Forsyth Barr Stadium, November 18, 2015
 

[yeah, no! Babies do not get in for free]

Ticketmaster told parents they'd need to pay extra $200 to take baby to Fleetwood Mac concert

5:00 AM Wednesday Nov 11, 2015 New Zealand Herald, by Chris Morris

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainm...ectid=11543219

Fleetwood Mac may have just won their youngest fan. Four-month-old Noah and his parents will be taking in the band's sell-out show next week from the comfort of a corporate box at Forsyth Barr Stadium.

It was a big change from earlier yesterday, when Noah's mother, Katie Cleaver, feared she and her son would have to miss out completely.

Mrs Cleaver and husband Nigel, of Invercargill, had already paid $400 for two tickets to see one of her favourite bands.

But she contacted the Otago Daily Times yesterday morning after being told she would have to pay an extra $200 for a third ticket if she wanted Noah to sit on her lap during the concert.

She had assumed her baby could come in for free, but was told by Ticketmaster everyone attending the show - even babies who didn't need a seat - still needed a ticket. "I was like 'wow'. He's 4 months old. He can't even sit. It's just absurd that a 4-month-old baby should have to pay $200 for a ticket to a concert they don't benefit from," she said.

Mrs Cleaver said Noah would not bother anyone, and wouldn't watch the show, but she wanted to be able to breastfeed him.

It was increasingly common for parents to take babies and young children to concerts and major sporting events, using earmuffs to protect their hearing, she said.

Air New Zealand and other carriers also allowed children under 2 to fly for free, while sitting on their parents' laps, she said. She had done both with older son Finn, 5, in the past, including attending a Taylor Swift concert at Auckland's Vector Arena, and she said the approach in Dunedin seemed "archaic".

"A baby really is an extension of the mother at this age." She said it was really important society didn't impinge on the rights of a baby and a mother to breastfeed.

Dunedin Venues Management chief executive Terry Davies declined to comment, while the firm's marketing and communications manager, Kim Barnes, would say only that the policy was set by the band's promoter, Live Nation.

"It's their show. We abide by their conditions," she said.

Live Nation relented yesterday and offered both parents, and Noah, a spot in a corporate box.

The company's "blanket policy" was everyone should have a ticket, and parents were "generally" discouraged from bringing infants to noisy concerts, said Live Nation vice-president of promotions Luke Hede.

But if the couple still wanted to attend, and had appropriate hearing protection for their baby, they would be welcome, he said.

"We would actually be happy to welcome them into a heated corporate area behind glass if they think they'd be more comfortable there."

Mrs Cleaver said the company's response was "so awesome".

"I'm really stoked. Fleetwood Mac is one of my all-time favourite bands and I really didn't want to miss out."

This mother is an idiot. Why are they bringing a baby to a LOUD concert?

I also don't buy the breastfeeding argument. A babysitter could easily feed the child at home with the mother's milk.

Finally, Fleetwood Mac is not an airline.

Yes, it's stupid. And it's not good for the baby at all, even if he's wearing earmuffs. I guess being in a box suite is ok, but no way do they need to bring any kid under the age of 4 to the concert floor. If you want to do that, you should have to pay $500 for the baby's ticket. Such nonsense.

Michele

Yep.

I had the same reaction on the weekend when people brought their poor dogs to an outdoor street fest and stood right by the stage :mad: with the dogs in front of huge speakers. I mean, it's not like dogs have even more sensitive ears than we do. Dumbf&cks.

There's so much pot smoke, too!! That's just stupidity.

yes, babies need to be confined to the house and never go out in a big scary world. :p :p

what's with you all?!?!?! so judgmental!

I think its ridiculous anyone would want to bring a baby to a concert. That said, I think people have the right if they feel it would be safe and it certainly seems stupid to charge them full ticket price.

I'm quite annoyed this family are likely to have bagged themselves better seats in a corporate area.

