An amazing night of Chinese Theatre and Music with an array of performers including: Qiao Yi Lion Dance Team Christchurch
American blues extraordinaire Blind Boy Paxton has announced his much-anticipated return to our shores for his biggest headline tour of New Zealand to date, playing eight shows across the country this February. With new songs to road test, a myriad of instruments in tow, and stories to tell, these are must see shows this summer!
Blind Boy Paxton is known by many as the 'living embodiment of the blues in the 21st century' and makes his triumphant return to NZ after a string of sold out shows 2 years ago.
Jerron 'Blind Boy' Paxton's live shows showcase his unparalleled skill across the banjo, fiddle, piano, harmonica, guitar, and the Cajun accordion, effortlessly transporting audiences to a time long ago. Interspersed with heartwarming narratives and humorous anecdotes, Blind Boy Paxton's signature ragtime and country blues draws deep inspiration from his southern roots, and seamlessly brings old time tradition into the modern day.
This world class act is one not to be missed.
Jerron "Blind Boy" Paxton is, in the words of The Wall Street Journal, "virtually the only music-maker of his generation - playing guitar, banjo, piano and violin, among other implements - to fully assimilate the blues idiom of the 1920s and '30s". This storyteller and deeply talented multi-instrumentalist will captivate with his musical literacy and authentic blues.
Nelson City Brass presents Showtime - Hits of the Stage and Screen
Fresh from winning the NZ national B grade championship, Nelson's city band, who have now been promoted to the A Grade, will present an evening of Hits from many stage and screen shows. You will hear music from Indiana Jones, Star Wars, Phantom of the Opera, and Disney Tunes.
The guest artist is NZ virtuoso cornet player John Lewis. John comes from Dunedin and is a multiple NZ Champion Cornet soloist as well as Australian Champion. John is the Principal Cornet player of the National Band on NZ, conducted by Nelson City Brass's musical director Nigel Weeks, when they were placed second at the World Brass Band Championship.
Get the electrifying concert experience of Tina Turner with this full stage production brimming with Tina hits from the 60s, 70s, 80s & 90s.
Featuring the powerful, raspy vocals and thrilling stage presence of Caroline Borole live on stage, complete with band, brass section, backing vocalists and dancers to make this the definitive tribute, and a fabulous fun night out!
Hear all the energetic Rock and soulful RnB hits that made Tina one of the 20th century's biggest names in music - Simply the Best, What's Love Got to Do With It, River Deep Mountain High, Proud Mary, Nutbush City Limits, We Don't Need Another Hero, What You Get is What You See, Private Dancer and many more.
The New Zealand Male Choir celebrates its 20th Anniversary on the weekend 27-29 September, the highlight of which will be a Gala Concert at Nelson College for Girls. The Choir repertoire is broad, ranging from formal choral works, popular, shows, folk, New Zealand Waikato, sacred and gospel.
The Choir will be supported in concert by the Nelson Male Voice Choir, local well-known soprano Allison Cormack and visiting Scottish cornet player, Douglas Couchman. The Choir will also be taking part in the Sunday morning service at Christchurch Cathedral, Nelson as well as visiting the Whakatu Marae as it did when it departed New Zealand on its first tour to Wales in 2000
Nathan Haines celebrates 'Shift Left' with the original Shift Left band for one South Island show only.
Originally released in 1994, the album is a subtle, astute meltdown of jazz and hip-hop by the preternaturally mature Haines and his fellow musicians whose diverse backgrounds came into play across the 11 originals. The album was released by Verve Records in the UK in 1995 and remains New Zealand's biggest selling jazz album, while also forming the blueprint for Nathan's future releases and his international career path.
"To say Shift Left was a landmark in New Zealand music is an understatement," says Simon Grigg (who released the NZ edition on his Huh! Label), "but it didn't arrive out of the blue. The genesis came with the new generation, bands like The Jazz Committee and Freebass, both featuring the precocious, hugely talented saxophonist Nathan Haines and his equally talented guitarist brother Joel.
"What made Nathan and these players unique was the way they fused hip-hop and Urban Pasifika with experimental improvised jazz, often live at Cause Celebre in intense sessions that would sometimes not start until 1am and last until dawn."
Those sessions ultimately led to the formation of the Shift Left band, comprising some of the most virtuoso performers to ever join together both in the studio and on stage in New Zealand. This special evening sees the original Shift Left band reunited after 25 years featuring Nathan's brother Joel Haines on guitar, keyboardist Kevin Field, New York based bassist Richard Hammond, drummer Mickey Ututaonga, Puerto-Rican born percussionist Miguel Fuentes (ex Grover Washington band) and guest Hammond organ player Alan Brown. It really will be a very very special night!
AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND
New Zealand's most inventive and theatrical chamber orchestra, Blackbird Ensemble, presents an awe-inspiring homage to the inimitable Icelandic pop artist, Björk.
Björk: All is Full of Love is an audio feast of Björk's finest songs across the decades, reimagining her much-loved classic albums from Debut through to Medulla and Utopia.
Taking to the stage with signature flair, Blackbird Ensemble showcases a fine cast of vocal talent and extraordinary visual design to evoke the themes that provide so much inspiration to Björk herself.
The line-up features the talent of singer-songwriter Anna Coddington, the psychedelic soul of Mara TK, andthe dream-pop of Priya Sami, accompanied by strings, brass, woodwind, keys and percussion, with custom arrangements by Silver Scroll-winning composer and director Claire Cowan.
"This show is absolutely mesmerising." ANIKA MOA
"The bijou spectacle of Blackbird Ensemble is something to hear and behold ... with frisky fiddles and punchy saxes ... don't miss out on the magic." NZ HERALD
"Alternative, theatrical, impressive, emotional, memorable." OTAGO DAILY TIMES
Claire Cowan - Best Original Music in a Series for Hillary
2017 APRA Silver Scroll Award
Claire Cowan - Outstanding potential as a film and TV composer
2017 APRA Professional Development Award
Rockshop Bandquest is a performance platform for New Zealand school bands, up to year 8.
Please note: All seating in the stalls is General Admittance; Dress Circle seats are allocated.
Peter Pan is one of the most beloved and frequently performed family favourites of all time. This high-flying Tony Award-winning musical has been performed around the world and delighted audiences for 60 years.
Peter and his mischievous fairy sidekick, Tinkerbell, visit the nursery of the Darling children late one night and, with a sprinkle of pixie dust, begin a magical journey across the stars that none of them will ever forget. In the adventure of a lifetime, the travellers come face to face with a ticking crocodile, a fierce Indian tribe, a band of bungling pirates and, of course, the villainous Captain Hook.
Running Time: 1 hour, no interval
Disney Channel's smash hit movie musical comes to life on your stage! Troy, Gabriella and the students of East High must deal with issues of first love, friends and family while balancing their classes and extracurricular activities.
It's the first day after winter break at East High. The Jocks, Brainiacs, Thespians and Skater Dudes find their cliques, recount their vacations and look forward to the new year. Basketball team captain and resident jock, Troy, discovers that the brainy Gabriella, a girl he met singing karaoke on his ski trip, has just enrolled at East High. They cause an upheaval when they decide to audition for the high school musical that is being led by Ms. Darbus. Although many students resent the threat posed to the "status quo," Troy and Gabriella's alliance might just open the door for others to shine as well.
Disney's High School Musical is fun for the whole family, is based on the first High School Musical movie, and features the songs that made that movie a global hit sensation: "Start of Something New", "Get'cha Head in the Game", "What I've been Looking For", "Stick to the Status Quo", "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You", and "We're All In This Together".
Running Time: 2 hours including interval
