Festival of the Elements, Porirua City

2009 Festival Headliners and Attractions

STRIKE!

Strike is a high energy drumming group made up of New Zealand’s most outstanding percussionists, specialising in movement-based choreographed percussion.

Strike’s core performers Murray Hickman, Tom Pierard, Leni Sulusi and Takumi Motokawa evoke extraordinary sounds and beats from the oddest of vessels including a Bedford Truck, galvanised pipe, water and even flower pots!

Strike’s compelling performance of intricate rhythms contains Pacific, classical and contemporary musical influences combined with fluid, theatre based performance. With their use of earth, air, fire and water, they epitomise the purpose of the Festival of the Elements – to celebrate a multi-cultural community made possible by the Treaty of Waitangi.

Sample their sounds here: http://www.myspace.com/strikeensemble

“They pull together everything that’s wonderful about making noise” says acting manager Angela Green.

“The guys wrap it all up in a way that appeals to everyone, young and old, it is just electric. “…and they do wild stuff with fire, I just love it!” says Angela. ”.

HIKOIKOI

Hikoikoi are an original conscious reggae group based in Petone, whose sound is currently spreading through the hearts and minds of Aotearoa.

Hikoikoi have played many stages in the last three years including return appearances at The Parihaka Peace Festival, The Cuba Street Carnival and The Jackson Street Fiesta. They have supported a number of established acts such as The Black Seeds and Cornerstone Roots and headlined Wellington’s One Love festival; to 10,000 people this year.

2007 and 2008 saw the release of three singles for Hikoikoi - Vibraphone, Jah Armour,
and Too Hot to Work.

You can check out their sounds here: http://www.myspace.com/hikoikoi

GARY'S BACK!

What would the Festival of the Elements be without him!
Kiwi media celebrity Gary McCormick returns as MC on the main stage.
McCormick grew up in Porirua, and says it’s a great place to be on Waitangi Day!

KLEZMER REBS

The Klezmer Rebs are an 8 piece Wellington band that plays ‘Klezmer’ music – an engaging style of world/folk music born out of the Yiddish/Jewish culture of Eastern Europe in the 1800s and 1900s. Klezmer Rebs say that their music “celebrates the joys of life” and that their uplifting happy sound is “simply infectious”.

“Our music strives to evoke the sound of the human voice”. Instrumentation includes clarinet, two violins, accordion, guitar, mandolin, keyboards, trumpet, trombone, percussion and vocals.

Visit the Klezmer Rebs website at www.klezmer.co.nz to learn more about the band, about klezmer music, and to listen to some tracks from the new Klezmer Rebs CD "Just add schmaltz".

TOO FUNKY!

Too Funky are a young psychedelic Wellington band whose vibrant music will wow festival goers on Waitangi Day, February 6th at Te Rauparaha Park.

Too Funky have become popular with teenage audiences throughout New Zealand on Studio 2, Juice TV and Nickelodean TV, for their all original alternative funk/rock music created on drums, bass, guitars, alto sax and vocals.

Based in Raumati and inspired by local Wellington bands including The Volunteers and The Black Seeds, the band have been hauling in the prizes with first place in Studio 2’s “Big Break Competition” and second in Juice TV’s “My School Band Rocks” competition.

FUJANSU

Fujansu was formed in 2001 in a converted bedroom on Whanga Cres in Titahi Bay. They have a Poly Funk sound, with resonance of Hip Hop, Rock and RnB.

You can check out their sounds here: http://www.myspace.com/fujansu

The name FUJANSU is a mix of 4 families mixed into one.

FU=Fuimaono JAN= Jansen SU= Sua

CRAFTING AT PATAKA

Pataka – Friday 6 February 10am – 3pm

Come to Pataka and celebrate Waitangi Day and the
Festival of the Elements with a spot of crafty shopping.

A wide and wonderful range of quality crafts including jewellery,
babywear, clothes, beads, lamps, cushions and much much more!

You'll be guaranteed to find something funky, cool and stylish that is made with
'crafty' loving care!

"ECO PRINTS TO ART COUTURE"
BOTTLE CREEK GALLERY, PATAKA

‘Eco prints to Art Couture’ at Pataka. An inspired group of five local artists showcase
their practice using natural dyed textiles at Bottle Creek Gallery from the Waitangi Day Festival
of the Elements until 23 February.

SRI LANKAN DANCE ACADEMY

This colourful, talented dance academy will perform "Hanuma Vannama" (Junior dancers),
"Gum Nade" (Intermediate dancers) and "Gypsy Dance" (photo above) - Senior dancers.

SAM HUNT

Sam Hunt is New Zealand's most popular performing poet. Sam was awarded
a QSM in 1986 for his contribution to New Zealand poetry.

BUZZ

Empress Stilt dance will be performing Buzz at Elements '09.
Stilts and aerialists bring a fantasy flower garden alive.

FAZE

Hip hop, and high energy, FAZE spin pure rhythmic gold.

SCULPTURE

Our Festival favourite, the Sculpture competition, is back again!
Well known sculptors with emerging new talent.

THE KAPI-MANA ART ACTION!

Back again bigger than ever. Kapi Mana Art Action! Is free, with an exciting array of workshops
and activities for the under 13’s.