Music fills Town Hall after 6 years
Music has filled the Christchurch Town Hall for the first time since 2011, but it is uncertain when the venue will be ready for audiences.
The three-year project to restore the historic Town Hall is set for completion by the middle of next year, but there is no exact opening date yet.
The budget has crept up from $127.5 million to $133.1m to account for inflation since the project was first approved in 2015-16.
Canterbury Rockquest winners Run 77 donned hard hats and hivis jackets over their school uniforms to perform in the main auditorium yesterday morning.
The band – comprised of Christ’s College students Angus Murray, Angus Mossman, George Murray, Henry Phelps and Robbie Rolleston – played to celebrate the two-year mark on the Town Hall restoration project.
The chief executive of Vbase, which will operate the venue once it is reopened, said he was not yet taking bookings for the Town Hall.
‘‘There is still a long way to go. We will have a clear idea at the beginning of next year,’’ Darren Burden said.
Christchurch City Council Town Hall project director Patrick Cantillon said construction was on track for completion in the middle of next year. Heritage materials would soon be returned to the building.
Run 77 lead singer Angus Mossman said it was ‘‘pretty cool’’ to perform in the auditorium.
‘‘It was awesome. It feels great to play in the Town Hall; we are all so stoked to be here.
‘‘The acoustics were amazing, lots of reverb and bass.’’
Cantillon said watching the band play reminded him why they were working so hard to restore the Town Hall.
‘‘We are remembering what we forgot.
‘‘This is what it is all about. It is great to hear this and understand why we are here.’’