Oamaru has the makings of a really strong live music scene.
The North Otago town does not have the facilities or the population to draw many big international artists, but between Christchurch and Dunedin, Oamaru is a ''justifiable stop-off'' for touring acts and Dan Bregmen wants to get it back on the map.
Since last year, Mr Bregmen has been co-ordinating live music gigs in the upstairs bar above Cucina 1871 - previously The North Otago Club.
''We've been putting on a bunch of shows upstairs ... and really the only motivation I've had is to just get bands back to Oamaru,'' he said.
Mr Bregmen, originally from Northland, moved to Oamaru last year and was surprised by how the music scene had changed.
While studying at the University of Otago, he ''constantly'' heard good reviews about bands performing in Oamaru.
''Oamaru had quite a music scene [and] it's interesting since I've been here; the picture I had of music in Oamaru is a lot different,'' he said.
Mr Bregmen, a co-owner of Tees St cafe, was surprised to hear that there were acts wanting to stop in Oamaru, but had been unable to do so.
''Oamaru has dropped the ball.''
There were variety of great venues in town and Mr Bregmen said there could be some scope for venue owners to form a collective.
''Sometimes you need to be a bit selfless when you're picking where the gig is - it needs to fit the band.''
Irrespective of where the acts wanted to play and whose venue it was, Mr Bregmen said, ''lets just get [Oamaru] back on the map''.
''To put it in a nutshell - put a flag up for Oamaru,'' he said.
''Say, `Look, we are here and we do want you to come and play'.''
Dunedin would also be a good market to tap into, for local bands here to play there and for Dunedin bands to play in Oamaru.
''That's such a close market for us,'' he said.
Last year, Dave Graney and Clare Moore, featuring special guests, were the first acts to use the space for live music upstairs at Cucina 1871.
From there, Mr Bregmen has hosted the Julian Temple Band twice and The Nukes.
''Julian Temple loved it; he was pretty blown away.
''They love coming here ... they've noticed a younger crowd and have found the audiences to be really fun.''
Anna Coddington and New York-based duo Lips are next up, on September 18.
A collaboration between old friends, Anna Coddington and Lips will share the stage and their instruments - swapping between guitars, analog synths, drums, and vocals.
''That'll be awesome,'' Mr Bregmen said.
Mr Bregmen has no plans to formally pursue attracting bands to Oamaru in a business sense, but said there had been huge local support.
''I just do this for fun [and] I think people are really receptive to the fact that someone is trying to bring more music to town,'' he said.
The Upstairs Cucina 1871 space was ''a blank canvas''.
''It's really humble at the moment, it's community-driven but that's why it's great - it has more of a community feel when everyone is contributing,'' he said.
''That's why it's been fun ... and it feels like we're all doing it for the right reasons.''
See it, hear it
Tickets for Anna Coddington and Lips' gig upstairs at Cucina 1871 are on sale at www.eventfinda.co.nz.
Every ticket purchased will include a free download of both artists' new singles.
