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Local boy comes home with legendary band DRAGON to headline “it!” Bay of Islands Festival.
This Labour weekend will see the inaugural it! Bay of Islands festival launched in Paihia. The festival will kick-start the Bay’s summer, celebrating some of the finest Northland and New Zealand wineries, tasty regional fare, a range of Monteiths beer, and world-class entertainment. The main party will be on Saturday, (the 23rd), which sees the music programme culminating with the iconic kiwi band, Dragon. For the band’s singer, Mark Williams, the gig will be a return to his Northland roots.
Williams grew up in Dargaville and has been playing in bands from a young age. Since leaving the North to pursue his rock and roll dream, he has had diverse experiences in the music industry including gold solo albums and singles, work in cabaret theatre and more recently as singing coach on Australian television shows where he coached pop girl-group Bardot. But it’s his current role fronting the band with hits that are part of the collective kiwi memory such as “April sun in Cuba”, and “Are you old enough”, which will bring joy to those in the crowd at the it! festival. With ticket sales limited to 1500 for the Saturday’s events, the open-air, Paihia Village Green performance will be a rare, more intimate one than the usual numbers Dragon play to.
The festival’s entertainment will be non-stop, with other exceptionally talented local acts The Furious 3 and Kokomo rocking the main stage in support of Dragon, as well as scallop-shucking and kina-sucking competitions, there is the Pai-hia pie-eating contest, , and food and drink stalls showcasing all sorts of deliciousness for tasting. Paihia will no doubt charm visitors with its relaxed and friendly beachy vibe, while at the same time impressing with the high calibre of eclectic Northland talent on display.
With the days starting to lengthen and get warmer, a long weekend’s worth of food, drink and entertainment seems the perfect reason to head to Paihia to relax and enjoy it!
Ticket outlets are Anne of Craicor in Kerikeri, Paihia i-SITE, or for further information or to book online go to www.paihianz.co.nz
