Proceeds from the Friday 4 March Ihimaera concert, featuring King Kapisi, Warren Maxwell, SJD, Lupin (Victoria Girling-Butcher), LA Mitchell, Unitone Hi Fi, Ruia Aperahama, Horomona Horo, Ariana Tikao, The Twinks (Milan Borich and Tim Arnold ex-PLUTO), Teremoana Rapley, Charlotte Yates and Kirk Torrance, will be donated to the NZ Red Cross 2011 Earthquake Appeal.

When 12 of New Zealand’s top recording acts take to the Genesis Energy Stage in Manukau this Friday, they want to look out into a full auditorium. This performance of Ihimaera, one of the opening acts of Auckland Arts Festival 2011, is being turned into a fundraiser for the people of Christchurch.

With the support of writer Witi Ihimaera, producer Charlotte Yates, and the venue management and ticketing agency involved in the concert, a long-standing part of the Festival’s programme, Festival organizers are donating 100% of the box office for the March 4 concert.

Audiences coming to other events at the Festival, which opens on Wednesday, will have plenty of other opportunities to donate to Christchurch, in the Festival Garden in Aotea Square, and at the other two performances of Ihimaera, which are not run as benefits.

“Auckland Arts Festival’s links to Christchurch are very strong, both through the arts community, and on a personal and individual level,” says Chief Executive David Inns.

“Like all New Zealanders, we have been shocked by the terrible events taking place in Christchurch, and like others, since last Tuesday, have been looking for ways to help.”

Tickets for the fundraiser performance will be sold for $27.50* ($10 with a valid Student IDand organizers say they hope the special price for a concert which previously had a top ticket price of $57.50, will ensure everyone has the opportunity to get involved. (*Booking fees may apply.)

The original inspiration behind the concert, writer Witi Ihimaera, says:

"The concert will be our way of saying we love you, we want to support you, and we are all one iwi.

"What an honour to be able to help in this way, with a concert dedicated to all our family, friends and those from overseas who are grieving over this terrible tragedy. Our way will be to sing for them, and I hope that they will be able to hear us down there because we'll be singing our hearts out."

“The Ihimaera concert is itself a celebration of New Zealand storytelling, history and creativity, performed by artists from around the country,” says Auckland Arts Festival Artistic Director David Malacari.

“This fundraiser performance is a practical way of helping Christchurch but also an opportunity for Kiwis to get together and share their sorrow for what has happened to Canterbury, and express their solidarity through music.”

“Since last Tuesday, we have received messages of support and concern from artists who are on their way to Auckland for the Festival, and expect many of the international acts will want to be involved in fundraising during their time in New Zealand."

One of the headline New Zealand productions in Auckland Arts Festival 2011, Ihimaera is a stellar concert of 12 songs with lyrics by Witi Ihimaera and music by a who’s who of Kiwi artists. Kirk Torrance (Outrageous Fortune) provides a linking narrative between the songs. Ihimaera is an Auckland Arts Festival commission, produced by Charlotte Yates with support from Auckland Airport, Creative New Zealand, ASB Community Trust, and Te Puni Kokiri. The Ihimaera CD is available now on the Universal label.

Tickets to the March 4 benefit are on sale through Ticket Direct (Phone 0800 224 224 www.ticketdirect.co.nz) and at the box office of the Genesis Energy Theatre, TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre.

Auckland Arts Festival Ihimaera Fundraiser for Christchurch

Friday 4 March at 8pm
Genesis Energy Theatre
TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre
770 Great South Road
Manukau

Tickets cost $27.50 full price, $10.00 student price (valid Student ID required)

Key Points:

All proceeds (100%) from ticket sales for the March 4 Ihimaera concert will be donated to the NZ Red Cross 2011 Earthquake Appeal.

Only GST and applicable ticketing charges will be deducted from the ticket price.

Special ticket prices of $27.50* full and $10.00* student apply only to the benefit concert on March 4. (*Booking fees may apply.)

$10 from each Ihimaera CD sold on the night will go to the Appeal. CD’s cost $25 each.

The other two performances of Ihimaera on March 3 (Great Hall, Auckland Town Hall) and March 5 (Genesis Energy Theatre, TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre) are not benefit concerts and the usual ticket prices apply.

Related Link: Interview with producer Charlotte Yates