Motown magic for Mission

The Mission Estate Winery Concert of 2010 promises to be a night of nostalgia and megahits when The Motown Event is rolled out.
It is a concert to celebrate 50 years of Motown musical magic and will feature The Temptations, The Four Tops, Martha and the Vandellas, Mary Wilson from the Supremes and The Miracles.
As well, promoters SEL have signed up Australian soul singer and guitarist Ian Moss as well as ``special guest'' Jimmy Barnes who makes another appearance on the Mission stage having opened for Tom Jones in 2008.
Six-time Grammy nominated American singer Joan Osborne is also in the line-up.
In announcing the 2010 concert at the venue this morning, SEL director and executive producer Tony Cochrane said it was a privilege to be presenting ``this once in a lifetime concert extravaganza.''
``Without question, this is an absolutely unique and timeless concert of some of the greatest songs from the truly outstanding Motown catalogue and the original artists who brought these songs to life.'' With a smile, he said the most challenging part of producing the event had been working out the final song selection from the more than 200 chart-topping Motown hits.
``Nearly every song in the show has been a No 1 hit. It will be a night of great celebration and fun for all ages,'' he said, adding that the event will turn into a fine singalong.
Mission Estate Winery chief executive Peter Holley was equally enthusiastic and thrilled to be part of the music company's 50th anniversary party.
The concert will be part of a global ``party'' put together to celebrate Motown's half-century and which will premiere in Hawke's Bay.
The timing of the announcement will not be lost on music fans, as the industry mourns the death of Michael Jackson.
The Jackson Five were on the Motown label books during the'60s and'70s.
Between them, the Motown Mission artists will roll out 35 of the biggest hits from the Motown era, with each having their own spots, and delivering their own hits with the backing of a 12-piece band.
They will come together for a rousing finale.
Mr Cochrane said that mixed in with ``state of the art'' lighting, staging and big screens, the event was shaping to be the biggest concert yet seen at the Mission.
After the disappointment of this year's washed-out concert, which was to have featured Lionel Richie, the organisers were looking to produce a special occasion, and with The Motown Event they believe they have got it.
The songbook on the night will feature songs like Ain't No Mountain High Enough, River Deep Mountain High, You Can't Hurry Love, My Guy, I Heard it Through the Grapevine and My Girl. Jimmy Barnes will add the antipodean flavour to proceedings given that in 1991 he released an album called Soul Deep which featured Motown songs.
* Tickets for the February 13, 2010 Mission Estate Winery Concert went on sale to Mission Concert Club members from noon today, and will go on general sale from 9am tomorrow through 0800Ticketek, Ticketek.co.nz or through the Napier Municipal Theatre.
Tickets are priced from $105, including booking fees and GST, with dining and accommodation package details available through the Mission website:
www.missionconcert.co.nz
* The 2010 concert will be the 17th, and signals a return to multi-international act line-ups _ last seen in 2004 when the B52s, Belinda Carlisle and John Farnham appeared.
1993: Dame Kiri Te Kanawa.
1994: Ray Charles.
1995: Dionne Warwick.
1996: Shirley Bassey.
1997: Kenny Rogers.
1998: Julio Iglesias.
1999: The Beach Boys.
2000: Boney M/The Doobie Brothers.
2001: Lulu/The Hollies.
2002: The Seekers/Engelbert Humperdinck.
2003: Cliff Richard.
2004: B52s, Belinda Carlisle, John Farnham.
2005: Rod Stewart.
2006 Olivia Newton-John/Chris De Burgh.
2007: Eric Clapton.
2008: Jimmy Barnes/Tom Jones.
2009: Lionel Richie (cancelled due to rain).