KEY POINTS:
When Stevie Wonder returns to Auckland for a concert in October at least he won't get rained out like he did during his last visit here 20 years ago.
Wonder was due to play Mt Smart Stadium on November 14, 1987, but it was cancelled due to bad
weather, disappointing thousands of ticketholders. However, Wonder and his band, Wonderlove, held an impromptu performance at Fort St nightclub Megadrome for a few hundred fans later that night.
There's no fear of the same thing happening again when the blind 58-year-old singer plays under the cover of Vector Arena on October 30.
On the earlier tour he played in Wellington, albeit in squally conditions, according to newspaper reports. While here he also helped launch a drink-drive campaign and appeared on a poster with the slogan: "Before I'll ride with a drunk, I'll drive myself."
Wonder has sung some cheesy songs in his 45-year career, the most famous being 1984 hit I Just Called To Say I Love You. But Songs In the Key Of Life (1976), Innervisions (1973) and Talking Book (1972) are three of music's all-time classic albums.
This time round he also plays Christchurch on October 28. Tickets to the A Wonder Spring Night Tour go on sale Thursday July 24 from Ticketmaster in Auckland and Ticketek in Christchurch.
Meanwhile, on a heavier note, American metal band Disturbed, whose latest album Indestructible was No. 1 in New Zealand for two weeks recently, play Vector on September 9.
They are on tour with American rap metallers POD, and Alter Bridge, the band formed by members of Creed when that band split up in 2004.
Tickets for the Auckland show go on sale on July 10 from Ticketmaster. Disturbed also play at TSB Arena, Wellington, on September 10 and Westpac Trust Arena in Christchurch on September 12 (Tickets through Ticketek).
Also touring together are John Mellencamp and Sheryl Crow who play Vector Arena on December 3 with support from New Zealand singer starlet Gin Wigmore. Tickets on sale from Ticketmaster.
They also play A Day On The Green concerts at Alana Estate Winery, Wellington, on December 6, and Mudhouse Winery, Christchurch, December 7.
And finally, doing a showcase at the Kings Arms on August 5 is Australian alt-country musician Kasey Chambers.
See interview with Stevie Wonder page 8