Mike Frost and the Icemen bring the blues to Queenstown

Mike Frost and the Icemen bring the blues to Queenstown Auto Extravaganza

Aussie blues band Mike Frost and the Icemen bring their brand of cool to Queenstown this month to perform in support of Prostate Cancer Foundation at the Queenstown Auto Extravaganza (25-27 February).

The Brisbane-based quartet has donated their musical mastery to headline the charity event’s Solid Gold FM Blues Party Night, hosted at Queenstown Memorial Hall on Saturday 26.

Ticket holders can dance the night away to the sound of smooth blues and Frost’s guitar wizardry as just one of the many exciting events on the Queenstown Auto Extravaganza programme line up.

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The biennial Extravaganza, that raises funds for the Prostate Cancer Foundation, launched in 2009 with a hugely successful event that attracted hundreds of car enthusiasts and raised $30,000 for the charity.

Committee Chairman Miles Wilson says with support from the popular blues band and a fantastic “catalogue” of cars lined up, he hopes this year will top the fundraising milestone.

“Approximately one in ten New Zealand men is estimated to develop prostate cancer during their lifetime* - a figure that needs to be acknowledged not just in the Wakatipu and New Zealand but worldwide,” he said. “We need to support the work of the foundation for the health of kiwi men.

“We’re just delighted to welcome Mike Frost and the Icemen as our main feature act for the Blues Party Night. They’re a very popular band in this neck of the woods and will help draw the crowd,” he said.

Kiwi-born Frost and his Icemen are no strangers to Queenstown, they’ve performed at the ASB Queenstown JazzFest for three consecutive years.

“We’re extremely proud to be involved with this great charity event. Queenstown has a community spirit where everybody contributes to help out for fundraising events,” he said.

“I’ve never owned an impressive car because I’ve always spent my money on music and instruments so I’m quite looking forward to getting amongst it and seeing some Hot Rods especially.”

The band has agreed to kindly perform for the Solid Gold FM Blues Party Night for no charge with all ticket proceeds going to the Prostate Cancer Foundation.

Mike Frost and the Icemen are popular on the Brisbane music scene, with Frost's guitar playing style described to “bite like a bull terrier. Inspired by Mike’s discovery of the blues via the sixties era of British R&B bands and the African-American bluesmen of the forties and fifties, they’re renowned for burning blues standards at their absolute best.

Band members include Mark 'The Colonel' Doherty's on the harp, Tom Matthews on bass and Greg Baikaloff on drums.

Queenstown Auto Extravaganza activities are scheduled to start on Friday 25 February with a 200-strong Evening Car Cruise to a ‘mystery’ photographic location. On Saturday 26 the Rilean “What’s in your Garage?” outdoor public car show takes place alongside Queenstown’s first indoor Vincent Holdings ‘Salon of Style’ NZ Motor racing exhibition at Queenstown Events Centre.

Saturday night the Solid Gold FM Blues Party Night is followed on Sunday 27 with the QT Rides ‘Eighth Mile’ Car Sprint racing some of the biggest and fastest cars from the show.

Tickets for the Solid Gold FM Blues Party Night are priced at $80 including supper. A table of eight costs $600 ($40 discount). Available for purchase at Collective Hair Design, upstairs at 29 Beach Street, Queenstown.

Tickets for any of the Queenstown Auto Extravaganza events or a Gold Pass to the whole event can be purchased online at www.queenstowncarshow.co.nz/tickets/.

Those wanting to register a car to appear in the Rilean “What’s in your Garage?” outdoor public car show can apply online at www.queenstowncarshow.co.nz. All cars and categories are welcome, as well as motorbikes.

• One in ten New Zealand men will develop prostate cancer, source www.prostate.org.nz

ENDS

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