Music in the Parks always offers a tremendous lineup of music for our summer, and this year is no different! Grab your chilly bin and get your picnic blanket ready as there’s an unmissable line-up of free outdoor music and movies coming to a park near you this summer.
You’ll be spoilt for choice with the 2018 Music in Parks lineup of 24 free outdoor concerts featuring artists from diverse musical genres - everything from rock and pop to RnB and jazz will take the stage. This is also your chance to check out some of the Kiwi music talent behind Auckland’s recent recognition as a UNESCO Creative City of Music.
Ponsonby’s biggest event of the series returns; the electrifying Demon Energy Rock The Park which will take over Grey Lynn park on Saturday 10 March. This year it will be bringing rock legends The Datsuns, Head Like A Hole, Villainy and Dead Favours for the outdoor event. Free to the public, it’s a spectacular way to say goodbye to summer as March kicks in. A month earlier the Demon Energy Summer Jam is happening on Saturday 10 February at the Manukau Sports Bowl, featuring Stan Walker, alongside a killer lineup that includes recent Vodafone NZ Music Award winners SWIDT - recent performers at Wondergarden. Find food trucks and lots of activities for the family as you listen to the Kiwi summer sound.
Ending the series on a high note is the Open Air Orchestra at Bell Park, featuring the captivating sounds of The Blackbird Ensemble’s 20 piece orchestra. Fusing classical and electronic instruments with contemporary vocals by Julia Deans, Bailey Wiley, Alae and more, this all new event is not to be missed and sure to be a summer highlight. This will close out the series on Saturday 24 March in Pakuranga.
There are events throughout the city, so it really does pay to check out the full programme online. There’s a little bit of everything, from Mel Parsons’ enchanting folk/country vocals at Hobsonville Point Park on 4 March, to the Jordan Luck Band rocking Helensville River Reserve on 18 March or the talented line-up in store for Sunday sessions at the Auckland Domain Band Rotunda.
Movies in Parks sees movies shown in the outdoors, not quite in your cars like they used to be; so you will need to pack a picnic. Family favourites, Kiwi classics and recent hits will be screening all around Auckland. Locally for us Ponsonby people is Back to the Future in Pt Chevalier’s Coyle Park on Friday 2 March.
Don’t miss out on three months of great free events coming up at a park near you - check out www.musicinparks.co.nz and www.moviesinparks.co.nz for programme and lineup announce-ments. There are still a few secret moments to be announced, and the lineup will always be a little fluid. It always pays to check the weather and see if there’s a wet, weather venue arranged also! (FINN MCLENNAN-ELLIOTT)
www.musicinparks.co.nz www.moviesinparks.co.nz