Dargaville Celebrates NZ Music Month in Style

Dargaville will be embracing the music of New Zealand during the month of May and will be doing so in style. As well as encouraging local bands and solo artists to stand up and be heard, Kaipara District Council is supporting local radio station Big River FM in bringing music to the masses.

Kicking off on Saturday 8 May in the Dargaville Town Hall with hot all girl rock group Ivy Lies with top DJ, DJ Jase. Ivy Lies star is on the ascendant in the New Zealand music scene and their debut single “Addicted” powered up the charts hitting number 2 on the NZ iTunes alternative chart and number 1 on the MySpace music chart. Having released their debut album earlier this year, the combination of pop and anthem rock makes its mark and is indicative of a band that means business.

Having toured with Midnight Youth and Dane Rumble on the Coke Summer Beach Series Tour, Ivy Lies will set Dargaville alight with an energy that should not be missed.

International talent, good looks and a desire to have some fun will all be on the play list when the youngest tenor in musical history to top the classical charts and one of music’s cover boys, Will Martin, entertains the crowds on Sunday 23 May.

The hugely successful cross over artist is currently on tour in Europe and is returning to New Zealand for a select number of performances only. His appearances include concerts at The Royal Albert Hall, Wembley Stadium and the Henley Festival.

Will is looking forward to coming north where his performance in Dargaville is the last of the limited number of performances in New Zealand before returning to the UK.

The concert will include a selection from Will’s hugely successful and chart topping album “A New World” but his biggest hope is to have an afternoon of fun. “The motivation has, and always will be, to make people feel good – the show is not about what I want to sing … it’s about what the audience wants to hear.”

Joining Will on stage will be Sonia Bullot, celebrated jazz musician and local girl done good. Having grown up in Dargaville and learnt her craft under the guidance of Ray Palmer at Dargaville High School, Sonia has transformed into a nationally renowned musician as a member of Tauranga based Blues and Jazz combo, Kokomo.

Sonia will perform some of the songs from her recently released solo album, Tonight on Trumpet. The album is a reflection of Sonia’s musical history, including old favourites such as Georgia on my Mind (played with much affection from her early days with DHS Jazz Band) and features some of New Zealand’s finest musicians and the extraordinary vocal talent of Julia Deans. Sonia has said she’s looking forward to playing for her home town and having some fun at the same time.

The popularity of this concert means tickets are selling fast. For the music lovers in Whangarei, Paparoa rentals will have a bus service from Forum North Car Park, Whangarei and have package deals for show, dinner and transport ($75 available by contacting 0508 868 776).

On Friday 28 May Dargaville will get in touch with its southern musical roots when Dunedin based blues master, King Leo, brings the blues to town. King Leo is the consummate blues musician, having worked with some of the greatest blues musicians, including Pinetop Perkins, Big Bill Morganfield, and Bo Diddley. His influences are varied and he draws on such artists as Muddy Waters and Little Walter, Louisiana greats Eddie "Guitar Slim" Jones and Slim Harpo together with Memphis legends B.B. King, Little Milton and Bobby "Blue" Bland.

Leaving his Growling Dogs behind, King Leo will entertain the crowd in a “blues play-off” with Stingray & Campbell in a North versus South battle for the Blues King. Stingray and Campbell sees the collaboration of Brian Glamuzina, one of the strongest harmonica players in New Zealand, with guitar genius Glenn Ross Campbell. Their sound is mainly blues but other genres, such as jazz and rock n’ roll, have influenced their style.

The night, which is sponsored by Big River FM weekly blues show, Muddy Water Blues, will be a celebration of the blues, its energy and its history.

New Zealand Music month is a celebration New Zealand’s musicians and is created to support and help up and coming musicians to have a voice. It provides an opportunity for Dargaville to support its talented young musicians together with showcasing all that the region has to offer to National and International stars. Dargaville will be celebrating in style and invites you all to come and join in the fun and festivities.

For more information on any of the above concerts please go to Kaipara District Council’s website, www.kaipara.govt.nz or contact council at council@kaipara.govt.nz