A musician is giving the Bay a bit of originality by creating a platform for local music to be heard.

Otumoetai Primary School teacher Adam McLean came up with the idea of Bay Originals when he found many musos like him struggling to bring their original music to a mainstream audience.

'I started out trying to play original music and found the audiences weren't really wanting to listen to it,” says Adam.

He says in the Bay of Plenty there wasn't really a place for local artists to play their original music either, so he decided to create his own events with the help of many volunteers.

Today Bay Originals will have its fifth event, which will showcase eight bands with more than 28 musicians.

'I think we've hit quite a niche market and we are creating an environment where people now want to come see original music- they're expecting something different and they really appreciate it.”

Each band will perform original music for 30 minutes from genres, such as acoustic, rock, and reggae.

At the end of the performances, Adam says the musicians will have a chance to collaborate with a ‘jam out session' to close the show.

Adam says they often have a mix of experienced and inexperienced musicians, but this is the first time they have run an event with artists comfortable on the stage.

'They have had at least three stage performances, so they're a bit more comfortable.

'For some of these guys though this is the first time they have had to do all the technical stuff, like creating a PDF of the gear they need, and going to sound check- it's a bit more professional.”

Bay Originals' fifth free event will be on today from 6pm-1am at Totara St music venue on 11 Totara St.

The line-up of local artists:

MDT

Dan Sharp

Regan Perry

Adam McLean

Leighton Fairlie

Conduce

Stones in the Ocean

Thunderchild