AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL MEDIA RELEASE

11 December 2006

Enjoy summer sounds with Auckland City's free Music in Parks series

Top Kiwi musicians are warming up for Auckland City's free Music in Parks summer concerts, kicking off in January 2007.

From January to March the concert series includes 35 free performances in parks all over the city and on Waiheke and Great Barrier Islands.

The Music in the Parks series provides something to suit every taste with a wide variety of musical styles including jazz, classical, blues, contemporary rock and pop and world music. The concerts showcases some of New Zealand's best new musical talent and help to make Auckland city a vibrant and exciting place to live, work and play.

The opening weekend features an afternoon of chilled out music at the Myers Park 07 concert on 7 January. The line up includes performances from top bands Tommy, One Million Dollars, Twin Set and 95bFM DJ, The Professor.

Jazz is on the menu every Sunday from 7 January at the Auckland Domain band rotunda with the popular Drake Jazz at the Rotunda series. The 11 concerts feature acts such as The Grand Central Band, Thrive, Phil Broadhurst, The Rodger Fox Big Band and The DS Complex.

The first of two Solid Gold Saturday concerts takes place in Jellicoe Park, Onehunga, on 13 January with Hello Sailor and The Alibis performing some great original Kiwi music and hits from the 70s. The second concert, held at Dingle Dell Reserve, St Heliers, on 3 February, brings the 60s back to life with an amazing Sixties Iconz show featuring Larry Morris, Shane and Celine Toner and support from Tauranga-based blues band Kokomo.

Tahaki Reserve, Mt Eden, hosts two sensational concerts with some of New Zealand's legendary musicians headlining the shows. On 20 January and 10 February concert-goers can enjoy special performances by four still-to-be-confirmed acts.

Three Kings Reserve serves up some of the best Kiwi rock the country has to offer at Rock the Park on 25 February. Coyle Park in Pt Chevalier also gets in on the action, with The Edge Jam in the Park on 29 January.

Blues @ Blockhouse Bay is back this year with the Midge Marsden Band performing a blistering set alongside the fabulous Grant Winterburn Experience on 2 March.

Selwyn Reserve will be filled with a reggae vibe when Katchafire join the party with Solaa and DJ Aroha at Selwyn Reserve on Mission Bay's waterfront on 3 March.

Waiheke Island gets their share of the summer sounds with Waiheke's Little Day In on 27 January, featuring Kora, My Life Story, Bored Gordon and some of Waiheke's best local acts.

Family entertainment is top of the list at Seaside Park, Otahuhu on 21 January with shining stars Spacifix, guitar hero Billy TK Junior and up-and-coming performers Mes n Wilde.

For those who fancy a trip back in time, a series of 11 Historic Places and Spaces concerts are happening across the city from 6 January to 17 March in some of Auckland's favourite historic venues.

The series kicks off with non-stop music and comedy from the Veterans of Variety at Alberton House on 6 January and also visits Highwic, Monte Cecilia Park, the Winter Gardens, Dove-Myer Robinson Park and the Albert Park band rotunda, featuring a great mix of top class musical talent.

The Music in Parks series is produced by Auckland City and is part of their summer events programme bringing you over 60 spectacular events this summer. And best of all - they're free!

So grab some food and some friends and head out to one of the city's beautiful parks to enjoy some first class music. Check out www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/mips for more details.

For full details on Auckland City's free summer events, check out Ak@Play - your guide to getting out at www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/akatplay

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Note to editors - Auckland City Music in Parks 2007 event calendar

* Saturday 6 January, Auckland City Music in Parks, Historic Places and Spaces 2pm-4pm, Alberton House, Mt Albert Road, Mt Albert Featuring Veterans of Variety This concert is supported by the Lion Foundation and Radio Live 100.6fm. Listen to Radio Live 100.6fm for details.

* Sunday 7 January, Auckland City Music in Parks, Drake Jazz at the Rotunda 2pm-4pm, band rotunda, Auckland Domain Featuring The Torch Songs Band This concert is sponsored by Drake and supported by The Breeze 93.4fm. Listen to The Breeze 93.4fm for details.

* Sunday 7 January, Auckland City Music in Parks, Myers Park 07 2pm-6pm, Myers Park, central city Featuring Tommy, One Million Dollars, Twin Set and The Professor This concert is supported by Lion Foundation, Red Bull, Fonterra Brands (Tip Top) Limited and 95bFM. Listen to 95bFM for details.

* Saturday 13 January, Auckland City Music in Parks, Historic Places and Spaces 2pm-4pm, Monte Cecilia Park, Korma Rd, Hillsborough Featuring Gahu This concert is supported by Lion Foundation and Radio Live 100.6fm. Listen to Radio Live 100.6fm for details.