Somehow I'm guessing if the kid started crying/screaming in the middle of the concert, the other people who paid hundreds of dollars would be bothered.

oh those poor people
having to watch from a corporate box ... :cool:
STFU and leave your vile children at home
a concert is not a place for babies

they prob just whinged and whined to get an upgrade

Take that kid to the fair if you want to expose him to music. You can bring your baby to the concert if you want, but pay $500. Don't screech about having to pay $200 for doing something only an idiot would do. This kid was an INFANT. He's not even CRAWLING yet.

Michele

you all would HATE me when my kids were babies, i was taking them everywhere.

I thought that was you in the gay bar... DC right? :]

New Zealand Herald

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainm...ectid=11545490

Kerre McIvor: Playing the righteous trump card of the breastfeeding mother

5:00 AM Sunday Nov 15, 2015

As part of my year of turning 50, I fulfilled my dream of seeing Fleetwood Mac live.

I had wanted to see them with my daughter ever since I introduced her to their brilliance and filled her in on the mad backstory of the making of the Rumours album.

She is living in London and I'm in New Zealand so we met halfway in Las Vegas, where Fleetwood Mac were playing the final show of their American tour.

Fans who are heading to the Auckland and Dunedin concerts are in for a real treat if the Vegas show was anything to go by.

Nearly three hours of their classic hits and fabulous renditions of Never Going Back Again, from Lindsay Buckingham, and Christine McVie's show closer, Songbird.

At times, there was utter silence in the MGM Grand arena - nearly 17,000 people holding their collective breath as Fleetwood Mac worked their magic.

It was worth every cent and life these days is more about amazing experiences than acquiring stuff.

But if I'd found myself sitting next to a woman holding a baby on her lap at the concert, I would have seriously questioned the value of my ticket.

Katie Cleaver and her husband were planning to see Fleetwood Mac in Dunedin. They forked out $400 for tickets and were horrified when told that if they wanted to bring along 4-month old Noah, they'd have to pay $200 for him.

Katie was outraged. She said it was absurd that a 4-month-old baby should have to pay for a ticket to a concert he didn't benefit from and that it was becoming increasingly common for parents to take babies and young children to concerts and sporting events, using earmuffs to protect their hearing.

The attitude in Dunedin seemed archaic, she said, and stressed it was important society didn't impinge on the rights of a baby and mother to breastfeed.

Oh, please. Nothing like playing the righteous trump card of the breastfeeding mother.

Initially, the concert promoters held firm. They charged babies the full ticket price in a bid to prevent parents from bringing babies to concerts. They believe concerts are no places for babies and I wholeheartedly agree.

Katie was adamant Noah would be no trouble. She just wanted him there so she could breastfeed him.

All very admirable but how on Earth does she know he's not going to bother anyone? Babies can and do cry for no reason at all. That's their prerogative. Being a baby is the perfect excuse for throwing a grade A tantrum.

I love babies. I love being around babies - most of the time. And Noah looks like a little cutie.

But if a baby had opened its lungs and wailed during some of the beautiful acoustic ballads we heard during the concert, it would have ruined the experience.

Cleaver's right to breastfeed her baby wasn't being violated by concert promoters suggesting she leave her baby at home.

Her boobs weren't going to shrivel and dry up if she left her baby at home for an evening.

Every breastfeeding mother knows you can express milk and the baby can have it from a bottle. It is arrogant in the extreme to assume your baby should be welcome wherever you go.

But after all the hoo-ha and publicity, the promoters relented and offered the Cleavers, including baby Noah, a spot in their corporate box.

The company's policy was everyone should have a ticket and parents were generally discouraged from bringing infants to noisy concerts, said Live Nation vice-president of promotions Luke Hede.

But if the couple still wanted to attend, and had appropriate hearing protection for their baby, they would be welcome, he said.

"We would actually be happy to welcome them into a heated corporate area behind glass if they think they would be more comfortable there."

Fabulous for the Cleavers. Not so fabulous for the other suckers in the corporate box.

Noah will probably be a perfect angel and sleep his way through the entire concert. Then again, he might not.

And his parents have learned that, just like a baby, if you throw a big enough tantrum, in this day and age, you'll generally get your way.

Kerre McIvor is on Newstalk ZB, Monday-Thursday, 8pm-midnight

Good grief. Keep the babies home with the nanny or babysitter.I see its a safety issue bringing infants to concerts.he/she got to go to the bathroom on the mother,Crying through out the show and ruin it for the neighbors .Loud music,noise ,drunks,cigarette and pot smoke and just aholes in general in the crowd.

