Christchurch band keep promise to perform at MarchFest

Christchurch band keep promise to perform at MarchFest

Iconic Christchurch band, The Eastern, are still coming to Nelson’s hip harvest hop festival MarchFest on March 26, despite the Christchurch earthquake hitting their home of Lyttelton hard.

The Eastern will play at MarchFest, Founders Park on Saturday 26th March, at 8.45pm - 9.45pm.

Lead singer Adam McGrath says the band is committed to playing at the Nelson event, to help boost the spirits of those affected by the Christchurch earthquake.

“The earthquake has left our home town of Lyttelton battered and bruised, but we will still be putting our wheels to State Highway 6 to make our way to Nelson to perform at this year’s MarchFest,” says McGrath.

“Despite the bricks and dust in our city, we have been singing our way around backyards and parks of Christchurch, offering our songs as an affirmation of spirit and hope,” he says.

“We believe the power of singing brings communities together, and we promise to come and put it down for Nelson, a town that has been so good to us in the past.

“Regardless of the quake and the pain and worry, The Eastern is not going to quit and are glad we can keep swingin’ and singin’ for the people of Nelson.”

MarchFest Co-organisor Mic Dover says he is rapt the band is still coming to perform and hopes to raise funds on the day for the Red Cross earthquake appeal.

“It’s great The Eastern is still coming to play at MarchFest despite their home town being in ruins,” says Dover.

“We also lost 1000 of the souvenir beer glasses in the earthquake but the Nelson branch of Southern Hospitality has been brilliant at sourcing an alternative and PBT have waived freight fees to get new glasses here in time for March 26,” he says. “Everyone is pulling together – and I know the Marchfest audience will be roaring their support when The Eastern hit the stage!”

MarchFest tickets are on sale now and are available from Everyman Records, Nelson ($2 booking fee) and from NBS (Nelson Building Society) for no booking fee. Tickets are $32 and under-18s are free (accompanied by parent/guardian).

MarchFest has received sponsorship funding for this year’s event from the Nelson Events Marketing & Development Programme, which is funded by the Nelson City Council. The Programme’s objective is to stimulate Nelson City’s economy in the shoulder and off seasons by bringing new spending through visitors coming to Nelson for distinct events.

Background Information:

The Eastern: Rousing big bad string band from Christchurch. They bring backpacks full of road songs, battered acoustics and no name electrics, banjo and glockenspiel, mandolin, harmonica, foot stomps and old time singing, straight from the gut, the fist and the heart. For more information please go to http://www.myspace.com/theeasternfamily

For more information about MarchFest please go to www.marchfest.com

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