Top Line-Up for First Night 2004

News Release – 5 December 2003

Top Line-Up for First Night 2004

Top New Zealand bands, traditional cultural performances, Pasifika, arts and crafts and family entertainment will feature at First Night 2004 in the Aotea Centre and Aotea Square.

Presented by THE EDGE®, First Night 2004 is a free community celebration to welcome in the new year. The First Night event is now in its fifth year and has become a highlight of Auckland’s New Year’s Eve celebrations.

This year’s entertainment line up is better than ever! Street performers will feature in Aotea Square and five stages will be running throughout the night from 6pm to 1am. Gates open at 5.15pm.

The line-up for the Outdoor Stage on Aotea Square showcases some of the best contemporary music New Zealand has to offer with performances from The Brunettes, one million dollars, Damien Binder, Augustino, Goldenhorse, Carly Binding, Katchafire and Mareko featuring Deceptikonz.

Additional music performers confirmed for the event include Dean Chandler, Pennydrop, eight, Karen Hunter, SPINNER, Billy TK Jnr and lena.

“We’re thrilled to be able to offer such a great cross-section of well-known home-grown acts for First Night 2004,” says THE EDGE® producer Mike Clarkin.
Inside the Aotea Centre will be a cultural festival with performances on the ASB Theatre stage, and in the foyers throughout the building.

“The theme Many Faces Many Places reflects our diverse cultures and we’re showcasing our multi-cultural city through performance, arts and crafts and food,” Mike says.

“Last year more than 30,000 people attended First Night and we’re expecting similar numbers this year. First Night 2004 will be a true carnival in the centre of the city.”

First Night 2004 is a drug and alcohol free event and ensures everyone a safe, fun and welcoming environment to mark the New Year.

There is something for everyone at First Night 2004 at THE EDGE® and everyone is welcome to this free community event. For more information, visit our website www.firstnight.org.nz

The Outdoor Stage
Aotea Square

6.00pm Karen Hunter
6.30pm Pennydrop
7.10pm The Brunettes
8.00pm Augustino
8.40pm Goldenhorse
9.30pm one million dollars
10.20pm Carly Binding
11.10pm Mareko feat. Deceptikonz
11.50pm MIDNIGHT PROCESSION begins
12.05am Katchafire

The Indoor Stage
ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre
6.30pm – 8.00pm
Contemporary & traditional dance from young people including Bollywood Dance, Rohit & Group, NZ Chinese Dance School, Altar Boys of St Joseph’s (Grey Lynn) and Rachana Natyalaya traditional Indian folk dance.
8.00pm Elena
8.35pm eight
9.10pm Dean Chandler
9.55pm SPINNER
10.25pm The Billy TK Jr. Showcase
11.30pm Pasifika Flames - Pacific Tamure Dance Group

Albert’s Lounge
Level 3, Aotea Centre
6.30pm Stan Malcolm
7.00pm Cathy & Pale
7.30pm Narisa Baker
8.00pm Mahara Tocker
8.30pm Kat McDowell
9.00pm JT
9.35pm Gaille Tinihau
10.10pm Damien Binder
10.45pm Karen Hunter

Culture Corner
Air NZ Foyer, Level 5, Aotea Centre
A wealth of culture, colour, sound and sight awaits you…

Art & performance from the Asian and Indian continents throughout the evening features:
6.00pm Cantonese Opera
6.30pm Oriental Music Band
7.00pm Traditional Bollywood Dance
7.30pm Classical Chinese Male Solo
8.00pm Rachana Natyalaya – traditional Indian folk dance
8.30pm Beijing Opera
9.00pm Rohit – Indian dance
9.30pm Gone with Wind Gou Zhen group
10.00pm Traditional Chinese Female Solo
And watch out for the Lily Flower Dragon Dance!

Get yourself a henna tattoo, have your fortune told and immerse yourself in the rich cultures of Asia & India.

Pasifika Village
OWENS FOYER, Level 2, Aotea Centre
Come and celebrate
Pasifika arts & culture
Featuring performances from Niuean, Cook Island, Tuvalu and Samoan cultures
throughout the evening.

So dance, laugh, get yourself an ´ai from the Cook Island Mummas and enjoy yourself in our Pasifika Village!

Artist And MC Profiles

Mareko feat. Deceptikonz
Fast becoming one of the most influential rap artists in New Zealand history, Mareko featuring the South Auckland-based crew Deceptikonz, has contributed to the shaping of an entire generation of New Zealand hip hop music.

Goldenhorse
Lead singer Kirsten Morelle's sparkling vocals add a sense of sexuality to soundscapes which wind through swing, funky bass lines, and all out rock. Live, the band is explodingly sensual and raw.

The Brunettes
Sunny pop, sing-along melodies, and carefree grooves, turn-ups, hairspray, polka dots – this five-piece band rock like Arthur Fonzarelli working his way through the Aloha Pussycats on Blueberry Hill! If The Brunettes don't warm your soul, you may very well not have one!

Augustino
This Auckland five-piece rock band debut album One Day Over is receiving rave reviews – Augustino "play and sing with a passion and maturity that is impressive... this is the way modern pop-rock should sound".
Marty Duda – Real Groove

one million dollars
An Auckland-based soul-jazz collective with a reputation for energetic live performances! With four horns, multipart vocals and occasional lyrics in Brazilian Portuguese, this 10-piece band has brought a fresh perspective to the New Zealand music scene.

Carly Binding
In a country with a happy knack of turning out quality pop music, this young woman is the latest star to step up to the mark. Carly has proved her talent and adaptability this year with her own nationwide tour and also by playing support to acts as diverse as Ronan Keating, Paul Kelly and Bryan Adams.

Katchafire
Inspired hugely by the legendary godfather of reggae Bob Marley, NZ’s top eight-piece reggae act delivers a rich and heady mixture of original pop-reggae tunes. The sheer love of what they do emanates into the crowd and produces a feel-good vibe that can only make you want to move!

Damien Binder
Silver Scroll Award finalist Damien Binder is one of this country's leading new songwriters. "He has a wonderful, smooth voice that serves his lyrics and his melodies well." – Real Groove magazine

Pennydrop
Pennydrop’s songs emphasise vocal melody and harmony with a full sound featuring 12 string acoustic and electric guitars, drums, bass and trumpet. Their self-titled debut album is due for release early in the New Year, so look out for them in 2004!

eight
eight's music captures varied moods from catchy rock hits to enveloping melodic soundscapes. Their music is powerfully affecting and with a debut album due in February 2004, these guys are not to be missed.

Karen Hunter
"Hunter has one of the most sensual voices in the country – full of swoops and power – and she addresses sex and sensuality with refreshing passion. She's also a dynamite guitarist!" – New Zealand Herald

SPINNER
One of this country's most innovative bands, SPINNER has topped national competitions and worked with many bands including Hello Sailor, Jimmy Barnes, John Mayer, Norah Jones and Tommy Emmanuel.

Dean Chandler
With a debut album that features Emmylou Harris, Norah Jones & Bob Dylan’s guitarist Larry Campbell, Dean Chandler is taking giant baby steps into the music business! Radio-friendly pop tunes and lovely ballads is what you can expect from this talented musician.

Billy TK Jnr
A big hit with the First Night® 2001 audience, guitarist, singer / songwriter Billy TK Jnr, and band are back on tour following a two year absence. They’ll be performing their hot new summer song Y Can’t this b Love?

Elena
A violinist of epic proportion, Elena’s music encompasses the passion of tango, the discipline of Bach and the exciting fusion of waiata, classical, jazz, gypsy, Latin, Irish and electric!

Jan Maree
TV2 Billy T Award winning comedian Jan Maree once again plays MC on the outdoor stage. Involved since First Night’s inception she looks forward to it as one of her favourite events of the year!

Sully O’Sullivan
A professional comedic performer from Edmonton, Canada, Sully is an improvisation specialist and a member of NZ’s 2003 Theatresports Masters of the Universe champion team.

Wills & Spencer
Circus skill and vaudeville style – Vegas gets visceral as Wills and Spencer dazzle audiences with magic, danger, comedy and record-breaking feats of superhuman dexterity.

Rosebush
Drag diva Rosebush (after the bush she was found under some years ago!) – not too prickly, and certainly colourful, she comes into full bloom again in Albert's Lounge!

© Scoop Media