Brewers and Liars fest proving to be popular

If you want to be a part of the Brewers and Liars Festival you need to get in quick.

Festival organiser Doug Lambert said the popularity of last year's compere led to good early ticket sales for this summer's event.

The festival is on Saturday, March 2, at Ngongotaha Hall and this year is raising funds for the Ngongotaha Volunteer Fire Brigade to buy equipment for its new water tanker.

Compere Grant Rosoman, aka Roso, is returning after success last year and will be joined by comedian Jeremy Ellwood. Other new acts will accompany returning entertainers to make it a night to remember.

Included in the line-up are Rotorua singers Evelyn Falconer and Sue Morrison, who are performing as a duet.

"Sue came along last year for the last half an hour to pick up her partner, and he was having a ball, so she said she had to be part of it," Mr Lambert said.

"It's getting to be known as a well-run evening that's good value."

Also in the entertainment line-up is Vintage Mix, a band that plays hits from the 1950s through to the 1980s, Spanish guitar specialist Chris Webber, the Edward Brothers and the Art of Movement belly dancers. "It will be a bucket full of fun," Mr Lambert said.

"It really went well last year and so many people missed out so they are getting their tickets already. Several tables have already been booked so people had better get in quick."

He said all brewers from last year would be back and he hoped there would be a good number of people vying to be the best liar.

This competition is judged on entertainment value and the ability to confuse the audience.

The festival starts at 6pm. Tickets cost $25 and are available from Ngongotaha Volunteer Fire Brigade members, McLeods Booksellers, New Zealand Credit Union, St Barnabas in Ngongotaha and any Ngongotaha Lions member.