New Music Festival at Lake Tekapo

New Music Festival at Lake Tekapo

UNDER THE BIG SKY: A Night of Country & Blues Music at Alpine Springs in association with PORTFM

Alpine Springs Lake Tekapo is hosting the inaugural high altitude music festival UNDER THE BIG SKY at the skating rink on Saturday 3 December, featuring Aly Cook with The Coalrangers.

It was originally scheduled for March but had to be postponed after 22 February 6.3 earthquake.

It will be the first time the $7 million recreation and relaxation complex of hot pools, day spa, snow-tube park, ice/roller rink and licensed café will have hosted such an event.

Managing director Karl Burtscher, the driving force behind the award wining facility, wanted to use the majestic and beautiful surroundings as a setting for a new type of event for the Mackenzie Basin, and to create an annual event that will bring more people to Lake Tekapo.

“We have these fantastic skies, considered amongst the clearest in the hemisphere, and people come from all over the world to experience the Earth & Sky Show at Mt John, and I believe people will come to special events here as well,” Mr Burtscher said.

“The 56 metre long rink makes a great performing stage, and we have seating for 1300 people. We’ve got fir and pine trees behind the rink, and a view over the turquoise lake to the Two Thumb Range – where else can people come and listen to great music in such a setting?”

The performers are all popular musicians who cover a wide range of musical genres. Aly Cook, a Nelson-based singer/songwriter, has sung at concerts in the UK, Europe, Australia, Norfolk Island and around New Zealand this year. The Coalrangers have been singing for decades, and three albums later they remain as popular as ever with their foot tapping iconic style. Eddie Simon, originally from Canada, has sung alongside greats such as John Denver and Dolly Parton and has a repertoire spanning country, R&B, blues and gospel.

“We’ve got outstanding performers who will be playing almost non stop for nearly four hours. I wanted to get really top performers to set a standard that will bring people back next year,” Mr Burtscher said.

“There’s already interest in using the concert as a corporate event for local businesses who can entertain clients in a new way and keep it local,” Business Development Manager Cathy Hemsworth said.

“It’s a good time of the year to offer an event like this and a new opportunity for businesses to entertain, and to support a local initiative.”

“We hope that people from out of the region will come for the weekend and enjoy the hot pools and day spa as well as the concert. Lake Tekapo is a great destination with good accommodation and heaps to do. That’s why we want to encourage people here through events like this.”

The gates will open at 6 pm for a 7 pm start with Eddie Simon and Blue Train. Aly Cook and The Coalrangers will take the stage at 8.30 pm.

Tickets are $36 and will be available from Event Finder, www.eventfinder or Alpine Springs, www.alpinesprings.co.nz

ENDS

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