The full length feature trailer for Rachel House’s (Ngāti Mutunga, Te Atiawa, Kāi Tahu) directorial debut, The Mountain has been released today ahead of the film’s nationwide release on 28th March.
Following on from a previously released teaser trailer, the clip offers a greater glimpse at the soulful and humorous story penned by House and Tom Furniss.
Audiences have responded in their droves to the teaser trailer, with online comments such as: “This film is making me nostalgic”, “My heart is bursting”, “I'm grinning like a big kid and can't wait to see this”, and ‘“this film looks like everything I need”.
The Mountain is a heartfelt drama about three children on a mission to find healing under the watchful eye of Taranaki Maunga (Mountain) and discover friendship in the spirit of adventure.
Director Rachel House commented: “I reckon friendship can see you through just about anything and that’s what our perfectly flawed trio of misfits discover.”
Sam, a fearless young girl raised outside of her Māori culture, is determined to fulfill her mission of connecting with her mountain in the hope they can heal her from the cancer she battles. Along the way she meets some misfits and new kids in town – Mallory, hoping to find friends, any kind of friends - and Bronco who claims to be a runaway from his dad who is too busy to notice him. As they make their way through the difficult “off the beaten track” route, they learn the true spirit of adventure and the magic of friendship.
The Mountain is the acting debuts of three children, Elizabeth Atkinson (Te Atiawa, Ngāti Mutunga, Ngāti Toa, Ngāti Koata, Ngāti Tama, Kāi Tahu), Reuben Francis, and Terence Daniel (Ngāti Kahungunu, Raukawa ki Wharepūhunga, Kuki Airani – Aitutaki) in the leading roles.
They are joined by Troy Kingi (Te Arawa, Ngāpuhi, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui) (Muru), Byron Coll (Nude Tuesday), Fern Sutherland (Brokenwood Mysteries), and Sukena Shah.
The film is made with funding from the New Zealand Film Commission, the New Zealand Government’s Screen Production Grant (re-named Rebate), NZ On Air, Whaakata Māori, Department of Post, Native Audio, Nude Run, Hillfarrance and financed in association with Kiwibank. The film is distributed in New Zealand by Madman and Piki Films and in Australia by Madman.
The Mountain will be released across the country on Thursday 28 March.
BEN HOWARD LIVE IN AOTEAROA
British musician and gripping performer singer/songwriter Ben Howard will make his much-anticipated return to Aotearoa this June bringing his powerful live show and storied catalogue to delight kiwi audiences.
Almost 10 years since his sell out show at the Auckland Town Hall in 2014, the English singer/songwriter will play Auckland’s Town Hall on Monday 3rd June. The Secret Sounds, Live Nation and Ticketmaster presales will begin on Friday 9th Feb at 11am with general tickets on sale from Monday 12th February at 12pm. This one off Auckland date will come off the back of his multiple sell out shows across Australia with new shows just announced. Tickets are available from Livenation.co.nz.
Ben Howard released his triple platinum debut album, Every Kingdom back in 2011. As adept with an acoustic as he is with the electronics that have peppered and punctuated his recordings since that impressive debut, Howard now operates largely in a world and sound of his own making.
Howard released his fifth studio album Is It? In June 2023, marking a new chapter full of highly textured, experimental pop songs that identify another shift of sonics for this acclaimed and most unpredictable of British artists. Is It? Followed 2021’s Collections From The Whiteout which debuted at #1 in the UK album chart (Ben’s second chart-topping record after 2014’s I Forget Where We Were).
Is It? was recorded over 10 days In the Le Manoir de Léon studios, nestled between Bordeaux and Biarritz in the South of France. Produced by Bullion (Westerman, Nilüfer Yanya, Orlando Weeks), the ten-song record is a lush and sonically splintered album which captures Ben working through some intense moments resulting in one of his most upbeat and uplifting records in years – and audiences will get to experience it live, along with songs from Ben’s entire celebrated catalogue.
Described by The Times as “spellbinding, transcendental even”, Ben Howard and his expansive band’s intense live show captivate and mesmerises audiences as they light up stages across the country. Howard’s fierce desire to operate in and out of the shadows make both his music and live shows a rare but vital proposition. Don’t miss Ben Howard live this June.
LEGENDARY HIP HOP GROUP HOME BREW PERFORM AT LANEWAY 2024 + ANDYHEARTTHROB JOINS THE BILL
After an 11 year hiatus, the legendary Aotearoa hip-hop group Home Brew are back with their first new album in over a decade. Laneway Festival is thrilled to announce that Home Brew will be continuing their long-awaited reunion at Laneway Festival for an Auckland-exclusive show.
Breaking their indefinite hiatus, Tom Scott and Haz Beats have released ‘Run it Back’, their first album in over 10 years. Set to be arguably the biggest hip-hop release in Aotearoa this year, fans will be able to hear it in Tāmaki Makaurau exclusively at Laneway Festival. ‘Run it Back’ comes off the back of the 2023 re-release of their self-titled debut album which earned the pair another #1 in the NZ Top 40 Charts and confirmed their continuous cultural importance in Aotearoa.
