But Port Ahuriri School's "Mr Stretch" made that a reality for his talented tamariki over the weekend when they got the chance to open for British superstar Robbie Williams.

Near the end of his opening set, Anthony Stretch - more commonly known for his musical project Stretch with Paula Sugden and Andrew Gladstone - bought out the young wahine kapa haka group to sing two special waiata to the heaving crowd.

"We were confirmed to play the Mission a while ago," Stretch said. Read more

Promoters said the tickets have all sold bar a "small allocation" of extra tickets that will go on sale next week. continue reading

The Air Tonight singer is known around the world for being the drummer and singer of rock band Genesis, while also having a phenomenally successful solo career in the 1980s and 1990s. Continue reading

The country/pop act has won 13 Grammys, including five in 2007 for Taking the Long Way, which received the Grammy Award for Album of the Year, and have sold 30 million albums worldwide.

The group will be coming to New Zealand as part of their world tour.

"They fit the criteria of not being in New Zealand before, which is something we like," event director Garry Craft said.

New Zealand act Avalanche City will be one of the supporting acts along with Morgan Evans, an Australian country music performer.

There are two more support acts which will be announced in the coming months.

Gates will most likely open at 1pm with the show expected to finish at 9pm on April 8.

"It will take on more of a festival sort of feel," Craft said. Continue reading

It will take place on Saturday, April 8

Mission Estate Winery made the announcement last week and said it was "very pleased" to again deliver one of the "hottest entertainment acts on earth".

The headline artist will be announced onThursday. Continue reading

The concert will be part of the new Mission Estate Summer Concert series. Simply Red will take to the stage on February 28 with another major international artist, to be announced, to perform on February 27. Continue reading

The February concert had been postponed until a suitable act could be found, the Sports Entertainment Limited chairman James Erskine said.

"The search for a suitable act had been fruitless so far this year and rather than continue to ask for patience from the many thousands of loyal concert fans who attend annually, SEL had made a decision to postpone."

Erskine said discussions with agents and managers continued but supporters and suppliers needed time to make arrangements and this could not be delayed any longer.

"It's a hiatus only. There will be a 23rd Mission Concert announced in the future and the tradition will continue."

Mission Vineyards is New Zealand's only 19th century winery, established in 1851 by French missionaries.

Concerts began there in 1993.

Over the years they've featured artists including Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Ray Charles, Kenny Rogers and the Beach Boys.

SEL took charge in 2003, bringing the likes of Sir Cliff Richard to the stage.

Since then Olivia Newton John, Eric Clapton, Sting, Carole King and Barry Gibb have all played at the vineyards, culminating in Ronan Keating performing last year.

Source

• Stuff.co.nz
• TV3News
• Image: teara.govt.nz

The Concert will feature Ronan Keating, Melanie C from the Spice Girls, Sharon Corr, Billy Ocean and Leo Sayer.

However branding Irish musicians Ronan Keating and Sharon Corr as Brits has upset Hawke's Bay's Irish community.

Joe Kelly, of Taradale, said it was a sensitive issue.

"Men lost their lives trying to be Irish and remove the yoke of British imperialism and now they are not recognised," he said.

So the concert has now been renamed the "British and Irish Invasion." Continue reading

The lineup for the Mission Concernt was announced at a media conference last Tuesday. Continue reading

Fr Skinner was one of the lead in acts for female composer and singing sensation Carole King and the Bee Gee's legend, Barry Gibb.

Chris told the crowd that living last year on the adjacent hill at the International Marist Novitiate, he heard Rod Stewart and wondered what it would be like to sing at the Mission Concert.

"I lived here for five years, training for priesthood and one year on the hill 'over there', and I never imagined I'd be standing here singing", he told an enthusiastic and swelling crowd of around 5,000.

Chris will shortly release a joint album, with a Christchurch based singer, Janice Bateman.

The album is called "Reason to Believe".

Executive Producer Brian Martin told CathNews some of the tracks are well known but there are also some original works as well.

"It has some truly beautiful music with underlying messages that I think all listeners will identify with and relate to, whatever their circumstances," he said.

"The real messages in life are not announced to you, they are discerned", Martin said.

Martin is clear in his view that instant responses to music are the stuff of rock music and that real life messages require subtlety.

"It's about engaging with people when they don't want to listen to a sermon, and Chris does this so well with his music", he said.

Martin says 'Reason to Believe', to be released shortly, is worth waiting for.

"'Reason to Believe' brings out so many layers, so many 'reasons' to believe, Martin said.

"Belief in each other, God, love, life, pleasantness, a positive attitude" are just a few he said.

"With Janice and Chris' album, 'Reason to Believe' "People can take their own layer", said Martin.

As well as listening to Chris Skinner and the Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra, a well behaved crowd of 20,000 enjoyed the hits of Barry Gibb and Carole King.

Mission Concert organiser Gary Craft said preliminary preparations are already under way for the 2014 Concert.

Barry Gibb of Bee Gees fame will rock the Hawke's Bay venue with support from Carole King.

The annual round of rumours as to who this year's artist may have been also included Paul Simon, Paul McCartney and Bruce Springsteen.

The concert, which attracts up to 25,000 people to Napier's Mission Estate winery, will be held on Saturday, February 23.

Tickets cost between $118 and $368 and can be purchased on the Mission Concert website or from Ticketek.

The concert has been held annually since 1993, and has featured Dionne Warwick, Ray Charles, Kenny Rodgers, Shirley Bassey, Julio Iglesias, The Beach Boys, The Doobie Brothers, The Hollies and Lulu, Engelbert Humperdinck, Sir Cliff Richard, John Farnham, B52s, Rod Stewart (twice), Tom Jones, Eric Clapton, the legends of Motown and Sting.

Continue Reading

A growing number of people have been posting on-line Facebook and Twitter comments about the likelihood of the show being staged in the Bay given it would fit the touring time-frame.

Waters, and his spectacular musical and theatrical presentation of the group's late 1979 The Wall double album, will be in New Zealand next February as part of his world tour, with four sold-out concerts to be staged in Auckland on February 18, 20, 22 and 23.

But Sport and Entertainment Ltd's director of operations Garry Craft had three words in response to the rumours.

"No, definitely not," he said, before adding "Roger won't be at the Mission."

He said the Mission Concert had always taken the line of presenting a one-off show exclusive to the North Island and that would again be the case next February.

While The Wall was a great show it did not suit the Mission approach.

"It's a bit serious. We look for artists who communicate with the crowd and have some fun."

When it was suggested Sir Paul McCartney would fit that bill Mr Craft laughed.

"Oh I think Sir Paul may be tied up somewhere else."

He said SEL was working hard to get the act signed and sealed, and announced, before the end of the month.

Ticket prices for the concert will be on the Mission Concert's club website this week and will first be offered for sale to club members effectively at the time of the artist announcement.

Source: Hawkes Bay Today

Image: www.sydbarrettpinkfloyd.com