Media Release For Immediate Release 21 December 2006

Wanganui Expecting Crowds for Concert and Motorcycle Race

Wanganui's Boxing Day concert to be held at Cooks Gardens on Tuesday is set to put the River City firmly on the map as one of the major outdoor events on the New Zealand music calendar.

The concert will feature a spectacular line up of popular groups , including Dave Dobbyn and Th' Dudes, The Feelers, Pearl and the House of Shem.

The city is expecting an influx of visitors on Boxing Day to attend that event and also the annual Cemetery Circuit Motorcycle Race which will be held prior to the concert.

"Visitors can expect a really warm Wanganui welcome," says Carl Perkins, of Wanganui's own House of Shem, who says he and his group are really looking forward to being able to play on their home ground for the people of Wanganui as well as welcoming people who have travelled long distances for the concert.

Perkins, who originally played with The Herbs and Mana, is now regarded as a New Zealand reggae icon. He formed the House of Shem in 1998 with two of his sons Joshua and Te Omeka, and his two younger sons Isaiah and Samuel joined the group last year.

The group will be featuring their tracks from the two Conscious Roots albums but in addition, concertgoers will have a preview of several brand new tracks from The House of Shem's new album which is to be recorded at the beginning of next year.

Their music has a bubbling reggae pulse, with positive themes which Carl Perkins says are about "breaking down the barriers and celebrating the positive things we can get out of our opportunities as New Zealanders."

Carl's original band, The Herbs, were considered to be the pioneers of pacific reggae and produced a string of Top 20 Hits including "Slice of Heaven" with Dave Dobbyn.

Dave Dobbyn will also be playing at the Boxing Day concert with Th' Dudes who temporarily regrouped for their recent national reunion tour, which was a sellout. The Cooks Gardens venue will be their first big outdoor gig for 25 years and likely to be the last.

Another big attraction at the concert will be The Feelers, who are rated one of the most successful bands in New Zealand history and have raced to the top of the charts with their new album "One World" released last month.

And making a repeat appearance at the Boxing Day concert, will be the Wellington band Pearl who opened at the same venue last year for Jimmy Barnes.

Since then Pearl's popularity has skyrocketed, with their most recent big venue success at the Westpac Stadium in Wellington, where they opened for Elton John earlier this month. Since then they have been confirmed as the opening act for Eric Clapton at the Mission Estate in January.

John Roestenburg of Wanganui Inc, organisers of the concert, said they had put a big effort into putting four quality acts together, which he believed would have huge appeal.
Judging by the comments of a former Wanganui resident who is returning for the Boxing Day event, he is right.

"I can't believe Wanganui, has pulled this off," she said. "It is absolutely amazing that they can get these big bands all in one place at one time. These groups all have a very broad appeal across a wide audience, and I reckon the concert will be sell out."

John Roestenburg says that while that may be the case by the time Tuesday comes, there are still tickets available through Sounds Victoria Avenue in Wanganui or from i-SITE Wanganui 06 3490508.

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