Sell-out Dargaville Concert Gains An Even More International Flavour

Excitement over Dargaville’s International Celebration Concert on 30 August has been such that it sold out only weeks after tickets went on sale.

“The interest has been absolutely awesome and we could easily have sold twice as many seats but unfortunately the itineraries of the visiting musicians meant it was not possible to arrange a second concert,” says Kaipara District Council’s Community Development Facilitator, Heidi Dreyer.

The high profile concert, compered by Dargaville’s own international accordionist Kevin Friedrich, features Russian born kiwi singing sensation Yulia, an internationally acclaimed line-up of accordionists and the vibrant young Celtic violin group, Fiddlelore from Whangarei.

The programme originally featured the acclaimed Akkordeonorchester Hof Accordion Orchestra from Germany. However they have been forced to withdraw from their New Zealand visit and will be replaced in Dargaville by members the World Accordion Orchestra III, performing under the baton of Auckland Symphony Orchestra conductor, Gary Daverne.

“Kevin and I are disappointed for the young Germans, but Dargaville is still assured a truly international performance from an orchestra with members from New Zealand, Austria, Russia, France, United States of America, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, United Kingdom and Finland,” Mrs Dreyer says.

A further top-line accordion spectacle will be provided by popular Auckland entertainer Lionel Reekie who is bringing his North Shore Accordion Orchestra, featuring 14 of New Zealand’s finest young accordionists.

The concert, which begins at 3.30pm, will be preceded by a “Taste Kaipara” in the town hall’s foyer at 2pm, giving locals and visitors a chance to try and buy Kaipara’s wines and other gastronomic treats. Taste Kaipara is open to everyone regardless of whether they have tickets to the 3.30pm concert.

“I am sure the afternoon’s programme will have people talking for months to come,” Mrs Dreyer predicts “and the concert is also a great chance to show off Kaipara to some influential international visitors.”

Meanwhile, Kaipara’s musical momentum will be maintained at fever level with a unique ‘In the Deep End’ concert in Dargaville’s new 50 metre swimming pool on 19 September. This features a stellar line-up fronted by top New Zealand band, Midnight Youth and is being organised to celebrate and support the pool project.

In The Deep End tickets cost $30 and go on sale at Ticketek and Forum North on 19 August. Dargaville Library will obtain them for people unable to access these places, provided they pay when placing their order.