Music hits high note next month

Auckland City Council Media release

22 January 2008

Music hits high note next month

Auckland City Council's Music in Parks programme is hitting the high notes with 16 free concerts during February.

Jazz, jive, opera, swing and rock are set to continue an exciting summer of live Kiwi music in Auckland's favourite parks and reserves.

Highlights of the month include:

* The Culture Garden Tea Dances, daytime concerts aimed at an older audience, featuring a range of early 20th Century dance styles and a dance floor

* the new Movies in Parks series, featuring classic Kiwi films projected onto a large screen after dusk in Mt Eden's Tahaki Reserve following pre-movie entertainment by local musicians

* The New Zealand Opera performing among native bush at St Heliers' Dingle Dell Reserve

* gospel choir Jubilation performing at the Wintergardens in Auckland Domain

* the continuation of Auckland's longest running annual jazz festival, Drake Jazz at the Rotunda, featuring Thrive, the Murray McNabb Quartet, Lippazanas, and Slow Burn.

As the summer heats up, so does the music - and with more than 40 free concerts from January to March, there's something to suit the tastes of all music lovers.

Music in Parks 2008 is proudly sponsored by Holden Astra and Drake International, and supported by New Zealand Community Trust (NZCT), The Lion Foundation, Radioworks (Solid Gold, The Breeze, More FM, Radio Live and Kiwi FM), 95bFM, Mission Bay The Promenade, Ecover, and NZ Rockshops.

Visit www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/mips for full Music in Parks programme details.

Music in Parks - Upcoming February events

Saturday, 2 February, 6pm to 9pm The Culture Garden Featuring The New Zealand Opera Dingle Dell Reserve, St Heliers

Sunday, 3 February, 2pm to 4pm Drake Jazz at the Rotunda Featuring Thrive, with special guest Cherie Mathieson Band Rotunda, Auckland Domain

Sunday, 3 February, 4.30pm to 6pm The Culture Garden Featuring Four Brothers Saxophone Quartet Wintergardens, Auckland Domain

Wednesday, 6 February, 7.30pm Movies in Parks - Whale Rider Also featuring Jonny Corker Tahaki Reserve, Mt Eden

Sunday, 10 February, 2pm to 4pm Drake Jazz at the Rotunda Featuring Murray McNabb Quartet Band Rotunda, Auckland Domain

Sunday, 10 February, 4.30pm to 6pm The Culture Garden Featuring Bravura Wintergardens, Auckland Domain

Wednesday, 13 February, 3pm to 5pm The Culture Garden - Tea Dance Featuring National Dixie Tahaki Reserve, Mt Eden

Wednesday, 13 February, 7.30pm Movies in Parks - Sione's Wedding Also featuring the Benka Boradovsky Bordello Band Tahaki Reserve, Mt Eden

Sunday, 17 February, 2pm to 4pm Drake Jazz at the Rotunda Featuring Lippizanes, with special guest Phil Broadhurst Band Rotunda, Auckland Domain

Sunday, 17 February, 4.30pm to 6pm The Culture Garden Featuring Jubilation Wintergardens, Auckland Domain

Wednesday, 20 February, 3pm to 5pm The Culture Garden -Tea Dance Featuring Orquesta Nueva Zelanda Tahaki Reserve, Mt Eden

Wednesday, 20 February, 7.30pm Movies in Parks - Sleeping Dogs Also featuring Luke Hurley Tahaki Reserve, Mt Eden

Sunday, 24 February, 2pm to 4pm Drake Jazz at the Rotunda Featuring Slow Burn Band Rotunda, Auckland Domain

Sunday, 24 February, 4pm to 7pm Holden Astra Summer Sounds - Sturges Park Featuring Ardijah and Chong-Nee Sturges Park, Otahuhu

Wednesday, 27 February, 7pm Movies in Parks - Goodbye Pork Pie Also featuring Snorkel Tahaki Reserve, Mt Eden

Friday, 29 February, 6pm to 9.30pm Holden Astra Summer Sounds - Blues at Blockhouse Bay Featuring Midge Marsden, and Tom Sharplin and the Cadillacs Blockhouse Bay Beach Reserve

ENDS