If the fan can afford the inflated tix prices for the concert.I know they can afford a freaking babysitter or nanny for one night.

Anyway .For those of you that are going tonight.Enjoy the show.

I'm not a fan of babies at concerts- hate it in fact.

But come on;

'he/she got to go to the bathroom on the mother'. Babies don't tend to do poopoo or peepee on their mother- they wear a nappy (diaper).

'Crying through out the show'. 90% of the time babies tend to sleep. If they are awake I dont think many people are going to hear a baby. FM concerts in particular are loud.

'Loud music,noise'. They wear ear muffs.

'drunks,cigarette and pot smoke and just aholes in general in the crowd'. I dont know what they are like around the world. Certainly here in the UK Fleetwood Mac crowds are full of really lovely people. Though the age range is varied, they tend to be at the upper end of the age spectrum. Certainly not a load of riff raff. Anyway, I dont think a baby is personally going to meet many of them. Not sure what its like in Australia but its difficult to get away with smoking at an indoor concert in the UK these days.

My major concern was the bass that hits you at a FM concert. That said, babies feel vibration in the womb- they'd probably be largely non-plussed. Indeed, it could be positively stimulating for them.

Hahahahaha.Just playing around. Sorry Fuzzy .You have good points there.

The bass was low at the show I was at.Thats nice to hear that the UK crowd is great at the shows.


On the otherhand we should be hearing from down under with the results of tonight's"last nights" show .

Fleetwood Mac concert to be biggest at Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium

HAMISH MCNEILLY Stuff Co.nz November 17 2015

http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment...h-barr-stadium

Fleetwood Mac fans are urged to start thinking about tomorrow with Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium about to hold its biggest concert yet.

About 35,000 fans of the band's classic 1975 lineup are expected to attend Wednesday's concert, with "only a handful of tickets left", a spokeswoman said.

All five band members of the classic line-up would perform, with Christine McVie rejoining band mates Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks after a 16-year absence.

The show was expected to be a sell-out, exceeding the 34,500 crowd that attended the Elton John concert in 2011.

Fans were urged to arrive early, with gates opening at 4.30pm, the spokeswoman said.

Accommodation in Dunedin was full, with a limited number of beds available in nearby Mosgiel.

The opening act, Australian duo Angus and Julia Stone, were expected to take the stage at 6.30pm.

While the start time for Fleetwood Mac was not available, the concert was expected to finish about 10.45pm.

It was the band's first concert in New Zealand since a sold out tour in 2009, with the band cancelling a scheduled appearance in 2013.

The band would also play at Auckland's Mt Smart Stadium on November 21 and 22.

It'll soon be here

By John Lewis on Wed, 18 Nov 2015 Otago Daily Times

http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/36...l-soon-be-here

Dunedin is ''bulging at the seams'', with many out-of-towners among the about 35,000 people heading to the Fleetwood Mac concert at Forsyth Barr Stadium tonight.
Yesterday, the stadium was undergoing its transformation into the concert venue.

Dunedin Venues Management Ltd chief executive officer Terry Davies said the crowd would be the stadium's largest.

So it should come as no surprise the city's accommodation providers were at capacity this week, Otago Motel Association president Gavin Turner said.

''For the last month or two, whenever there's been a cancellation for accommodation in Dunedin this week, it's been filled within 10 or 20 minutes.

''The town is packed for the next three nights. If there's rooms left, they are at halls of residence at the university.

''We're bulging at the seams.''

Fans expressed excitement online yesterday as they geared up for the concert.

''This is going to be pure gold. The Rumours-line-up Fleetwood Mac is simply the best,'' Paul Le Comte, of Dunedin, said.

Another fan said she had seen Stevie Nicks in concert before, but never thought she would see Fleetwood Mac together after the band split up.

''So one very happy middle-aged hippy chick here.''

Kristy Cayford said Fleetwood Mac was her ''all-time favourite band''.

''I listen to their music all the time - the best music you can chill out to.

