Lakeside concert Monty Morrison's last hurrah

Monty Morrison

After 18 years, Monty Morrison's era of directing Rotorua's Lakeside concerts ended with a bang.

Patches of rain were not enough to deter a crowd of thousands from heading to the annual music event held at the Village Green on Saturday night, which featured performances by Sol3 Mio, Lizzie Marvelly, Jackie Clarke, John Rowles, Eddie Low and Frankie Stevens and ended with a spectacular 15-minute fireworks display.

Lakeside Concert Charitable Trust chairman Ian Edward announced that this year's event would be Mr Morrison's last as event director.

Mr Morrison has been the event director for the show since it began in 1997 and has played a key role in keeping the event going year after year, Mr Edward said.

Mr Morrison said his decision had not come easily but he wanted to give someone else the opportunity to put their energy into Lakeside.

"I'm looking at this really positively. It will give someone else the opportunity to further develop Lakeside and give it a new twist.

"But over the last few days, it's really dawned on me that it's all coming to a close for me, and I admit, it is pretty sad," he said.

Mr Morrison said new projects were on the horizon for him, but those projects meant he would not be able to put the amount of effort into Lakeside that he thought it deserved. He said the show's future would remain bright and he was thrilled that Saturday's show was such a hit.

"All the feedback I've received so far has been incredibly positive. The crowd was larger than it has been in many years and I'm glad we managed to escape the worst of the weather, with only a bit of drizzle.

"I think everyone really enjoyed themselves too."

Mr Edward said the calibre of the performers was outstanding and that made the event world-class.

"The performers really are the best New Zealand and Rotorua has to offer.

"And it's not just the performers, everyone involved backstage, the technicians, pyrotechnicians, the entire crew, they're all the best at what they do," he said.

Mr Edward said while it was difficult to compare previous Lakeside concerts, he ranked this year's events alongside some of the best in the show's history.

"I think under the circumstances, with the weather not being the nicest, everything went superbly well."

Mr Morrison said Lakeside had become dear to Rotorua and was glad to have been a part of it. He wanted to thank everyone who has been involved in the show over the years.

"I'm truly grateful for all the support I've had since the show began, it's been outstanding."