Talk of New Zealand Negotiations

[michelej1]

Otago Daily Times by Rosie Manins, June 15, 2012
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/21...headed-stadium

Largest indoor rodeo show headed to stadium

Dunedin will host the world's largest indoor rodeo show outside Las Vegas, followed by New Zealand-exclusive performances from bands like The Eagles, Fleetwood Mac and Bruno Mars, an international event promoter says.

Force Majeure Events International chief executive Darryl Tombleson said the rodeo show was scheduled to take place inside the Forsyth Barr Stadium on November 17.

Mr Tombleson was also "in negotiation" with The Eagles, Fleetwood Mac and Bruno Mars to perform at the stadium, in what would be New Zealand-exclusive shows.

"It will definitely happen ...this will be the saving grace for the stadium. We are looking at Bruno Mars for next year," he said.

The Sydney-based promoter was in Dunedin for a week dealing with Dunedin Venues Management Ltd (DVML) and other potential business partners.

He was looking to attract sponsors for the 2012 International Rodeo, which was a sell-out in Hamilton last year at the new Claudelands Arena.

Mr Tombleson expected about 10,000 people would attend the rodeo in Dunedin, which he said would generate between $5 million and $10 million for the region.

It would be televised to 300 million viewers and comprised the highest "purse" outside of Las Vegas, he said.

"It involves up to 1000 subcontractors and generates a lot of local employment. The exposure is enormous," he said.

The Forsyth Barr Stadium's full, clear roof and 30,000 capacity attracted it to Force Majeure Events International.

He planned to fly international acts to Dunedin for one-off shows, in conjunction with their tours of Australia.

"Dunedin has a fantastic, international standard venue but it's sitting idle and we are looking for something a little more unique. If you buy a five-city run with 10 shows you might do Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth and pick up any shortfall there, then swing by Dunedin," he said.

Dunedin's relatively small population made no difference when it came to exclusive shows, because people would travel from throughout New Zealand to see international acts, he said.

"As long as we get support from councils, arenas and New Zealand, in general, we can take the shows anywhere. It comes down to dollars and cents."

Mr Tombleson said he was dealing with DVML chief executive David Davies and commercial director Guy Hedderwick, who had represented the promoter's interests at meetings with the Dunedin City Council.

Mr Davies is in the United Kingdom on annual leave.

A DVML spokesman confirmed plans for the rodeo and said he would be extremely surprised if it did not go ahead.

As for the concerts, he said DVML knew Mr Tombleson was involved with the music performance industry and was working to secure acts to play in Dunedin.

[EnchantedKiwi]

~exclusive~*

[michelej1]

[Nothing more than speculative mention, but thought I'd post anyway]

Stuff.Co.NZ August 6, 2012
http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment...ission-in-2013

Who will play The Mission in 2013?

The big non-story in Friday's edition of The Hawke's Bay Today newspaper was that Bruce Springsteen might play The Mission. The story, cobbled together in a desperate attempt to mean something, adorned the front page of the region's daily rag. It told of Bruce Springsteen being an option for next year's Mission Estate vineyard concert. It also mentioned Paul McCartney, Paul Simon, The Eagles and Fleetwood Mac. The last two names were mentioned simply because those acts have announced likely world tours in 2013. Ditto, Pauls McCartney and Simon were only mentioned in the context that their management had confirmed tours continuing through 2013.

McCartney, sounding more and more like a pensioner when he sings these days, has played The Professional Beatle for most of the past 25 years. Of course he's continuing to tour. That's what he does. And he should probably stop now - if the Olympic ceremony was anything to go by.

Paul McCartney has been some sort of "hot rumour" for The Mission for close to a decade now. Paul Simon is always mentioned too.

I'd like to see Paul Simon live - I think he's still got it, definitely. His mini-solo set as part of the Simon & Garfunkel reunion show in Auckland a couple of years ago showed him sounding (and seeming) like a different person. No longer was he trotting out stale oldies to stale oldies, he was alive and hip and excited by the sounds his band was making.

I'm a fan too. And I've not seen Paul Simon solo - so I'd like that.

But in a perfect world I would not want to watch him in a paddock with a bunch of people who go to one concert a year, but figure that entitles them to hear every song they've ever liked by anyone - regardless of who the performer is on the night.

One guy, many years ago, said that he always went to Hawke's Bay Mission show - and that he would go every year. They could, he said, "put a guy on stage with a f**king lawnmower and I'd still be there".

That glowing endorsement seems to sum up the spirit of the event. Let's party! Let's drink. Be merry. And hey, you, big famous rock-star: you better be good!

A guy like Bruce Springsteen - a legend of the live-arena circuit, something of a god when it comes to touring, to live performance - would be wasted on these chardonnay cavemen and women.

So would Paul McCartney - because he would be crucified for not sounding exactly like The Beatles.

One year Eric Clapton played an amazing show - and people booed. They booed because he didn't speak to them. Didn't say that he thought Hawke's Bay was a beautiful place. And because he didn't play Tears in Heaven.

I was there to see a great musician turn in a great set - one that, in the end, was better than I expected. And Clapton was the third-best guitarist on stage that night as it happened (with Derek Trucks and Doyle Bramhall in the band).

In the past couple of years there have been shows by Sting and Rod Stewart - big names that suit the cause. I didn't see Rod Stewart but I'm sure he delivered - because I saw his 2005 performance at that venue and he killed it, playing everything that he should, catering to as broad of an audience as he was able to do, within his set of recorded works.

And Sting? Well, that was a trickier show - it was him and an orchestra, performing his Symphonicities show. And I expected to dislike this - since the album was ghastly. But it was really amazing - quite something. But what do you know, Hawke's Bay's Collective Cultural Attaché decided that Sting sounded rubbish. Plus, they had to line up and pay for their own booze. The golf trundlers that were used to tow chilly bins down the long road to the event were wasted that year (rather than the people towing them, which is - usually - the goal). So that was a huge disappointment.

I've said before that I think Tom Petty would be a great choice for this event. But that seems a cruel thing to wish on Tom Petty. Because, to really knock it out of the park he would need to not only deliver one of his typically great live sets. He would also need to compliment the region on its brand new escalator! (And mean it!) And he would need to play every song that everyone expected - not just a great, diverse set of Tom Petty classics. If the crowd wants Sweet Caroline and 500 Miles they should have it!

So, as the paper trots out its lazy journalism, just a list of big names again to try to excite people, I thought I'd trot out some of my thought on the Mission again. Here's what needs to happen for 2013's Mission Estate concert:

A karaoke machine with a giant bouncing ball on a big screen. That is it. That will please everyone. Program it to say "we love you Hawke's Bay, you are so wise and so smart, you have great wine and awesome people. You are so clever for your size. And how 'bout that weather eh!"

And of course whatever version that currently exists of The Little River Band could be the opening act for this giant karaoke machine.

What do you think? Would you load up the golf-trundler for that? Would you take an extra spent-glowstick out from the freezer and a set of LED-flashing novelty glasses? Would you tie a homespun round your moleskins and head along for the biggest party of the year?

Are you a fan of the Mission concerts? And do you go every year regardless? Or does taking in a concert mean more to you than standing near - or in - someone's spew?

And who do you want to see - or completely and utterly avoid - at next year's Mission Estate concert?

Would you go if Bruce or one of the Pauls or Fleetwood Mac or The Eagles did - by some gin-soaked miracle - make it to the stage in Napier?

What would get you to the Mission? Or is it as simple as the guy with the giant f**king lawnmower hitting the right notes as he figure-eights round the stage throwing wine samples and free sunblock into the crowd? Wa-hey!