EVERYTHING IS KA PAI

(AOTEAROA/NEW ZEALAND)

Saturday 16 March, 2013

Great Hall, Auckland Town Hall

ONE NIGHT ONLY

On 16 March, Auckland Arts Festival 2013 will rocket Aotearoa's outstanding musical legacy into the present with Everything is Ka Pai - an epic, one-off concert in which classic Māori anthems take centre stage. From Tūtira Mai Ngā Iwi to Blue Smoke, golden waiata and 60s and 70s chart toppers are redressed in all their finery by some of New Zealand's hottest contemporary musicians including The Yoots, Maisey Rika, Ria Hall and Hinewehi Mohi, and a selection of the country's most admired established performers, including Annie and Will Crummer, St Joseph's Māori Girls' Choir and Waka Huia.

Modern-day musos sizzling with old school charm will recapture the dance halls of old in Auckland's Town Hall as they pay homage to and continue the legacy of iconic Māori maestros such as The Volcanics, Prince Tui Teka, Howard Morrison, The Quin-Tikis and The Hi-Marks. Even Ten Guitars will come to life in psychedelic splendour by 10 of Aotearoa's top guitarists.

Everything is Ka Pai is about acknowledging and celebrating the enduring Māori musical legacy and the sheer musical brilliance of some of this country's most cherished and honoured Māori musicians and composers. With a special appearance from the legendary John Rowles and hosted by Pio Terei and Waimihi Hōtere, Everything is Ka Pai looks set to be one of the must-see Auckland Arts Festival 2013 events.

Formed in 2006, Everything is Ka Pai houseband The Yoots put a calypso-ska spin on classic Māori waiata. The Yoots founder, Fat Freddy's Drop's trombonist Jo Lindsay (aka. Hohepa), enlisted a group of talented friends, including other members of Fat Freddy's, to create this high energy and highly popular New Zealand group.

Annie Crummer is one of New Zealand's most widely known and highly regarded singer-songwriters. She has worked extensively in New Zealand, Australia and around the world and was one of the original members of NZ's most famous all-girl band, When the Cat's Away. As a solo artist, Crummer has supported and toured with Sir Paul McCartney, KD Lang, Ray Charles, Sting and Michael Jackson.

Ria Hall is a thrilling new voice on the contemporary New Zealand music scene. Hall co-formed and fronted the reggae band Hope Road, which led to her joining Hollie Smith's live ensemble, becoming part of Eru Dangerspiel's psychedelic explosion, and performing backing vocals for the 2010 reunion shows of the iconic Trinity Roots. Hall sang the Rugby World Cup anthem "World in Union" at the 2011 Rugby World Cup Opening Ceremony.

Hailing from Whakatane, Maisey Rika is a multi-award-winning singer-songwriter and has toured internationally to much acclaim. She won Best Female Vocalist in the NZ Music Awards at just 15 years old. Her new album, Whitiora, recently became the first album in Te Reo Māori ever to reach Number 1, and spent multiple weeks in the NZ music charts.

Hinewehi Mohi will open the concert by singing Haere Mai Everything is Ka Pai. An accomplished singer-songwriter, she has been dazzling audiences in New Zealand and abroad with her immense vocal talent since the debut of her first Oceania album in 1999. That same year, Hinewehi caused a media storm by singing the New Zealand national anthem only in Te Reo Māori at a rugby game in Twickenham. Many watching the All Blacks v England game had expected the English version to follow and were outraged.

Seth Haapu is an exciting young artist on the Sony Music Label, who blends the musical charm of the 1950s and 60s with a contemporary richness of song writing. He was recently named Best Pop Artist at the Waiata Māori Music Awards, and has been nominated for Best Male Solo Artist in the Vodafone Music Awards 2012.

Te Waka Huia is one of the country's top Māori Performing Arts groups. Managed and taught by Ngapo and Pimia Wehi and their family, Te Waka Huia come together from a common desire to enjoy and maintain traditional Māori performing arts. Te Waka Huia took out the title at Aotearoa's major, biennial Māori performing arts event, Te Matatini National Kapa Haka Festival, four events in a row from 2003 - 2009. The group has also performed internationally, including in St Mark's Square for the 2009 Venice Biennale.

St Joseph's Māori Girls College is one of the oldest of the Māori church boarding schools in the country, renowned for producing outstanding singers. It was established on Bluff Hill in Napier in 1867 at the request of Father Reignier S.M., who worked with local Māori at the time. The school choir has a vast reputation, across the country and the world, of remarkable musicianship and this has led to multiple awards and recordings. St Joseph's Māori Girls College students come from every corner of Aotearoa and overseas. Former students include Maisey Rika, Hinewehi Mohi, Whirimako Black and Moana Maniapoto.

The world premiere of Everything is Ka Pai will take place at Auckland's Town Hall on 16 March, the same night as Auckland Arts Festival's visual arts night of nights, White Night when over 50 of Auckland's galleries will remain open until midnight.

www.aaf.co.nz

SEASON DETAILS

Show Everything is Ka Pai

Where Great Hall, Auckland Town Hall

When Saturday 16 March, 8pm

Duration 2h incl interval

Price Premium $77 / Friends/Conc/Group $71; Premium downstairs table (6 seats) $426; A Res $65 / Friend/Conc/Group $59; A Res downstairs table (6 seats) $354; B Res $55 / Friend/Conc/Group $50; B Res downstairs table (6 seats) $300; C Res $35

Bookings Book at THE EDGE: www.buytickets.co.nz / 09 357 3355 / 0800 289 842

Group bookings: groups@the-edge.co.nz / 09 357 3354

Information www.aaf.co.nz

Social Media Facebook: facebook.com/Aklfestival

Twitter: @Aklfestival

Media enquiries Siobhan Waterhouse, Publicist P: +64 (0)9 374 0317 | M: +64 (0) 22 126  4149 | E: siobhan.waterhouse@aucklandfestival.co.nz

CREATIVE CREDITS

Executive Producer/Music Supervisor: Tama Waipara

Line Producer: Anahera Higgins

Hosts: Pio Terei and Waimihi Hotere

With support from Creative New Zealand