Big names head to Lakeside

Pene Pati

One of the biggest events on Rotorua's calender is less than a week away, with thousands of people expected to turn out to the 2015 Lakeside concert.

The popular free outdoor concert, entering its 19th year, will return to the Village Green next Saturday, featuring a line-up of some of the biggest names in Kiwi music, including Annie Crummer, Opshop's Jason Kerrison and Pene Pati from Sol3 Mio.

Australian entertainer of the year Darryl Lovegrove will also take to the stage, as well as local musician Alayna Powley, who wowed audiences with her performance of Hallelujah at last year's concert.

Shortland Street star Amanda Billing will also feature, while Tina Cross and the Candy Lane Dancers are expected to have the crowd dancing with the latest hits.

The hilarious Modern Maori Quartet are also expected to get crowds laughing.

Rotorua Lakeside Concert Charitable Trust chairman Ian Edward said along with a variety of Maori, classical and contemporary performances, this year's event would feature well-known songs from some of Broadway's biggest musicals, including Annie, Jesus Christ Superstar and Mamma Mia.

"We're thrilled with how the programme is shaping up. Our aim is to have something for everyone, so we hope to see people singing and dancing to those timeless songs that will feature on the night," he said.

Every year the trust appoints an artistic director for the concert but this year will see three well-known names - Shane Cortese, Candy Lane, who has just been given a Queen's honour for her contribution to dance in New Zealand, and Mark Dennison, a musical director for NZ's Got Talent.

Mr Edward said Lakeside was an opportunity to showcase world class talent in a way which was both free and accessible to the Rotorua public.

It was also an opportunity to celebrate what a wonderful place Rotorua was to live, he said.

"It's Rotorua's big night, so we encourage everyone to get their friends and relatives from around the region and other cities to come along and celebrate together."

The night is also set to have an explosive ending, with a fireworks display planned.

Local band Strangely Arousing will also get a chance on the big stage to show off their latest original material.

Lead singer Lukas Wharekura said the band was looking forward to performing again this year.

"In Rotorua there's not really a huge, thriving entertainment scene, especially now that Raggamuffin's gone, but Lakeside gives artists the chance to be heard and it's always awesome to see the public supporting that."

Lukas said the band would perform their original music and material they were hoping to include on an album.

"It'll be fun to see what the crowd's reaction to our new stuff will be like."

Lakeside Rotorua - The Night Fantastic will run from 7.30pm. Tickets for the seated area can be purchased at www.ticketmaster.co.nz. For more information visit www.rotorualakesideconcert.co.nz.