Countdown to the the New Year in Auckland

AUCKLAND will be the first major city in the world to welcome in 2019, and is planning a visual and entertainment extravaganza to light up Auckland’s cityscape this New Year’s Eve. 

For the first time, Vector Lights on #Auckland Harbour Bridge will join the celebrations with a sparkling display from 9pm, before building up to a countdown to midnight where it will pulse in time with the Auckland Sky Tower.

At the stroke of midnight, Vector Lights will explode into a five-minute spectacular designed to complement SKYCITY’s fireworks display, then continue until 1am. Those lucky enough to be down at Silo Park for the Wondergarden Festival will have a perfect view of the bridge and the fireworks alongside world-class international and local acts.

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An event festival goers shouldn't miss out on

BORYEONG is famous for their wide mudflats formed along the west coast of South Korea, and the high-quality mud at Boryeong is well known for its therapeutic qualities with high levels of germanium and minerals, as well as for its high levels of far-infrared radiation. Boryeong city have been developing, producing and selling mud based cosmetic products since 1996, and have been hosting the Boryeong mud festival with the clean, purified, commercial grade mud since 1998.

The festival, hosted by the Boryeong City, will hold over 60 different events for its visitors including the grand mud baths, the super slide, the mud basket, the air bounce experience, colour mud painting, mud mob scene, mud flat marathon, the mud run, festival exhibitions, yacht experience and oceanic adventure. Along with the various programs, there are also night time K-Pop concerts planned providing guests with a plethora of different genres including hip-hop, EDM and k-pop idol concerts.

The 22nd Boryeong Mud Festival, will be held for 10 days from July 19-28, 2019 on Daecheon Beach in Boryeong, South Korea, with the slogan "Go! Boryeong, Play! mud."


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Picture Credit:Hypnotica Studios Infinite Mud Fest 2008 via photopin

The Musical North East

THE Hartlepool Folk Festival is celebrating its fourth year with a newly-announced grant from Arts Council England. The festival, which has sold out for the last two years, is also upscaling its mainstage events from the 400-seat Hartlepool Town Hall Theatre to the 1200-seat Borough – a testament to the event’s popularity, artistic quality, and its contribution to the region’s cultural life – and will take place from 19th – 21st October.

Those who prefer jazz to folk are encouraged to head to Middlesbrough Town Hall’s Jazz Weekender, which takes place on the same weekend as Hartlepool’s Folk Festival. Programmed by Gateshead International Jazz Festival’s Ros Rigby, the Jazz Weekender will include a nod to the past, but also firmly look to the future, the festival is set to be an action-packed weekend in celebration of the genre.

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It's Infectious

PREPARE yourself for a takeover! Nova 6 Marketing and the city of Altoona, Pennsylvania will be bringing back the dead as ZombieTown USA returns October 5 & 6, 2018. The Railroaders Memorial Museum and Downtown Altoona will be the scene for a weekend of family friendly entertainment.

This year’s event will feature even more opportunities to participate as ZombieTown USA has added new vendors, entertainers and events to make this year even bigger than the last. Live music throughout the weekend will provide the backdrop for Zombie flash mobs, marches, survival challenges and many more interactive zombie-themed activities. This is an all-ages encounter that encourages everyone to participate.

www.zombietownusa.com

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San Antonio celebrates like no other

WHEN it comes to Día de Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, there's no place in the United States that observes this traditionally Mexican holiday quite like San Antonio. This year, as the city celebrates its Tricentennial anniversary, there will be more than 20 unique events from October 20 through November 3 -- more than any other city in Texas, and likely any other city in the country. 

Mexican roots run deep in San Antonio (which is a previous colonial capital of New Spain and state capital of the Mexican state of Coahuila y Tejas). The city is a three-hour drive from the U.S.-Mexico border, and more than 60 percent of the city's population is of Mexican descent. This cultural heritage is evident through San Antonio'sunwavering celebratory spirit -- the city hosts a seemingly endless roster of festivals and events each year, including the 10-day-long Fiesta San Antonio in April -- and also is distinctly felt when it comes to Día de Los Muertos.

This year's events run the gamut, from small gatherings with traditional altars and face painting to multiple-day festivals featuring live music, stilt walkers, Mexican cuisine and festive parades. In addition to official celebrations, restaurants and cafes across San Antonio will showcase altars, customary décor and fresh-baked pan de muerto, a popular type of sweet bread that is also used as an offering to loved ones who have passed. This collective spirit offers an unforgettable way to experience the city, as well as to gain insight into this unique, historic holiday which views death with lightness and humor rather than fear. Most events are family friendly, allowing children to learn about the rich traditions of the holiday, helping it continue for generations to come.


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Sunset Jazz in St Lucia

A locally-owned hotel in #StLucia is getting into the spirit of St. Lucia Jazz by presenting a free "Beach Sunset Jazz" musical showcase for local residents and visitors to the island.

To be held on Reduit Beach near the resort chain's flagship Bay Gardens Beach Resort & Spa, the jazz experience will feature local food and beverage offerings with spectacular sunset views, and promises to be an entertaining event.

St. Lucia Jazz is a celebration of St. Lucian, Caribbean and international jazz music, with events in all parts of the country, culminating with a major concert at the Pigeon Island National Landmark on Mother's Day, Sunday, May 13, 2018.

