Taupō set to rock as Greenstone Entertainment bring back Summer Concert

News that the Taupō Summer Concert will go ahead in 2021 has fans fizzing. Photo / File

It's a transtasman line up for the 2021 Taupō Summer Concert which returns to the Taupō Amphitheatre on Saturday, January 30.

Five acts have just been announced to play the travelling event, which as usual will play Queenstown before heading north to play Taupō and Whitianga over Auckland Anniversary Weekend.

This year blues rocker Gin Wigmore headlines the event, which has become a staple of the summer festival line-up and often sells out due to its focus on legacy acts and relaxed vibes.

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Joining Wigmore are Aussie pub rockers The Angels, local rock legends Dragon, Kiwi new wave icons Mi-Sex and Australian 80s electro rock chart-toppers Pseudo Echo.

Gin Wigmore is well known for her unique voice, and unmistakable tunes such as Black Sheep, Oh My, Hey Ho and I Do. Her albums Holy Smoke, Blood To Bone and Gravel & Wine all peaked at number one on the NZ Album charts and helped place Holy Smoke in the Top 50 Best Of All Time Albums in New Zealand.

Gin Wigmore is among performers at the Taupō Summer Concert on Saturday, January 30, 2021. Photo / Supplied

The Angels are one of Australia's longest-lasting bands, dating back to 1976 when they first released Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again. Their relationship with the audience and standard of live music makes them crowd favourites with hits like Take A Long Line, We Gotta Get Out Of This Place and No Secrets.

Aussie rockers The Angels. Photo / Supplied

Iconic Kiwi rock band Dragon will bring the songs fans know and love like April Sun In Cuba, Are You Old Enough and Young Years and Mi-Sex are similarly loved for their pub band style and hits Computer Games, People, Blue Day and But You Don't Care.

Mi-Sex. Photo / Supplied

Pseudo Echo, one of Australia's leading recording and touring acts, will bring their stylised look and electro sound including hit single Funky Town, which reached No. 1 on the NZ Singles Charts in 1987, as well as Beat For You and Don't Go.

Pseudo Echo. Photo / Supplied

A question mark had been hanging over whether the concert would be allowed to proceed with immigration restrictions and Covid-19 alert levels so the announcement has been greeted with enthusiasm on Greenstone Entertainment's Facebook page. It is also a boost for the live entertainment industry which has been in the doldrums since Covid-19.

Dragon. Photo / Supplied

Greenstone Entertainment chief executive Amanda Calvert said there had been a lot of interest, with people wanting to know when the line-up would be announced, and when tickets would go on sale.

"An initial line-up had been confirmed as far back as March but then the world changed for everyone. It's been a waiting game to see big events back on the calendar and we're excited to be amongst the first in the world to deliver back to our fans the vibrancy that live events can bring."

"Nothing beats a world-class live music experience for everyone's health and wellbeing."

Amanda said the artists had graciously agreed to do what it took for the concerts to go ahead, including a period of quarantine if necessary.

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TVNZ reported last week that Greenstone Entertainment had been granted 29 border exceptions for its concerts. Requests for border exceptions for Live Nation, the Royal New Zealand Ballet, the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, and the Auckland Philharmonia Trust have also been approved along with an array of sports teams including the Wallabies, the English netball team, and the Pakistani, Australian and Bangladeshi cricket teams.

All those given exemptions will still need to go through managed isolation, quarantining for 14 days in the same way as returning New Zealanders and permanent residents.

Amanda says Greenstone Entertainment will be constantly monitoring Covid alert levels between now and the concert dates.

"Depending on government guidelines at the time, contingencies could include postponement and rescheduling of concert dates with applicable ticketing terms and conditions applied. If the show had to be cancelled, full refunds would apply."

Taupō district locals' Taupō Summer Concert 2021 tickets are limited to 3000 and are $115 plus booking fee at the Taupo i-Site or My Music Taupō.