold parades and parties, sing and dance, and make offerings to lost loved ones.

Continue reading

All Blacks vs Ireland half time performance 2022

With an audience of 37,000 that we could see, and a few more at home that we couldn’t…

Wellington Batucada performing at half time, All Blacks vs Ireland 2022

It’s the middle of winter. It’s very cold. We’re playing at night. I’m wearing two vests, two t-shirts, two pairs of leggings and a long skirt underneath my summer Batucada uniform.

But what total fun! A brilliant experience, and well worth braving the cold for (and we were super-hot!).

Wellington Batucada team photo after the All Blacks gig

Continue reading

Re-opening of St James Theatre 2022

Celebrating the restoration of a Wellington cultural institution

We were thrilled to be invited to take part in the celebrations for the re-opening of the St James Theatre in the centre of Wellington. It’s been closed for three years getting earthquake strengthened, so it was brilliant to be included in the wide range of performance groups taking part.

Wellington Batucada dancers parading through the streets of Wellington

We began with a small group of drummers and dancers parading through town towards the St James, meeting up with parades of other performance groups approaching from all directions to kick off the celebrations.

Throughout the evening, many of Wellington’s rich and varied treasure trove of singers, dancers and performance groups of all kinds entertained the crowds outside the theatre. Wellington Batucada was honoured to be chosen to provide the final show of the evening.

Wellington Batucada drummers on stage outside the St James

Continue reading

Beginners dance and drumming course 2022

We know heaps of you have already expressed an interest… so come and join us!

Batucada Beginners' Workshops 2022Come and learn to drum and dance alongside members of Wellington Batucada. Sign up for the 2022 Beginners classes now!

The Sunday afternoon classes will run for 6 weeks, from 24 July to 28 August 2022, 1pm – 3pm.

The cost is $120 for the course. There’s also a special price of $60 for Batucada members who are keen to learn a new instrument or refresh your skills.

Drumming classes will take place at the Cook Islands Society Hall, 220 Hanson St, Newtown.

Dance classes will take place at Te Whaea National Dance & Drama Centre, 11 Hutchison Road, Newtown (note new venue to accommodate more dancers).

Booking your spot on the 2022 course

UPDATE 06/07/22: The 2022 drumming beginners’ course is now FULLY SUBSCRIBED

However, as not everyone who registered has paid yet, there may be a small number of places that become available in the next couple of weeks. Please contact us at wellingtonbatucada@gmail.com if you would like to be added to the waiting list for places on the drumming beginners’ course.

There are a few places still available on the dance course

Dancers please fill in the Beginners’ Dance registration form to register.

Once you’ve completed the form, please pay $120 via internet banking to:

Wellington Batucada
38-9012-0348830-00
Reference “Your Name” and “Beginners”

If you have already registered but not yet paid, please make your payment as soon as possible, as we will be releasing any unpaid-for places on the course to people on our waiting list.

More info on our Join page

Wellington Batucada’s 20th Anniversary Party

Save the date and register now!

Batucada in lights at the 2009 Cuba Street Carnival

20th ANNIVERSARY BAT-PARTY

Saturday night, 21 August 2021

Wellington Batucada is commemorating 20 wonderful years this year – we’d love for you to come and celebrate with us!

Fill out the rego form using the link below – we’ll keep you updated with details and then formally invite you to RSVP. (We’ll be sending invites to the registered list only).

Instead of getting together and playing drums, we’re planning an event that focuses on catching up with friends old and new.

There’ll be live entertainment, a cash bar and some kai. We can’t wait to get together again!

Darryn leading the band at the Petone Winter Festival, February 2009 (probably)

Venue: Toitū Pōneke aka The Hub on Kilbirnie Park (that’s next to the Wellington Regional Aquatic Centre)
Date: Saturday 21 August 2021, 6:00pm-2:00am
Entry: Free

Tim leading the band at Te Papa's 10th birthday celebrations

What you need to do

  1. Register here to join our 20th anniversary database
    We’ll be sending invites to the registered list only. Make sure you don’t miss this step if you’re keen to come along.
  2. Share this blog post with ex-members you know – ask them to do the same
    Help us reach everyone by sharing the news with any Bat-friends you know – especially those from waaay back. Please don’t just send us names, ‘cos if you don’t know their email address, chances are we don’t either 🙂

Hope to see you in August!

Ngā mihi
Directors and Committee
Wellington Batucada
New Zealand

Team photo at the 2011 Rugby World Cup - Australia vs South Africa

Harcourt’s Conference 2021

A short and sweet show in the TSB Arena

After an early, rainy start and some adventures negotiating traffic and on-site construction works the crew all assembled on-time and without losing anyone. Phew!

After a try-out for stage positions we waited in the green room and then started the show with a short, noisy, surprise parade into Shed 6 to round everyone up from the breakfast reception and then led them pied piper style across into the main TSB Arena stadium.

Once in there we paraded through the stadium seating and got onto the big stage (with a MASSIVE video screen behind us). Then we gave the crowd a blast of Samba Reggae and Merengue.

Wellington Batucada at the Harcourt's Conference, TSB Arena. On the big screen at the Arena. Photo by Deborah Shuker.

Continue reading