Aotearoa’s most wholesome intergenerational music collaboration

Amplify Aotearoa - Take it to the Bridge is an intergenerational music project where rangatahi perform the songs of Aotearoa’s iconic musicians alongside those artists live on stage. The project will culminate in a live concert, a pressed vinyl record, and a documentary and publication capturing the journey. Crowdfunding will help cover venue costs, artist travel and koha, and professional production, ensuring rangatahi can experience music-making at a world-class level.

Kia ora, I’m Lachlan (Lachie) Holt. I’m an educator, whānau worker, and creative producer who’s spent the last few years building large-scale music projects with rangatahi and some of Aotearoa’s most respected artists. My creative practice sits at the intersection of music, youth development, storytelling, and education—using creativity as a way to build confidence, ambition, and connection.

I’ve led projects with artists like Liam Finn, Jason Kerrison, and members of Split Enz, helping young people record music, press vinyl, create artwork, and perform live. Our Mental Notes project with Year 5–6 students charted nationally and received coverage from Rolling Stone, RNZ, Seven Sharp, and NZ Herald—showing what’s possible when young people are given real opportunities.

For Amplify Aotearoa, I’m working with an incredible team of musicians and artists including Harry Harralambi, Jordan Luck, Jason Kerrison, Don McGlashan, Nathan King, and Andrew McLennan, with visual art contributions from Chris Knox, Otis, and Dick Frizzell. We’re also supported by professional audio engineers, stage crew, and filmmakers who will help capture and share the project.

Together, we’re driven by one simple goal: to show rangatahi that anything is possible when creativity is taken seriously and supported properly.

We’re raising funds to help deliver Amplify Aotearoa at a professional, accessible level for rangatahi and the community. Every dollar goes directly into making this project possible.

Funds will cover:

• Venue hire for the Amplify Aotearoa live concert at Clarence Street Theatre
• Artist travel and koha so musicians from around Aotearoa can be part of the project
• Professional sound, lighting, and stage crew to ensure a world-class live experience for rangatahi and the audience
• Audio engineers and recording costs for the vinyl release
• Documentary filming and editing to capture the journey of the rangatahi and artists
• Design and printing of a magazine/book documenting the project and student artwork
• Production and pressing of the vinyl record as a lasting taonga
• General production costs (equipment hire, technical logistics, and accessibility support)

We already have the artists confirmed and a recording deal in place. Crowdfunding will make sure this project is high quality, accessible, and properly documented, so the impact lasts far beyond one night.

Amplify Aotearoa is a large-scale intergenerational music project that brings rangatahi together with some of Aotearoa’s most respected musicians to perform their songs live on stage. Young bands from local schools will independently learn and rehearse the music, send practice videos to their paired artists, and then share the stage with those artists for a one-off live concert in Hamilton.

The project will culminate in a live concert, a professionally pressed vinyl record, and a documentary and magazine/book that capture the journey—showing young people rehearsing, dreaming, and performing alongside their heroes.

Why we’re doing this

Through my work in education and social services, I’ve seen that many young people no longer feel their dreams are achievable. Schools can unintentionally flatten creativity, and access to professional artists and real-world creative experiences is rare—especially for kids who don’t already see themselves as “musicians” or “creatives.”

Amplify Aotearoa is about breaking that ceiling. When a young person stands on stage next to Jordan Luck, Don McGlashan, Jason Kerrison, or Andrew McLennan and plays their songs with them, it sends a powerful message: this world is not closed to you.

What makes this project special

This isn’t a talent show or a competition. It’s a mentorship moment on a national stage, where rangatahi are treated as collaborators, not students. The project also brings together music, visual art, and storytelling—album artwork by Chris Knox, Otis, and Dick Frizzell, plus film and print media that preserve the project as a cultural taonga.

Why crowdfunding matters

We already have artists locked in and a record deal in place. Crowdfunding will help cover venue hire, artist travel and koha, professional sound and lighting, and documentation, so the project can be delivered at a world-class level and remain accessible to young people regardless of their background.

Ultimately, Amplify Aotearoa is about showing rangatahi that creativity is powerful, their voices matter, and anything is possible—and capturing that moment forever.

Amplify Aotearoa is more than a concert. It’s a moment where young people step onto a professional stage beside the musicians they grew up listening to—and realise that their dreams are real and reachable.

For many rangatahi, access to professional creative opportunities is limited. Schools often struggle to prioritise the arts, and kids can lose confidence in their creativity and ambition. This project gives them something rare: a real-world, high-level creative experience that validates their talent and potential.

Why this needs to be seen, heard, and experienced

• For rangatahi: Performing alongside Jordan Luck, Don McGlashan, Jason Kerrison, and other iconic artists will be a life-changing experience. It builds confidence, aspiration, and a sense of belonging in the creative world.
• For whānau and the community: Seeing young people collaborate with legends of Aotearoa music celebrates both our past and our future, strengthening cultural pride and connection.
• For Aotearoa’s creative legacy: The vinyl, documentary, and publication will become lasting taonga—capturing a unique intergenerational moment in New Zealand music history.

Why the community should back this

By backing Amplify Aotearoa, supporters are:

• Investing in young people’s confidence, creativity, and ambition
• Supporting local music, artists, and cultural storytelling
• Helping create a once-in-a-generation collaboration between icons and rangatahi
• Making sure this opportunity is accessible to kids from all backgrounds, not just those who can afford private lessons or industry connections

This project shows young people that their creativity matters—and that their city and community believe in them. When a young person stands on stage with their hero, it sends a powerful message: anything is possible, and you belong here.