VINCE STAPLES, WILKINSON LIVE, FLIGHT FACILITIES, TCHAMI & MALAA + MORE ANNOUNCED FOR RHYTHM ⚡️ VINES 2018

VINCE STAPLES, WILKINSON LIVE, FLIGHT FACILITIES, TCHAMI & MALAA + MORE ANNOUNCED FOR RHYTHM ⚡️ VINES 2018

It’s time to get shredding with the first release of acts for Rhythm ⚡ Vines 2018 now announced.

WATCH RELEASE VIDEO HERE

VIEW FESTIVAL ASSETS HERE

Vince Staples, Wilkinson Live, Tchami x Malaa [No Redemption], Flight Facilities, Duke Dumont, SASASAS, Sigma, Bicep Live, Fred V x Grafix, Habstrakt, Peggy Gou, SuperDuperKyle, Whethan, Baynk, Bob Moses, Bontan, Drax Project, Foals (DJ Set), Javi Bora, JessB, KiNK Live, L.A.B, Midland, Mija, Montell2099, Robinson, Set Mo, Sonny Fodera, Trei, Chores, Clicks, Deadbeat, DJ Sirvere x Che Fu x MC Romz, Eastern Bloc, Eno x Dirty, Hollywoo DJS, Jack Berry, Jon Lemmon, Josie Moon, K2K, Lee Mvthews, Openside, SNIFFERS, Soaked Oats, Teto + more to come.

Critically-acclaimed Californian rapper Vince Staples will headline the festival and isset to deliver one of the most highly anticipated performances of the year. Staples rose on to the scene in 2010 via a spate of Odd-Future related performances and now, two albums later,his career has exploded across the globe with eclectic collaborations with artists ranging from Bon Ivor, Damon Albarn (Blur, Gorillaz), Flume through to working with the who’s who of hip hop including Mac Miller, A$AP Rocky and Kendrick Lamar. Vince Staples joins an elite club of hip hop stars Gisborne has hosted over the 16 years of the festival, from Public Enemy (2009), Wiz Khalifa (2012), to more recently Chance the Rapper (2016) and ScHoolboy Q (2017). Vince Staples will perform on New Years Eve.

“Rhythm and Vines is a party after all and I think this lineup reflects this.” says Co-Founder Hamish Pinkham. “Whether it is leading live dance acts like Tchami x Malaa and Wilkinson, the high energy hip hop of Vince Staples, or supporting burgeoning stars like SuperDuperKyle or Bob Moses, there is something for everyone.”

British drum and bass producer Wilkinson is much loved by R&V fans with three performances at the field of dreams (Waiohika Estate) since 2013. However, Wilkinson has always promised to bring his live show down under for Kiwi fans and what better place to hear live performances of hits “Afterglow” and “Dirty Love” than in the Vines arena.  Wilkinson Live performs on December 29. 

Tchami x Malaa [No Redemption] show is not for the faint of heart and their performance on the 2nd night of Rhythm and Vines(December 30) will be true test of the festival attendees stamina. House fans will be pumped with the arrival of Confession label founder and future house pioneer Tchami to New Zealand, as well as the return of the deep, dark, masked wonder Malaa. Much speculation exists around who exactly is Malaa, with his identity remaining unknown. Could his identity be revealed in Gisborne?

Australian producer duo Flight Facilities career has steadily increased altitude since releasing their first original track“Crave You”in 2010. Since then they have been cruising above the clouds with sold out shows and festival performances right across the globe. Fresh from collaborations with Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, through to our very own Broods, the euphoric, nipple-rubbing sounds of Flight Facilities will have the R&V masses vibing out on December 29.

Electronica fans will not be disappointed with this year’s lineup with electronic heavyweights Duke Dumont, Habstrakt, along with drum and bass acts Sigma and supergroup SASASAS today announced to headline the festival. Superclub and dance brand Space Ibiza will also be hosting the Rhythm Stage on December 30 with acts including Bicep Live, Javi Bora and more, bringing absolute scenes with pyrotechnics, confetti and other madness associated with the infamous party island.

R&B at R&V is represented with American indie rapper Kyle (labelled as SuperDuperKyle) and NZ’s very own hitmakers in Drax Project added to the lineup. The music discovery doesn’t stop there, with international performances from leading live dance acts Bob Moses, Whethan, Bontan, Set Mo, Foals DJ Set, Mija, Kink Live, Sonny Fodera and Peggy Gou.

Staying strong to the festivals roots, the New Zealand flag will be flying high with headline performances from Baynk, JessB, Montell2099 and L.A.B announced. Breakout singer songwriter Robinson has also been added alongside Che Fu who pops his Rhythm cherry, teaming up with the legendary DJ Sirvere (O.N.Z.M),and the Dunedin sound is in good hands with performances from on-the-rise bands Soaked Oats and Jack Berry.

A full schedule and final release of acts is due in November. With 3 Day Passes and Camping about to sell out in the coming weeks, limited single day tickets have now being released.

First release of acts for Rhythm and Vines 2018 include:

Vince Staples, Wilkinson Live, Tchami x Malaa [No Redemption], Flight Facilities, Duke Dumont, SASASAS, Sigma, Bicep Live, Fred V x Grafix, Habstrakt, Peggy Gou, SuperDuperKyle, Whethan, Baynk, Bob Moses, Bontan, Drax Project, Foals (DJ Set), Javi Bora, JessB, KiNK Live, L.A.B, Midland, Mija, Montell2099, Robinson, Set Mo, Sonny Fodera, Trei, Chores, Clicks, Deadbeat, DJ Sirvere x Che Fu x MC Romz, Eastern Bloc, Eno x Dirty, Hollywoo DJS, Jack Berry, Jon Lemmon, Josie Moon, K2K, Lee Mvthews, Openside, SNIFFERS, Soaked Oats, Teto + more to come.

rhythmandvines.co.nz

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EDITOR NOTES:

• Rhythm and Vines is held at Waiohika Estate, Gisborne

• 15,000 Campers across 4 days of the festival, checking in on December 28

• 21,000 festival attendees over 3 days, with festival gates opening December 29 at 2pm

• This will be the 16th edition of Rhythm and Vines

• The festival ends up with over 100 acts across the 4 days of the festival. A final release of acts is expected towards end of November.

