THIS SUMMER AOTEA SQUARE TRANSFORMS INTO A
LUSH LAWN PACKED WITH ENTERTAINMENT

AUCKLAND LIVE presents

SUMMER IN THE SQUARE
Free in Aotea Square

Now in its sixth year, Summer in The Square welcomes the arrival of the sunny season with dance, DJs, live music, food trucks and of course a Christmas tree! Summer in The Squarekicks off its jandals starting on Wednesday 2 December until Sunday 20 December and then returning from 11 January till 19 February 2016 with a FREE programme for everyone to enjoy.

“This year we’ve reached out to a wildly diverse group of musicians, speakers, dinosaurs, chess grandmasters and artists to present a vibrant and laid-back programme that will bring the arts precinct to life this summer” says Anders Falstie-Jensen, Producer, Summer in the Square.

Headlining December’s programme is an extraordinary outdoor dance work by award winning choreographer Malia Johnston. The Art of Colour featuring a stunning ensemble of more than twenty Unitec dance students and graduates. There will be performances by Massive Company’s energetic Massive Nui Ensemble, the treasured charity StarJam and we are thrilled to include an IRL with media commentator Russell Brown titled “Badasses of Auckland”.

Music Promoter, DJ, Golden Dawn entertainment manager and Auckland’s biggest independent music fan Matthew Crawley has hand-picked an epic line up of DJs, musicians, poets and more for Live at Lunch for Summer in the Square. This eclectic mix includes jazz legend Jonathan Crayford, DJ Stinky Jim, local music sensation, Anthonie Tonnon and spoken word poet Jess Holly Bates. Look out for extended weekend sessions with the New Zealand Soul All Dayer, Afro Delight Summer Party and 95bFM’s Back on the Good Foot Live.

Aotea Square will be home to Beambox an interactive playground. Created by students and professionals from Auckland University of Technology, the University of Auckland and Auckland Live, Beambox brings together light, sound, science and play.

There will be mobile vegetable gardens designed by Jane Hakaraia in conjunction withUrban Pantry; an organisation committed to creating and promoting urban gardens across Auckland. Visitors can learn about cultivating edible gardens with workshops and get inspiration for creating their own urban garden.

Summer in the Square’s lunchtime food offerings are better than ever, with Food Space vendors courtesy of Fresh Concept. They will be serving up a great selection of delicious food for all budgets, from Blooms Pretzels, Fritz Wieners, Yummy Thai, Lalele Organics, Wilder and Hunt, Dip It, Dixie Barbecue, plus more!

And the fun doesn’t stop in December! During January and February 2016 Summer in the Square will be packed with events that will have Aucklanders returning week after week including Chess Grandmaster Nigel Short taking on twenty challengers, a visit fromAuckland Museum, Vintage and Latin Weekends, Dancing under the Stars with Swing Out Central, the New Zealand Opera open air performance and international buskers.

December at Summer in The Square:

Live at Lunch
Matthew Crawley, entertainment manager for Golden Dawn has selected an eclectic line up of DJs and live performers for your aural pleasure with music from Bernie Griffen, Shab Orkestra, Dictaphone Blues, Rodney Fisher, Anthonie Tonnon, Storehouse Blues and many more. So sit back in those deck chairs and soak up the sounds and sun every day at lunch time in Aotea Square.

The Art of Colour
Headlining the programme of events in December, with more than twenty Unitec dance students and graduates performing The Art of Colour created by choreographer, teacher and former World of Wearable Arts Awards Director, Malia Johnston. Come marvel at this stunning performance in the second week of December when it is performed twice a day on weekdays.

In Real Life with Russell Brown
The latest in a series of “in conversation” events with bFM Breakfast host Esther MacIntyrediscussion deals with “Badasses of Auckland”; people who are kicking butt in their chosen field! With guest interviewees, live music, and a Q&A session, IRL is a unique opportunity to get up close and personal with interesting characters of the city - in real life!

Beambox
Presented by Auckland Live, Auckland University of Technology and University of Auckland.
The interactive installation Beambox will bring “light”-hearted play to Aucklanders of all ages.
This light-themed, multimedia installation gives the opportunity to see, hear and experience the electromagnetic spectrum. Beambox features seven large cubes that move on a grid and interact with each other through laser communication to produce light and sound responses.

Massive Theatre Company
Going strong for 25 years, Massive Theatre Company, a youth focused company that has developed into a strong creative powerhouse for young talent. Roll up and take part in their open “warm up”, with four square, dancing, lip sync and much more. Celebrate summer with the company who toured their show The Brave through the North Island, and over to Hawaii earlier this year.

StarJam
Three fantastic groups of children called ‘jammers’ will perform song, music and dance. Donations will also be collected to help fundraise for StarJam charity.

95BFM Live Broadcast
We’re ending the year on a high note with the much loved 95bFM radio show Back on the Good Foot broadcasting a live DJ set. Expect crates full of the finest soul, funk, blues, rocksteady, reggae and whatever else feels good at the time from DJs Tina Turntables and Mr Crawley.

And this is just Summer in the Square warming up!
Look out for January and February programme announcements coming soon.
For the full detailed information visit: aucklandlive.co.nz/summersquare

Auckland Live presents
SUMMER IN THE SQUARE
Wednesday 2 December to Friday 19 February
Aotea Square, 50 Mayoral Drive, Auckland CBD
10am-4pm Wednesday 2 – Sunday 20 December
10am-4pm Monday 11 – Sunday 31 January
10am-4pm Monday 1 – Friday 19 February

Beambox: Thursday 3 – Sunday 20 December 10am to 10pm
Star Jam: Thursday 3 December, 11am-12:30pm
In Real Life with Russell Brown: Saturday 5 December, 1pm-5pm
The Art of Colour: Monday 7 – Friday 11 December, 12pm & 1pm
New Zealand Soul All Dayer: Saturday 12 December, 12pm – 6pm
Massive Theatre Performance: Saturday 12 December, 10am–12pm
Live Performances and DJs: Monday – Sunday, from around midday
Afro Delight Summer Party: Saturday 19 December, from around 10am – 6pm
95BFM Live Broadcast: Sunday 20 December, 12pm-4pm

ENDS

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