Sign In / Register
If a laid-back summer’s afternoon of great music, good food and local wine sounds appealing, Kawau Island is the place to be on Saturday, February 17 for the fifth annual Music in the Gardens fundraiser.
Three acts will take to the stage in the grounds of Mansion House – young singer-songwriter and pianist Arjuna Oakes, popular covers band The Renegades, and Jess and the Hindinburgs, featuring four of New Zealand’s top jazz performers. Event coordinator Lin Pardey says the artists are real crowd pleasers and will play a mix of jazz, blues and classic favourites perfect for a summer’s afternoon.
“We always try to have an emerging act, so this year we’ve got Arjuna Oakes,” Lin says. “He’s just 18, but has the voice of a real old soul. We also have Jess Hindinburg, the top jazz violinist in NZ and she is playing with guitarist Mark Mazengarb, who plays internationally and is usually the opening act for Tommy Emmanuel.”
Lin says Jess and Mark have played together many times and for Music in the Gardens they will be joined by two good friends, singer and blues harmonica player Nina McSweeney and bass player Matt Shanks.
Rounding out the afternoon will be The Renegades, who first played the Kawau concert last January and return in 2018 “by very popular demand”.
As well as the music, there will be local food and wine, beer and cider for purchase, a spot grand prize, plus silent and live auctions, with prizes including luxury Kawau getaways and fishing trips. Proceeds will be split between four island causes – Camp Bentzon, Kawau Volunteer Coastguard, Kawau Boating Club and the Kawau Emergency Response Trust.
Picnics are welcome, but there is strictly no BYO alcohol. Tickets cost $25, which includes a souvenir wine glass, or $10 for 10 to 17 year olds, and under 10s are free. Dedicated ferries for the event will leave Sandspit at 1pm and 2pm, for which bookings are essential.
Info: musicinthegardens.co.nz
