CAFE DIRECTORY
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WINTER FESTIVAL
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The American Express Queenstown Winter Festival line up includes some major musical acts for 2008 and topping the bill and topping the charts is Kiwi sensation Evermore.
JAZZING IT UP
Evermore will be supported by other leading New Zealand acts The Checks and Opshop, both names that have made their mark at home and overseas. Opshop will open the Big Night Out and fans will be able to enjoy their singles such as ‘Maybe’ that has helped make a household name. Radio-friendly and still cutting-edge, the band’s current line-up ensures a dynamic and explosive kick off to the night. The Checks have never needed any introduction. Their music speaks for itself, as it did when REM booked them as support on a first hearing from a magazine giveaway CD. From there the only way has been up for the former Takapuna Grammar friends. Festival director Sally Feinerman says the bands will make the Big Night Out the biggest on record for Winter Festival. This is the first time the band has played at the festival and they will be the headlining act during the annual Big Night Out at Queenstown Events Centre on July 5. The alternative indie/rock band originally from Fielding has enjoyed enormous success in NZ and across the Tasman and was recently nominated for five awards at the NZ Music Awards, one award at Australia’s ARIA Awards plus the Vodafone People’s Choice Award. The trio of brothers now has bases in both Seattle and Sydney and is working alongside Foo Fighters producer Barret Jones.
Sally Feinerman
“We’re expecting these tickets to be in very high demand as we’re just not on the circuit when bands of this magnitude put their tours together. Securing any one of them would be a major coup for Festival but having a trio like this on the same bill, it’s a must-see.”
Hollie Smith
One of the most popular events on the American Express Winter Festival calendar is the Jazz Night where locals and visitors come out in huge numbers to enjoy a dynamic mix of the hottest names in this musical genre. This year is proving to be no exception with award-winning singer and songwriter Hollie Smith performing as the featured artiste at Skyline Gondola and Restaurant. The former Auckland College student has been making headlines around the world since signing with the prestigious American label Manhattan Records in May of last year. She topped off 2007 by winning Best Female Solo Artist, Breakthrough Artist and Best Aotearoa- Roots Album at the New Zealand Music Awards. The versatility of Skyline Restaurant’s mountaintop complex at the top of the gondola, means nobody need miss any of the sets, and with a line-up that includes the sparkling reggae of Katchafire, the funk-fuelled grooves of Tahuna Breaks, pop-jazz fusion from the inspired Anna Whitaker and the Company Band, and smooth stylings from Locean, it promises to be a great night out for music and jazz lovers alike.
NEW FACE OF FESTIVAL The American Express Queenstown Winter Festival is this year being led by new festival director, Sally Feinerman who is no stranger to the organisation. Sally has worked on the internationallyrenowned festival for four years, the last as festival manager and this year has enjoyed developing new ideas and options for one of the resort’s busiest week of the year. “We have really worked hard this year to come up with some fresh new angles that will add sparkle and fun to our already jam packed week of festival. There are some
big entertainment acts coming to town that we know people are going to love.” Destination Queenstown CEO David Kennedy supports the changes and says Sally has years of experience and knowledge that is an asset to festival.
The American Express Queenstown Winter Festival is a major internationally recognised event on Queenstown’s event calendar and each year attracts national and international headlines that promote the resort as an exciting winter resort destination.
“The festival is a complex event which requires a high level of understanding of opportunities and challenges and it’s great to have Sally in the leadership role, given her early involvement, as its important for continuity and future ongoing success.”
Sally has been joined this year by Corrina Horrell as festival manager with an extended team of volunteer support that will ramp up as the 34th annual festival gets underway from Friday June 27 to Sunday July 6 2008.