27 May 2010
Queenstowns Winter Festival hits a high note this year with a stellar musical line-up at the ever popular Lindauer Jazz Night on Saturday 3 July.
Festival Director Simon Green says his team has put together a fabulous mix of acts with something to excite everyone, from jazz purists to lovers of live music.
"Take a gondola ride to the spectacular setting of the Skylines mountain-top complex, add in a superb mix of performers and you have the recipe for an unforgettable evening. Jazz Night is always a Festival highlight and is particularly popular with our locals so people should get in quick. Once this night starts it doesnt stop so dancing shoes are a must!"
New Zealands own Alicia Keys, songstress LA Mitchell, will headline upstairs in the Jazz Lounge, melding soul and jazz with her evocative vocals and cool Rhodes piano playing. Since catching the attention of the New Zealand music scene she has firmly established herself not only through her solo career and two album releases but also as a member of rock band Dukes and Dave Dobbyns touring band. She has opened for Stevie Wonder at his New Zealand shows, for Dave Dobbyn in Europe, toured nationwide as part of Fly My Pretties and collaborates with the Sunshine Sound System and Oakley Grenell.
Also performing upstairs is Coast, a new young dub/funk/roots trio with a splash of jazz, who will dazzle the crowd with their acoustic brilliance. The group harks from the East Coast but moved to Auckland to join forces with Loops Mikee Tucker (TrinityRoots, The Black Seeds, Fly My Pretties). Coast took out top place in the 2008 Eastern Bay Battle of the Bands and the 2009 Auckland Rock to the Top competition.
Vanessa Kellys seductive jazzy blues vocals will get the party started downstairs. Ms Kelly, the recipient of a New Zealand Music Award in 2000 for New Zealands Most Promising Female Vocalist, has performed for Robbie Williams, sung alongside New Zealand singer/songwriter Brooke Fraser, been part of the first New Zealand group to achieve three consecutive No 1 singles in New Zealand, and appeared in Shortland Street and Xena: Warrior Princess.
The dance floor hots up with Eru Dangerspeils raw energy and unique live performance of bottom-heavy funk and psychedelic rhythm and blues. Led by former TrinityRoots drummer and master percussionist Riki Gooch, Eru Dangerspiel comprises some of New Zealands finest musicians - Mara TK (Electric Wire Hustle, Fly My Pretties) intertwines with MC Future and the smooth grooves of Fat Freddys Drop keyboardist Iain Gordon.
Sola Rosa follows with a smokin hot blend of dub, hip hop, lounge and jazz guaranteed to keep crowds glued to the dance floor. The band, led by Andrew Spraggon, is well known for its calibre of talent, tapping into the skills of internationally renowned DJ Spikey Tee and counting members of Dimmer, Fat Freddys Drop, Goldenhorse, Pluto, Che Fu, King Kapisi and Sommerset among its ranks over the years.
The Lindauer Jazz Night will be held from 7.30pm at the Skyline complex and tickets cost $89 per person (including gondola) or $111 including supper.
Festival tickets can be purchased from TicketDirect onlineor by phone 0800 224 224 (03 450 9110), in person at the Queenstown Events Centre or Queenstown i-Site (corner of Shotover and Camp streets), or via the Festival website
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