ROGER MORONEY
An artist will be announced in 10 days as the headline act at the 2007 Mission Estate Winery Concert, along with announcements that upgraded security and liquor bans on roads leading to the site will be introduced.
The naming of the artist on June 19 will be the earliest in
the 15-year history of the Hawke's Bay event.
Also setting an early announcement record is that of the concert date. It will be revealed on Tuesday, with concert club members again being given the opportunity to buy tickets in advance through the club's website.
General ticket sales, through the club website and Ticketmaster, will go on sale from Tuesday, June 20.
As well as announcing who the headline star will be, the operations manager for Sport and Entertainment Ltd, Garry Craft, will provide details of the changes to the venue and the way it will be policed.
Speaking from Australia, Mr Craft said all those involved in the organisation of the concert had taken a long hard look at this year's event and had drafted changes - mainly directed at bad behaviour.
"There were external issues we needed to address," Mr Craft said, directing his comments at young people who had sneaked into the concert and had got drunk.
"We have a vastly expanded security plan."
He said as well as closing both Church Road and Tironui Drive a strictly policed total ban on drinking alcohol would be in force on those streets during concert day.
In the past people had begun drinking while waiting for the gates to open.
Mr Craft said the other strong emphasis would be on not tolerating any bad behaviour.
This year's concert had been marred by reports of drunkenness and young people, many heavily intoxicated, sneaking into the venue.
Mr Craft said loyal concertgoers deserved better than that and the organisers had consulted police over the issue.
He dismissed those who had loudly criticised the main act, Chris de Burgh, and said it was SEL's desire to present a diversity of acts for everyone to enjoy.
He said he had received many emails and messages from concertgoers thanking both SEL and the Mission for putting on an international-class concert.
"You can't please everyone - it's as simple as that," he said, advising anyone who did not find the artists to their taste not to spoil it for those who did.
Of next year's main act all he would say was "I am pretty sure they are going to like this one".
Mr Craft said the stage for 2007's concert would be 8m wider, at 26m.
He said as well as giving the performers more room it meant more spectators would be able to see the stage.
ROGER MORONEY
An artist will be announced in 10 days as the headline act at the 2007 Mission Estate Winery Concert, along with announcements that upgraded security and liquor bans on roads leading to the site will be introduced.
The naming of the artist on June 19 will be the earliest in
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