Fat Freddy’s for family festival
The organiser of a local festival is singing the praises of the band that will headline it, Fat Freddy’s Drop. ‘‘They are playing for next to nothing to give back to the community - how cool are those guys,’’ Noel Woods said.
The seven-piece band from Wellington, whose musical style has been characterised as a combination of dub, reggae, soul, jazz, rhythm and blues, and techno, are probably the biggest name to play Te Ra O Te Raukura.
Bands such as Katchafire and Nesian Mystik have played the annual event at Te Whiti Park in Waiwhetu and Woods is hoping Freddy’s will finally bring the January 29 event to the Wellington region’s attention. ‘‘It is well known in Lower Hutt but not so well known in Wellington and Porirua.’’ Big bands have
NEED TO KNOW:
Keep updated and see livestreamed audio and video of the event at www.atiawatoafm.com
Be sun smart and wear sun glasses and sun hats.
It’s about whanau so bring your nannies and the babies, find a spot on the park and enjoy the talent on the stage.
Applications for stalls are still open; application forms for stall holders are downloadable online from www.atiawatoafm.com, or call Dinah on 569 7993 or email te.ra@atiawa.co.nz brought in crowds of 1000s before and Woods wants Freddy’s to be a drawcard for people as far away as Wairarapa. Freddy’s just played to a sell-out audience at Villa Maria in Auckland.
The DJ for Atiawa ToaFM will also be performing with his band Grove Roots at the 23rd annual event that started as a celebration of the radio station and its Waiwhetu community. Other performers include Ngati Poneke, Va’a Nui Dance, Wellington Batucada, Under The Sun and Nga Taonga Mai Tawhiti. The Youth Zone has DJ Gooda, Aaykay, Tihei Rangatahi and Vibe showcases, basketball battles and DJ workshops. The event is not just about music. Free health checks will be run by Te Awakairangi Health Network and Regional Public Health and WelTec and Te Wananga o Aotearoa will have stalls to promote their education courses. Donations will go toward Te Omanga Hospice.
Te Ra o te Raukura 2017 is on January 29 at Te Whiti Park in Waiwhetu from 10am to 4pm.