Black Barn concert: Great times under the stars

Gin Wigmore will feature in this year's Black Barn summer concert line-up.

The annual Black Barn concert season has another stellar line-up of entertainment to satisfy Bay musos this summer.

Concerts will again be staged at the Black Barn Amphitheatre, which has been described by internationally recognised singers and musicians as the best outdoor venue in New Zealand.

Renowned for its acoustics and atmosphere, the unique location is purpose-built for performances and has quickly gained a reputation as one of New Zealand's finest outdoor venues.

Event director Urs Blum said the large, flat grassed terraces mean concertgoers sit in comfort with close uninterrupted views of the stage and with the whole of Hawke's Bay as their backdrop.

"Every terrace is fairy lit for concerts and the entire amphitheatre is surrounded by a circle of 50-year-old muscatel grapes."

A new addition to this season is the introduction of Black Barn Offsite, a 10,000 capacity venue in the Tukituki Valley.

The new setting will host international reggae act UB40 on the first stop of its Red, Red Wine vineyard tour.

Event manager Francis de Jager said moving to a spacious riverside spot just minutes down the road allowed them to more than double capacity and release a swag of extra tickets.

"We really want to make this a legendary venue - what we really love is that it's a Hawke's Bay space - you look across the river to Te Mata Peak, it's got places for corporate and VIP sections, pre-concert meals, we want to develop it as an extension of our destination, part of the Black Barn experience."

Mr de Jager said the appearance of UB40 will mark the biggest artist to perform at the venue.

"With the addition of Black Barn Off-Site and a 10,000-person audience, we have opened ourselves up to new opportunities for bigger starts."

He said they have the most comprehensive events season ever and one of the broadest line-ups of any New Zealand music festival.

"We have booked some fantastic artists this year," Mr de Jager said.

"Our audience is just as important to us as the artists, we want them to feel special and have a memorable experience."

One of the superstars headlining the summer season is none other than New Zealand's own Gin Wigmore.

Wigmore will be showcasing her new critically acclaimed album Blood to Bone.

The Auckland-born pop sensation has had a phenomenal year, with her third album hitting number one in New Zealand and receiving critical acclaim around the world.

American music magazine Rolling Stone described Wigmore's sound as "veering between sweetly tender and hitting with the force of a blunt instrument".

Wigmore will kick off the summer concert series on November 29.

Another highlight on the Black Barn events calendar is the "festival of film under the stars".

The 12th annual OpenAir Cinema season kicks off on December 27.

This year will have plenty of variety, including some of New Zealand's finest films to satisfy a broad range of movie appetites.

The 2015/16 season will run over nine nights from December 27 to 30 and then from January 2 to 6.

Ms Blum said Hawke's Bay is climatically and culturally perfectly suited.

"The past ten seasons have proven extremely successful. Patrons love the experience of watching movies on a big screen nestled in the picturesque vineyard setting of the Black Barn amphitheatre."

She said moviegoers can relax on grassed terraces, sipping a glass of wine with friends, enjoying a nibble from the on-site caterers or bringing their own picnic while watching the sun set over Hawke's Bay.

"It is the ultimate outdoor experience. Great movies, great picture quality, great sound, great food and great company - all under the stars."