Nancy Howie is an Auckland-based singer-songwriter, musician and maker. While stranded at home during New Zealand’s lockdowns, she discovered a passion for inventing and building experimental instruments. Beginning with a fencepost-based creation resembling a cello she quickly expanded to balloon-saxophones, unusual percussion instruments, and an improvised hurdy gurdy.

As part of this year’s Ramp Festival, Nancy brings her DIY project exhibition to Hamilton. She will be showing her growing family of instruments, telling their story, demonstrating how they sound, and playing a sample of her upcoming album, on which the instruments feature.