* Saturday 13 January, Auckland City Music in Parks, Solid Gold Saturday 6pm-9pm, Jellicoe Park, Quadrant Rd, Onehunga Featuring Hello Sailor and The Alibis This concert is supported by New Zealand Community Trust, Fonterra Brands (Tip Top) Limited and Solid Gold 93.8fm. Listen to Solid Gold 93.8fm for details.

* Sunday 14 January, Auckland City Music in Parks, Drake Jazz at the Rotunda 2pm-4pm, band rotunda, Auckland Domain Featuring The Grand Central Band This concert is sponsored by Drake and supported by The Breeze 93.4fm. Listen to The Breeze 93.4fm for details.

* Saturday 20 January, Auckland City Music in Parks, Historic Places and Spaces 2pm-4pm, Winter Gardens, Auckland Domain Featuring PricewaterhouseCoopers Dame Malvina Major Emerging Artists This concert is supported by Lion Foundation and Radio Live 100.6fm. Listen to Radio Live 100.6fm for details.

* Saturday 20 January, Auckland City Music in Parks, Tahaki Reserve 6pm-9pm, Tahaki Reserve, Mt Eden Rd, Mt Eden All artists to be confirmed This concert is supported by Lion Foundation, Fonterra Brands (Tip Top) Limited and 91.8 More fm. Listen to 91.8 More fm for details.

* Sunday 21 January, Auckland City Music in Parks, Drake Jazz at the Rotunda 2pm-4pm, band rotunda, Auckland Domain Featuring the Miles Davies Memorial All Stars This concert is sponsored by Drake and supported by The Breeze 93.4fm. Listen to The Breeze 93.4fm for details.

* Sunday 21 January, Auckland City Music in Parks, Seaside Park 2pm-5pm, Seaside Park, Princes St East, Otahuhu Featuring Spacifix, Billy TK Junior and Mes n Wylde This concert is supported by New Zealand Community Trust and Fonterra Brands (Tip Top) Limited.

* Saturday 27 January, Auckland City Music in Parks, Historic Places and Spaces 2pm-4pm, Highwic, 40 Gillies Ave, Epsom Featuring The Auckland Salon Orchestra This concert is supported by Lion Foundation and Radio Live 100.6fm. Listen to Radio Live 100.6fm for details.

* Sunday 27 January, Auckland City Music in Parks, Waiheke's Little Day In 4pm-9pm, Onetangi Sports Park, Waiheke Island Featuring Kora, My Life Story, Bored Gordon and some great local acts This concert is supported by New Zealand Community Trust, Lion Foundation, Fonterra Brands (Tip Top) Limited and The Edge 94.2fm. Listen to The Edge 94.2fm for details.

* Sunday 28 January, Auckland City Music in Parks, Drake Jazz at the Band Rotunda 2pm-4pm, band rotunda, Auckland Domain Featuring Julie Mason and the Jazz Divas This concert is sponsored by Drake and supported by The Breeze 93.4fm. Listen to The Breeze 93.4fm for details.

* Monday 29 January, Auckland City Music in Parks, The Edge Jam in the Park 2pm-6pm, Coyle Park, Pt Chevalier Road, Pt Chevalier All artists to be confirmed. This concert is supported by Lion Foundation, Red Bull, Fonterra Brands (Tip Top) Limited and The Edge 94.2fm. Listen to The Edge 94.2fm for details.

* Saturday 3 February, Auckland City Music in Parks, Historic Places and Spaces 2pm-4pm, Dove-Myer Robinson Park, Parnell Rose Gardens, Parnell Featuring Jubilation Choir This concert is supported by Lion Foundation and Radio Live 100.6fm. Listen to Radio Live 100.6fm for details.

* Saturday 3 February, Auckland City Music in Parks, Solid Gold Saturday 6pm-9pm, Dingle Dell Reserve, Dingle Rd, St Heliers Sixties Iconz show featuring Larry Morris, Shane and Celine Toner, and Kokomo This concert is supported by New Zealand Community Trust, Fonterra Brands (Tip Top) Limited and Solid Gold 93.8fm. Listen to Solid Gold 93.8fm for details.

* Sunday 4 February, Auckland City Music in Parks, Drake Jazz at the Rotunda 2pm-4pm, band rotunda, Auckland Domain Featuring Murray Tanner, Sally Sadler and friends This concert is sponsored by Drake and supported by The Breeze 93.4fm. Listen to The Breeze 93.4fm for details.

* Saturday 10 February, Auckland City Music in Parks, Historic Places and Spaces 2pm-4pm, Winter Gardens, Auckland Domain Featuring the Trusts Waitakere Brass This concert is supported by Lion Foundation and Radio Live 100.6fm. Listen to Radio Live 100.6fm for details.

