Che Fu to headline at Mean Matariki Mean

One of New Zealand’s leading hip hop/R & B and reggae artists, Che Fu, is set to headline at the Mean Matariki Mean concert at the Corban Estate Arts Centre in Henderson on Queens Birthday Weekend.

Mean Matariki Mean is a family event that’s been organized especially for primary and secondary-aged children to celebrate Matariki, the Maori new year.

Organisers for the event say Che was chosen because of his ability to capture and move audiences of all ages.

“Matariki is a time of new beginnings and we hope that this show – a mix of successful and up and coming performers might encourage budding artists in the audience to pursue their dreams,” says Martin Sutcliffe, the director of CEAC.

At the young age of four, Che Fu was inspired to become a musician when he stood stage left at the legendary Bob Marley concert in Auckland in 1979.

He went on to become one of the founding members of the iconic kiwi band, Supergroove, while he was at Western Springs High School. The band did a world tour and their debut album, Traction, went triple platinum in the mid 1990s.

To date Che has had more top-ten singles in the New Zealand charts than any other artist.

Che will be joined by a host of other acts at the Mean Matariki Mean concert 5 June between 1-4pm. They include kapa haka, DJ Poroufessor, 2011 NZ Junior Hip Hop Champs, Lil Saints and comedian Mike King’s daughter, Alex King. Alex King won three bronze medals at the World Performing Arts Championships in the States last year.


MEAN MATARIKI MEAN
With Che Fu, Lil Saints, Alex King, kappa haka, and more.
Sunday 5th June (Queens Birthday Weekend)
1pm to 4pm
At the Corban Estate Arts Centre, Henderson
PH 8384455 more informatin on our website

Toi Whenua presents Te Taumata O Matariki Exhibition Series 2010 featuring Tracey Tawhiao

Te Taumata is conceptualized in the English language as a mark of excellence and is the threshold at which a level of quality and distinction can be identified. Within the context of this exhibition series, Te Taumata is a level by which we regard those artists who, throughout their art career, have consistently striven to offer outstanding work, and who are esteemed in profile and career achievement. With this series of exhibitions we honor their contribution to contemporary Maori art at a time of Matariki, in celebrating the arrival of the Maori New Year, it is also fitting that we celebrate such artistic achievement.

The artists exhibiting in 2010 are: Fred Graham and Brett Graham at the Nathan Homestead Gallery Manurewa; Lonnie Hutchinson at Artstation in Auckland City; Tracey Tawhiao at the Corban Estate Arts Centre in Henderson; and Arnold Wilson at NorthArt Gallery in Northcote.

This inaugural series will take place over the next three years and promises to develop further over this duration.

Nigel Borell
Curator

Tracey Tawhiao exhibition shows at CEAC until the 11th July
10am – 4:30pm daily entry is FREE

Matariki Music Night - He Po Whakanui

A supportive crowd ventured out on a wintery Friday night to celebrate Matariki and honor the great Music Composer Dr Hirini Melbourne. The concert is part of a project to make a CD of Hirini’s music, led by his niece, Peata Melbourne and Ngatapa Black. Peata and Ngatapa are also making a documentary about the process of bringing together a range of musicians to interpret Hirini’s music for today’s generation.

An atmosphere was set in the warehouse area known as the Projectspace, transformed with splashes of colour reflected off the white walls and flickering orange fire lights. The lineup of talent was exceptional with outstanding musicians Anna Coddington, Tama Waipara, Awanui Reeder (Nesian Mystic), Maitreya, Ria Hall, Katera Maihi, Majic Paora and Mel Davis. It was a unique experience with each of the artists performed a waiata composed by Hirini and a couple of their own compositions. Horomona Horo’s haunting koauau accompanied many of the compositions. Even Jason from Op Shop was there as part of Maitreya’s group The Babysitters’ Club’. Peata Melbourne was our delightful, elegant and sometimes cheeky MC.

Thank you to all those who got behind making this such a memorable occasion:- Ngatapa, Aroha, Peata, Kelly, Mei and Mikki-tae.

Martin

Photographs by Max-

Projectspace stage

Horomona Horo

Peata Melbourne with Majic Paora

Awanui Reeder with David Atai

Awanui Reeder with Peata Melbourne

Mel Davis

Mel Davis with Anthony Pirihi

Supper break

The Waitamata Maori Wardens

Katera Maihi

Anna Coddington

Tama Waipara with Anna Coddington

Jaime Greenslade (aka) Maitreya, Jason Kerrison, and Selwyn Leaf

Jaime Greenslade (aka) Maitreya and Selwyn Leaf

Puawai Cairns

Ria Hall

Puawai Cairns and Rangi Rangitukunoa

Tama Waipara

Tama Waipara with Horo Horomona