Andyheartthrob will also join the 2024 bill that now features 27 international and local artists across a vast range of genres. Not just a DJ, Andy is an ethereal force within the scene in Aotearoa. With Māori, Tahitian, Cook Island, and Scottish roots, Andy grew up and continues to reside in our multifaceted and diverse Tāmaki Makaurau. With a mission to connect everyone through music and culture, Andy wants to inspire people to step into their light, power, and Mana. As well as being a DJ in her own right, she is very involved and active in Tāmaki’s Dynasty Collective; a platform for creative women of colour.
With no sideshows, Laneway Festival is the only place to see the Laneway Festival lineup in New Zealand this summer. Get your tickets now from lanewayfestival.com.au/auckland
Full lineup:
Stormzy – Steve Lacy**
Dominic Fike
Unknown Mortal Orchestra
AJ Tracey – Cordae – d4vd** – Dope Lemon – Eyedress** – Faye Webster**
Home Brew – horsegiirL – Nia Archives – Paris Texas** – Raye** - Skin On Skin
Andyheartthrob – Atarangi – Blondshell** – Church – Daily J – DOMi & JD BECK** –
Erny Belle – Hanbee – Hemlocke Springs ** – Molly Payton – Pretty Girl**
** First New Zealand show
Laneway Festival 2024:
AUCKLAND / Tamaki Makaurau (MA16)
Tuesday 6 February
Western Springs
CHELSEA HANDLER ANNOUNCES 2024 LITTLE BIG BITCH TOUR
GRAMMY-nominated comedian, television host, best-selling author and advocate Chelsea Handler today announces her 2024 Little Big Bitch New Zealand Tour.
Produced by Live Nation, the Little Big Bitch tour will be Handler’s first return down under since 2019 and will see her perform one night only in Auckland and Wellington this July.
General on sale starts 12pm Wednesday 13 December. My Live Nation members can access tickets first during the My Live Nation presale starting 11am Tuesday 12 December until 11am Wednesday 13 December. Tickets and tour info at livenation.co.nz.
Chelsea Handler is a comedian, television host, six-time New York Times best-selling author and advocate whose humour and candour have established her as one of the most celebrated voices in entertainment and pop culture. After a strong seven-year run as the host of E!’s top-rated Chelsea Lately, a tenure in which she was the only female late-night talk show host on-air, she launched her documentary series Chelsea Does followed by her talk show Chelsea on Netflix in 2016. She has penned six New York Times best-selling books, five of which have reached #1, including 2019’s Life Will Be the Death of Me.
In 2021, she launched her iHeart Radio advice podcast, Dear Chelsea, and embarked on the Vaccinated and Horny Tour, bringing her sensational stand-up set to over 90 cities with 115 shows across North America, winning “The Comedy Act of 2021” at the People’s Choice Awards. Following the success of her 2020 HBO Max comedy special Evolution, which earned Chelsea a Grammy nomination for Best Comedy Album, Handler made her return to Netflix with her critically acclaimed 2022 comedy special Revolution. Handler is currently on her 2023 stand-up tour, Little Big Bitch.
CHELSEA HANDLER
LITTLE BIG BITCH TOUR
NEW ZEALAND
AUCKLAND, TOWN HALL FRIDAY JULY 5
WELLINGTON, ST JAMES THEATRE SATURDAY JULY 6
TICKETS ON SALE 12PM WEDNESDAY 13 DECEMBER
MY LIVE NATION PRESALE STARTS 11AM TUESDAY 12 DECEMBER – 11AM WEDNESDAY 13 DECEMBER
$UICIDEBOY$ ANNOUNCE GREY DAY NEW ZEALAND SHOW 2024
MARCH 23 - AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND
TOUR SUPPORT INCLUDES
GHOSTEMANE, POUYA, GERM and SHAKEWELL
New Orleans duo $uicideboy$, kingpins of the trap-metal and emo-rap world, have announced that their Grey Day Tour will come to New Zealand in March 2024. Confirmed special guests are Ghostemane, Pouya, Germ, and Shakewell.
The tour will kick off in New Zealand on March 23, 2024 at Auckland’s Spark Arena. Tickets HERE.
Local presales commence Tuesday, December 12 at 3:00pm running until Wednesday, December 13 at 2:00pm. General public tickets go on sale Wednesday, December 13 at 3:00pm (All times are local).
In 2023, Ruby Da Cherry and his cousin $crim achieved remarkable success as the $uicideboy$, delivering a substantial amount of music with six $uicideboy$ projects, and Ruby’s debut DUCKBOY solo EP, "tragic love songs to study to [vol. 5]." Moreover, they completed their largest Grey Day Tour to date, playing arenas and amphitheaters across the US in 44 major cities and selling nearly 500,000 tickets. Their prolific year included the fifth installment of their fan-favorite series "I No Longer Fear The Razor Guarding My Heel," a 4-part EP series titled the Yin Yang Tapes, and joint projects with G59 Record$ labelmates Shakewell ("Shameless $uicide") and Germ (“DIRTIESTNASTIEST$UICIDE”).
In 2023 alone, their music collectively garnered 3 billion Spotify streams. $uicideboy$ are featured on the cover of Spotify’s Top Groups of 2023 USA (most-streamed groups in US), and their single Not Even Ghosts Are This Empty added to both Best Groups of 2023 and Top Gaming Tracks of 2023.
$uicideboy$ are currently among the Top 100 highest-streaming artists of all-time across all musical genres. Their most-streamed tracks on on Spotify “....And to Those I Love, Thanks for Sticking Around” and “Kill Yourself (Part III)” have each amassed over 500 million streams. Additionally, their two top-performing albums, I Want To Die In New Orleans and My Liver Will Handle What My Heart Can’t, have accumulated over 1.2 billion streams on Spotify alone. Their latest official full-length LP Sing Me A Lullaby, My Sweet Temptation marked their 3rd consecutive Top 10 album debut on the Billboard Top 200. The album led to sold-out arena and amphitheater tours followed by a top-billed performance spot at Coachella music festival in 2023.
JAMES TAYLOR AND HIS ALL-STAR BAND ANNOUNCE 2024 NEW ZEALAND TOUR DATES
GRAMMY Award-winner and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, James Taylor announces his 2024 New Zealand tour, An Evening with James Taylor and His All-Star Band.
The tour will kick off at Auckland’s Spark Arena on April 30, and will conclude at TSB Arena Wellington on May 1.
Live Nation pre-sale commences Wednesday, December 6 at 9am, concluding on Friday, December 8 at 9am.
General public tickets go on sale on Friday, December 8 at 10am.
As a recording and touring artist, JAMES TAYLOR has touched people with his warm baritone voice and distinctive style of guitar-playing for more than 50 years. His songs have had a profound influence on both songwriters and music lovers of all generations: Fire and Rain, Country Road, Sweet Baby James, Carolina In My Mind, and in 1971 he scored his first number one single with You’ve Got A Friend, written by Carole King, earning him his first Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal.
Over the course of his celebrated songwriting and performing career, Taylor has sold more than 100 million albums, earning gold, platinum and multi-platinum awards since the release of his self-titled debut album in 1968. In 2015, Taylor released Before This World, the first-ever #1 album of his illustrious career.
Taylor has won multiple GRAMMY Awards, has been inducted into both the Rock and Roll and the prestigious Songwriters Halls of Fame and in February 2006, The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences selected him its MUSICARES Person of the Year. Taylor was also awarded the distinguished Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters by the French government and the National Medal of Arts by President Barack Obama in 2012.
In November of 2015, Taylor was presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Nation's highest civilian honor and in December of 2016 he received the Kennedy Center Honors, which are presented annually to individuals who have enriched American culture by distinguished achievement in the performing arts. In early 2020 Taylor released Break Shot, a deeply personal and authentic audio-only memoir detailing his first 21 years.
He also released his newest album, American Standard, his 19th studio album, which earned Taylor the 2021 GRAMMY Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album and gave him the honor of being the first artist to have a Billboard Top 10 album in each of the past six decades.
AN EVENING WITH JAMES TAYLOR
& HIS ALL-STAR BAND
NEW ZEALAND 2024
SPARK ARENA, AUCKLAND TUESDAY, APRIL 30
TSB ARENA, WELLINGTON WEDNESDAY, MAY 1
Live Nation pre-sale commences Wednesday, December 6 at 9am, concluding Friday, December 8 at 9am.
General public tickets go on sale on Friday, December 8 at 10am.
FOLLOW JAMES TAYLOR
Website Facebook Twitter Instagram
GAME, SET, MATCH! THE COUNTDOWN IS ON TO THE ASB CLASSIC
The countdown to the ASB Classic begins, with some of the world’s top tennis players set to compete in the premier tournament in one month’s time. Running from 1st – 13th January at ASB Tennis Centre in Auckland, confirmed players include US Open champion Coco Gauff, British No 1 Cam Norrie, former world No 1 Caroline Wozniacki, Tennis super-couple Gaël Monfils and Elina Svitolina, and rising stars Arthur Fils, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Ben Shelton.
“The Serve” will return with some of NZ’s best entertainment, food and beverage offerings, providing the perfect place to meet with friends and soak up the off-court atmosphere. Beverage offerings will include a gorgeous G.H. Mumm garden, an Aperol Serve Up Summer bar, an extensive range on offer at the Schweppes Social Club as well as a New Grey Goose bar serving up their Love One cocktail. Heineken will be introducing their new Heineken Silver, and Gwen by Church Road will be showcasing their finest selection of wines. Extensive food options available across the various hospitality spaces will include Summer ceviche, Wagu sliders, truffle fries and a culinary work of tennis ball art, the Mānuka Doctor Honey Ball.
Tournament Director Nicolas Lamperin comments: “Once again the ASB Classic will be the place to be in Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland next January. Our fans will be cheering on their favourite tennis stars as exciting names will be gracing the courts of the ASB Tennis Arena. Beyond the sidelines, the tournament will also foster a vibrant social scene with attendees enjoying gourmet food, mingling in hospitality areas and soaking the festive atmosphere with music and entertainment.”
US Open winner and World No 3 Coco Gauff will return to Aotearoa to defend her ASB Classic title, having commented that Auckland and the event are among her favourite times on the circuit. The 19 year old American is confirmed for play on Tuesday 2nd January.
British No 1 Cam Norrie, who grew up in Auckland, has his sights set on winning the tournament after being runner-up on two occasions in the men’s singles (2023 and 2019). Norrie, 27, fell in love with the game from an early age at the Bucklands Beach Tennis Club and spent much of his youth at Stanley St watching and learning from the visiting stars.
One of the world’s most exciting rising stars, French-Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime will make his debut at the ASB Classic in 2024. The 23-year-old reached a high of sixth in the world in 2022, in a stellar year that included victories over Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic, each on two occasions, and Rafael Nadal.
Danish superstar and former world No 1 Caroline Wozniacki will return to Stanley Street in her remarkable tennis comeback following the birth of her two children.
19-year-old Frenchman and ‘one to watch’ Arthur Fils is currently the highest ranked teenager in the world. Since turning professional two years ago, Fils has jumped over 600 spots in the world rankings, and more than 200 places this year.
Bright young American star Ben Shelton was given a wildcard entry to the ASB Classic this year in one of his first ATP tournaments outside the USA. Since then, the powerful left-hander has climbed inside the world’s top 20 players, having risen from No 96 in January.
The ASB Classic will be the first time that tennis super-couple Gaël Monfils and Elina Svitolina have played in the same tournament, outside of Majors or 1000-level tournaments. Monfils (37) is one of the most entertaining and enduring tennis players on the globe, rising to a career high sixth in the world on the back of 12 ATP titles. Svitolina, who has climbed over 1000 spots to 25 in the world since returning to tennis following the birth of their daughter Skai, has won 17 WTA titles along with the Tour Finals title in 2018 and the Olympic bronze medal in Tokyo.
The Serve will also feature large screens so you can keep an eye on the on-court action. Beats on the Serve will also return in 2024 featuring a soon to be announced line up of NZ’s best DJs. Closely curated to bring the party from day to night, the action and entertainment will be sure to amp up the energy ahead of the exhilarating action on-court.
The ASB Classic returns to the ASB Tennis Arena in Stanley St, with the Women’s Week (WTA) from January 1 to 7, followed by the Men’s Week (ATP) from January 8-13, 2024. Tickets are on sale now from asbclassic.flicket.co.nz
TLC ANNOUNCE 2024 CRAZYSEXYCOOL 30TH ANNIVERSARY AOTEAROA SHOW WITH SPECIAL GUESTS BUSTA RHYMES AND EN VOGUE
The best-selling American female group of all time, TLC announce their 2024 CrazySexyCool 30th Anniversary New Zealand show presented by Mai FM
Kicking off their Australasian tour in Aotearoa with one show only on February 29 at Trusts Arena Auckland, this iconic line up then heads to across the ditch to tour Australia in March. TLC - Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins and Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas – will perform selections from their 1994 Diamond-certified album, 30 years after its release plus additional hits. The ‘90s themed shows will feature fan interaction, 90s fashion, and more surprises. Joining TLC are Busta Rhymes and En Vogue.
One NZ pre-sale begins Monday, December 4 at 11am, running for 48 hours.
Live Nation pre-sale commences Wednesday, December 6 at 1pm, concluding on Thursday, December 7 at 12pm.
General public tickets go on sale on Thursday, December 7 at 1pm (All times local).
Chilli says, “I'm so excited to return to New Zealand! This is the album that put us on the map with Kiwi fans and showed the world who we really are. And to mark 30 years, this will be quite the celebration!”
CrazySexyCool is TLC’s second studio album that featured the hit single “Waterfalls”. In New Zealand the album was a massive success, reaching number 1 in the album charts and remaining in the charts for 28 weeks.
With over 85 million records sold worldwide, TLC is not only the best-selling American girl group of all time; with 4 Grammy Awards, 4 multi-platinum albums (two of which went Diamond), four number one singles and ten Top 10 singles, theirs is an influence - across pop, hip-hop, R&B, fashion and female empowerment - which defines generations. In 2017, TLC released a self-titled album, their first in over fifteen years which hit #1 on Billboard’s Independent Album Chart.
A two-hour special “Biography: TLC” premiered in 2022, chronicling the group’s powerful, emotional journey and their survival against all odds as T-Boz and Chilli revealed their story for the first time in a feature documentary. Directed by Matt Kay, executive-produced by Academy Award-winning and Emmy Award-Winning director Roger Ross Williams (“The Apollo”) and his production company with Emmy Award-winning producer Geoff Martz, One Story Up.
