Nelson Arts Festival 2011

Yellow and black is taking over the town and it's not a wasp invasion - this year's Nelson Arts Festival posters and programmes just demand attention, in the pop art theme linked with the OI You! Urban Art Exhibition (more Banksys than you can shake a brush at) that is part of our action at Founders this year.

Tickets are rocking out the door with some favourites emerging already. Here's a great idea we heard from a local business - forget the boring old office Christmas party and avoid the December rush by taking your staff to a festival show. Whether you're booking for two or 25 we encourage you to get in early. Make the most of the early bird discounts - they end on September 4. Buy now and beat the influx of rugby and Masters Games' visitors.

Cam's Pick
Cam Woods is the Marketing Co-ordinator for the Festival and here's why he's looking forward to Fabulous Arabia.

What a fantastic chance to see two of New Zealand's greatest young musicians, Mike Fabulous and Lawrence Arabia with a band of who's who from the New Zealand music scene. Having always been a fan of both The Black Seeds from which Mike Fabulous comes and of Lawrence Arabia, I can't wait to see them combine their talents for this world premiere. That along with a line up that includes Ricky Gooch from Trinity Roots, Toby Laing from Fat Freddy's Drop and Tom Watson from Head like a Hole, and you've got a show that I can't wait to see. In fact check out this video from Lawrence Arabia to see just what's coming our way. http://vimeo.com/23799310

Catch Fabulous Arabia at The Festival Tent, Thurs 13 Oct, 8.30pm

Of tents and techies
Our Technical Director Antony Hodgson is enjoying his last days of the quiet life at Onekaka before festival fever drags him over the hill to start transforming/creating our venues. We asked him to tell us what's involved, even before the scaff and the crew arrive on site:

"To start with everything feels very chaotic and formless. It is just all show names and gear lists and nothing matches. I spend a lot of time reading over the information from the different shows - the tech details are often a wishlist not a must have, so I also look through their emails, the publicity info and their show images for how they look on stage, their set up and how they like to be lit. I start to build up a picture of the type of lighting, sound gear and stage set-up that might work. If I just booked what they asked for we'd be broke on day one.

Then I start talking with different suppliers to get the gear I want. That is a bit of a juggle as I try to use local gear where I can but some comes from Wellington or Christchurch. Finding the right gear can be a frustrating puzzle as every choice is affected by other choices and a whole concept can fall over because a crucial bit of gear is either not available or we can't afford it. So then the concept has to be re-worked from the ground up using less gear or

Midnight Youth

The entertainment at this year's More FM Carnivale (right after the Masked Parade on October 7) is being 'notched up' a level thanks to support from the REAL New Zealand Festival's kiwi music tour. We have secured Midnight Youth and Knives at Noon - a great attraction for locals and visitors and particularly to the many young people attending Sonic Live Zone.

Midnight Youth came together at Rangitoto College on Auckland's North Shore. They are now based between Sydney and Auckland and are putting out their second album later this year, after their hit debut album, The Brave Don't Run. They recently toured in support of Australian rock giants INXS.
Knives at Noon are an indie-electric-rock band based in Dunedin. Formed in late 2007, they have a catchy synth-rock sound. Plan to be there with family and friends - it's Cooks' Night Off with plenty of food stalls for you to get your dinner.

On the road
Where we bring you review notices from outta town and get the critics' top picks on what we have in store. Here's what the Taranaki Daily Times had to say when C'mon Black was at the Taranaki International Arts Festival.
"C'mon Black is a real kiwi winner... Rutherford skilfully chatted with the audience as if he was one of their mates. He told great stories, slipped in a joke or two, tackled a variety of accents with ease, gave rapid-fire rugby commentaries, and had the audience chanting and singing with gusto...
You don't need to be a rugby fan to enjoy this production. With its Roger Hall trademark, you enjoy and recognise traits within the characters that are so familiar among those you know.

C'mon Black is a retelling of a vivid time in history - food poisoning included. The names of such hero's as Nelson Mandela and Jonah Lomu are all rekindled among ordinary traditions such as halftime servings of oranges.
These famous people are mixed in with trying roommates, overpowering tour guides and helpful bus drivers.

You leave feeling uplifted and passionate enough to believe that the All Blacks will be triumphant at this years Rugby World Cup."
We are staging C'mon Black at the Theatre Royal on Thurs 13 Oct and Fri 14 Oct at 7.30pm. Get your tickets now to ensure you don't miss this fantastic show.

The Nelson Arts Festival is produced by the Nelson City Council as a celebration for locals and an attraction for visitors. This year's arts festival is part of the Game On Festival, which showcases the region to our rugby visitors.

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