Concerts Coming to Island Bay
Starting this Saturday (3 March), there'll be concerts galore around the city as we ease into autumn.
Our new ASB Sunset Sessions start at Shorland Park in Island Bay this weekend and the ASB Gardens Magic concerts at the Botanic Garden kick off in mid-March.
The Council's Events Portfolio Leader, Councillor John Morrison, says anyone missing the usual January concerts will be pleased to know there's a bigger, better version coming up for the entire month of March.
"We thought we'd try something different this year. We have a lot of families living in the southern suburbs that may not find it easy to make the trip to the Botanic Garden, but will easily make it to Shorland Park - especially with the earlier start times.
"We have a good feeling about this trial. January was a hideous month for weather where we would have had to cancel most of the Gardens Magic gigs at the Botanic Garden.
We're keeping our fingers crossed for a settled March.
"If the trial at Island Bay is successful, we might even consider other suburbs in future years."
Singer-songwriter Ria Hall kicks off the Shorland Park gigs this Saturday at 6.00pm. Ria captivated millions of people around the world with her stunning performance at the opening of Rugby World Cup 2011 and will be joined this time by Matthew Pickering, a multi-instrumentalist folk-pop artist.
Other artists confirmed are Sophie and the Realistic Expectations, Jeep Road, and Myele Manzanza and the Estobahn Eclectic.
A great line-up has also been confirmed for the nightly shows at the Botanic Garden - which run from 14 to 25 March. These include the New Zealand Opera, the Roseneath Centennial Ragtime Band and Irish band the Shenanigans. 'Ultimate party band', the Richter City Rollers, who play 'second line' music, have also been confirmed.
Adam Page, one of the eight band members, says 'second line' is a style of music born out of New Orleans.
"The name comes from old New Orleans' parades - the main line is the main section of a parade; those who follow the band just to enjoy the music are called the second line. It's really happy music based on Mardi Gras brass and saxophone mixed with African and funk."
Adam says the band is looking forward to playing to a large summer crowd.
"People should expect to dance. We don't just play on the stage, we'll be moving through the crowd. They'll be blown away."
And don't forget the other Summer City events this month - including Newtown Festival Fair Day, Mish Fitness at Frank Kitts Park, the Contact Tri Series, the Dragon Boat Festival.
For information on these and other Summer City events - as well as weather cancellations - see:
Annual Events - Summer City Festival
You can get further information on the Sunset Sessions and Gardens Magic by 'liking' us at: