|
|
|
|
|
ARDIJAH’S POLY FONK SOUNDS AT PASIFIKA FESTIVAL 2005 |
|
Courtesy of Creative New Zealand |
|
| |
Pacific groove merchants
Ardijah will perform a mix of old and new, including tracks from their
new album, at the Pasifika Festival 2005.
Lead singer Betty-Anne says it will be Ardijah’s first performance at
Pasifika. “We’re really excited about playing at the festival. We go
there with our children just about every year and it’s a great day
out.”
The band will have just returned from a tour of Australia, where
they’ll be releasing their new album, Journey. This will be followed by
performances at Te Matatini National Festival in Palmerston North and
at the Auckland festival, AK05.
At each event, they’ll be promoting Journey, which was released in New
Zealand in October under new independent label Poly Fonk Productions.
The band’s fourth album, it’s the second they’ve released themselves.
“We wanted to own it ourselves and try to get a release overseas,”
Betty-Anne says. “It’s also given us more artistic freedom to do what
we truly feel good about.”
Betty-Anne and Ryan Monga formed Ardijah in the mid 1980s and released
their debut album, Take A Chance, in 1988. Betty-Anne (Ngā Puhi, Ngai
Te Rangi, Tuwharetoa) describes the six-piece band as “a melting pot of
Pacific cultures”.
Ryan is of Māori (Ngāti Whatua), Cook Islands and Tahitian heritage. He
performs, writes and produces Ardijah’s music. Other members are Tony T
(Niuean), Ricco Tali (Tongan/Cook Islands), Phil Crown (Māori – Tainui,
English) and Kaitapu Monga (Māori, Cook Islands, Tahitian).
Since Ardijah was formed, it’s evolved and shared its distinctive
sounds with both New Zealand and international audiences. Last year, it
toured to South Africa for the first time and played at the five-day
Jazzathon Festival in Cape Town, with Te Waka Toi support.
“We go where the music takes us, making the most of opportunities to
share our music and build relationships,” Betty-Anne says. “It can be
an exciting life but the reality is that most musicians juggle lots of
little projects to survive and make it all happen.”
Betty-Anne, who took the Best Female Vocalist Award at the 1999 New
Zealand Music Awards, also plays the ukulele, |
|
 |
|
|
ARDIJAH currently promoting Journey, the band’s fourth album
which was released in New Zealand under the label Poly Fonk
Productions.
(Photo: Ardijah) |
 |
|
ARDIJAH, the six-piece band is “a melting pot of Pacific
cultures” with first ever tour to Samoa and Cook Islands last
year. (Photo: Ardijah) |
 |
|
The
unique Poly Fonk sound of ARDIJAH set the Sinalei beachfront
rocking during their Samoa Tour 2004 with Event Polynesia
promotions.
(Photo: Rosa Tomasi-Puni) |
| |
percussion and guitar. “The
uke sounds beautiful although I’m only a one-finger player. But hey, I
love it.”
For more information, visit:
www.ardijah.com
...According to a recent press release, the Air New Zealand Opening
Night concert for Pasifika Festival 2005 is promising a snapshot of
some of the festival’s hottest performers in a show that will surprise,
entertain and showcase the vast array of Pasifika performing arts, from
traditional song and dance to contemporary dance, opera, jazz-funk,
R’n’B, and rock.
Back by popular demand, Ben Makisi will be featuring at the Air New
Zealand Opening Night concert and on Saturday. After performing last
year in the lead role of Ferrando for the New Zealand Opera touring
production of Cosi Fan Tutte, Ben returned to Australia, where his
Christmas engagements included Carols at the Sydney Olympic Village and
a Christmas performance at St. Andrew's Cathedral. This month, Ben
travels to Barcelona to compete in the prestigious Tenor competition
judged by Placido Domingo.
The inaugural Pacific Music Awards will be an impressive awards show
designed to round off a memorable night. Nominations are currently
being collated and finalists will be announced towards the end of
February.
The 2005 Pasifika Festival is the grand finale of the inaugural three
week ‘Celebrate Pasifika’ event which will include exhibitions and
performances in film, theatre, arts and crafts as well as some great
sporting action.
Pasifika Festival is being held at Western Springs on 11 and 12 March.
It starts on Friday with the Air New Zealand Opening Night Concert at
the stadium and continues on Saturday with a full day of performances,
entertainment and festivities at the stadium and adjacent park.
Pasifika Festival is one of more than 60 free events provided by
Auckland City as part of the Ak@Play summer events programme, and is
sponsored by Air New Zealand, SPARC (Sport and Recreation New Zealand),
Radio 531pi, The New Zealand Herald, Department of Labour, Creative New
Zealand, APRA, and the New Zealand Music Industry Commission (NZMIC).
|
|
| |
Copyright Event Polynesia Ltd.
|
|
|
|
|
