I have just got home from the ‘I love the Islands’ concert. The concert, a fundraiser for tsunami relief, was spectacular.
I was one of 10,000 people filling the Vector Stadium in Auckland. Between us we raised quarter of a million dollars and that’s before the bucket donations have been counted.
I was so impressed – the concert itself with more than 25 different acts from very talented musicians plus the fact that all the performers, all the technicians, the security staff, the people selling tickets, everyone else had all donated their time. The stadium too was provided free of charge. I would like to acknowledge everyone who contributed so generously.
The fact that a concert of this size and quality was pulled together and so successfully staged in such a short time frame is a real tribute to those who organised this event. Absolutely awesome – well done.
I felt really proud to be a New Zealander. It seemed to me that people were there because they wanted to help and the atmosphere at the concert was very good natured and as one of MCs said full of love. Many of the performers talked of their own links to the devastated villages in Samoa. We even had a number of All Blacks, who were in town training before heading off overseas, come on stage and speak. They are opening up their training session in Waitakere on Wednesday to the public as a fundraiser.
The concert had a really interested range of talented performers that you too can see. Over the next week there will be concerts in Christchurch, Dunedin, New Plymouth and Wellington. If you can go along, you won’t be disappointed.
Again thanks to those with the vision and drive to make this happen.
I’m glad the concert was a success, I’m sure the rest will be too.
That is great news! Well done to everyone involved, its great to see New Zealanders willing to help our Pacific cousins.
Can someone post the details of the other concerts. Please. And tonight in Petone we will have a movie showing where 1% of the Auckland crowd will raise 1% of what you guys did.
Christchurch: Tuesday 20 October, Westpac Arena.
Doors at 6pm, show at 7pm. Tickets $25 through Ticketek and on the door.
Featuring Scribe, Savage, Oscar Kightley, Teuila Blakeley, Anika Moa, Ladi 6 & Parks, Adeaze, Lapi Mariner, LA Mitchell, Mark Vanilau, Pacific Underground, D’sendantz, Lissel Stewart, A Hori Buzz, Te Kotahitanga Kapa Haka
Dunedin: Wednesday 21 October, Glenroy Auditorium, Town Hall Centre.
Doors at 6pm, show at 7pm. Tickets $15 sold through Ticketek and on the door.
Artists include: Scribe, Savage, Oscar Kightley, Teuila Blakeley, Ladi 6 & Parks, Shayne Carter, MC Beau, Koile, Max Dad E, Boogiemen, Soul Deep, Left or Right.
New Plymouth: Sunday 25 October, TSB Stadium.
Show at 5pm. Tickets are $25 sold through Ticketek and on the door.
Artists include: Scribe, Adeaze, Mareko & Devolo, Teuila Blakely, Three Houses Down, Aaradhna, Herbs, Laughing Samoans
Wellington: Monday 26 October, Michael Fowler Centre.
Doors 6pm, show at 7pm. Tickets $20 through Ticketek and on the door.
Artists include: Scribe, Savage, Oscar Kightley, Teuila Blakeley, Laughing Samoans, Mission Choir, Rosita Vai, TJ Taotua, Beatrootz, Ben Makisi, Legacy Dance Crew, Musical Island Boys, Aaradhna, and the Yandall Sisters.
Tickets: only $25.00 from http://www.ticketmaster.co.nz and http://www.ticketek.co.nz
Christchurch: Tuesday 20 October, Westpac Arena.
Doors at 6pm, show at 7pm. Tickets $25 through Ticketek and on the door.
Featuring Scribe, Savage, Oscar Kightley, Teuila Blakeley, Anika Moa, Ladi 6 & Parks, Adeaze, Lapi Mariner, LA Mitchell, Mark Vanilau, Pacific Underground, D’sendantz, Lissel Stewart, A Hori Buzz, Te Kotahitanga Kapa Haka
Dunedin: Wednesday 21 October, Glenroy Auditorium, Town Hall Centre.
Doors at 6pm, show at 7pm. Tickets $15 sold through Ticketek and on the door.
Artists include: Scribe, Savage, Oscar Kightley, Teuila Blakeley, Ladi 6 & Parks, Shayne Carter, MC Beau, Koile, Max Dad E, Boogiemen, Soul Deep, Left or Right.
New Plymouth: Sunday 25 October, TSB Stadium.
Show at 5pm. Tickets are $25 sold through Ticketek and on the door.
Artists include: Scribe, Adeaze, Mareko & Devolo, Teuila Blakely, Three Houses Down, Aaradhna, Herbs, Laughing Samoans
Wellington: Monday 26 October, Michael Fowler Centre.
Doors 6pm, show at 7pm. Tickets $20 through Ticketek and on the door.
Artists include: Scribe, Savage, Oscar Kightley, Teuila Blakeley, Laughing Samoans, Mission Choir, Rosita Vai, TJ Taotua, Beatrootz, Ben Makisi, Legacy Dance Crew, Musical Island Boys, Aaradhna, and the Yandall Sisters.
Tickets: only $25.00 from www ticketmaster co nz and www ticketek co nz
I saw the tenor Benjamin Makisi on YouTube ( from Morning TV )before he sang at the concert..he’s going to be at Opera in Paradise on Norfolk Island with Operatif in February 2010. He’s a real rising star of world opera.