Festival celebrates ten years of eclectic sounds

Titirangi Festival of Music celebrates ten years of eclectic sounds

Titirangi Village will host music-lovers over three sound-soaked days from 27th-29th March at the tenth annual Titirangi Festival of Music.

With a mix of music from local performers, international acts and special guests plus plenty of free, family-friendly activities, Titirangi will be the place to be on any music-enthusiast’s calendar.

From its humble beginnings in 2005, the Titirangi Festival of Music is now recognised as one of the best boutique community music events in the country, with big musical names and local talent performing at free, and ticketed, events during the three-day festival.

The 2015 Festival programme boasts a strong line-up, which includes some of New Zealand’s finest musicians. The Phoenix Foundation bring their infectiously catchy and progressively psychedelic sounds to Titirangi for the first time as does award-winning country music star Tami Neilson, global tourists Moana and the Tribe and gypsy jazz-sters Beyondsemble. In association with the ‘Waiheke Jazz Festival’, Swedish Sax player Nicole Johanntgen will be performing for the first time in Aotearoa, while Jazz virtuoso Nathan Haines will hit the stage to perform his ‘acid-jazz’ meets DJ-influenced sound in a unique showcase event.

The cornerstone event of the festival each year is the Village Day and once again it features a diverse range of free, family-friendly music and activities including an interactive art workshop trail where kids can transform themselves into a ‘living instrument’. Marching bands, buskers and street performers will surprise and delight festival goer’s at numerous stages and performance areas around the village.

Titirangi Festival will declare the musical-charged weekend officially open on Friday 27th March from 6pm, and will wrap late on Sunday 29th March.

For a full list of ticketed and free events, including early-bird deals and group booking discounts, visithttp://titirangifestival.com/

Ticketed events

On Friday 27th of March the Festival Ballroom at Titirangi War Memorial Hall will host one of NZ’s most loved and legendary acts The Phoenix Foundation. The band will bring their infectiously catchy and progressively psychedelic sounds to Titirangi for the first time. Support will be provided by art-house popsters Doprah with their beguiling mix of electronica and trip-hop, and local indie newcomersDukebox.

Saturday 28th of March sees the return of Nathan Haines to the festival, he will perform tracks from his latest dance floor friendly album ‘5 a day’. Nathan will be joined by a kicking six-piece band featuring Kevin Mark Trail (Streets / Sola Rosa) on vocal duties and brother Joel Haines on guitar. Santiago Soul Stars featuring ace guitarist Dixon Nacey will set the scene and Electronica Legend Paddy Free (Pitch Black/Moana and the Tribe) will top the night off and ensure that Titirangi is the party place to be.

Multi instrumentalists and world tourists, Beyondsemble will kick off a series of concerts over the weekend in the Titirangi Theatre in the newly refurbished Lopdell House. This wonderful group of improvisors play a stylistic mix of gypsy, jazz and folk music. They will be Joined on the night by DVA, this duo are touring from the Czech Republic and weave a fantastical collage of pop, kitchen beat box, tango and cabaret into the concert. If you like music on the adventurous side this concert’s for you!

Friday 27th Titirangi Theatre

Pop experimentalist and ace producer Sean Donnelly -aka SJD, has won every accolade NZ Music has to offer, including 2013’s illustrious ‘Taite Music’ prize. Sean’s joined by long time musical collaborators in a concert to celebrate the release of his new album ‘Saint John Divine’. Wicked humour and intelligent music are the hallmarks of this great band and the Theatre will be an opportunity to enjoy the music in an intimate environment.

Saturday 28th , 9pm Titirangi Theatre

Zurich-based Swiss virtuoso saxophonist and international Jazz star Nicole Johanntgen is bound to impress with her engaging presence and wonderful playing. The festival has teamed up with ‘Waiheke Jazz Festival’ to bring her to NZ for the first time. She has been described as a “truly spirited and vibrant player who has true and pure artistic integrity” by Lew Soloff (Blood Sweat and Tears). We are proud to host Nicole with her 4 piece band of German Jazz musicians, members of Solid Brew. This is a must- see for Jazz lovers and a rare chance to see these European master musicians. Sunday 29th, 1pm. Titirangi Theatre.

Roundup at the Redroom is a brand new event in the festival.

In an afternoon of Southern hospitality expect the barbecue to be sizzling and craft beers flowing, as the audience is served up with some of the best local Alt Country sounds Aotearoa has to offer. Two alternating stages will feature award-winning Top Country Artist(2014) Tami Neilson with her trio, as well as the brilliantly edgy Americana sounds of Bernie Griffen & The Thin Men, with a lineup that includes the twisted country of the wonderful Doughboys, Lost Demos and Velvetland.

Sunday 29th 12.30pm to 6pm, Refreshment Room, 233 Scenic Drive, Titirangi

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