Bryan Adams in Mount Maunganui on Sunday. Photo/ Shaun Ross
Bryan Adams in Mount Maunganui on Sunday. Photo/ Shaun Ross
Nothing could take him away from us - it was second time lucky for fans at Mount Maunganui who finally got to see Canadian rocker Bryan Adams last night.
The Mount Maunganui concert, originally scheduled for Friday night was postponed until yesterdayafter flooding swept across the Bay of Plenty andput a big question mark over the summer of 2018.
Not wanting to disappoint fans, Adams ended up staying an extra day to play the Mount gig, said organiser Pato Alvarez of Neptune Entertainment.
"We are so grateful to Bryan Adams and his team for extending their stay as long as they could to make the Mount show possible."
Refunds were offered to those who could not make the Sunday gig but Alvarez said most were happy to attend the concert in better weather.
Crowds at ASB Baypark at the Bryan Adams concert. Photo/ Shaun Ross
Fans in great spirits crowded ASB Baypark Stadium as the sun shone on what turned out to be the final New Zealand gig in the Grammy winner's Get Up world tour.
The tour is promoting the Grammy winner's 2015 album Get Up, as well as his new 21 track album Ultimate, a best of with two new songs.
Adams proved he could still get up for the lively crowd, in a two-hour set, belting out some of his best-known tunes including Summer of 69, Heaven, Run to You and Cuts Like a Knife.
Lovers were not disappointed either with his power ballads All For Love and his international chart-topper (Everything I do) I Do It For You.
Fans were also treated to some of his new songs.
Bryan Adams is on tour to promote his new album Ultimate, which is a 'best of' plus two new songs
Part of the global rock 'n' roll scene for three decades, Adams is a committed vegan, urging fans in his New Year message to go vegan in 2018.
When the dire weather had postponed his show, Adams quipped on Instagram he would sit out the storm like any "good hippy" with "an elderflower kombucha" in his hotel.
Before arriving in New Zealand he admitted to NZME that he thought he was going to Auckland, not the Bay.
"I thought we were playing in Auckland, but I was told everyone goes to Tauranga. So Tauranga, here I come," Adams said.
Before he went on stage, the megastar hosted some private meet and greets with fans, including Michelle Harper and her husband who had won VIP tickets and travelled from Taupo for the show.
"We are so excited to be going to see Bryan perform tonight at such a historic event for Tauranga. And to meet him in person is just the icing on the cake," Harper said before the show.
Deputy mayor Kelvin Clout attended the concert with his wife Kathryn. Clout said he had been a Bryan Adams fan since he was a teenager and his favourite song was Run To You.
He welcomed Adams to the Bay and said he was glad the weather had finally come to play. He thanked Adams for being so flexible.
Kiwi artists Dave Dobbyn and the Jordan Luck Band warmed up the crowd as support acts.
Last week Adams played at venues in Matakana and New Plymouth. On Saturday night he performed to a sell-out crowd at Hawke's Bay Black Barn Vineyard.
After tonight's Mount gig Adams will head over the ditch to Australia to continue the world tour.
Who is Bryan Adams?
Adams rose to fame in 1983 with the album Cuts Like a Knife, followed by his LP Reckless which included one of his most famous songs, Summer of '69.
In 1991, Everything I do, the theme tune to a Robin Hood movie starring Kevin Costner, was a mega hit for Adams with 16 consecutive weeks at No 1 on the UK Singles Chart.
