Guest artists revealed for awards ceremony

Monday, August 26, 2013

Guest artists revealed for awards ceremony

International reggae act Katchafire will headline the list of guest artists performing at this year’s National Waiata Maori Music Awards ceremony at the Hawke’s Bay Opera House in Hastings next month.

A total of 16 artists have been named as finalists across nine categories in the Open Section of the awards, and the winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on the evening of September 13, 2013.

There are also three recipients in the Nominated Section of the awards who will also be recognised at the ceremony.

Katchafire is among the preliminary list of guest performers who will entertain the finalists and their supporters, music industry bosses and leaders who will be among the audience at the awards ceremony.

Katchafire spent the first six months of 2013 touring the UK, Europe and the US and is now on a schedule touring New Zealand and Australia for the remainder of the year.

Singer/Guitarist Logan Bell said the seven-piece band is looking forward to its debut appearance at the National Waiata Maori Music Awards next month.

“It’s very important we represent our culture in the most positive way. We are super excited to be playing the National Waiata Maori Music Awards for the very first time.

“Our home base and original core fan base are Maori/Kiwi from Aotearoa and we will never forget.”

The Queen of Loops, Mihirangi Fleming is also among the guest artists scheduled to perform at the awards ceremony. Mihirangi also appears as a finalist.

“I think as an artist you always have career highlights that you can look back on and give yourself a little pat on the back, those gigs that help you gage your achievements, this is definitely one of my dreams come true, especially playing to my own people.”

Sydney-based pop trio Young Men Society (YMS) will also make its first appearance as a guest performer at this year’s National Waiata Maori Music Awards.

YMS formed five years ago and includes Andi Tiamoura, who’s Indonesian, Joshua Fonmoa, whose roots are in Rotoma, off Fiji and Nathan Tamati, the son of former Kiwi rugby league star, Kevin Tamati.

Nathan Tamati grew up in England and moved to Australia when he was a teenager but his whakapapa connections are with Ngati Kahungunu in Hawke’s Bay, where the awards ceremony will be held and where he’ll perform with YMS.

“We have looked at a few videos of the Waiata Maori Music Awards to see what it is like. We have been to a few other similar shows but what I think will be the difference is the Maori culture involved.

“I have never experienced Maori culture, growing up in England, so this will be a special occasion and one I am looking forward to.

“I am hoping to meet lots of other Maori artists working in the music industry, to be able to perform for them and see how they bring the culture to life through music.”

Two others to make their debut guest performance at the awards ceremony include Maori pop opera trio, AIO, from Auckland, and the Rotorua Maori Choir, under the direction of its conductor, well-known composer/singer Rim D.Paul, will add a new dimension to the ceremony.

The choir will perform with Rim to recognise the work and support he has put into the group as well celebrate Rim's first te reo album, Maori, Waiata Wairua Waiora.

Following in the footsteps of the celebrated Aotearoa National Maori Choir (ANMC), which Rim reformed this year, the Rotorua Maori Choir is a newly formed addition to the Rotorua performing arts landscape.

Former award winners and finalists, international acts Toni Huata (based in Wellington) and Maisey Rika (Whakatane) return as guest performers at the awards ceremony. Both artists are also finalists in 2013.

National Waiata Maori Music Awards also provides opportunities for up and coming artists to perform at the awards ceremony and this year Hamilton duo Kees has been selected as a guest performer.

The duo includes brother and sister, Kalen and Eden Hapuku, who have been performing together for five years. The siblings enjoy performing across a number of genres but say they are particularly partial to jazz.

Eden is a first year tertiary music student at Waikato University and Kaleb is still attending high school with plans of continuing to study performing arts and music at university.

National Waiata Maori Music Awards ambassador, Taisha Tari, will also perform at the awards this year.

ends

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