We Are Loud Charitable Trust is proud to announce its official Charity Launch Party, taking place at The Tuning Fork, Auckland on Sunday 14th September 2025. This special event will bring together a vibrant mix of talent including We Are Loud Students and Teachers, plus some of Aotearoa’s finest – Reb Fountain, Hopetoun Brown, Jenni Smith and Moana Maniapoto as MC.
This isn’t just a gig – it’s a celebration of mahi, music and the power of community, connection and creativity. And the best part? Every dollar raised goes straight to We Are Loud Charitable Trust, supporting our rangatahi and wider community to access transformative music education, instruments, and the confidence that comes with learning and creating.
About We Are Loud Charitable Trust
The purpose of We Are Loud Charitable Trust is to use musical education as a pathway to personal development for students who might otherwise miss out.
The Trust aims to:
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Provide fully or partially subsidised music lessons and access to instruments and resources for students facing financial barriers.
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Build programmes that develop confidence, self-image, and life skills through music.
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Offer a safe, inclusive community for students and those who teach and mentor them.
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Ensure teachers are equipped to work with students with diverse needs.
By supporting this launch concert, you’re helping to nurture creativity and resilience in the next generation of Kiwi musicians. Join us to celebrate incredible local talent, and help us make some noise for a great cause! Let’s make it LOUD!
For more information about We Are Loud Charitable Trust, visit www.weareloud.co.nz/charitable-trust
**Scholarship Students - Please let us know if you'd like to attend and we'll be happy to add you to the free guestlist!
The Line Up
Reb Fountain
Award-winning singer-songwriter Reb Fountain and band celebrate the We Are Loud Charitable Trust Charity Launch on Sunday September 14th alongside local dynamic duo Hopetoun Brown and teachers and students of this new ‘confidence building through music’ initiative. Known for her electrifying live performances, Reb is keen to share her work and support the endeavours of We Are Loud. “Music gives me a sense of purpose,”, says Reb, “It helps me make meaning in the world and supports me to develop as an individual. The band and I are looking forward to sharing in the launch of We Are Loud as it gifts music and confidence to our community and we hope you’ll join us in supporting this great charity.”
Hopetoun Brown
Tim Stewart and Nick Atkinson stomp and parp their way into your heart with nothing but brass, a bass clarinet, two sets of tambourines and tonsils...
You may recognize Hopetoun Brown as the horn section who continue to light up the stage with local funk juggernaut Supergroove. The fiery pair haven’t stopped honing their love of blues and rhythm, which originally kindled those Supergroove flames in Ponsonby all those years ago. The duo named their new band after the central Auckland streets they used to live on and which they still roam, welded to their horns. Tim Stewart and Nick Atkinson have formed a band called Hopetoun Brown which revolves around Tim’s big soulful voice coupled to the deep tones of Nick’s bass clarinet.
Jenni Smith
Jenni Smith is a 25-year-old pop-country singer-songwriter who proudly wears the 'girl next door' badge with a wink and a guitar. Her music blends heartfelt storytelling, catchy hooks, and a country twang — the kind that makes you want to cry in your car, fall in love again, or dance around your kitchen with your best friend.
Originally from Waiuku, Jenni's been part of New Zealand's vibrant country scene since the age of 12, earning accolades like Songwriter of the Year at the 2018 NZCMA Entertainer of the Year Awards. In 2024, her single "T-Shirt" reached #3 on the Official NZ Singles Chart, and she's kept the momentum going with her 2025 release "Stuck On You," now playlisted on iHeartCountry NZ.
Known for her raw, romantic and sometimes cheeky lyricism, Jenni's songs explore everything from slow-burn crushes to midnight anxiety spirals — and her growing catalogue proves there's something for everyone. Whether you're in the mood for a hoedown, a heartbreak ballad, or a little sass and sparkle, Jenni's got a track (and probably a voice memo) for that.
Moana Maniapoto
Moana Maniapoto (Te Arawa and Ngāti Tūwharetoa) is a singer, songwriter, documentary maker, journalist and Art Laureate. A long-time advocate for te reo music, she was a co-founder of the Māori Music Industry Coalition and was inducted into the 2016 NZ Music Hall of Fame (APRA-Amcos).
Moana has picked up multiple awards as both a documentary maker and journalist. Since 2019, she has hosted the show TE AO WITH MOANA (Whakaata Māori) produced by her son Kimiora Hikurangi Jackson. The show won Voyager Media Awards Best Current Affairs in 2021 & 2022. Moana was the co-winner of the 2024 Voyager Best Māori Affairs Reporter.
In 2024, she and her longtime collaborators and co-writers Paddy Free and Te Manahau Scotty Morrison released her sixth studio album ONO. Entirely in te reo Māori and inspired by traditional incantations, each song features a guest vocalist singing in their native language.