• The festival is expected to be sold out of 3 Day passes and camping within the coming weeks.

• 80% of tickets have been sold before releasing their lineup

• Rhythm and Vines is a finalist at this year’s Tourism Awards for their Tourism Marketing campaign in 2017. Up against Air New Zealand and Skycity Grand.

• In the fight against Ticket Scalping and Scammers, Rhythm and Vines recently announced their partnership with Tixel, providing a safe place for R&V customers to purchase and buy unwanted tickets.

DAYSPLIT:

DECEMBER 29

Flight Facilities, Duke Dumont, SuperDuperKyle, Bob Moses, Whethan, Cashmere Cat, Peggy Gou, Sonny Fodera, Set Mo, KiNK Live, Bontan

DECEMBER 30

Tchami x Malaa[NoRedemption], Fred V x Grafix, Habstrakt, Bicep Live, Midland, Javi Bora

DECEMBER 31

Vince Staples, Wilkinson Live, Sigma, SASASAS, Foals (DJ Set), Mija

rhythmandvines.co.nz

TIM MINCHIN BRINGS 'BACK' TO NZ IN APRIL

TIM MINCHIN, internationally renowned award-winning musician, comedian, actor, writer and composer, will return to New Zealand to play Auckland’s ASB Theatre Sunday 14th April before heading to Wellington`s Michael Fowler Centre on Thursday April 18th 2019.

Billed as “Old Songs, New Songs, F*** You Songs”, hinting at a set list of material from all corners of Minchin’s eclectic – and often iconoclastic – repertoire, BACK will be Minchin’s first live show in Aotearoa in over a decade. With a long history of sold out tours and his most recent Australian one-off performance as part of Dark Mofo in June selling out in under 15 minutes – fans will be given priority access to tickets via Ticketmaster Verified Fan © registration. 

Ticketmaster Verified Fan © registration will open at 9am Thursday, August 30 until 7pm Sunday, September 2 and will enable early access to tickets for verified fans from 12pm Wednesday, September 5, for 24 hours.

Tickets for all shows go on sale at 2pm Thursday, 6 September. For complete tour and ticket information, visit: livenation.co.nz.

The music virtuoso also announced that a portion of this tour profits will be donated to a local charity in both Auckland and Wellington. In Auckland, this charity is Ngā Rangatahi Toa who work with young people who have been excluded or on the cusp of being excluded from mainstream education and in Wellington the charity will be Arohanui Strings-Sistema, a charitable trust offering high quality music classes free of charge to vulnerable children across the cities northern suburbs.

Minchin has been celebrated globally for writing the music and lyrics for “Matilda the Musical”, which has gone on to become one of the most acclaimed musicals of the last 20 years, winning a record 7 Olivier Awards, 13 Helpmann Awards and 5 Tony Awards. It continues to run in the West End and has already played in over 50 cities worldwide including a spectacular season in Auckland in 2017. 

Minchin also wrote music and lyrics for the musical adaption of “Groundhog Day”, which after an acclaimed limited run at The Old Vic in London in 2016, debuted on Broadway in April 2017 and won the Olivier Award for Best Musical in 2017.

Meanwhile, Minchin has ruffled feathers in Australia with his ARIA-nominated charity single, Come Home Cardinal Pell and the Marriage Equality parody, I Still Call Australia Homophobic. His UWA Graduation speech has been watched by tens of millions of people worldwide.

BACK will mark Minchin’s return to the stage, following several film and TV appearances which earned him a handful of acting accolades, including the Qantas Orry-Kelly Award at the 2017 Australians in Film Awards and a 2016 Logie Award for Most Outstanding Supporting Actor for The Secret River.

He most recently starred in the ABC 2018 comedy series “Squinters” and will appear as Friar Tuck in the up-coming Hollywood release “Robin Hood” in cinemas November 2018. In 2019 he will also star in “UPRIGHT”, a new eight-part drama series, which he will co-write with The Chaser’s Chris Taylor, actor-writers Leon Ford and Kate Mulvaney, and co-produce with Lingo Pictures for Foxtel and Sky UK.

“Not only is Tim Minchin outrageously funny, he is also a beautiful singer and pianist. His piano solos are enough on their own to warrant the entry price.” The Daily Telegraph 

“Minchin's music and lyrics are sophisticated, complicated and superbly clever” Stuff.co.nz

 “Tim Minchin's superb music and lyrics add to the infectiously playful atmosphere” Newshub Review of Matilda

“Minchin has enormous presence, a superior handle on self-deprecation, brilliant timing and an inexhaustible armoury of withering looks.” Courier Mail, Brisbane

TIM MINCHIN – BACK– NEW ZEALAND 2019

ASB THEATRE, AUCKLAND                                                           SUNDAY APRIL 14

MICHAEL FOWLER CENTRE, WELLINGTON                               THURSDAY APRIL 18

TICKETS ON SALE 2PM THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6

Ticketmaster Verified Fan® pre-sale starts 12pm, Wednesday September 5 until 12pm Thursday, September 6.

For complete tour and ticket information, visit:

 timminchin.com & livenation.co.nz

About Live Nation Entertainment

Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) is the world’s leading live entertainment company comprised of global market leaders: Ticketmaster, Live Nation Concerts, Live Nation Advertising & Sponsorship and Artist Nation Management. For additional information, visit www.livenationentertainment.com.

For all tour-related media enquiries, contact:

Chris Henry // 818

chris@818.co.nz

+64 21 670 604

For all Live Nation related enquiries, contact:
Live Nation Australasia

Brandon Le Gallez

+61 (0) 3 8632 2543

For all Ticketmaster Verified Fan media enquiries, contact:                 

Ticketmaster Australia

Jackie Antas

+61 (3) 8632 2069

2018 MTV VMAS RECAP

The 2018 MTV Video Music Awards are over for another year and as always, it was a night filled with celebs, music and stellar performances. Kicked off by Cardi B and her ‘baby’ Kulture, which turned out to be a swaddled moon person, she introduced the first performance of the evening – Shawn Mendes.

While the show had no official hosts, Night School stars Kevin Hart and Tiffany Haddish delivered a monologue full of digs at the likes of Fifth Harmony and Lil Xan, just before announcing Nicki Minaj as the winner of Best Hip Hop Video for her song Chun-Li. Nicki later performed at the PATH World Trade Center Station to an audience of excited fans.

Performances were rife as stars like Ariana Grande, Panic! at the Disco and Post Malone with Aerosmith and 21 Savage took the stage to perform their hits. Jennifer Lopez also delivered a medley of her classics like Jenny from the Block and Love Don’t Cost a Thing combined with newer songs such as On the Floor. Shawn Mendes presented her with the coveted Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award for recognising her accomplishments in music and film.

The main event, Video of the Year was delivered to Camilla Cabello for her Havana music video with Young Thug, and also took out Artist of the Year. Cardi B and Childish Gambino tied for the most number of awards, at 3 each.

FULL LIST OF WINNERS:

MICHAEL JACKSON VANGUARD AWARD SPONSORED BY PEPSI®

Jennifer Lopez

VIDEO OF THE YEAR

Camila Cabello featuring Young Thug – “Havana” – Syco Music/Epic Records 

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Camila Cabello – Syco Music/Epic Records  

SONG OF THE YEAR

Post Malone featuring 21 Savage – “rockstar” – Republic Records 

BEST POP

Ariana Grande – “No Tears Left To Cry” – Republic Records 

BEST NEW ARTIST (Presented by Taco Bell ®)

Cardi B – Atlantic Records 

BEST LATIN

J Balvin, Willy William – “Mi Gente” – UMLE/Republic Records 

BEST COLLABORATION

Jennifer Lopez featuring DJ Khaled & Cardi B – “Dinero” – Epic Records/Nuyorican Productions 

PUSH ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Hayley Kiyoko – Atlantic Records 

BEST HIP HOP

Nicki Minaj – “Chun-Li” – Young Money/Cash Money Records 

BEST ROCK

Imagine Dragons – “Whatever It Takes” – KIDinaKORNER/Interscope Records 

BEST DANCE

Avicii featuring Rita Ora – “Lonely Together” – Geffen Records 

VIDEO WITH A MESSAGE

Childish Gambino – “This Is America” – mcDJ/RCA Records 

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

The Carters – “APES**T” – Roc Nation/Parkwood Entertainment – Cinematography by Benoit Debie

BEST DIRECTION

Childish Gambino – “This Is America” – mcDJ / RCA Records – Directed by Hiro Murai

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

Kendrick Lamar & SZA – “All The Stars” – TDE/Aftermath/Interscope Records – Visual Effects by Loris Paillier for BUF Paris

BEST ART DIRECTION

The Carters – “APES**T” – Roc Nation/Parkwood Entertainment – Art Direction by Jan Houlevigue, The Louvre

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY

Childish Gambino – “This Is America” – mcDJ/RCA Records – Choreography by Sherrie Silver

BEST EDITING

N.E.R.D & Rihanna – “Lemon” – i am OTHER/Columbia Records – Editing by Taylor Ward

BOLLYWOOD SPECTACLE THE MERCHANTS OF BOLLYWOOD COMES TO AUCKLAND THIS DIWALI

The international smash hit comes to The Civic, Auckland after it’s triumphant world tour playing to over 3 million people.

Performing this Diwali, direct from Film City Mumbai (the home of Bollywood cinema), The Merchants of Bollywood features a spectacular cast of more than 30 talented performers.

Choreographed by Vaibhavi Merchant, granddaughter of Hiralalji Merchant, one the founding fathers of classic Bollywood Cinema, The Merchants of Bollywoodis a touching tribute to the Bollywood greats of yesterday complimented by the outstanding music arrangements by Salim-Sulaiman.

This will be a season of glitz, glamour, song, dance, romance and sheer spectacle that can only come from Bollywood. In an extraordinary evening of music and dance The Merchants of Bollywood captures the essence of India, its rich and diverse culture and its people through a heartfelt story of a young girl, her grandfather and their love of dance.

London’s The Times newspaper had this to say about this show. “Their energy is electrifying, their movements suffused with a rush of joy and yet ruthlessly precise and the frenetic flow of onstage activity is almost non-stop. It's a high octane pleasure!”

Presale tickets for The Merchants of Bollywood will go on sale on Tuesday 21st of August with general tickets on sale Wednesday 22nd August.

 

SHOW DATES:

Thursday 18 October, 7:30pm

Friday 19 October, 7:30pm

Saturday 20 October, 2pm & 7:30pm

Sunday 21 October 3pm

More info: aucklandlive.co.nz/show/merchants-of-bollywood

THE FUNATORIUM’S MAD HATTER’S TEA PARTY COMING TO NZ THIS DECEMBER

Auckland Live and Isaac Theatre Royal present

THE FUNATORIUM: MAD HATTER’S TEA PARTY

Hats on! Tea poured! Silly faces at the ready!

Sydney Opera House’s sell-out show Mad Hatter’s Tea Party is coming to Auckland’s Bruce Mason Centre from the 19th of December and Christchurch’s Isaac Theatre Royal from the 27th December for a delightfully chaotic circus for the whole family. 
 
Based on Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, this spectacular show will be the perfect start to the summer holidays, with the biggest tricks, larger than life characters and catchy tunes.

Complete with a pop-up café, those of all ages will love this colourful display of acrobatics, singing, dancing and roller-skating!

Directed by Mike Finch (former artistic director at Circus Oz) and designed by Melanie Liertz (costume maker for Sydney Chamber Opera, Australian Ballet and Victorian Opera), Mad Hatter’s Tea Party is led by some of Australia’s top acrobats, including Monica Trapaga, one of Australia’s most popular child entertainers.  
 
Topping it off with a female Mad Hatter, a male Red Queen, flamingos and more, this hilariously kooky show will delight children 5+ and entertain the adults – with a couple of jokes in there especially for them.

SHOW TIMES: 

BRUCE MASON CENTRE, AUCKLAND
WEDNESDAY 19 DECEMBER – 11AM
THURSDAY 20 DECEMBER – 11AM
FRIDAY 21 DECEMBER – 11AM
SATURDAY 22 DECEMBER – 11AM & 7PM
SUNDAY 23 DECEMBER – 11AM & 6PM
 
aucklandlive.co.nz 
BOOK NOW
 
SHOW TIMES: 

ISAAC THEATRE ROYAL, CHRISTCHURCH
THURSDAY 27 DECEMBER – 6PM
FRIDAY 28 DECEMBER – 1PM & 5PM
SATURDAY 29 DECEMBER – 1PM & 5PM


isaactheatreroyal.co.nz | ticketek.co.nz
BOOK NOW

MEET WAYNE GARDNER IN SPECIAL Q&A SCREENING

Be one of the first in the country to see and meet one of motorsports most treasured characters. Meet the ‘larrikin kid’ from Wollongong, Wayne Gardner, in a series of special screenings of his biopic ‘WAYNE,’ presented by Mike Pero Real Estate.

Three special screenings in Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington will be attended by Wayne Gardner himself who will take part in an exclusive Q&A after the film. Audiences can hear more from this iconic character and his remarkable journey from a 5-dollar dirt bike to becoming the pinnacle of his sport when became the first Australian to win the World Motorcycle Grand Prix.

Featuring interviews with legends from the sport’s ‘golden age’ including Eddie Lawson, Wayne Rainey, Mick Doohan and Kevin Schwantz, WAYNE is an amusing, inspiring and, at times, wild cinematic ride through the life of a true motorsport legend.

Tickets for the screenings are available through the following links:

AUCKLAND - FRIDAY 17 AUGUST
https://www.rialto.co.nz/Cinema/Newmarket/Promotions/FilmTalk#cinemas=750,751

CHRISTCHURCH - SATURDAY 18 AUGUST
https://readingcinemas.co.nz/movie/6578

WELLINGTON - SUNDAY 19 AUGUST
https://www.lighthousecinema.co.nz/schedule/film/wayne/

Check out the trailer for WAYNE below.

DONAVON FRANKENREITER RETURNS TO NEW ZEALAND IN NOVEMBER

Southern Californian-native, surfer and musician DONAVON FRANKENREITER is headed back to New Zealand this November! Playing a run of coastal tour dates, Donavon Frankenreiter will bring his honey-thick vocals, masterful guitar work and newest album “The Heart” to audiences in Wellington, Tauranga, Auckland, Leigh and Coromandel. Fans will also have the chance to upgrade their tickets to receive a VIP ‘meet and greet’ experience with the artist or an exclusive soundcheck Q&A with Donavon.
 
Tickets for all shows go on sale at 1pm, Friday August 10. Spark customer can secure tickets first during the exclusive pre-sale beginning 11am Tuesday, August 7.
 
For complete tour, ticket and VIP information, visit: livenation.co.nz
 
Known and loved for his positive outlook and easy folk sounds, Donavon Frankenreiter started his professional life first as a surfer, before launching his solo music career as the protégé of Jack Johnson. Born in Southern California, Frankenreiter landed a sponsorship with Billabong as a young teenager and moved to Hawaii when he was 14. There, he rented a home from the parents of Jack Johnson, a fellow surfer and at the time, an untapped musical talent.
 
Music steadily took hold of Donavon’s life and he now has seven full-length albums to his name. His latest album “The Heart”, was recorded in Wimberley, Texas and is without question the heaviest, most intimate and honest material he has released to date. The sessions at Wimberley didn’t include the same privacy afforded to most studios, they were live-streamed online in a soul-bearing exhibition for his fans – talk about intimate and honest.
 
This shorter run of east coast dates is an opportunity for his most loyal fans across the coast to catch up and experience his most recent release, “The Heart” – a chance to reminisce to those playful guitar melodies and rich, intimate vocals we first came to love.

DONOVAN FRANKENREITER
NEW ZEALAND 2018

SAN FRAN, WELLINGTON                                      TUESDAY NOVEMBER 27
TOTARA ST., TAURANGA                                       WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 28
TUNING FORK, AUCKLAND                                    THURSDAY NOVEMBER 29
SAWMILL CAFÉ, LEIGH                                           FRIDAY NOVEMBER 30
COROGLEN TAVERN, COROMANDEL                    SATURDAY DECEMBER 1

TICKETS ON SALE 1PM FRIDAY, AUGUST 10
Spark pre-sale begins 11am Tuesday, August 7 until 11am Thursday, August 9

WHAT'S ON IN AUGUST

August has arrived and it's looking busy! Whether it’s reality TV on the couch, or a night out at one of Auckland’s newest restaurants, we have the scoop on what to do and where to be.

THE BACHELOR AUSTRALIA

Nick ‘Honey Badger’ Cummins is gracing the screen again, but this time swapping the AFL gear for a suit and tie as he makes his debut as Australia’s next bachelor. Tune in as Nick navigates his way through the 25 women entering the mansion.

Kiwis can catch all the action exclusively on Bravo, 8:30PM Tuesdays & Wednesdays from August 21st. 

RHYTHM AND VINES

It’s NZ’s most coveted New Year’s festival and it’s back for their 17th year! Rhythm and Vines are heading back to Gisborne and we are anticipating the line-up, dropping sometime this month.

Tickets for R&V are available now on their website, purchase here.

MENU BY MANU

After the success that HOYTS has seen in Australia with their HOYTS LUX experience, it has arrived from across the Tasman! HOYTS LUX will host a menu curated by My Kitchen Rules judge Manu Feildel. From duck baos to Malteaser sundaes, it’s a bit different to the movie experience you may know.

AUCKLAND RESTAURANT MONTH

As per their slogan, “it’s time to try something new”. Here are our top picks for the hottest spots to check out during August as part of Auckland restaurant month to get you in the spirit for something different.

Sumthin’ Dumplin’

Located in the heart of the city lies this new entrant to the dumpling game. Making them throughout the day, you can rest assured that these are the freshest dumplings in Auckland.

Check out some satisfying dumpling snaps here.

 Deadshot

This intimate spot in Ponsonby is home to over 1000 recipes, so whether your cocktail taste is classic or contemporary, you’re sure to find your new favourite drink.

Check them out here.

Scratch Bakers HQ

If you’re looking for the most insta-worthy sweet treat, you’ll find it at Scratch Bakers. Located in Auckland central, it’s the perfect place to sneak off to for an afternoon pick me up.

You can see their mouth-watering treats here.

NEW ZEALAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

SHE SHEARS

As part of the NZIFF, She Shears follows the stories of five female sheep shearers, navigating their way through the often male-dominated world of shearing. It focuses on their individual journeys to the annual Golden Shears, “the world’s premier shearing and woolhandling competition”.

Tickets are still available in Wellington, Dunedin and Christchurch, found here.

MERATA: HOW MUM DECOLONISED THE SCREEN

Merata: How Mum Decolonised the Screen allows Director Heperi Mita to share his mother’s personal archives in a cumulative film. Produced by Chelsea Winstanley, and executive produced by Cliff Curtis, Merata tells the story of the struggles she faced and how she paved the way Maori female film-making.

Merata is screening all around the country, tickets found here.

THE BACHELOR AUSTRALIA PREMIERES ON BRAVO TUESDAY 21ST AUGUST

International rugby star, Nick ‘Honey Badger’ Cummins begins his journey for everlasting love when The Bachelor Australia premieres exclusively on Bravo on Tuesday August 21 at 8.30pm, within a week of the Australian broadcast.

Known for his down-to-earth nature, larrikin one-liners, adventurous spirit, sporting prowess and large personality, Nick, 30, will dazzle his 25 beautiful and accomplished Bachelorettes as they take their first steps towards their potential future beau.

Aged between 23 and 34, these strong, confident and independent women will give Nick more than he bargained for.

Two of the glamorous Bachelorettes competing for Nick’s heart are 23-year-old youth worker Brooke and former Miss World Finalist, Cass.

Fun-loving, sporty and compassionate, Brooke is a proud Indigenous woman who is looking for an aspirational partner that is loyal and nurturing. Much to her embarrassment, the self-confessed rugby lover fails to recognise the ex-Wallabies star on her arrival.

Much like Nick, Cass is passionate about sport, animals and surfing. Arriving at the mansion, Cass is shell-shocked to discover that this is not the first time she has met the Bachelor.

Hosted by radio and TV personality Osher Günsberg, The Bachelor Australia promises a season filled with romance, roses, tears and plenty of drama, as we follow Nick’s journey to find true love.

The Bachelor Australia premieres exclusively on Bravo 8.30pm Tuesday and Wednesday from August 21.

ACTOR BREAKS DOWN LABELS IN POWERFUL SOLO SHOW ‘BIG J STYLEZ’

Fresh from an award-winning season at the NZ Fringe Festival, Auckland Live is proud to announce Jacob Dombroski’s (Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Porou) debut solo work, Big J Stylezwill play in Auckland for the first time at the Herald Theatre 4-7 July as part of the Matariki Festival.
 
Fuelled by his passion for music, dance and acting, Big J Stylez lays out Jacob’s story of being born with Down syndrome and perceived as ‘different’. Overcoming bullying and experiencing violence, Jacob has left the challenges of the past behind to live the life hewants to live. His performance is one like no other you will see this year; honest, vulnerable, brave and profoundly moving.

“Jacob’s energy is like no other. His charisma and voice makes him an unstoppable force on stage,” says director Rose Kirkup. “He has come a long way in his performing. We are thrilled to share this next step in his mahi.”

“It was engaging and held me riveted throughout the piece. It was a work that reminded me what a celebration and powerful force theatre can be” – Apirana Taylor
 
Devised in 2016, Big J Stylez has already won a number of awards including The NZ Fringe Grand Design Award; Most Promising Emerging Artist (Highly Commended); Best Directed Chaos (Highly Commended) and Best of Fringe (Nominated).
 
Big J Stylez is produced by Wellington based theatre company Everybody Cool Lives Here and the show is directed by Rose Kirkup (best-known for her one-woman show I am Tasha Fierce).  Rowan Pierce, (AV designer for World of Wearable Art) is the show’s designer.

Everybody Cool Lives Here is a multi-award winning company which aims to bring the marginalised to the fore through the arts. They wish to connect and empower artists and individuals on the fringes in a process to create unforgettable theatre that promotes acceptance and smashes perceptions.
 
Big J Stylez will play the Herald Theatre from July 4 – 7 with tickets on sale at midday, 22 May at aucklandlive.co.nz/show/big-j-stylez

A WHOLE NEW WORLD FOR AUCKLAND AS ALADDIN ARRIVES EARLY 2019

Today Disney Theatrical Productions confirmed its hit Broadway musical Aladdin will come to the Civic Theatre, Auckland with performances beginning 3rd January 2019.
 
A waitlist is now open for those wishing to be first in line for tickets when they go on pre-sale in August.
 
To register visit aladdinthemusical.co.nz
 
 

“The most extraordinary spectacle in musical theatre history”
Arts Hub
 
“A Broadway spectacular… In a league of its own”
Fairfax Media
 

Based on the Academy Award®-winning animated film, Aladdin made its world premiere to critical acclaim at Broadway’s New Amsterdam Theatre on March 20th, 2014. It quickly established itself as one of the biggest new blockbusters in recent years, breaking 14 New Amsterdam Theatre house records and welcoming over six million people worldwide. Its global footprint has expanded to include productions in Tokyo, Hamburg, London and a tour across North America.
 
The Australian production boasts a cast of 34 and a staggering 337 glittering costumes, which feature 1,225 different fabrics, 712 different styles of beads and almost 500,000 Swarovski crystals. Forty tonnes of exotic flying scenery and 60 tonnes of automation and staging will be transferred to Adelaide in no fewer than twenty six 48 foot trucks to recreate the fantasy city of Agrabah including the colourful marketplace, the lush palace of the Sultan and his princess daughter Jasmine and the legendary Cave of Wonders.
 
The Australian principal cast features Gareth Jacobs in the role of the Genie, Ainsley Melham as Aladdin, Shubshri Kandiah as Jasmine, Adam Murphy as Jafar, Aljin Abellaas Iago, Adam Jon Fiorentino as Kassim, Troy Sussman as Babkak and Robert Tripolino as Omar and New Zealand’s own George Henare as the Sultan.
 

 ABOUT ALADDIN

Based on the Academy Award-winning animated film and produced by Disney Theatrical Productions (The Lion King, Mary Poppins in Australia), Aladdin features music by Tony Award and eight-time Oscar® winner Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast, Newsies, Sister Act, Little Shop of Horrors), lyrics by two-time Oscar winner Howard Ashman (Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid), three-time Tony Award and three-time Oscar winner Tim Rice (Evita, Aida) and four-time Tony Award nominee Chad Beguelin (The Wedding Singer), with a book by Beguelin, and is directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon).
 
Aladdin, adapted from the Disney film and centuries-old folktales including “One Thousand and One Nights,” is brought to fresh theatrical life in this bold new musical. Aladdin’s journey sweeps audiences into an exotic world of daring adventure, classic comedy and timeless romance.
 
This new production features a full score, including the five cherished songs from the Academy Award-winning soundtrack and more written especially for the stage.

 
“Fabulous and extravagant with relentless razzle dazzle”
New York Times
 
“Disney hits magic again” 
Associated Press
 
“It’s pure genie-us!”
USA Today

The animated film Aladdin was released by Disney in 1992 and was a critical and box office smash, grossing over $500 million worldwide (not adjusted for inflation) and becoming the highest-grossing film of the year.
 
The film won the Oscar for Best Original Score and introduced the hit song “A Whole New World,” which won the second of the film’s two Academy Awards as Best Original Song. The Peabo Bryson/Regina Belle recording of the tune soared to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

 Aladdin is designed by seven-time Tony-winning scenic designer Bob Crowley, six-time Tony-winning lighting designer Natasha Katz, two-time Tony-winning costume designer Gregg Barnes and sound designer Ken Travis. 
 
The production team also includes illusion designer Jim Steinmeyer, hair designer Josh Marquette and makeup designer Milagros Medina-Cerdeira. The music team is headed by music supervisor and music director Michael Kosarin, who also created the vocal and incidental music arrangements, joined by orchestrator Danny Troob and dance music arranger Glen Kelly. 
 
 

ABOUT DISNEY THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS

 
Disney Theatrical Productions, a division of The Walt Disney Studios, was formed in 1994 and operates under the direction of Thomas Schumacher.  Worldwide, its 10 Broadway titles have been seen by over 160 million theatergoers and have been nominated for 59 Tony® Awards, winning Broadway’s highest honor 20 times.  With more than 20 productions currently produced or licensed, a Disney musical is being performed professionally somewhere on the planet virtually every hour of the day. 
 
The company’s inaugural production, Beauty and the Beast, opened in 1994. It played a remarkable 13 year run on Broadway and has been produced in 37 countries worldwide.
 
In November 1997, Disney opened The Lion King, which received six 1998 Tony Awards including Best Musical. After 20 landmark years on Broadway, it has welcomed more than 95 million visitors worldwide to date, and can currently be seen in ten productions worldwide.  Having played 20 countries on every continent except Antarctica, The Lion King’s worldwide gross exceeds that of any film, Broadway show or other entertainment title in box office history.
 
Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida opened on Broadway next, winning four 2000 Tony Awards.  It was followed by Mary Poppins, a co-production with Cameron Mackintosh, which opened in London in 2004 and went on to enjoy a six year Tony-winning Broadway run. 
 
Tarzan®, which opened on Broadway in 2006, is now an international hit with an award-winning production in its 8th year in Germany.  In January 2008, The Little Mermaid opened on Broadway and was the #1-selling new musical of that year.
 
Disney Theatrical Productions opened two critically acclaimed productions on Broadway in 2012, receiving seven Tony Awards between them: Peter and the Starcatcher and Newsies, each of which enjoyed a two-year run with the latter launching a two-year North American tour and a record-breaking Fathom Events’ in-cinema release.
 
Aladdin, Disney Theatrical’s 2014 hit, continues selling out on Broadway and has launched five additional productions around the globe.  Their newest hit, the 2018 Tony-nominated Best Musical Frozen, is already setting records in its Broadway run.
 
Other successful stage ventures have included the Olivier-nominated London hit Shakespeare in Love, stage productions of Disney’s High School Musical, Der Glöckner Von Notre Dame in Berlin, and King David in concert.  DTP has collaborated with the country’s leading regional theatres to develop new stage musicals including The Jungle Book, The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Freaky Friday.
 

GUNS AKIMBO STARING DANIEL RADCLIFFE AND SAMARA WEAVING BEGINS PRODUCTION IN AUCKLAND

Adrenaline-fuelled, balls-to-the-wall original action comedy, GUNS AKIMBO, starring Daniel Radcliffe (Now You See Me 2, Trainwreck, Swiss Army Man,The Woman in Black) and Samara Weaving (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, SMILF, Picnic at Hanging Rock) begins shooting today in Auckland. Production will also take place in Munich, Germany. A strong cast of kiwi talent joining the international line up is soon to be announced.

The story follows an ordinary man, Miles (Radcliffe), whose mundane existence of scrolling through the same three apps, enduring his office job and longing for the lost love of his much more adventurous ex, is turned upside-down when he finds himself enrolled in a dark social media movement that forces strangers to fight in a city-wide game of death, live-streamed worldwide to a fanatical audience.  

"I am massively excited to be here in Auckland starting filming on Guns Akimbo,"  Says Radcliffe. "Jason Lei Howden has written a brilliant and delightfully insane script, and working with him as director and alongside the fantastic Samara Weaving to bring it to life is going to be a lot of fun. If you see me around Auckland looking very worse for wear and covered in blood and bruises, don't worry, this is probably for filming."

GUNS AKIMBO is written and directed by Jason Lei Howden (Deathgasm). The film is produced by Occupant Entertainment in association with Pump Metal Films and Ingenious Media in an official Germany/New Zealand co-production with Four Knights Film as well as Maze Pictures and Occupant Entertainment Germany.  Altitude Film Sales are handling international sales.

“I’m delighted to be hosting Daniel Radcliffe and Samara Weaving, as well as our German partners, for this exciting co-production between Germany and New Zealand.  I’m sure they’re going to have a ball on the fine shores of Aotearoa!”  says producer Tom Hern.  

Joe Neurauter and Felipe Marino are producing for Occupant Entertainment (The Hallow, Better Living Through Chemistry, The Wackness) and Tom Hern, is producing for Four Knights Film (The Dark Horse, Pork Pie). Philipp Kreuzer and Joerg Schulze from Maze Pictures are co-producing.
 
Michael Mailis from Hyperion Entertainment, Jay Taylor and John Jencks from Electric Shadow, Joe Simpson from Miscellaneous Entertainment, Adrian Politowski and Bastien Sirodot from Umedia, Stefan Kapelari and Mortiz Peters from Koch Films and Will Clarke and Andy Mayson from Altitude Films are executive producing.
 
The Production is supported by the German Federal Film Fund (DFFF), the Film Fernsehfonds Bayern (FFF-Bayern) and the New Zealand Film Commission.
 
Daniel Radcliffe is repped by UTA and ARG Talent and Samara Weaving is repped by WME, Untitled and Shannahan in Australia. 

To download images of the key cast please click HERE

WILSON DIXON RETURNS TO NZ FOR FIRST SOLO NATIONAL TOUR!

Off the back of his sell-out shows at the Dunedin Fringe Festival, Wilson Dixon is back on our shores for the NZ International Comedy Festival and his first solo National Tour with his brand new show "What A Country!".  The Multi Award winning comedian/country singer will perform at Auckland's Q Theatre and Wellington's Te Auaha and tour across the rest of New Zealand in April and May. 

"I'm really looking forward to this tour and the opportunity to bring my country music to the good people of New Zealand. No doubt there will be some people at the shows who ain't good, but hopefully in the fullness of time they'll see the error of their ways and start making some changes." – Wilson Dixon
 
With a number of albums under his belt, including his first album, the seminal Wilson Dixon’s Greatest Hits, Wilson is the comedic mastermind behind hit songs many will be familiar with, including “Love Don’t Live Here Anymore, You Do,” “Daddy’s Drinking Again,”and “I Can’t Look at You When You’re Eating.”
 
Originally from the tiny town of Cripple Creek in Colorado, Wilson is a bit of a national treasure, known to many as the finest exponent of what has come to be known as the “Cripple Creek Sound.” Having grown up in the Rocky Mountains, Wilson was isolated from the rest of the world, cut off from influences like technology and news and spent his days surrounded by a large family, some cattle, horses, a few dogs and an owl.
 
Wilson Dixon has won multiple awards, including the Fred Award (NZ International Comedy Festival), the Golden Chicken Award (Christchurch Intl. Buskers Festival) and the Spank Award (Best Musical Act Edinburgh Fringe Festival).
 
Seize the opportunity to see Wilson Dixon on our shores before he heads off to the U.K for his tour of “For the First Time. Again” where he will cover London, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Birmingham. After the roaring success of his sell out shows at the Dunedin Fringe Festival, this is one not to be missed! 

“deadpan delivery of some of the funniest songs you'll ever hear..." Time Out, UK

"Simply sensational and utterly unmissable" " tvnz.co.nz

“at the absolute top of his game” Sunday Star Times

AUCKLAND’S Q THEATRE (NZ INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL): APRIL 27- MAY 5TH
HAMILTON’S THE METEOR: MAY 8TH
TAUPO’S GREAT LAKE CENTRE: MAY 10TH
PALMERSTON NORTH’S GLOBE THEATRE: MAY 12TH
CARTERTON’S EVENTS CENTRE: MAY 13TH
WELLINGTON’S TE AUAHA (NZ INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL): MAY 15-19TH
BLENHEIM’S ASB THEATRE MARLBOROUGH: MAY 20TH
NELSON'S THEATRE ROYAL: MAY 21ST
WESTPORT'S NBS THEATRE- MAY 22ND
GREYMOUTH'S REGENT THEATRE- MAY 23RD
 OTEMATATA EATERY BAR AND LODGING: MAY 26TH

TOM SAINSBURY JOINS COMEDY CENTRAL AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND

No politician, celebrity or public figure will be safe in Tom’s new digital series premiering now.

Comedy Central Australia and New Zealand is proud to announce that Tom Sainsbury, comedian, writer and playwright, has joined the network as its latest shortform content contributor.

Sainsbury, who has long entertained our nation with his content, went viral on Snapchat after doing satirical impersonations of New Zealand politicians and personalities using the ‘face swap’ filter to cover his face. 

His own creations, like squeaky-voiced excitable Maz, and his famous face-offs of power figures like Paula Bennett and John Key, have fast become social media sensations here, and now, Sainsbury is taking on Australian culture.

His first video for Comedy Central, which launched on April Fools Day (Sunday April 1, 2018)  featured a new character that is well-known both here and across the ditch, Australia's divisive Pauline Hanson. 

Watch the latest video here

“I’m thrilled to have found some new bosses in the crew at Comedy Central Australia and New Zealand,” Sainsbury said. “I love being given the opportunity to play around with different characters and can’t wait to show you who will come out next,” he added.

From this month you can catch Sainsbury’s new characters on the Comedy Central website and social media channels as well as Comedy Central TV on Sky Channel 11.
 

H.E.R.

The enigmatic R&B singer/songwriter debuts on New Zealand shores this May

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28 – Quickly establishing herself as one of modern pop’s most fascinating new voices H.E.R. emerged in late 2016 with the breakthrough release “H.E.R. Volume 1,” as a nameless, faceless and practically untraceable personality on Soundcloud. Streamed over 500 million times with co-signs from Janet Jackson, Alicia Keys, and Bryson Tiller, H.E.R. has today announced a debut headline tour throughout Australia & New Zealand, extending The Lights On Tour to Auckland.
 
Tickets go on sale at 2pm, Wednesday April 4.
 
My Live Nation members can be among the first to secure tickets during the pre-sale beginning 1pm, Tuesday April 3.
 
For complete tour and ticketing, visit: livenation.co.nz
 
Never wanting to be the girl who fell for the wrong guy – to end up in a bad relationship or situation, growing up found that she ended up being that girl – her. So, began the project, first created over the course of four years from 15 – 18 years old. “H.E.R. Volume 1” was released under the veil of anonymity through RCA, with the simple instruction of, “I can’t tell you much about H.E.R. just yet but give it a listen”. The release quickly attracted praise and attention from fans and media alike and despite the lack of information provided seemed only to fuel the intrigue and curiosity surrounding H.E.R.
 
The debut climbed to No.1 on the iTunes R&B chart, gaining more than 21 million streams on Soundcloud and attracted more than 3.3 million monthly Spotify listeners – all without a single track being pushed to radio. The mature songwriting quickly established herself as an artist with a keen skill for channeling the pain and ecstasy of life through a variety of sonic moods. The follow up “Volume 2” was released a year later, before the two were bundled into a compiled release titled “H.E.R.,” demonstrating the full palette of her writing, whilst staying true to the intimacy that garnered so much initial adoration and acclaim, throwing in a dusky, acoustic-tinged Daniel Caesar duet on ‘Best Part.’
 
With notable performances including a North American tour supporting Bryson Tiller, an appearance at BET Experience 2017 alongside Snoop Dogg and Khalid as well as a SOLD-OUT debut headline tour across the U.S. and Canada – now the mysterious trap soul heartbreaker finally makes her roof-shaking New Zealand debut.
 
 

“The mysterious H.E.R. is the empowering and vulnerable voice that R&B needs right now” – NME
“Confident seduction…grown and sexy throwback R&B.” – Pitchfork
 
H.E.R.
THE LIGHTS ON TOUR
 
LOGAN CAMPBELL CENTRE, AUCKLAND                  THURSDAY MAY 24
 
 
TICKETS ON SALE 2PM WEDNESDAY APRIL 4
My Live Nation pre-sale: 1pm Tuesday April 3 until 1pm Wednesday April 4
 
For complete tour and ticketing information, visit: 
her-official.com & livenation.co.nz
 

To download high res press images click HERE: