Hollie and Nathan bring soul to ZooMusic

Auckland City Council

Media release

5 February 2009

Hollie and Nathan bring soul and all that jazz to ZooMusic

Jazz genius Nathan Haines and soul sensation Hollie Smith are back by popular demand at Wild Bean Cafe ZooMusic on Saturday 21 February.

With near sell-out individual concerts in previous years, this double-billing is sure to be a crowd pleaser. Best Female Solo Artist (2007 Vodafone Music Awards) Smith will take to the stage first, and concert-goers can look forward to a superb mix of old favourites as well as new material. Haines, New Zealand’s most awarded jazz artist - famous for his unique fusion of jazz, soul and modern dance music, will also be serving up an irresistible cocktail for music lovers from albums past and new.

While their concert offers big sounds and big atmosphere, it’s a big cat who’s the real beneficiary, with proceeds from their gig supporting Cheetah Outreach in South Africa. Haines and Smith’s previous concerts have supported Sumatran tigers, so their support of another endangered cat is fitting.

"I really enjoyed playing at the zoo last year and raising funds for the Sumatran tiger. It's a fun concert with the picnic family atmosphere and I am very much looking forward to it again this year and supporting another big cat, the cheetah", says Smith.

“It’s great to have Nathan and Hollie back at the zoo supporting big cats We will use the funds raised at their concert to continue our support for an innovative cheetah conservation programme. With a large percentage of cheetah living on farmland, conflict between farmers and cheetah represents a significant threat to their survival. This programme helps to fund the breeding and training of dogs to guard livestock against cheetah, protecting cheetahs by protecting farmer’s livelihoods. This protection is vital to cheetah’s survival,” says zoo conservation officer, Peter Fraser.

The opening act (6pm to 6.40pm) is Paul Ubana Jones, a multi-talented musician with a solo acoustic style. Hollie Smith will take the stage at 6.50pm followed by Nathan Haines at 8pm.

Your Wild Bean Cafe ZooMusic ticket is also your entry to the zoo – so come early to explore the zoo and check out your favourite animals. Please be aware the band rotunda area will closed off in the afternoon to enable safe equipment set-up.

Tickets are available from Auckland Zoo and Ticketmaster.

Wild Bean Cafe ZooMusic Concerts for Conservation series 2009, in association with MTV, The Radio Network, Monkey Bay wines, iSite Media, and Vidcom.

ENDS

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