AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL MEDIA RELEASE

19 December 2006

Concerts for Conservation to feature top Kiwi musicians Sunday, 21 January - Saturday, 24 February 2007

Some of New Zealand's hottest musical talents will perform at Auckland Zoo's Wild Bean Cafe ZooMusic series this summer - concerts that will be helping to support vital conservation projects.

The five-concert series, running from late January through to late February, kicks off with Greg Johnson on 21 January, followed by Nathan Haines, Tim Finn, The Black Seeds and Anika Moa. Music lovers can also look forward to outstanding support acts during the 6pm - 9pm twilight series, which is now entering its fourth year.

"Wild Bean Cafe is very excited to be teaming up with Auckland Zoo to offer this top line-up of Kiwi artists," says Wild Bean Cafe's marketing manager, Kate Capernaros. "This is a fantastic opportunity for Aucklanders and visitors to the city to enjoy an incredible, and very affordable, evening's entertainment in the unique surrounds of the zoo - and at the same time be helping to support some really key in-the-field conservation projects for endangered animals."

A master of soulful tunes, award-winning musician Greg Johnson is set to seduce concert-goers when he takes to the stage on Sunday, 21 January, performing songs from his latest album, Anyone Can Say Goodbye, and earlier albums. Johnson's concert will support Cheetah Outreach, a non-profit trust set up to prevent the extinction of cheetah, now Africa's most endangered big cat.

On Sunday, 28 January, this country's world-renowned jazz maestro Nathan Haines will be joined by his international eight-piece All Star band, which includes UK vocalist Vanessa Freeman (Azymuth/4Hero) and keyboardist/producer Mike Patto (Reel People).

Haines and his high-energy band will perform new material from Haines' upcoming album, a blend of electronic and organic, due to be released in mid-2007. Enjoy the very best jazz out there, and help support the critically endangered Sumatran tiger - through supporting the 21st Century Tiger Project, Kerinci Seblat National Park.

From Split Enz to Crowded House, and now with an immensely successful solo career, Kiwi legend and songwriter extraordinaire, Tim Finn plays the zoo for the first time on Saturday, 10 February. Don't miss the opportunity to see this favourite Finn who'll be performing songs from his new album Imaginary Kingdom - and helping us support another Kiwi icon - the endangered tuatara, through the tuatara recovery programme, Operation Head Start.

Following last year's sell-out zoo concert, The Black Seeds return for a second time on Saturday, 18 February. The seven-piece band, famous for their unique blend of reggae, dub, funk, and soul, will get audiences grooving to songs from their latest album, Into The Dojo. The Black Seeds concert will support the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Project. Without radical assistance, orangutans will be extinct in the wild within 10 years.

Award-winning vocalist and songwriter Anika Moa headlines the final ZooMusic concert on Saturday 24 February. Moa released her second album, Stolen Hill, last year to great acclaim, and recently toured with Bic Runga's band alongside fellow Kiwi artists Neil Finn, and Dimmer's Shayne Carter. See one of this country's most talented Kiwis - whose concert will be supporting feathered kiwis, through Operation Nest Egg.

Wild Bean Cafe ZooMusic tickets can be pre-purchased now at the zoo (phone 360 3805 or visit www.aucklandzoo.co.nz) or through Ticketek (phone 307 5000 or visit www.ticketek.co.nz). With limited capacity, and tickets expected to sell fast, we recommend advance booking.

Tickets: Adults $25, Children (4-15 years) $10 and $60 for family pass (2 adults, 2 children).

Your ZooMusic ticket is also your entry to the zoo, so come early and explore the zoo, and check out some of your favourite animals. Please be aware the Band Rotunda area may be closed off in the afternoon to enable safe production set-up, and that the zoo will be cleared at 5.15pm. This is to ensure all attendees have a ticket, and to prevent over-crowding. Re-entry will be permitted as soon as non-concert goers have been cleared.

To find out more about Wild Bean Cafe ZooMusic 2007, including soon-to-be-announced support acts, how to order a picnic hamper, or book a corporate enclosure to give you and your favourite homo sapiens the best seats in the house, visit www.aucklandzoo.co.nz .

Wild Bean Cafe ZooMusic twilight concert series 2007, in association with Juice TV, MusicWorks, The Radio Network and Gordon's Gin & Tonic; 21 January - 24 February 6pm - 9pm. KEY DATES: CONCERT ARTIST

CONSERVATION PROJECT Sunday 21 January Greg Johnson Cheetah Outreach, South Africa

Sunday 28 January Nathan Haines 21st Century Tiger Kerinci Seblat National Park/Sumatran tiger

Saturday 10 February Tim Finn Department of Conservation "Operation Head Start" (Tuatara)

Sunday 18 February The Black Seeds Sumatran Orang utan Conservation Project (Orang utan)

Saturday 24 February Anika Moa BNZ Save the Kiwi's Operation Nest Egg

ENDS

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