Hollie Smith takes on tigers at ZooMusic

Auckland City Council Media release <>

31 January 2008

Hollie Smith takes on tigers at ZooMusic

Award winning singer Hollie Smith will help protect the Sumatran tiger when she performs with her band at Auckland Zoo on Saturday, 9 February. This Wild Bean Cafe ZooMusic concert for conservation runs from 6 to 9pm.

Well known for the single, Bathe In The River, her debut album Long Player (2007) reached number one in New Zealand and won four New Zealand Music Awards, including Best Female Solo Artist and Breakthrough Artist of the Year. Smith has since signed with prestigious Manhattan Records via the Blue Note label group.

All concerts in the Wild Bean Cafe ZooMusic series support either a local or international conservation project for an endangered species. The zoo's goal is to raise awareness and provide financial support to each specific project. Smith's concert will be helping to support 21st Century Tiger's Kerinci Seblat project in aid of Sumatran tigers, which is timely for the zoo, as it started breeding Sumatran tigers for the first time.

It is predicted that if the current destruction of habitat and illegal poaching continues, this critically endangered animal will be extinct by 2020. "Nothing like merging a bit of music and wildlife awareness, I'm looking forward to it," says Hollie Smith.

The 14,000km Kerinci Seblat world heritage site is one of the most important conservation areas in South-east Asia. Its large areas with natural prey and fewer predators mean it holds the best hope for long-term tiger conservation. The areas tiger protection and conservation units work to halt the poaching and trafficking of tigers, and work alongside villagers to prevent them conflicting with the animals.

"Since 1998, 21st Century Tiger has contributed over US$475,000 towards tiger conservation in Sumatra. We are delighted that Wild Bean Cafe ZooMusic is again supporting our fundraising in this region," says Sarah Christie, 21st Century Tiger and Zoological Society of London conservation programme manager.

Folk and jazz singer Catherine Tunks will open the evening from 6 to 6.30pm. Jazz artist Tama Waipara will perform from 6.45pm to 7.30pm, playing from his debut album Triumph of Time, before Hollie Smith takes the stage at 7.45pm. Your ZooMusic ticket is also your entry to the zoo - so come early to explore the zoo and check out your favourite animals. Please be aware the band rotunda area will be closed off in the afternoon so that equipment can be set-up safely. Tickets are available from Auckland Zoo and Ticketmaster. Wild Bean Cafe ZooMusic concerts for conservation series 2008 is presented in association with Juice TV, The Radio Network, Monkey Bay wines, MusicWorks, Millennium Hotels and Resorts, and Vidcom.

Ends

Auckland Zoo Sumatran tiger breeding information * Full details on www.aucklandzoo.co.nz Event Details: * Wild Bean Cafe ZooMusic 2008: Sunday 20 January - Friday 29 February (6pm - 9pm) * Tickets available from Auckland Zoo www.aucklandzoo.co.nz 09 360 3805, or Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.co.nz 09 970 9700. Service fee applies * Limited capacity venue. Tickets expected to sell fast - advance booking recommended Prices: Adults $27, Children from four to 15yrs $12 and family pass for two adults and two children $70. *

Visit www.millenniumhotels.co.nz for accommodation options in Auckland * Friends of the Zoo receive a 20 per cent discount * Visit www.aucklandzoo.co.nz for picnic hampers and VIP enclosure details * ZooMusic is a licensed event and no BYO is permitted.

Concerts for Conservation: * Hollie Smith: Saturday, 9 Feb, supporting 21st Century Tiger, Kerinci Seblat National Park, Sumatra * The Phoenix Foundation: Sunday, 17 Feb, supporting the Asian Rhino Project * Katchafire: Friday, 29 Feb, supporting native frog recovery.

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