''It's going to be the best night of our lives. Can't wait.''

Mr Davies said it would be practically a full house at the stadium tonight.

''The speed at which this concert sold out in the first ticket release was phenomenal, and there are only a small number of tickets remaining.

''It is our first show with global concert promoter Live Nation, and with their association with significant international artists we hope to attract more big performers to the city.''

Because the audience was so large, Mr Davies advised patrons to arrive early so they did not miss any of the entertainment.

The gates open at 4.30pm and the opening act, Australian brother and sister duo Angus and Julia Stone, get the evening under way at 6.30pm.

He said access to the stadium via the new walkway from Fryatt St would open up parking areas not traditionally used for past events.

He reminded fans that the closer they parked to the stadium, the longer it would take to leave the area.

The concert is expected to finish about 10.45pm.

Fleetwood Mac proves a crowd-pleaser

Wed, 18 Nov 2015 Otago Daily Times

http://www.odt.co.nz/news/story/dune...m-stadium-show

Two hours after taking the stage at Forsyth Barr Stadium, Fleetwood Mac shows no sign of flagging on a cold Dunedin night.

The band's most revered lineup was greeted by a roar from the crowd of about 35,000 when it strode beneath the lights.

Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, Lindsey Buckingham, Stevie Nicks and Christine McVie - those responsible for groundbreaking 1977 album Rumours - opened with The Chain.

The receptive crowd has been treated to songs including Sara, Little Lies, Think About Me and You Can Take Your Own Way.

Earlier, Support act Angus and Julia Stone arrive on stage about 6.30pm, as Forsyth Barr Stadium steadily fills.

Those who had shuffled along Dunedin's streets on a cold night were warmed by the Australian brother and sister duo's upbeat folk-pop, which included recent singles Heart Beats Slow and A Heartbreak.

One of those heading to the concert this evening was Alison Knowler, of Invercargill.

She said the concert had been "a long time coming'' and she was "chuffed'' they were playing in Dunedin.

She had been a fan of the band since 1978 when they released the album Rumours.

Her friend Donna Bowman, also of Invercargill, had been to other concerts at the stadium and thought it was "amazing'' to have such a good venue serving the bottom of the South Island.

Other fans had come from as far afield as Palmerston North and Auckland.

The concert is expected to finish about 10.45pm.

Otago Daily Times By Shane Gilchrist on Thu, 19 Nov 2015

http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/36...armonic-thrall

Fleetwood Mac review: Multitudes held in harmonic thrall

Relationship issues, personal turmoil . . . and that's just some of the audience.

No, but seriously.

Last night, at Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium, Fleetwood Mac added further resonance to songs that long ago escaped the confines of urban cool and found a home amid millions of suburban lounges.

Having honed the template for soft-rock singalongs and a radio-friendly slickness belying the hurt and heartbreak often integral to a tune's genesis, the group reminded all that the distance between stage and stadium seats is best spanned by a combination of honest communication and energy.

That was best personified by guitarist-singer Lindsey Buckingham, who led the band in many respects.

Certainly, he, Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, Stevie Nicks and Christine McVie, all responsible for groundbreaking 1977 album Rumours, lived up to the title of their tour, ''On With The Show'', performing for more than two and a-half hours.

The excellent, slightly unhinged guitar solos of Buckingham and the drumming flurries of the seemingly octopedal Fleetwood notwithstanding, the band's best moments came by way of those famous vocal harmonies, even if their musical machine took a few songs to get warm on a night less about rock chic as rugged-up sensibility.

Nicks' rendition of the laidback Sara was one highlight, as was Rhiannon (even if it began slightly sluggishly) and impeccable versions of mega-hits Little Lies and Go Your Own Way (the latter prompting one youngish man to gain the stage only to be promptly removed) and a Nicks-Buckingham duet, Landslide, which they dedicated to the late Jonah Lomu and the All Blacks.

The title of Don't Stop (Thinking About Tomorrow) and its words (''yesterday's gone, yesterday's gone . . .'') might suggest it's better to look forward than back.

Thus, let's not salute this band's staying power, but rather the power these musicians hold when they inhabit the moment.

Among the echoes of a set-list to die for?

About 35,000 voices roaring as one.

Stuff Co.nz by Bryce Edwards 11/18/15

http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment...ll-these-years

Should aging rockers retire? Grace Slick has today suggested that Fleetwood Mac should give it up.

But last night's concert in Dunedin showed that age is no barrier to filling a large stadium with a phenomenal performance of perfect pop.

The classic line-up of band members from the Rumours album era may have an average age getting close to 70, but they clearly know how to put on a show.

It was all their greatest hits, delivered with energy and grace. And it worked well in a stadium. The crowd sung along to favourites such as Don't Stop, Go Your Own Way, and Sara. It was a nostalgic stomp-along for the 35,000 packed into the covered venue.

Many had travelled from all around the South Island, creating traffic jams as far north as Timaru. The crowd was mostly towards the older age group of 50-plus, but there were plenty in their twenties dancing along, illustrating that Fleetwood Mac has a cross-generational appeal.

The band was obviously keen to make an emotional connection with the audience, with a lot of between-song speeches and homilies.

Nicks explained the background of songs and tried to inspire success in her fans; Lindsey Buckingham talked about the people behind the music and how their personal lives and relationships were embedded in the songs for all to see and scrutinise. But the most poignant moment was when Stevie Nicks sung her emotional Landslide song, which she dedicated to Jonah Lomu.

Both band and audience were visibly cold due to a polar blast hitting Dunedin. Industrial gas heaters warmed the stage, but the band still had to wear jackets, scarves and gloves.

Nicks joked about having come to this part of the world to find summer – she was dressed heavily, alongside Christine McVie in a puffer jacket.

Buckingham, the lead guitarist, was clearly the bandleader – with plenty of guitar theatrics – especially on his solo performance of Big Love.

In contrast, John McVie played his bass without fanfare. Likewise, drummer Mick Fleetwood was mostly in the background, but had the spotlight put upon him at various times – especially towards the end, when he brought about some crowd participation during his drum solo in World Turning.

Stevie Nicks' famous voice was still magical, and she has retained her somewhat kooky stage persona – characteristically all tambourines, scarves, shawls, lots of hair, and even a top hat for the encore. She excelled during Gold Dust Woman. She may have twirled a bit less than she used to, but was still sprightly.

But perhaps the most outstanding performer of the evening was keyboardist and singer Christine McVie, who led a rousing version of You Make Loving Fun, and later closed the show with the beautiful piano-led Songbird. Other highlights of the 23-song set included a stomping version of Tusk, and the beautiful harmonies of Everywhere and Rhiannon.

Fleetwood Mac is in New Zealand for the final performances in their On With The Show world tour. Auckland concert goers will get the chance to see something special in the weekend – music meant for a stadium, from a band keen to show why they're still one of the biggest in the world, even after nearly half a century.

Fleetwood Mac perform in Auckland on Saturday and Sunday night. Tickets for the Sunday show are still available at ticketbis.com.

Stuff co.nz , November 19 2015

http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment...during-concert

Fleetwood Mac dedicate hit to Jonah Lomu during concert

Fleetwood Mac fans were treated to an emotional show in Dunedin on Wednesday night, as Stevie Nicks dedicated their 1975 hit Landslide to Jonah Lomu.

The band played Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium.

Lomu, who passed away at the age of 40 on Wednesday was in the fans' thoughts during the sell-out show.

The Nicks-Buckingham duet was joined by the crowd as the packed-out stadium sang along with the duo.

TV NZ

https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/ente...omu-in-dunedin

Stevie Nicks sings her tear-jerking ‘Landslide’ ballad for Jonah Lomu in Dunedin

There wasn’t a dry eye in the house when Fleetwood Mac sang for Jonah Lomu last night.
Source: ONE News

[click for short clip]

Otago Daily Times by Timothy Brown

http://www.odt.co.nz/node/363673

Online Edition | Thursday, 19 November 2015 | 21:37:19

Fleetwood Mac flight cancelled

A Kiwi Regional Air flight retained for Fleetwood Mac fans has been cancelled - grounding the 10 passengers destined for the Dunedin concert.

