Suzanne Lynch headlines Country Music Festival in the South

Suzanne Lynch headlines Country Music Festival in the South Pacific

A sub-tropical island in the South Pacific, Norfolk Island has been on the Country Music scene for over 20 years. Organisers have pulled out all the stops for their 22nd festival program and line-up with hot headliner Suzanne Lynch from New Zealand joining James Blundell from Australia. Guest artists Glen Moffatt and James Ray from New Zealand and Roo Arcus, Anne Kirkpatrick and Tori Darke from Australia, will also meet and perform on this South Pacific isle.

Fans say there’s a reason they keep coming back to Norfolk. The island Country Music experience is up close and personal. Throughout the week there’s plenty of opportunity to mix and mingle with performers including a special platinum pass lunch with a performer hosting your table. The relaxed island vibe is nothing short of enchanting for fans and headliners alike.

Accomplished New Zealand singer Suzanne Lynch first came to wide public knowledge in the 1960s as half of the duo The Chicks with her sister, Judy Hindman, on the NZBC television series C'MON. In 1969 she became a solo performer and was a resident performer on the follow-up show Happen Inn. In 1970 she was voted N.Z. Entertainer of the Year. After marrying fellow entertainer Bruce Lynch she moved to London, England where she worked as a session musician until she became a regular part of Cat Stevens' vocal group and appeared on several of his albums until he gave up recording after a religious conversion. In the Queen's Birthday Honours of 2001 she was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to entertainment.

Almost 20 years after his landmark album “Somewhere in New Zealand Tonight”, singer/songwriter Glen Moffatt released his new album “Superheroes & Scary Things” in Australia and New Zealand in mid-2014. Raised in the seaside Art Deco city of Napier, on the east coast of New Zealand’s North Island, Moffatt began writing songs at the age of 10. Quitting his job as a newspaper reporter, he moved to Auckland to pursue his musical ambitions and was soon singing in Red McKelvie’s Cajun band Mumbo Gumbo. He also began making his mark in the city with his own country band. He burst onto the national music scene with his debut album “Somewhere in New Zealand Tonight” in 1995 and at the following year’s recording industry awards was a finalist for “songwriter of the year”, a title previously won by such luminary pop writers as Neil Finn, Dave Dobbyn and Martin Phillipps. Two more albums followed – “A Place To Play” in 1998 and “If That’s What You Want” (as the Glen Moffatt Band) in 2001, both including co-writes with Ritchie Pickett and Arthur Baysting – before Moffatt relocated to Brisbane. Along with fronting his own band the Tallboys, he was a “Star Maker” grand finalist in 2003 and was part of the Smokin’ Crawdads line-up that was awarded Queensland Group or Duo of the Year at the inaugural Queensland Country Music Awards in 2010 with their album “Straight to the Pool Room”. As a performer, he has shared the stage with a diverse range of acts from American Cajun star Wayne Toups to Byrds sideman Earl P. Ball to Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh to Bill Chambers, James Blundell and the Topp Twins. His songs have been included on albums by Bill Chambers, Michael Muchow, Donna Dean, Ritchie Pickett, Kevin Greaves, Darryl Apps and Dennis Marsh.

One of the hottest young country rock artists performing today, JamesRAy is a multiaward winning international performing and recording artist. His most recent awards include the 2011 NCMA Male Artist of the Year and the 2011 VACNZ Top Male Artist. He has been a grand finalist for BEST MALE COUNTRY ARTIST by the Kiwi Pro-Am national music awards 2009 & 2010. He is an ACMA Award winner for the Best Original Song, Best Male Vocalist and Best Overall Performer. He is also an NZCMA Entertainer of the Year Songwriter Winner. His latest Album, "Chasing the Dream" was a New Zealand Music Tui Grand Finalist in both the 'Best Country Album' and 'Best Country Song'. Sony Records has included JamesRAy on "NZ's Best Country Songs" compilation CD along with Bic Runga, Dave Dobbyn and many other great kiwi artists. JamesRAy became the Norfolk Island 2003 Trans-Tasman Entertainer of the Year Award Winner and represented New Zealand at the ten day Telstra Mildura Music Festival, Australia's largest independent artist Music Festival. JamesRAy has become known for his own style of alternative "feel good" country and Texas rock music as well as his award winning song writing.

Organisers say with a line up like this 2015 is not to be missed. Register now with local travel specialist Norfolk Island Travel Centre and ask about special travel packages just released. Prices start from NZ$1219 per person ex Auckland (17-24 May) based on twin share accommodation for a seven night stay. Prices includes return ‘seat + bag’ airfare to Norfolk Island, pre-paid airline taxes, meet & greet at the Norfolk airport, 7 nights twin share accommodation, 7 days car hire (car hire surcharge NZ$24 per day and petrol extra), discount shopping card, complimentary mini- golf and complimentary ‘A Walk in the Wild’. Prices are current today and subject to change without notice. Conditions apply.

Country Music passes are optional and additional cost to holiday package prices. Festival pass prices start from NZ$262 per person, ask Norfolk Island Travel Centre for full details.

For more info contact Norfolk Island Travel Centre on toll free phone 0800 0088 10 email christan@travelcentre.nf fax 00 6723 23205 or visit us at www.norfolkislandtravelcentre.com

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