Be lazy this summer

Providing the best excuse for putting off those weekend chores, The Breeze Lazy Sundays musical performances return from 8 January at the Botanic Gardens, Riccarton Bush and Halswell Quarry.

Christchurch City Council Marketing Manager Richard Stokes says that, traditionally, the mellow afternoons are always well attended.

“We usually get about 1500 to 2000 people turning up with blankets and picnics each weekend, and the atmosphere is always incredibly laid back.”

The free live music runs from 3.30pm to 5pm every Sunday from 8 January to 4 March, except for 5 February. The line-up of artists includes Graham Wardrop, Mundi, Ma Bell and the Blue Tones, Akaroa Rhythm Method, Fiona Pears, Lindon Puffin, Li’l Chuck and Stomping Nick, and the Eastern.

For more information on The Breeze Lazy Sundays or other upcoming events visit www.summertimes.co.nz or www.bethere.co.nz.

The Breeze Lazy Sundays Schedule

8 January – Graham Wardrop, Archery Lawn – enjoy the sounds of one of New Zealand's finest finger style guitarists.

15 January – Mundi, Archery Lawn – a world band with inspiration from as far afield as the deserts of North Africa to the Amazon basin and beyond.

22 January – Ma Bell and The Blue Tones, Riccarton Bush – singer-songwriter Isabella Miller Bell, accompanied by iconic musicians from the jazz, blues, rock and folk worlds.

29 January – Akaroa Rhythm Method, Halswell Quarry – a motley mixture of peninsula people who come together for the love of music to play anything, anywhere, anytime.

12 February – Fiona Pears, Archery Lawn – violinist and composer Fiona Pears and her talented band will perform music ranging from hot, sizzling gypsy swing, soulful classical and jazz ballads through to tango and Celtic compositions.

19 February – Lindon Puffin, Archery Lawn – Lindon Puffin, along with The Transgressions, brings a summer mix of songs from his acclaimed new album Hope Holiday and his 15 year career as a musician.

26 February – Li’l Chuck and Stomping Nick, Archery Lawn – an afternoon of extreme co-ordination featuring two of Christchurch's finest one-man-bands: Li'l Chuck, the One Man Skiffle Machine, and Stomping Nick Jackman and His Blues Grenade.

4 March – The Eastern, Archery Lawn – they bring backpacks full of road songs, battered acoustics, banjo and fiddle, punk rock mandolin, doghouse bass, foot stomps and heartbreak.