The Dunedin to Queenstown service and its return flight were cancelled due to high winds this morning, Kiwi Regional Air (KRA) chief executive Ewan Wilson said.

• It'll soon be here

Five passengers destined for Queenstown and 10 who were taking the return flight - including some planning to attend tonight's Fleetwood Mac concert - have been offered a shuttle service instead, Mr Wilson said.

KRA cut its Dunedin to Queenstown service to Monday and Friday only shortly after the regional airline's launch because of low demand, but retained today and tomorrow's return service because of the concert.

Mr Wilson said tomorrow's service was still planned to run as normal.

Those who did not wish to take the shuttle service were offered refunds, he said.

Wind speeds of 55 knots were forecast this morning, above KRA's operational parameters of 50 knots, and led to the decision to cancel the flights about 7am.

The decision had nothing to do with low passenger numbers, Mr Wilson said.

"Let me absolutely assure you that passenger numbers played no role in my operational team's decision.

"I can show on multiple occasions where we have run flights with considerably less passengers. The decision today was purely based on safety and the high winds.''

About 35,000 people are expected at tonight's concert at Forsyth Barr Stadium with accommodation packed throughout the area.

KRA's service from Dunedin to Nelson ran as scheduled today.

Newstalk ZB

http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/lifestyl...rn-of-the-mac/

Pip Squeaks: Return of the 'Mac
Author Philippa Ormrod, SectionMusic, Publish Date Thursday, 19 November 2015, 10:16AM

They may be old, but they sure don't act like it.

Fleetwood Mac are the ultimate performers, and last night's show at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin was just what fans were after. After the first four songs - 'The Chain', 'You Make Loving Fun', 'Dreams', and 'Second Hand News' - my friend turned to me and exclaimed: "And there are still so many good songs to come!" That statement perfectly summed up how you felt the whole night as the band charged through hit after hit with a contagious energy.

Having Christine McVie back on board for this tour was acknowledged by Stevie Knicks early on as being a blessing and I definitely agree. When the band last toured here in 2009 they were powerful enough with the four of them, but adding her musical abilities and her amazing collection of songs into the mix gave this concert a whole extra layer. It was fantastic to hear 'Little Lies', 'Everywhere', and 'Say You Love Me' all sung by McVie whose voice is well intact.

The magic of a band like this is that each and every member is such a talented musician. With three of the best songwriters of all time, the variation between songs is refreshing when so many acts today sound same-same. Each writer's tunes are equally loved by the audience and it sounds fresh and exciting going from an impressive Lindsay Buckingham guitar picking track like 'Big Love' straight to a slow Nicks ballad like 'Landslide' which had the whole crowd captivated.

Other highlights for me included 'Gypsy' which had punters dancing up a storm, a lovely rendition of 'Never Going Back Again' and an attention grabbing 'Gold Dust Woman' (during which Nicks donned an appropriately shiny gold jacket).

As with their last show, Lindsay Buckingham really stood out for me. He lead the action on stage, didn't take a single break, sang beautifully, and played guitar solos that sent shivers down your spine. In comparison, although as compelling as ever, Nick's voice is definitely not what it used to be. It's a pity she can no longer hit the higher notes in tracks like 'Rhiannon', but she does make up for it in presence.

As the set came to a close with a singalong during 'Go Your Own Way'. They came back on to rapturous applause and played 'World Turning' featuring an interactive Mick Fleetwood drum solo in his true, hilarious fashion. Then the crowd went wild as they busted out a foot-stomping 'Don't Stop'. I thought it was all over then, but my dream came true as the group played 'Silver Springs'. This song was mesmerising. I was completely enthralled as it grew in momentum and their voices built a wall of sound too good to be true. I could have gone home happy then, but we got one more taste of Fleetwood Mac and it came in a beautiful performance of 'Songbird' which left a tear in my eye. What a way to finish.

My only complaint about last night is that the acoustics at Forsyth Barr are shocking. It was my first concert at this venue so I was interested to check it out but the technical quality I witnessed last night doesn't make me want to travel here for a show again. It's great having a roof on a cold Dunedin night but the echo at the back of the stands was so bad it hurt your ears. Things got better after we ditched our seats and headed into general admission but only marginally. I was glad I'd seen the group before at the Bowl of Brooklands in New Plymouth because it meant I knew they sounded even better than they were coming across last night.

That said, last night was one hell of a show and worth every cent. Fleetwood Mac are easily one of the best live acts of all time and with a set list as good as that - you can't go too wrong. Auckland are in for a treat with their two shows this weekend.

Fans live their dreams

By John Lewis on Thu, 19 Nov 2015 Otago Daily times

http://www.odt.co.nz/video/news/dune...e-their-dreams

Total strangers acting like long-lost friends - that is the power of Fleetwood Mac.

While it was cold outside, warmth radiated within with plenty of hugging, back-slapping, laughing and loads of people yarning like they were neighbours, minus the back fence.

The 35,000 fans, mostly in the 50-plus bracket, grew up with the various hits from Fleetwood Mac albums, so they have a common bond.

That bond appears to have been handed down to younger generations of fans who were also at the concert.


Whether they were baby-boomers, Gen X or Gen Y, most knew the lyrics and they were on their feet belting them out with their musical heroes on stage.

One of them was Courtney Thomas-Small (31), of Dunedin, who described herself as ''the original Gen-Y Fleetwood Mac superfan''.


She said her parents had been life-long fans of Fleetwood Mac and their love was handed down to her and her brother Jordan Small (29).

''The band of my parents became mine. Back now as far as I can remember, I have waited in the wings, followed them in mind and spirit over the past two decades.

''I have listened [from my parents' 1980s vinyl collection] to the genius of their musical arrangement steadfastly, from the beginning of time - aka the time I was born, even in utero, I am told.

''Wherever Fleetwood Mac have toured, I have dreamed of going.''

She said Fleetwood Mac inspired her to learn to sing and play drums.

''Stevie Nicks is my rock singer idol, Mick Fleetwood my drumming hero.

''They formed my faithful backdrop, my musical inspiration, way down in the room my dad foolishly tried to soundproof.''

She went on to study music at the University of Otago.

Also in the crowd was wheelchair-bound Sarah Leckey (41), of Christchurch, who had melanoma lesions removed from her leg and skin grafted on to the wounds on Monday.

She was supposed to be in hospital recovering for five nights, but she did not let that get in the way of

seeing her favourite band. She convinced the doctors to discharge her.

''I really wanted to hear Go Your Own Way live,'' she said.

Maurice (64) and Dianne (63) Daniels certainly went their own way to hear the band.

The Kapiti couple rode their motorcycles from the North Island town to Dunedin, just to see the band live in concert.

''It was a good excuse to go for a ride. That's why we came to the Dunedin concert, rather than go to the Auckland concert,'' Mrs Daniels said.

Senior Sergeant Darryl Lennane, of Dunedin police, said behaviour had been good considering the size of the concert and only two arrests had been made, both for disorderly behaviour, by 10pm.

Otago Daily Times By Vaughan Elder on Wed, 18 Nov 2015

http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/36...s-head-stadium

Atmosphere building as fans head for stadium

Thousands of Fleetwood Mac fans from across New Zealand have begun packing into Forsyth Barr Stadium for tonight's concert.

The atmosphere is building ahead of tonight's gig and by 5.30pm a steady stream of concert-goers were making their way to the stadium on foot.

Alison Knowler, of Invercargill, said the concert had been "a long time coming'' and she was "chuffed'' they were playing in Dunedin.

She had been a fan of the band since 1978 when they released the album Rumours.

Her friend Donna Bowman, also of Invercargill, had been to other concerts at the stadium and thought it was "amazing'' to have such a good venue serving the bottom of the South Island.

Other fans had come from as far afield as Palmerston North and Auckland.

The gates opened at 4.30pm and the opening act, Australian brother and sister duo Angus and Julia Stone, are due to get the evening under way at 6.30pm.

The concert is expected to finish about 10.45pm.

Ha, cheers mate.
As I said, I'm no fan of babies at concerts but the more I think about it the less sure I am of what my objection is...mainly to do with safety I suppose- Lots of people in a confined space is not conducive to babies.

Hmmm. I wonder if Stevie has any idea whatsoever who Jonah Lomu was. My guess is no. Oh well, it would have meant a hell of a lot to the Kiwi's who I'm sure idolised the big feller.
RIP Jonah

A very nice person took some footage of Sara off the screen, and e-mailed it to me. I've uploaded it here if you're interested (and yes, it's mostly just the SnL interaction...)

http://buckinghamnicksinfo.tumblr.co...nd-18112015-aw

http://i1312.photobucket.com/albums/...psemnvuurh.gif

http://i1312.photobucket.com/albums/...pskepylw9f.gif

From the Lip: Words of Wisdom, Farming Show

From the Lip Monday, 30 November 2015, 11:45AM

http://www.farmingshow.com/opinion/f...rds-of-wisdom/

If you ever needed proof that some things are indeed timeless, you’d need look no further than Fleetwood Mac’s recent concert tour of New Zealand.

More than 100,000 Baby Boomers and several thousand considerably younger, flocked to Dunedin and Auckland to relive their glory days and savour the soundtrack of their youth.

I’ll come back to Fleetwood Mac but I want to tie music into a farming theme. Farmers, without necessarily knowing it, are great connoisseurs and consumers of music. I think back to my farming days in the distant past and I’m endlessly thankful for the grounding it gave me in music. I spent countless hours in the woolshed, the farm ute or on a tractor listening to music.

Unlike today’s plethora of music radio stations, back then we only had three in Southland to choose from. It goes without saying there were no digital options. Radios in the non-air conditioned cabs of tractors were somewhat rudimentary and of the push-button, station-select variety. I reckon long hours on the tractor taught me to recognise thousands of songs within two or three notes. I became adept at pushing the select button within seconds if the musical fare was not of my liking. I can honestly claim to have learned all the words to Bohemian Rhapsody and Hotel California on the tractor. It stood me in good stead for pub quiz nights and what unwittingly lay ahead.

When I started in the radio game 21 years ago I got three pieces of business advice I’ve never forgotten. I’d like to share them.

The first came from the old farmer who owned the building which housed the radio station we were about to buy. While he openly told us he thought we were mad, he tempered that by saying, “you never regret the things you do, you regret the things you don’t do”. That has been a great adage by which to live your life. No matter what your walk of life, you don’t want to die wondering “what if?” How many farmers look back and wonder what might have been had they bought that neighbouring block 20 years ago?

The second pearl of wisdom came from a private radio broadcasting veteran who was blessed with a million dollar voice but far from a million dollar bank balance. He told me “it’s not how you sound, it’s how you sell”. By that he meant you can have the best product in the world but if you’re no good at marketing yourself and selling the benefits of your product, you will not flourish or profit. How many times have we seen that in the farming industry? Look no further than the sheep stud stock industry.

The third gem came from another radio veteran and this guy was really on to it. His advice was to identify a niche in the market, own that space and make sure you’re the first cab off the rank. You don’t necessarily have to be the best but it really helps to be first. A fine farming example of that is the North Island dairy farmers who came south in the early 1990s and were rewarded handsomely.

His other advice was that when you programme a music station you need to once again target your niche audience and understand its demographics. From there you can identify your stereotypical listener. In our case back in 1994 we decided it was a 35 year old Southland sheep farmer who loved his rugby and a few beers after a hard day at the office. You then proceed to identify the music he was listening to when he was 18 and that is where you pitch your programming. So for our 35 year old listener in 1994 we needed to subtract 17 years to get him back to 18. From there we landed fairly and squarely in 1977.

And what was the biggest album of 1977 worldwide? None other, of course, than Rumours from Fleetwood Mac. They were a messed-up bunch who made an epic album off the back of screwed up (quite literally) personal lives. Plus it did them no harm at all that Stevie Nicks was really hot at the time!

Incidentally our 35 year old listener from 1994 is now 56 years old which makes him the age of your average sheep farmer in 2015. And I’d bet his best ram from the back paddock that he made the journey up the road from Southland to Forsyth Barr Stadium a couple of weeks ago to relive his glory days and once again savour the soundtrack of his youth.

:lol: no harm.