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With post-Covid concerts, classes and live music back on the agenda, local entertainment venues are relieved to be back in business again and free of restrictions.
Warkworth Town Hall coordinator Alex Hayward says she has had dozens of enquiries and bookings since Level 1 came in last week.
“It’s so exciting, I’ve literally been inundated with people wanting weddings, birthday parties, everything,” she says. “It’s fantastic. Everybody wants to get back to the new normal. I’m feeling very optimistic.”
Alex is hoping to get some clothing and toy swap events organised by the end of this month and later this year a dress-up movie night is planned, with Australian comedy-drama The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert being screened. Upcoming live acts include Warkworth Music concerts, the Kowhai Singers, Warkworth Theatre Group and Whitechapel Jak, plus regular fitness and music classes, and private functions.
Leigh Sawmill Café’s general manager Susan Kaiser says she is looking forward to getting bands and music lovers back without the need for social distancing or contact tracing.
“We can’t wait to have live music here again,” she says. “We’ve been getting enquiries for over a month, so it’s good to definitely get some bookings now.”
The Sawmill’s live music drought will be broken on Friday, July 3 with an open mic night, then upcoming highlights include Love Square, the latest venture from Sawmill favourites Finn Scholes and Nick Atkinson, together with drummer Karen Hu and DJ Tina Turntables, on July 12, and the ever-popular Whitechapel Jak opening their NZ tour with a two-night run in mid-August.
Meanwhile, Whangateau Folk Club will resume in August. The hall is currently closed for painting and the installation of a new fence, but will be open for bookings for events from mid-July onwards.
Info: Warkworth Town Hall on Facebook or at warkworthtownhall.nz; Leigh Sawmill Café on Facebook or at sawmillcafe.co.nz; Whangateau Hall on Facebook or at whangateau.co.nz