* Saturday 10 February, Auckland City Music in Parks, Tahaki Reserve 6pm-9pm, Tahaki Reserve, Mt Eden Rd, Mt Eden All artists to be confirmed. This concert is supported by Lion Foundation, Fonterra Brands (Tip Top) Limited and The Breeze 93.4fm. Listen to The Breeze 93.4fm for details

* Sunday 11 February, Auckland City Music in Parks, Drake Jazz at the Rotunda 2pm-4pm, band rotunda, Auckland Domain Featuring Thrive This concert is sponsored by Drake and supported by The Breeze 93.4fm. Listen to The Breeze 93.4fm for details.

* Saturday 17 February, Auckland City Music in Parks, Historic Places and Spaces 2pm-4pm, Winter Gardens, Auckland Domain Featuring Neumegen and Sanders and Dalewool Auckland Brass This concert is supported by Lion Foundation and Radio Live 100.6fm. Listen to Radio Live 100.6fm for details.

* Sunday 18 February, Auckland City Music in Parks, Drake Jazz at the Rotunda 2pm-4pm, band rotunda, Auckland Domain Featuring The DS Complex This concert is sponsored by Drake and supported by The Breeze 93.4fm. Listen to The Breeze 93.4fm for details.

* Saturday 24 February, Auckland City Music in Parks, Historic Places and Spaces 2pm-4pm, Winter Gardens, Auckland Domain Featuring BourbonCounty Brothers' and Heaven Bent Gospel Choir This concert is supported by Lion Foundation and Radio Live 100.6fm. Listen to Radio Live 100.6fm for details.

* Sunday 25 February, Auckland City Music in Parks, Drake Jazz at the Rotunda 2pm-4pm, band rotunda, Auckland Domain Featuring the Queen City Big Band This concert is sponsored by Drake and supported by The Breeze 93.4fm. Listen to The Breeze 93.4fm for details.

* Sunday 25 February, Auckland City Music in Parks, Rock the Park 2pm-6pm, Three Kings Reserve, cnr Mt Eden and Mt Albert rds, Three Kings All artists to be confirmed This concert is supported by Lion Foundation, Red Bull, Fonterra Brands (Tip Top) Limited and The Rock 90.2fm. Listen to The Rock 90.2fm for details.

* Friday 2 March, Auckland City Music in Parks, Blues @ Blockhouse Bay 6pm-9.30pm, Blockhouse Bay Beach Reserve, Endeavour Street, Blockhouse Bay Featuring the Midge Marsden Band and the Grant Winterburn Experience. This concert is supported by New Zealand Community Trust, Fonterra Brands (Tip Top) Limited and Solid Gold 93.8fm. Listen to Solid Gold 93.8fm for details.

* Saturday 3 March, Auckland City Music in Parks, Historic Places and Spaces 2pm-4pm, Winter Gardens, Auckland Domain Featuring Brett's New Internationals This concert is supported by Lion Foundation and Radio Live 100.6fm. Listen to Radio Live 100.6fm for details.

* Saturday 3 March, Auckland City Music in Parks, Sounds of Summer @ Mission Bay 4pm-7pm, Selwyn Reserve, Tamaki Drive, Mission Bay Featuring Katchafire, Solaa and DJ Aroha This concerts is sponsored by Mission Bay, The Promenade and supported by Red Bull and 95bFM. Listen to 95bFM for details.

* Sunday 4 March, Auckland City Music in Parks, Drake Jazz at the Rotunda 2pm-4pm, band rotunda, Auckland Domain Featuring The Phil Broadhurst Quintet This concert is sponsored by Drake and supported by The Breeze 93.4fm. Listen to The Breeze 93.4fm for details.

* Saturday 10 March, Auckland City Music in Parks, Historic Places and Spaces 2pm-4pm, Highwic, 40 Gillies Ave, Epsom Featuring Royal College of Music graduate Anna Leese and Opera Factory This concert is supported by Lion Foundation and Radio Live 100.6fm. Listen to Radio Live 100.6fm for details.

* Sunday 11 March, Auckland City Music in Parks, Drake Jazz at the Rotunda 2pm-4pm, band rotunda, Auckland Domain Featuring The Vintage Jazz Band This concert is sponsored by Drake and supported by The Breeze 93.4fm. Listen to The Breeze 93.4fm for details.

* Saturday 17 March, Auckland City Music in Parks, Historic Places and Spaces 2pm-4pm, Alberton House, Mt Albert Rd, Mt Albert Featuring Ray Woolf This concert is supported by Lion Foundation and Radio Live 100.6fm. Listen to Radio Live 100.6fm for details.

* Sunday 18 March, Auckland City Music in Parks, Drake Jazz at the Rotunda 2pm-4pm, band rotunda, Auckland Domain Featuring The Rodger Fox Big Band This concert is sponsored by Drake and supported by The Breeze 93.4fm. Listen to The Breeze 93.4fm for details.

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