Big Day Dowse Set to Fly with Phoenix Foundation & Anika Moa

MEDIA RELEASE
For immediate release: 17 December 2013

Big Day Dowse Set to Fly with Phoenix Foundation & Anika Moa

The second annual Big Day Dowse is all warmed up and ready to soar in Dowse Square and The Dowse Art Museum, Sunday 24 March 2013, 12-6pm. Once again it’s a big day out for all ages with a packed programme of live music, visual artists and incredible entertainers – and it’s all FREE. Last year 5000 people partied in Dowse Square to the sounds of Rhombus and Bella Kalolo. In 2013 we welcome Wellington’s favourite sons, The Phoenix Foundation, preceded by the fabulous Anika Moa and a line-up of other fantastic musicians.

The Phoenix Foundation, whose sound is described as ‘indie rock’, is without doubt one of New Zealand’s most accomplished bands. With two gold albums, a hit movie soundtrack (Taika Waititi’s Boy) and a NZ Music Award for Best Group, this six-piece band, led by Samuel Scott and Luke Buda, produce a distinctive, smooth sound. Their 2011 album Buffalo was nominated for eight New Zealand Music Awards and described by the UK Independent as ’a radiant, marvellous sound’ , www.thephoenixfoundation.co.nz

Anika Moa and her band are also top of the bill at Big Day Dowse. Winner of Best Female Solo Artist in the 2010 NZ Music Awards, Anika is a talented singer songwriter and her performances are always mixed with her own down to earth wit and style. In 2000, Anika became the first New Zealand act to sign directly to a major international record label before making a name for herself at home – however the pull of Aotearoa was too strong and she was soon back to develop her career at home.

As well as the major acts, Dowse Square will again host high wire antics from Fuse Circus, stilt walkers, street theatre, hands-on activities for children and gourmet food. Inside the gallery there’ll be craft stalls, an interactive installation, An Interactive Earth, by Auckland digital artist Jon Baxter and our old friends from The Amazing Travelling Photobooth.

Dowse Square is designed by Athfield Architects and Wraight + Associates, the same team behind Wellington’s award-winning Waitangi Park. The Square features paved and grassed areas, a fresh water spring as well as Fallen Robot, a huge metal man reclining in a pool of water, by Melbourne-based New Zealand artist Ronnie Van Hout. Auckland artist John Reynolds has contributed two living sculpture ‘rooms’, one of Titoki and one of Lancewood trees.

Other acts are still to be confirmed - keep up to date with what’s on the programme by checking www.dowse.org.nz and follow us on Facebook/thedowseartmuseum

The Dowse Art Museum
dowse.org.nz | facebook.com/thedowseartmuseum

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InteractiveEarth

The Phoenix Foundation By Joachim Zimmermann

Anika Moa

ENDS

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