This year audiences have the chance to witness World Champion Irish dancers direct from the West End's Lord of the Dance, as A Taste of Ireland - The Irish Music & Dance Sensation tours New Zealand wide telling the tale of the world's most loved nation in one incredible performance.
Told through Irish music and dance, A Taste of Ireland - The Irish Music & Dance Sensationexplores magical tales spanning generations of Irish storytelling and culture. This world class show features World, All Ireland & National Champion Irish dancers, and musicians from around the globe performing unique music and dance that reflects the story that is, Ireland.
Melodic Celtic flute, alongside raw and rhythmic guitar are complimented with heart felt sounds of Ireland. Featuring a dynamic musical duo and impressive dancing rarely seen outside of the World Championship stage, A Taste of Ireland - The Irish Music & Dance Sensation was composed and choreographed in Dublin and is quickly on its way to becoming the new frontier in Irish entertainment.
Created and produced by Pace Entertainment Group, the show will transport the audience to a time and place where tunes, taps and tradition showcase the very essence of celebrating the Irish spirit.
STARRING - CEILI MOORE and BRENT PACE
CEILI MOORE performed the lead role opposite Michael Flatley in Lord Of The Dance on tour throughout Australia, New Zealand, Asia, Europe, South Africa and London's West End Palladium Theatre. Her other dancing highlights include the Graham Norton Show, BBC Proms In The Park, Dancing Down Under and The Wiggles videos. Ceili has returned to Australia and teamed up with her partner, Choreographer and Producer BRENT PACE to perform in A Taste of Ireland - The Irish Music & Dance Sensation. Brent was the Lead Principal in Gaelforce Dance and Rhythms of Ireland
Irish comedian, Ed Byrne, celebrates his 20 year love affair with NZ audiences with his 7th tour down under, headlining the 2017 NZ International Comedy Festival.
Back in 1996, when he first toured to New Zealand, stand-up comedy was the new rock 'n roll and Ed lived hard and fast like a would-be rock star. Twenty years on times have changed. Ed is not only a family man, he has also now embraced the great outdoors and can often be found scaling mountain peaks around the world.
But one thing that hasn't changed is that Ed has always felt like an outsider looking at a world within. This perspective has made him one of the keenest and most in demand observational comedians in the UK and a frequent guest on notable TV and radio shows such as Mock the Week, Live at The Apollo, The Graham Norton Show and Have I Got News For You?.
In 2017 Ed returns to NZ with his new show, 'Outside Looking In' which he has been touring to sold out houses around the UK over the last 12 months.
"A masterful display of the comics art… This is a seamless and perfectly timed show that could stand proudly next to any Izzard, Bailey, Carr or Skinner stadium-filler" - Sunday Times
"Hilarious anecdotes! I assure you Ed Byrne is one comedian you should DEFINITELY see" - Edinburgh Festival Magazine
"Jokes come so fast that hecklers don't have a chance to get a word in edgeways" - The Times
"Byrne is at the top of his game" - Sunday Telegraph
"It is rare for a comic to merit the word "masterful" but in this case it is no overstatement" - The Scotsman
He will be reunited with local producer, Scott Blanks, who was instrumental in getting Ed to New Zealand 20 years ago, joining him in the celebrations of the 20th year at The Classic, New Zealand's own class home of comedy.
We're proud to welcome two of Ireland's finest musical exports to Nelson, with a double bill show featuring Mundy and ALDOC.
ALDOC bring urban sounds & musical soundscapes, led by charmed melodies on the flute and lit up with jazz-tinged arrangements, heavy grooves, spooky brass solos, tremolo affected electric guitars, lonely banjo lines and dramatic breakdowns. The members will be no strangers to Nelson audiences with Dubliner Alan Doherty visiting Nelson as the flutist and vocalist with Grada, Trinity Roots at Ceol Aneas. Gerry Paul has performed in Nelson with Tim O'Brien, Grada, Trinity Roots and also Mel Parsons. ALDOC have headlined the Goa Jazz Festival and Ireland's 1916 celebrations, Celtic Connections in Scotland and they put on an "unforgettable show".
Mundy's long career speaks for itself. A multi- platinum selling artists who has released six studio albums over 20 years, it's no surprise he's even performed for Barack Obama in Ireland AND the White House. Equally adept at writing sensitive acoustic songs and upbeat crowd favourites, Mundy is known for writing ridiculously infectious songs that lodge in your cranium like squatters in a vacant house. He's been known to team up with some pretty unbelievable talent too, including Youth, Pink Floyd, Culture Club, The Verve, The Makers and even Paul McCartney and he made Steve Earle's song "Galway Girl" into an international hit. He's a humourist, a raconteur and can stir a crowd into a hearty song along".
A self-confessed "miserable old git" since the age of 23, Ed Byrne is now in his Forties. While for others this might result in a crisis that prompts the purchase of a sports car, Ed embraces middle age with open arms. Come join him, as he truly comes of age and gives out his clarion cry: "I am in my Forties. HEAR ME ROAR!"
Following on from the successes of his last shows Crowd Pleaser and Different Class, brilliant Irish stand-up comedian, Ed Byrne, is back at the NZ International Comedy Festival for the first time since 2009; with his hugely successful solo show Roaring Forties.
However happily Ed slides into middle age, he isn't ready for the slippers and woolly jumper quite yet. Still as angry as he ever was, you wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of one of his withering rants. Family life (now a father of two), and everyday frustrations (seriously, something EVERY day) all come in for a pasting with typically hilarious results as Ed casts his curmudgeonly comic eye over his life.
This promises to be a rip-roaring night you won't want to miss.
"Comedy's holy grail... Go see!" - 4 Stars, Sunday Times, UK
"Byrne is at the top of his game" - 4 Stars, Sunday Telegraph, UK
"Jokes come so fast that hecklers don't have a chance to get a word in edgeways" - 4 Stars, The Times, UK
Part of the 2015 NZ International Comedy Festival in cahoots with Old Mout Cider, running from 24 April - 17 May. To get The Latest on all the comedy shows on offer, practical information about the Festival, access to competitions and special deals, head to comedyfestival.co.nz.
