Big Day Out is preparing for its 20th birthday this summer, and as of this very morning, the first announcement is being made. And here's something exciting: headline acts are Soundgarden and Kanye West!
The list so far:
This just in from the BBC:
A "lost" Beethoven movement is to be performed for the first time in more than 200 years, after being pieced together from early drafts.
On Sunday, Radio New Zealand National spoke to the Joystick Orchestra. Here's the podcast from radionz.co.nz. Check out their site for more interesting audio.
While it is too late to join this orchestra, it looks like an amazing project worth checking out:
The New Orchestra Practices (NOP) group have been working on an audiovisual composition with music-minded amateurs and artists, using joysticks to control soundscapes. They will be performing their work on before the France – New Zealand rugby game this Saturday, 24 September at Auckland’s waterfront.
The concept involves gathering people from different ethnic backgrounds, music abilities, ages and social classes to collectively play sound and visual parts.
This inter-arts orchestra will perform pieces from both France and New Zealand. NOP.nz’s main goal is to bring together various audiences, cultures and artistic practices. NOP.nz Project began in New Zealand in April 2011. The project will return to France in 2012.
Another in the spirit of the season, here is some brilliant footage from France's 1979 tour of New Zealand, cut and edited to a Tchaikovsky score.
There's too much going on. Fashion Week just finished and Rugby World Cup hasn't even kicked off yet. But even today, at 11am Mayor Len Brown opened the newly renovated Auckland Art Gallery to the public. Full of amazing new spaces and beautiful views over to Albert Park. It is definitely worth a visit as soon as possible. Especially today, as the Gallery is open until 10pm, and has a number of performances and activities.
Then at 3.30 over in Aotea Square, the All Blacks are officially receiving their World Cup caps. Get there early to see Hollie Smith performing!
A new CD arrived here at Auckland Libraries yesterday: Rucks, tries & choruses : the history of NZ rugby... in song. It includes a track by George Nepia, the All Blacks hero of the 1930s, and also a recording artist. Chris Bourke, who recently won the NZ Post Book Award for Blue Smoke, writes a great piece about him here.
So here are my favourite for Rugby World Cup anthems:
