Public Warned: Buy Tickets to Ensure your Concert Seat

Concert hopefuls are being warned to pre-purchase their tickets to the Mark Knopfler and R.E.M. concerts at the TSB Bowl of Brooklands, or risk missing out entirely.

There are limited tickets left for both concerts at the performers’ only North Island venue, and the experience of many who missed out on seeing WOMAD (World of Music, Arts and Dance) last weekend has spurred the New Plymouth District Council to advise Taranaki people and visitors to the region to buy their tickets now for the two major concerts.

“More than 2000 people missed out on entry to WOMAD at the Bowl because they left it too late to buy tickets,” says NPDC manager recreation and events Dave Lee.

“We found that a lot of locals waited to see what the weather would be like for WOMAD weekend before they decided to buy tickets, but they’d left it too late and the event had sold out.

“There were also people from outside Taranaki who just turned up at the Bowl believing that they could buy tickets at the gate, and while they had terrific weather to enjoy their stay in New Plymouth it must have been very frustrating to have come so far only to miss out on their principle reason for being here.

“For the local Taranaki people it must have been equally frustrating to have such high-quality performers so close, and not be able to see them.

“The lesson is that we’re heading to sell-out crowds for both Mark Knopfler and R.E.M., and people who are thinking of going to these concerts should buy their tickets now or risk repeating the experience of WOMAD and missing out on seeing these music icons entirely,” says Mr Lee.

Mark Knopfler plays at the Bowl this Saturday (MARCH 19), and R.E.M. will follow the next weekend, on Easter Saturday.

Mr Lee says the Bowl events are attracting crowds as big as the late ’50s and early ’60s, when the Festival of the Pines used to attract full houses night after night.

“Those who bought tickets to WOMAD were delighted to be surrounded by top international artists in New Zealand’s premier outdoor concert arena, in perfect weather. More… “You can’t beat a concert at the Bowl of Brooklands. The concerts by Mark Knopfler and R.E.M. are going to be nights to remember.”

Mark Knopfler led Dire Straits to fame with great chart-topping hits like the Sultans of Swing, Money for Nothing and Tunnel of Love. Dire Straits’ Love over Gold tour of New Zealand in the ’80s sold more than 100,000 tickets, making it the highest selling tour of that decade – and for the decade after.

R.E.M. – famous for hits such as Losing my Religion, Man on the Moon and Everybody Hurts – will play the Bowl on Easter Saturday. R.E.M. has a huge following and is also heading for a New Zealand sell-out tour.

Tickets are available through Ticketek.

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