NZ SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, SIGNATURE CHOIR AND LIVE NATION PRESENT MANA MOANA
A CELEBRATION OF SONGS FROM ACROSS PASIFIKA
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra Te Tira Pūoro o Aotearoa (NZSO) and Signature Choir with Live Nation present Mana Moana, an incredible musical experience coming to Auckland’s Spark Arena for one night only Friday November 24, 2023.
Mana Moana is a celebration and fusion of two worlds of music colliding, with 80 choral singers and 78 NZSO musicians on stage showcasing the gorgeous harmonies and rich melodies of traditional songs from across Pasifika islands.
After selling out in 2022 in Wellington, this energetic, unique, and emotional celebration will bring traditional and contemporary songs from Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau to Auckland for this special community event.
Tickets go on sale at 12pm Thursday September 14, tickets start from $19.90.
For complete tour and ticket information, visit: livenation.co.nz
A collaborative journey to celebrate and promote the languages and stories of Pasifika, in 2022 New Zealand Symphony Orchestra Te Tira Pūoro o Aotearoa (NZSO) and Signature Choir created high-quality audio recordings and videos of Pasifika songs in partnership with RNZ, followed by a live performance at Michael Fowler Centre in Wellington. Now this incredible musical experience comes to Auckland’s Spark Arena in November 2023. Audience-recorded videos from the Wellington show have accumulated over 1 million views on social media, highlighting the massive impact Mana Moana has already made.
The Mana Moana project was curated by Helen Tupai, Music Director, Signature Choir in partnership with Wellington Pasifika communities, and orchestrated by Thomas Goss. Signature Choir draws its 80 members from across Wellington & Auckland, giving this show an even stronger connection to Auckland communities and making Mana Moana truly community-driven.
With the NZSO conducted by Brent Stewart from the NZSO, Mana Moana harnesses the huge majestic sound and varied colour palette of the NZSO to showcase the gorgeous harmonies and rich melodies of Pasifika music, creating a platform to tell these much-loved stories. It also marks one of the first times that a Pasifika choir has partnered with a fully professional orchestra to deliver a body of work that is 100% Pasifika music.
“Mana Moana re-imagines Pasifika music by fusing the power of choral harmony, with a lush and grand orchestra, making it a truly magical experience,” says Signature Choir Music Director Helen Tupai.
“Singing our songs in a really unique way, but still familiar fashion is so surreal and fun, so we are excited for our communities to see Mana Moana in person. Partnering with a world-class orchestra to sing songs that are prominent and significant to our Pasifika communities provides a huge sense of pride, so much so that it's hard to not get emotional when performing.”
The words ‘mana’ and ‘moana’ are common terms, shared across many Pasifika languages. Mana meaning sacred, spirit, prestige, power. Moana meaning the ocean, or a body of water. As our islands are all connected via the sea, with Mana Moana we wish to highlight the connectedness of our Pasifika nations through music, telling our stories and showcasing our beautiful Pasifika languages to Aotearoa and abroad.
The selection of songs was led by Wellington’s Pasifika communities and included both traditional and contemporary songs, such as ‘Faliu le la’ – a song that depicts the beauty of Samoa’s vast and beautiful landscape, ‘Siueli o e pasifiki’ written by Queen Salote Tupou III to proclaim her love for her beloved country, and ‘Isa lei’ – a Fijian farewell song, with choir arrangements by Helen Tupai and Jadrah Tupai. Key figures from Pasifika communities helped Signature Choir select songs on the basis of their prominence and significance to the Pasifika nations they represent and the stories that they tell.
Past Signature Choir member, and half of The Laughing Samoans, Tofiga Fepulea’i will MC Mana Moana at Spark Arena in November.
MANA MOANA
Presented by New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Signature Choir, Live Nation
SPARK ARENA, AUCKLAND FRIDAY NOVEMBER 24
Live Nation Presale runs Wednesday September 13, 12pm – Thursday September 14, 11am
General Public Onsale: Thursday September 14, from 12pm
For complete tour and ticket information, visit: livenation.co.nz
CONNECT WITH SIGNATURE CHOIR
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM
CONNECT WITH NZSO
OFFICIAL | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM
BIG FAN ANNOUNCES BIG FAN LIVE
BIG FAN BREAKS DOWN BARRIERS FOR ARTISTS & ASPIRING PROMOTERS WITH INITIATIVE FOR FREE VENUE HIRE AND SUPPORT
Continuing the kaupapa to help grow a thriving music community, BIG FAN have announced their latest programme BIG FAN LIVE , a programme designed to break down the traditional financial and access barriers when putting on a live show.
For successful applicants interested in staging an original live music show, BIG FAN LIVE will provide the music venue and cover associated costs* (production, backline, and related staffing), free of charge, with all ticket sales going directly to the acts/event organisers - affording the recipients a chance to make a profit via ticket sales. Applications for the first round of dates will open this coming Monday 11th September.
