Raggamuffin is this weekend!!

Vodafone & Andrew McManus Presents

UB40
THE WAILERS
MAXI PRIEST
ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT
& THE BLACK SEEDS
KATCHAFIRE
THE MIDNIGHTS
HOUSE OF SHEM

Raggamuffin is almost here - The Raggamuffin Festival, which has sold over 25,000 tickets, AND the official CD Raggamuffin Vol 1!!!!

This compilation features hits from all the festival artists. Tracks include UB40’s Here I Am (Come and Take Me), The Wailers’ Lively Up Yourself, Maxi Priest’s Close To You and Arrested Development’s Mr Wendell to name a few. This EMI release will be sold at the concert along with a fantastic range of specially designed Raggamuffin merch such as bucket hats, caps, singlet’s, lighters, hoodies and satchels. Check out HYPERLINK "http://www.raggamuffin.co.nz" www.raggamuffin.co.nz for the full range!

In breaking news (quoted directly from the UB40 website – full details in the PR at the bottom of the page) - “UB40 have today confirmed that they have parted company with lead singer Ali Campbell after a thirty year career together, following Campbell´s wish to focus more time on his solo career. Ali´s final dates with the band will be in Australia, New Zealand and Uganda in February 2008”.
Raggamuffin is the LAST NZ show to feature Ali as part of the UB40 line-up!!!
Be there for this historic event -

Raggamuffin Music Festival - Saturday February 2nd 2008 @ Rotorua International Stadium, Rotorua
Raggamuffin Vol 1 – out in stores and at the festival from 30 January 2008

For a fun and safe festival experience below are some Raggamuffin Festival pointers:

What to bring: Sunscreen, sun-hat, blanket, smiles and good vibes!

What not to bring: Glass, cans, alcohol, chilly bins, deck chairs, umbrellas, professional cameras, weapons or anything that could be used as such, illegal substances, gang patches or colours. Please note that there will be bag searches before entering the stadium. No pass outs will be issued and no smoking is allowed in the seated areas or grandstand.

Food and drinks: A whole host of yummy foods will be available to purchase on the day. Small quantities of unopened/sealed drinks and non-commercial food such as sandwiches and fruit will be allowed into the stadium and there will be free water top-ups for those who purchase a bottle of eco friendly Good Water.

Children: must be accompanied by a parent or care-giver at all times. There will be fun kid’s zone complete with face painters, a bouncy castle and water slide, for children to hang out and go crazy until 5pm. Whilst there will be security in this alcohol free area we cannot accept responsibility for unaccompanied children. If you do get separated from your child there will be a lost children and things area in the media tower near the kid’s zone…which is also where the police will be based.

Approx show running times:
11.45 am – doors open
12.45 am - House of Shem
1.35 pm - The Midnights
2.25 pm - Katchafire
3.30 pm The Black Seeds
4.45 pm - Arrested Development
6.15 pm - Maxi Priest
7.45 pm - The Wailers
9.30 pm - UB40
11 pm - finish

In the breaks between bands DJ Dubhead - HYPERLINK "http://www.myspace.com/djdubhead" www.myspace.com/djdubhead - will work his magic on the turntables alongside radio Mai FM MC’s Brent Mio and Sonny Kahika plus in the stalls area around by the Vodafone tent, local buskers will strut their stuff (program still TBA – see HYPERLINK "http://www.raggamuffin.co.nz" www.raggamuffin.co.nz for more details).

Transport and Gate Entry:
Free buses will be operating for ticket holders - see HYPERLINK "http://www.raggamuffin.co.nz" www.raggamuffin.co.nz for information on bus routes.
The free bus stops directly outside gate 1, which is a ticket holder’s entrance only.
The best gate to enter for R18 reserved seat holders is via gate 2. The best gate for GA ticket holders is gate 3.
Stall holders should enter via gate 1 and those on the guest list will need to go to the box office at gate 2.

Public Parking: Parking is available at Westbrook Rugby Fields and the Westbrook Netball Car-parks for $5. Alternatively for ticket holders, free parking will be available at the Village Green, Central Mall and The Arawa Racecourse.

Ticket Prices: From 10am on show day the ticket boxes at gate 2 and gate 3 will be open for door sales - unless tickets sell out beforehand which is looking very likely!
Door prices are -
$120 GA / $150 R18 / $280 Family / $30 extra child ticket (3 – 15 years) OR buy before show-day and save - $109 GA (or buy 10 get 1 free) / $135 R18 / Family tickets $250.
Tickets available from: Ticketmaster - HYPERLINK "http://www.ticketmaster.co.nz/" www.ticketmaster.co.nz, ph 0800 111 999.
For more info on Raggamuffin, see - HYPERLINK "http://www.raggamuffin.co.nz" www.raggamuffin.co.nz

Media Release
January 29 2008

The inaugural Raggamuffin event has taken on a new level of expectation, with the weekend news that after thirty years UB40 lead singer Ali Campbell is to leave the band to focus on a solo career.

Ali’s final shows with UB40 will be for the Raggamuffin concerts in New Zealand and Australia starting this weekend, with one final date in Uganda.

The band’s statement’s read:
“Ali Campbell embarked upon a solo album project (‘Running Free’) last year and throughout the course of this album, his time and commitment to the band began to conflict with his recording work, promotional commitments and his own corporate shows. Ali Campbell has taken the decision to focus on his solo career and in doing so, could not give his full commitment to UB40.

The other band members of UB40 are naturally disappointed and saddened after being together as a band unit and as good friends for almost thirty years. A decision on replacing Campbell has not yet been made by the other seven band members. The band’s next studio album ‘24/7’ which was recorded with Ali Campbell will go ahead as planned in May.

A spokesman added: "The band are of course saddened by Ali’s departure, they have been together for a long time and their relationship as band members and friends is almost like a marriage, having lived in and out of each other’s pockets for pretty much most of their lives.

“They haven’t ruled out working together in the future but for now the other seven members will continue as UB40. However all of the band members wish Ali every success in his future solo career."

Raggamuffin, starring UB40, The Wailers, Maxi Priest, Arrested Development and Katchafire, kicks off this Saturday February 2 playing to 30,000 people at Rotorua International Stadium in New Zealand.

UB40 has a huge, loyal audience in Australia and New Zealand which will guarantee that Ali’s final concerts whilst being emotional will also be a celebration of the band’s extraordinary 30-year career.

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ENDS

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