Wicked Wahine promise huge energy at the lake

New Zealand's Wicked Wahine is set to pump up the atmosphere at Rotorua's Rock the Lake New Year's celebration - with a range of popular songs leading into 2011.
Singers and entertainers Tina Cross and Taisha Tari, who make up Wicked Wahine, will perform at tomorrow night's concert for 90 minutes in the lead-up to the eight-minute fireworks display at midnight. They will perform alongside a five-piece band, with a range of musical items including reggae, R & B, rock, hip hop, and classical.
The female duo has a musical history of 50 years between them and have successful individual music careers internationally and nationally.
They will be performing covers of music by Bob Marley to Michael Jackson and Rihanna to the Black Eyed Peas, alongside singers Leon Wharekura and Thomas Stowers.
Cross has appeared alongside Sammy Davis Junior and Tom Jones, as well as held musical theatre lead roles, and has also featured on TV1's Dancing With The Stars series.
She said the team had been working hard to give a wide spectrum style of music to cater for everyone and looked forward to a fun eventful evening.
"There's always a good crowd and everyone gets on board and takes part, there's huge energy and there always has been," she said.
"We're looking forward to a great energetic atmosphere, leading into the New Year."
She said the four singers would take turns at performing different items and had had a blast rehearsing for the event.
"The energy is always heightened around the New Year's time and Rotorua is a great place to perform," she said.
Promoter for the annual free concert, Monty Morrison, said there would be great crowd-pleasers and looked forward to a mixture of local stand-out performers and national singers performing on one stage.
He said it would be the first concert without the karaoke finalists competition for a long time.
However, that competition had been replaced by other great acts such as a dance piece by Rotorua's own Zumba Flavaz.
"It's a great place to be, with amazing entertainment, food and drink stalls and the carnival rides will also be there.
"Come and have a great fun time," he said.
The alcohol-free event is expected to attract about 15,000 to 16,000 people.
Leading up to the Wicked Wahine musical bracket, there will be performances from the seven-piece band, The Hangi Stones featuring the Tamaki Brothers, Mike and Bishop Brian, who will perform covers by The Doobie Brothers.
There will also be performances by reggae band Native Sons from Raglan and Rotorua covers band Jassah, as well as performances by local artists Roger Rangitaawa, Haylee Nitschke, Arthur Bristowe and Aaron Fausett.
The show will be hosted by singer, entertainer and self-taught musician Chris Powley, who usually performs at Sky City in Auckland on New Year's Eve.
Mr Morrison said roads around the Rotorua Lakefront area would be closed during concert hours and recommended people arrived early to get a good car park.
Funding for the show has come from the New Zealand Community Trust, Rotorua Energy Charitable Trust, the Rotorua District Council, More FM and the First Sovereign Trust.
The Mardi Gras starts at 6pm tomorrow with the More FM Family Fun Hour, followed by the main show at 7.15pm. The event is alcohol and drug-free and a liquor ban will be monitored by police and security.