“We know that it can be hard to find available venues to play at, and it’s not always possible to take the risk and pay for everything. BIG FAN LIVE is going to take that worry away so that people can focus on putting on a great show, growing their audience and honing their live skills” says music producer, and founder of BIG FAN, Joel Little.
The devoted and experienced team at BIG FAN will also support the successful applicants with advice and guidance throughout the process, including but not limited to, budgets, lineup curation, marketing, and promotion.
With 18 opportunities from now through to October 2024, BIG FAN LIVE aims to encourage and support creatives looking to grow their live audience in Tāmaki Makaurau.
The first round (opening on Monday 11th September) will see the first three dates for 2024 on offer. Musicians are encouraged to apply with their preferred dates.
Show 1: Saturday 21 October 2023
Show 2: Thursday 23 November 2023
Show 3: Saturday 16 December 2023
Applications for the first round will open on Monday 11 September 10am via the BIG FAN website and close on Sunday 17 September at 10pm.
No prior experience is necessary, but successful applicants will need to demonstrate the need for this assistance and what their dream outcome will be. All shows must be open to the public, with ticket prices not exceeding $20.
Funded in part by the Ministry of Culture & Heritage, BIG FAN LIVE is intended for Aotearoa citizens and residents, open to all ages, and applications from outside Tāmaki Makaurau are strongly encouraged.
A purpose-built music hub, offering state-of-the-art recording studios and a licensed all-ages live venue all under the one roof, BIG FAN is dedicated to helping people fulfil their ambitions through music and created to cater to everyone.
Full Information regarding BIG FAN, how to apply and FAQ’s can be found online here
'KIWI KID' CAMERON NORRIE HEADS 'HOME' CONFIDENT THE ASB CLASSIC IS WITHIN HIS GRASP
TOURNAMENT TICKETS ON SALE TODAY FROM MIDDAY AT WWW.ASBCLASSIC.CO.NZ
One of the world’s top-ranked players, “Kiwi-Kid” Cameron Norrie, has confirmed he will return to the ASB Classic in Auckland next January.
The British No 1, who grew up in Auckland, has been runner-up on two occasions in the men’s singles at the ASB Classic, earlier this year and in 2019.
The left-hander has his sights set on winning the tournament that sparked his love of the game.
“I think one day I am going to win it. I just need to go out and do it. I don’t know when it is going to be but I will stay patient and hopefully get this one,” said Norrie.
The ASB Classic returns to the ASB Tennis Arena in Stanley St, with the WTA Women’s event from January 1-7 and the ATP Men’s event from January 8-15, with tickets on sale from today 6 September from www.flicket.co.nz with links and full information from asbclassic.co.nz.
Norrie, 27, was born in South Africa before his parents moved to New Zealand when he was three. He fell in love with the game from an early age at the Bucklands Beach Tennis Club and spent much of his youth at Stanley St watching and learning from the visiting stars.
“I was always waiting around watching all the practices, trying to get photos, get their shirts, or their wristbands …watching some really top players. And then having the honour of playing in the tournament and winning matches was pretty cool. I never thought I would be able to do that – and to play two finals there already." Norrie adds “I hope the next tournament will be unfinished business for me. I love playing there. It means a lot to play the tournament.”
The big left-hander has enjoyed one tournament victory since Auckland, beating world number 1 Carlos Alcaraz on clay at the ATP 500 in Rio de Janeiro. Norrie also made the finals in Buenos Aires, the semifinals in Lyon and the quarter-finals at the ATP 1000 event in Indian Wells.
“To have Cameron back in Auckland again is fantastic for our fans and for the tournament. He gave of his time generously off the court, especially with our adaptive players which was warmly received,” said Tournament Director, Nicolas Lamperin. “He remains one of the best players in the world, and while he has roots in Auckland where he learned the game, we do not take his appearance here for granted."
Lamperin adds: “We know he wants to have his name on the ASB Classic Trophy at a venue where he spent so much of his time as a young kid and we know he will have plenty of support. To have players of his calibre at our tournament is a thrill, and I am sure not just tennis followers, but all sports fans will flock to the ASB Tennis Arena for the chance to see one of the world’s premier players in action.”
Lamperin said he will be finalising several marque players in the coming weeks, and that fans should move quickly to secure tickets which were sold out for the 2023 event.
Norrie believes other big names will be attracted to the event.
“Auckland is a really cool tournament. It is in the middle of summer in New Zealand. It’s a great venue, great facilities, the gym is probably one of the best on tour. You are staying really close in the city. There are some good beaches nearby, some cool stuff to do and some good restaurants.
“Hopefully we get some really top players in next year’s tournament.’
In 2023, Over 90,000 attendees attended the tournament with over 13 million viewers watching the matches across broadcast and online. With presale demand already strong, organisers are confident that this years tournament will be on for the record books.
