Double take for Topp Twins

March 2, 2006

Double take for Topp Twins when they meet wildfoods look-alikes

Topp Twins Jools and Lynda will more than see double, they’ll go cross-eyed when they take their characters Ken and Ken and Camp Mother and Camp Leader to the 17th Hokitika Wildfoods Festival on Saturday March 11.

The Topp Twins are headline acts at the festival which has honoured them by holding a competition for look-alikes. Winners receive a holiday in Australia courtesy of House of Travel for their efforts.

“You know you’ve made it when people start dressing up like you,” Lynda Topp said.

“It’s going to be exciting seeing lots of Kens at Hokitika. We will be filming Ken’s Hunting and Fishing Show at the festival. Ken and Ken will be going round all the stalls trying all the food. Ken Smythe, the townie, has never eaten anything wild in his life before so Ken Moller will be following him round with a bucket.

“Speaking just for Jools and me, this will be our first time at the wildfoods festival and we’re looking forward to the food. We played in Hokitika a long time ago and we’re pleased to be back.”

Hokitika Wildfoods Festival organiser Mike Keenan said several of New Zealand’s favourite acts would play at this year’s festival which draws around 18,000 daredevil gourmets to eat, drink and enjoy the entertainment each year.

Well-known actor and comedian Mark Hadlow - New Zealand Entertainer of the Year (1995) and nominee for best Comedy Performance for his role in the television series Willy Nilly - will amuse the crowd with his impersonations. The actor has appeared in many feature films and documentaries as well as in an extensive range of stage and television appearances.

“Mark is no Tom or Dick but is sometimes a Harry (King Kong, Willy Nilly) and, at the festival, will be a UK delicatessen buyer, Sir Douglas Bader and an opera singer as well,” Mr Keenan said.

The variety of musical entertainment will be wider than ever this year from jazz to rock to country. This has led the festival to stage two separate Saturday night concerts at Cass Square to cater for the increasing range of musical tastes exhibited by festival-goers who cross all the age barriers.

One of New Zealand’s favourite jazz bands, the Nairobi Trio – famous for touring as a quartet – will bring its expressive brand of musical talent to the festival. The group tours every year throughout the world appearing at major festivals in New Zealand, UK, Europe, Australia and Asia.

The group is noted for its spontaneous improvisations on stage, part of a programme that includes skillfully crafted original pieces evoking images of New Zealand’s geographic beauty and cultural diversity as well as jazz standards the group has re-worked.

The trio lineup is Richard Adams (violin, vocals), John Quigley (guitar, vocals) and Peter Koopman (bass, vocals), joined on tour by Andrew Dixon (saxophones, flute, vocals).

Tickets are available through the festival website www.wildfoods.co.nz or at Postie Plus shops.

ENDS

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