Founders Theatre set to burn with AHI KAA – HOME FIRES!
On Saturday 11th July as the country hunkers down for another cold mid-winters night, the temperature at Founders Theatre in Hamilton will be burning red hot as the ‘Ahi Kaa – Home Fires’ concert makes a welcome return to the city.
“Featuring a stellar line up of award winning performing artists including: The Modern Māori Quartet, Ardijah, Te Pou o Mangatāwhiri and Three Houses Down and supported by guest appearances from top local talent, the Ahi Kaa – Home Fires concert should be the hottest place in town” says event promoter, Craig Muntz of Hamilton based company, Aotearoa Experience Ltd.
The Ahi Kaa – Home Fires concert kicks off with Te Pou o Mangatāwhiri, a traditional Māori performing arts group that was first established by Princess Te Puea in the early 1920’s. “Te Pou o Mangatāwhiri are today one of the top kapa haka groups in the country and have been finalists at the last two biennial Te Matatini National Kapa Haka Festivals”, said Craig Muntz. “They are well known for incorporating traditional weaponry and innovative choreography into their high energy kapa haka performances. They are also well known for their collaboration with award winning artists such as Tiki Taane”.
Also appearing in the concert is The Modern Māori Quartet. “The Maori show band is an iconic part of our national musical heritage and the Modern Māori Quartet is leading the way in reviving this genre” said Lee Ann. “They are highly regarded for their musical talent, humour, stage presence and for their contemporary twist on the Māori Show band tradition. So an opportunity to spend an evening with the Modern Māori Quartet is not to be missed”.
Ardijah, who have a strong fan base in Hamilton, also feature in the Ahi Kaa – Home Fires 2015 concert line up. Growing up in South Auckland, the melting pot of Pacific peoples, exposed Ardijah band founder Ryan Monga (a.k.a Cpt Fonk) to a rich blend of both traditional Cook Island/Tahitian music and the sounds of international funk and reggae bands. Fusing, vocalist Betty-Anne’s love of jazz and blues, gives Ardijah their unique sound - that sublime blend of sweet melodies and deep grooves they call Poly Fonk! “There will probably be members in the audience who will struggle to remain seated during Ardijah’s performance so we’ve created a dance area in front of the stage at Founders Theatre”, Lee Ann said.
Rounding off the concert line up is Three Houses Down who just last week won the ‘Peoples Choice Award’ at the 2015 Pacific Music Awards. Three Houses Down have been performing throughout New Zealand and internationally with sounds that pay homage to the group’s Polynesian roots and their love of reggae. They are known for their powerful live performances and exceptionally tight musicianship. “Three Houses Down actually performed at our last Ahi Kaa – Home Fires concert in 2013 and their live performance was so awesome that we just had to invite them back again” Craig Muntz said.
Aotearoa Experience Ltd is proud to be able to produce this event in collaboration with the Community Development Trust and in support of the Matariki ki Waikato Festival, said Craig. “The last Ahi Kaa – Home Fires concert that we held at the Hamilton Gardens in 2013 was sold out and with seating being much more limited at Founders Theatre this time around we strongly recommend that people book their tickets now to avoid missing out. The best way to secure tickets to the show is to book online through www.ticketek.co.nz said Craig. With a burning line up and even hotter ticket prices, Ahi Kaa – Home Fires 2015 should indeed be the hottest show in town!