Just off centre court, The Serve will return for 2024 serving up all the off court action full of NZ’s best entertainment, food and beverage offerings. The Serve is the ideal place to meet with friends and soak up the off court atmosphere between sessions, with large screens around the venue so you can keep an eye on the On Court action. Beats on the Serve will also return in 2024 featuring a soon to be announced line up of NZ’s best musicians and DJs. Closely curated to bring the party from day to night, the action and entertainment will be sure to amp up the energy ahead of the exhilarating action on court.
With the action set to be hot, both on AND off the court, The ASB Classic will be the place to be this summer.
LANEWAY FESTIVAL'S 2024 LINE UP IS HERE!
Laneway Festival makes its long awaited return to Aotearoa with a stacked lineup featuring a double dose of grime royalty, a global style icon with a Bad Habit, your Euphoria fave, the artist behind the viral smash hit ‘Escapism’, a singer-songwriter from Atlanta who will make you cry in a good way and a Psychedelic rock quartet set to make a triumphant hometown return.
The Trans-Tasman touring festival will land at Western Springs in Tāmaki Makaurau - Auckland on Tuesday February 6th 2024, dripping with some of the most exciting artists from around the world and from home; including a blockbuster list of international headliners at the top of their game and ground-breaking talent who are fast becoming signifiers of the best new music from around the world.
This epic lineup will see headliners Stormzy, Steve Lacy, and Dominic Fike, alongside a bevvy of some of the world's most exciting talents perform in Aotearoa - New Zealand for the very first time. Alongside heavy hitters from across the globe including Unknown Mortal Orchestra, d4vd, Raye and more, Laneway Festival will welcome an huge lineup of local talent including Atarangi, Church (debuting his new solo show) Daily J, Erny Belle, hanbee and Molly Payton.
Laneway Festival will be the ONLY place to see these incredible international headline artists in Aotearoa this summer so ensure you get your crew together and grab your tickets quick.
Register now for access to the Laneway Festival pre-sale presented by Afterpay to score guaranteed access to 1st or 2nd release tickets. Pre-sale starts on Tuesday 12 September at 11am (local time). There are strictly limited 1st release tickets so get in quick. General on sale starts Thursday 14 September at 11am (local time).
Full lineup:
Stormzy – Steve Lacy**
Dominic Fike
Unknown Mortal Orchestra
Raye**
AJ Tracey – d4vd** – Dope Lemon – Eyedress** – Faye Webster**
horsegiirL – Nia Archives – Paris Texas**
Skin On Skin – Suki Waterhouse**
Atarangi – Blondshell** – Church – Daily J – DOMi & JD BECK** –
Erny Belle – Hanbee – Hemlocke Springs ** – Molly Payton – Pretty Girl**
** First New Zealand show
Laneway Festival 2024 Aotearoa Dates & Venue:
AUCKLAND / Tāmaki Makaurau (18+)
Tuesday 6 February
Western Springs
NILE RODGERS & CHIC ANNOUNCE NEW ZEALAND SHOW FOR OCTOBER
Nile Rodgers & CHIC have announced a New Zealand show this October. The legendary musicians will play a one-off show in Auckland at the iconic Civic Theatre. This following their already announced headline appearances at Australia’s Harvest Rock in Adelaide and at the Melbourne International Jazz Festival.
Fans can expect the legends of disco to provide a night of blockbuster singles from across the eras, with set lists that encompass Nile Rodgers & CHIC’s extensive back catalogue and the plethora of chart toppers written or produced by Nile Rodgers.
Tickets go on sale Thursday 7 September at 11am (local time).
For complete tour and ticket information, visit: livenation.co.nz & secretsounds.com
My Live Nation members can secure tickets during the pre-sale which commences at 10am (local time) on Wednesday 6 September, and concludes at 10am (local time) on Thursday 7 September.
Nile Rodgers said, “The pandemic had kept us away from our fans in Australia and New Zealand for too long but now we are coming back to kick off the summer with good times!”
Nile Rodgers is a Rock & Rock Hall of Fame inductee, Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee and a multiple Grammy Award winning songwriter, composer, producer, arranger and guitarist.
As the co-founder of CHIC, Rodgers pioneered a musical language that generated chart-topping hits and sparked the advent of hip-hop with “Good Times”.
His work in the CHIC Organization includes “We Are Family” with Sister Sledge and “I’m Coming Out” with Diana Ross and his productions for artists like David Bowie (“Let’s Dance”), Madonna (“Like A Virgin”) and Duran Duran (“The Reflex”) have sold over 500 million albums and 100 million singles worldwide while his innovative, trendsetting collaborations with Daft Punk (“Get Lucky”), Daddy Yankee (“Agua”), and Beyoncé (“Cuff It”) reflect the vanguard of contemporary hits.
NILE RODGERS AND CHIC
NEW ZEALAND 2023
CIVIC THEATRE, AUCKLAND
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 18
TICKETS ON SALE THURSDAY 7 SEPTEMBER AT 11AM (LOCAL TIME)
Live Nation pre-sale: Wed 6 Sept 10am (local time) - Thurs 7 Sept, 10am (local time)
For complete tour and ticket information, visit: livenation.co.nz & secretsounds.com
NATIONWIDE LGBT FUNDRAISER ‘GIVE OUT DAY’ RETURNS SEPTEMBER 8TH!
