Media Release 16 May, 2008 All

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Pacific Underground returns to the 10th Pacific Arts Festival.

Once again Pacific Underground will attend the 10th Pacific Arts Festival on 20 Junly - 2 August in American Samoa, Pago Pago for their second time as part of the New Zealand Delegation of artists.

The 120 strong NZ delegation selected by Creative New Zealand includes accomplished and established artists of Maori and Pasifika descent of theatre, music, moko, carving. film, multi-media & fashion, taonga puoro, weaving, visual and ceramic artists.

Musicians Pos Mavaega, Tanya Muagututi'a and Andrew Sione of Pacific Underground will present music from their show 'PU Soul Me' that includes their own original music all played with 3 guitars and vocals.

Musical Director Pos Mavaega says they all still hold fond memories of their first time at the festival in Palau with the New Zealand Delegation four years ago in 2004.

"It's awesome to be given this opportunity again, as the best part of the festival for us is sharing our music with the rest of the Pacific and the World, and networking with the other artists" says Mavaega. "Our past work in theatre, music and our own festival here in Christchurch has been great preparation for this event. It also enables us to assist other artists from the delegation with production aspects which we enjoy also, it's a great experience".

Other artists attending include multi-media artists Michel Tuffery, Rawiri Paratene, master weaver Emma Kesha, carver Johnny Penisula, musicians King Kapisi, Teremoana Rapley and master moko artists Derek Lardelli and Mark Kopua and national Kapa Haka winners Te Whangara- Mai- Tawhiti.

Pacific Underground's latest projects include the annual Pacific Arts Festival of Christchurch, and shows 'Drum 5' which showcases five Christchurch drummers and their drumkits, and 'PU Soul Me' which featured at last year's Christchurch Arts Festival. A five minute video of Pacific Underground is part of Te Papa's newest Pacific exhibition 'Tangata O Le Moana' which was launched in October 2007.

In 2009 Court Theatre's 'The Forge' and Pacific Underground will collaborate and present a new play by Pacific Underground called Angels written by Tanya Muagututi'a and Joy Vaele. Angels will be Pacific Underground's first new full length play since "Dawn Raids" written by Oscar Kightley and staged at the Court Theatre ten years ago.

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