Taupo delivers a deluge of great concerts this summer

The Doobie Brothers and Little River Band, The Feelers, Batucada Sound Machine, the Katy Perry Tribute Show and many more make up the stunning line up of summer gigs this season in Taupō to complement the usual array of sporting and family entertainment events on offer.

Taupō, the Events Capital, is bringing a huge line up of international and top New Zealand acts to Taupō District this summer, many of which are free.

The entertainment starts on Boxing Day with the ‘Roadside on Roberts’ (formerly Roadside Attractions), a series of free one hour lunchtime concerts held on Colonel Roberts Reserve daily until 8 January. The headline act, New Zealand rock icons The Feelers, will play on 3 January from 12.30 to 1.30pm.

“We’re really excited to be able to bring The Feelers to Taupō and for free,” says District Events Manager, Nick Reader. “We’re also glad to have enlisted the help of More FM to bring these free lunchtime concerts. Roadside has become a staple part of a Taupō summer and is only getting bigger and better.” For a full list of the Roadside line up, visit www.morefm.co.nz/roadside.

New Year’s Eve in Taupō will be celebrated in style, with the free NYE concert at the Taupō Amphitheatre. The NYE event starts at 6.00pm with fun for the entire family including a bouncy castle, face-painting, food and beverage stalls and live music from 8.00pm. Ten-piece original funk powerhouse Batucada Sound Machine (BSM) headline the live acts, along with popular covers band The Monroes. The night will also feature a spectacular laser light show and a special video tribute to 2011.

Mr Reader says BSM’s reputation is in their live performance. “These guys are renowned for getting crowds moving. They thrive in a festive atmosphere and have captivated audiences at countless events around the world.” BSM will also be playing two 1-hour slots as part of the ‘Roadside on Roberts’ series on 31 December and 1 January. Check out their website for more info www.batucadasoundmachine.com

On 2 January the Great Lake Centre will host the Katy Perry Tribute: ‘Katy’ starring seasoned entertainer Nikki Monroe from The Monroes. The 26-year-old signer and her live band will perform all the hits that have made Katy Perry the massive star she is today. “The look, the colourful wigs, the custom made costumes, the ‘clouds and candyfloss’ stage set, the musicians, the DJ and the songs performed to perfection are what makes this concert as close to the real thing as you’re going to get,” says Mr Reader. Tickets to this all ages show are available through Ticketek.

Rock the Bach is back again this summer on 4 January in Kinloch and 5 January in Whareroa. The Monroes will play all the favourites from the 60’s and 70’s through to today. Locals and visitors are encouraged to bring a picnic and the family, kick off the jandals and enjoy live music. Tickets are available at the Kinloch Store or at the gate on the day.

The big ticket gig of the summer is the double international line up of The Doobie Brothers and Little River Band, brought to Taupō by Taupo Summer Concert Ltd. The daytime concert will be held on Waitangi Weekend, Saturday 4 February 2012 at the Taupō Amphitheatre. Tickets are only $89 and are available through Ticketek.

Taupo Summer Concert Ltd Director, Amanda Calvert, says Taupō is the ideal location for a big gig. “It has great infrastructure, a large range of accommodation and plenty of wonderful hospitality. It is centrally located and will attract people from all over the North Island.”

Mr Reader says the massive line up of music complements the many sporting and general entertainment events held in Taupō during the summer. “We’ve got a huge amount of events happening throughout December to February, so why not make a weekend or even a week of it.”

Taupō’s temporary Ice Rink on the Lakefront opens early on Thursday 22 December and will operate over the summer until Waitangi Weekend. The Taupō Rodeo is happening on 29 December, followed closely by the InterIslander Summer Festival Taupo Races at Taupo Racecourse on Friday 30 December. On 1 and 2 January there is a speed boat regatta in Mangakino and the Epic Swim event is also coming up on Lake Taupō on 14 January.

On Auckland Anniversary weekend Taupō will host the New Zealand Body Art Festival which culminates on Sunday 29 January with a 90 minute live production of colour and life. On the same weekend Taupō will host both the Toyota Racing series at Taupō Motorsport Park and the ‘Thunder on the Great Lake’ off-shore powerboat series, which this year also features Grand Prix Hydroplanes. “It will be a great weekend for both art fanatics and petrol-heads to come to Taupō,” says Mr Reader.

Further on the horizon, the Chiefs will play a pre-season match against fellow Super Rugby team the Hurricanes at Owen Delany Park on 17 February. Then on 3 March is the biggest event of Taupō’s sporting calendar, the Nutri-Grain Ironman.

Full list of events available at www.eventscapital.co.nz