Nelson Arts Festival begins with a bang on Friday

Nelson Arts Festival begins with a bang on Friday

The Nelson Arts Festival will literally begin with a bang when the annual Masked Parade sets off on Friday at 5.30pm. It’s led by percussionists from Auckland’s Batucada Sound Machine, with the big drums of Samba de Sol, Nelson’s Brazilian inspired percussion group, bringing up the tail end of the parade.

Both groups will combine in front of the main stage when the parade finishes, then Batucada Sound Machine take the stage to lead off the More FM Carnivale. Nelson City Council Festival Director Sophie Kelly says there’s been a great response from schools and community groups to the Playful Pacifica theme of the parade, with around 35 groups entered. “We’re expecting all the usual spectacle and the fantastic community feeling that makes the Nelson Masked Parade such an enduring favourite of locals and visitors,” she said.

“This year the More FM Carnivale and Sonic Live Zone are bigger and better than ever – they’re on the big stage at the Top of Trafalgar Street and we have special guests Midnight Youth and Knives at Noon, courtesy of the Real New Zealand Festival and the New Zealand Music Commission.” Midnight Youth have their second album due out and recently toured in support of Australian rock giants INXS. Knives at Noon are an indie-electric-rock band based in Dunedin. The Sonic Live Zone will be fronted by popular radio announcer Carl Fletcher (Fletch) from The Edge.

Ms Kelly said there is a whole raft of safety measures in place to ensure young people can party safely. She said the festival crew has been working closely with the police, who will have a full callout of staff on the night, along with security guards, HYPE workers, closed circuit cameras and Community Patrols. “We have been out talking to all the college assemblies and had a very positive reception,” she said. “Young people responded really well last year to our ‘party safely message’ and I’m sure they’ll do the same this year.”

She says there is one point that needs to be heard by the small minority that could ruin the event for everyone. “Our message is a strong one – ‘mess up and it’s over’,” Ms Kelly said. “If we have any repeat of the problems we had two years ago there quite simply won’t be an event following the Masked Parade next year.”

Westpac Red Square featuring performance from primary and secondary schools is on from Tuesday after being rained out Monday. Performances range from kapa haka to choirs daily from 11am to 2pm at the Top of Trafalgar Street.

The Nelson Arts Festival continues until October 24, with theatre, music, writers’ talks and cabaret at city venues and at Founders Heritage Park. The Festival is produced by the Nelson City Council as an annual celebration for locals and an added attraction for visitors. Bookings at Everyman or at www.nelsonartsfestival.co.nz

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