“Rotorua and I have been friends for a long time … these are always landmark gigs, but it’s a privilege to serve the iwi.
“When I saw the setlist I said, this is a handsome show.”
Nikau Grace sings Hallelujah with the Rotorua Boys' High School Choir. Photo / Rotorua Lakeside Charitable Trust
This year’s concert theme is Funkyside – Gettin’ in the Groove, and organisers expect thousands of music lovers at the Village Green for the free outdoor show.
Artists will perform a diverse range of hits made famous by artists ranging from Stevie Wonder and Otis Reading to L.A.B and Pharrell, with a fireworks finale.
MetService is forecasting partially cloudy weather with a high of 22C, a low of 10 and northerlies developing.
Bay of Plenty entertainer Russell Harrison will also return to the Lakeside stage this year.
“[Lakeside] has become a generational staple for a lot of families in Rotorua – they turn up as young parents and they bring their babies, now their babies are adults,” he said.
“When you travel, every place has its nuance, and point of difference. This event really identifies the power of the Rotorua community.”
Russell Harrison on stage at Lakeside 2024. Photo / Laura Smith
“Outside of tourism, people don’t really get to know the city unless you come to an event like this,” he said.
He said the event’s artist curator, Dixon Nacey, had “a real gift” for allocating tracks to artists, particularly cover songs.
He said this year’s funk theme had the artists amped. He would cover Luther Vandross and James Brown.
He said the event’s history made performing special for him.
“Lakeside has ushered in the careers of some really strong performers [from the Bay of Plenty] that have gone on to do other things.”
Lavina Williams performing at Lakeside 2024. Photo / Laura Smith
Last year was singer, songwriter and musical actress Lavinia Williams’ first Lakeside performance, which she said was “emotional”.
Delivering a Tina Turner medley nearly one year after the icon died, Williams recalled opening for her on the Auckland leg of Turner’s 1996 Wildest Dreams Tour.
“I mean, come on, how are you going to top Tina Turner?”
Williams said for her second Lakeside outing, she was looking forward to the duet with her husband, Moses Lehauli, who would join her on stage for the first time.
For her, performing in Rotorua meant “whānau”. Auckland could be “overwhelming” but coming to Rotorua felt calm.
“People are so delightful to be around … how I feel walking into my family’s house, that’s like walking into Rotorua,” she said.
He was refreshed after performing at Te Matatini in Taranaki with Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao, and said his group was proud to “come away with a few trophies”.
“That was a very long and hard-working campaign but we ended up coming top 10.
“It’s exciting man, I’m pumped to perform in front of the whole rohe on Saturday,” he said.
Aleyna Martinez is a multimedia journalist based in the Bay of Plenty. She moved to the region in 2024 and has previously reported in Wairarapa and at Pacific Media Network.
Aerial footage captured the 'mesmerising' Matariki drone show over Rotorua Lakefront. Video / @incredibleimagesnz, https://www.facebook.com/AronuiArtsFestival