Following the huge success of the fundraising initiatives debut in 2022 which saw nearly $60,000 of funding go to 13 Rainbow organisations, the Rainbow NZ Charitable Trust is excited to launch GiveOUT Day 2023, taking place across four days from September 8th 2024 at www.rainbownzcharitabletrust.org.nz.
GiveOUT Day is four days of national fundraising for LGBTTQIA+ community groups, not-for-profit organisations, events and projects. The online fundraising platform will go live on Friday Sept 8th at 7PM as part of the fabulous GALA Launch Event at Phoenix Cabaret which will be livestreamed nationwide.
GiveOUT Day is all about kiwis heading online to see the amazing work being done by rainbow organisations all around Aotearoa New Zealand and supporting them by donating directly to them via the online portal. In addition to the funds raised by the public, donations made across the four days will be doubled by our sponsors through the Matching Funding Pool. To date the Trust has raised $42,000 in Matching Funding.
GiveOUT Day would not be possible without the generosity and support of our amazing Sponsors: Kiwibank (Gold), ISS, MARS, PWC, Southern Cross Health Society and, Z Energy (Bronze) and supporters - Aurecon and the Newmarket Business Association. Prominent LGBT personalities and change makers Nikki Kaye, Lousia Wall, Sam Johnson and Campbell Johnstone are the initiatives ambassadors, ensuring visibility and awareness for this important fundraising drive.
The funds raised will go direct to organisations working directly on LGBTTQIA+ issues such as PRIDE groups, physical and mental health support, community events and advocacy for rainbow people. GiveOUT Day works to increase the capacity of the LGBTTQIA+ sector, provides rainbow organisations with the opportunity to build awareness of their causes and for services they provide. A full list of the participating charities and groups is as below:
Adikaar Aotearoa
Body Positive
Burnett Foundation Aotearoa
Charlotte Museum Trust
Christchurch Heroes
Christchurch Pride
Ethic Rainbow Alliance
Inside Out
"LAGANZ Te Pūranga Takatāpui o Aotearoa - Lesbian and Gay Archives of New Zealand"
Nelson Pride
Nevertheless NZ Trust
NZ Falcons
Outline
Pride Whanganui
Qtopia
Rainbow Auckland, Inc.
Rainbow Games
Rainbow Wellington
Rainbow Pride Auckland
Same Same But Different
Tauranga Moana Pride
Wellington Pride Festival
For more information about GiveOUT Day and Tickets for the GiveOUT Day Launch Gala please visit www.rainbownzcharitabletrust.org.nz.
WORLD NO 7 COCO GAUFF TO DEFEND ASB CLASSIC TITLE IN AUCKLAND
Caption: Coco Gauff, celebrating her victory at the ASB Classic in Auckland, confirmed she will return to defend her title. (Photosport)
World No 7 ranked tennis star, Coco Gauff has today confirmed that she will defend her title at the ASB Classic in January 2024.
The 19-year-old American made her announcement after claiming victory in the WTA 500 Mubadala Citi DC Open in Washington this week, beating world No 8 Maria Sakkari (GRE) in straight sets in the final.
It is her first victory of 2023 since the victory at the ASB Classic in Auckland, on top of two doubles titles.
Gauff said that Auckland and the event are among her favourite times on the circuit.
“Auckland was one of the first tournaments that we pencilled in,” said Gauff.
“That is not just because it is important to defend the title that I was honoured to win last year, but it is a great way to start my year as the lead-in to the Australian Open.
“My family all came with me and we love New Zealand and Auckland and everything it has to offer.”
Gauff said she looks forward to returning with her family to defend her title.
ASB Classic tournament director Nicolas Lamperin said the organisation is thrilled to have Gauff return.
“We forget that Coco is still such a young player but remains in the top echelon of the women’s game,” said Lamperin.
“On the court she is one of the most exciting players on the circuit and she remains the only teenager in the top 50 on the WTA rankings, which means that our tennis fans are privileged to watch one of the world’s great players in action.
“Coco is not only an exciting player, she is a wonderful young person who is extremely grounded in her desire to give back to young players, especially those from areas where opportunities in tennis are more difficult establish.”
Lamperin said he expects to name several exciting players in the coming weeks.
“This tournament remains popular because the players enjoy the tennis, the city and how they are looked after, while we remain well positioned as a lead-up to the Australian Open.
“If you look at our history, and this year was no exception, the fans were treated to world-class performances from several players who have gone on this year to produce great results and rise sharply in the world rankings.
“We will continue to focus on providing the opportunity for fans to support tomorrow’s stars today.”
The ASB Tennis Classic dates have been confirmed with the women’s tournament to run from January 1 to 7, followed by the men’s tournament from the January 8-13, 2024.
Tickets will be on sale soon. Keep up to date at www.asbclassic.co.nz for more information and ticketing links.