Entertainment for the young and the young at heart
PIONEER Park will be the destination for the 2019 Grand Procession and a fun afternoon at the Contact Energy Saturday in the Park.
We will have entertainment for the young and the young at heart, featuring on two stages, one dedicated to all the kids and featuring clowns, jugglers and magic shows.
This year the main stage will feature a stunning line up headed by The Warratahs, and the Werewolves.
THE WARRATAHS
From the Far North to The Bluff, hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders have packed pubs, theatres, and dance halls and have literally grown up with The Warratahs.
At this year’s Blossom Festival, visitors will have the rare opportunity to catch a special appearance by one of New Zealand’s most revered bands.
The songs by lead singer and guitarist Barry Saunders are etched into New Zealand’s landscape and this artistry was rewarded in 2016 with the Warratahs taking out Best Country Music Album at the Gore Gold Guitars Awards with Runaway Days, an album that entered both the New Zealand and Country charts in the top ten. The more recent double album Drivin’ Wheel is a unique collection of their songs and style since the band’s beginning in 1986.
Over the years, The Warratahs have appeared with Johnny Cash, June Carter Cash, Billy Joel, Lucinda Williams, and Leann Rimes, among other international stars.
Get ready for a vintage performance by this iconic band at New Zealand’s longestrunning festival. Don’t miss the chance to hear Nik Brown’s hands of fire on fiddle as the band rocks you through Hands of My Heart, Maureen, Rescue Me,
Mount Victoria Rain, and other classics from these titans of the backbeat and buccaneers of the road.
Bring your dancing shoes to Alexandra and, in the words of Elvis, ‘‘if you can’t find a partner, use a wooden chair’’.
WEREWOLVES
Werewolves of Lumsden are a fivepiece from Queenstown and Arrowtown, playing mostly classic rock covers and some originals, focusing on strong vocal harmonies. Their name is wordplay referencing the Warren Zevon song Werewolves of London — drummer Jeff Hylton has a little land in Lumsden too!
The band is: Leanne Malcolm, lead vocals and guitar; Deo Bohn, lead guitar; Will Northcote, vocals, guitar, keyboard; Dale Gold, bass; and Jeff Hylton on drums and harmonica.
Leanne is possibly better known as a journalist and newsreader for TV3, but began singing in bands in Queenstown over a decade ago.
‘‘Music is a huge passion of mine, and I love the chance to get behind the mic and entertain and to play and sing my favourite songs and to create new ones. Singing with the Werewolves, I am in my happy place.’’
Will Northcote is well known as an experienced singersongwriter, and has performed many solo gigs around Central Otago. He’s a busy guy on stage, taking to the keyboard as well for several Werewolves songs. He is quick with a pun!
Bassist Dale Gold used to play double bass for the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra but left to pursue a passion for rock’n’roll instead of Beethoven! He is a dry Canadian by birth and proudly sports his Straight Outta Lumsden shirt at gigs.
Guitarist Deo Bohn is the youngest in The Werewolves, and he loves to make his Gibson soar on solos. A respected guitar teacher in Frankton, he runs his own successful music store: Maya. Brazilianborn, he has been a key figure in many bands around the lower South Island.
Drummer Jeff Hylton — a.k.a. Hylty — is a local legend. He’s played in half a dozen prominent Queenstown bands and is renowned for his professionalism and tight performances on the skins.