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Festival vibes in Normandy

WHERE else can you head out on holiday and Listen to live jazz in medieval streets? Rock out on a racecourse after touring the Pays d’Auge, land of cider and cheese? This summer, festival vibes are coming to #Normandy, and you can enjoy international artists and regional cuisine with all those famous Norman landmarks just a short drive away. Big names, picture-postcard scenery, surprisingly inexpensive tickets… all just a short hop away from the UK! Here are our five favourite festivals: 

1) Jazz sous les Pommiers, 5-12 May – Coutances A celebration of all things jazz, eight-day family-friendly festival Jazz sous les Pommiers [Jazz under the Apple Trees] takes place every year in the pretty medieval town of Coutances, and attracts 30,000 visitors of all ages, with performances from international stars and passionate amateur musicians spanning seven stages, venues throughout the town and even local cafés and streets. 

2.) Beauregard, 6-9 July – Hérouville Saint-Clair (near Caen) Set in the beautiful grounds of the Château de Beauregard, the popular Beauregard Festival’s star-studded line-up, chilled-out vibe and proximity to both Ouistreham port and Caen-Carpiquet airport means that it appeals to both families and friends heading over from the UK.  

3) Rock in Évreux, 29 June- 1 July – Évreux Don’t let the name Rock in Evreux fool you: rock is sure to shake Evreux, but a sonic sound clash of electro beats, hip-hop breaks and driving rhythms will also fill the summer air on its racecourse. Easy to get to by train from London via Paris, this festival comes in first place for anyone who doesn’t want to take the car! 

4) Hello Birds, 6-8 July – Étretat This free event is held in legendary Étretat, world-renowned for its iconic cliffs overlooking the Channel, and includes live shows and DJ sets on the beach. 

5) Cabourg Mon Amour, 29 June-1 July – Cabourg This hip, intimate festival caters to the indie crowd and takes place on a beautiful sandy beach in the swish seaside resort of Cabourg.

www.normandymusicfestivals.com

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Sound waves on the beach

FORT Lauderdale continues to prove itself as one of South Florida’s top music destinations with the release of the 2018 Friday Night Sound Waves artist lineup. Filling the gap between the area’s largest music festivals, Tortuga Music Festival in April and Riptide Music Festival in December, the 8-month long series brings together a community of locals and visitors from around the globe, every Friday night. Now in its 3rd year, the free concert series, which takes place steps from the sand and under swaying palm leaves, returns to their home on March 16, 2018 at 6:00 pm, at the self-proclaimed “Fort Lauderdale Beach Hub,” at Las Olas Boulevard and A1A.

Widely recognized not only for the quality of artists performing, but also the wide variety of music genres, the series attracts an equally diverse audience at the family-friendly, weekend starting event. Filling beach chairs and blankets, and lining the beach’s landmark wave wall, the area comes alive with music, smiles and dancing as the day goes from sunshine to moonlight.

Friday Night Sound Waves takes place every Friday night, March 16 through November 2 from 6:00pm – 9:00pm. The family-friendly event, sponsored in major part by the beach business community, is free to the public and open to all ages.

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Jazz it up in Copenhagen

IN 2018, Copenhagen’s iconic Jazz Festival celebrates its 40th anniversary. Taking place from July 6–15, Copenhagen Jazz Festival brings together more than 120 venues and around 1,400 concerts, making it one of the largest jazz festivals in the world. The festival presents the best of the contemporary international jazz scene, including the most vibrant Danish acts, and aims to stretch the boundaries of jazz by encouraging new artistic initiatives.

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Jack Up The 80's

NOW in its sixth year, this will be the retro pop festival’s second year at Smallbrook Stadium in Ryde. Owing to the success of the event earlier this year which saw sell-out crowds, organisers have advised that 2018 tickets will be strictly limited. 

Jack Up The 80s will take place over the weekend of August 11-12. The highly-acclaimed event provides a family weekend of musical entertainment from chart names, food, attractions, kids arts and crafts and stalls.

Mainstream Early Bird tickets go on sale on Monday 22nd January and will be available to purchase from jackupthe80s.co.uk

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Get Down To Dorset for Great Music

#DORSET Midsummer Music Festival - A family friendly #music #festival based just outside Dorchester, in a natural amphitheatre on the slopes of Bulbarrow Hill is on June 23 and 24th this year.

This year the legendary Ben Waters will be playing as well as local favourites such as Howling At The Moon, new up and coming acts such as DD Allen and even LaceBlack who are an act coming over especially from Italy.

Children's entertainment, most of which is included in the price of the ticket at just £3. This includes Jamie Jigsaw (magician, juggler and all round entertainer), Bugfest (bringing creepy crawlies to life) and Hoop On hula hoop workshops.

There will be a wide range of food catering for every taste - from Pizza to Thai, Fish & Chips to Hog Roast. There will also be local beer, cider and wine to enjoy.

For those who wish to make the most of the weekend, there is also camping available in this area of outstanding natural beauty.

www.midsummermusic.co.uk

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Culture & Quirkiness on the Isle of Wight

Number One Island 19 January, and every month afterwards
Bestival founder Rob da Bank is launching his latest creation on the Isle of Wight, as Number One Island makes its debut at The Cow Co, Tapnell Farm, on January 19th. This will be a monthly music night showcasing the musical talents on the Island – including artists, bands and producers.

Isle of Wight Pride 15 July
Taking place on the streets of Ryde this summer, this is the first time that the Isle of Wight will host a Pride. This is being planned as an inclusive day out for all the family, who will be able to enjoy a parade through the streets and help to celebrate the diversity and community of the Isle of Wight.

Sandown Carnival 30 July
Celebrate 127 years of Sandown Carnival for a fantastic day of family fun. With an extravaganza of activities, parades, competitions and more, culminating in a fantastic fireworks display, the Sandown Carnival is a great day out on the Isle of Wight.

Isle of Wight Day 23 September
This day of celebration will bring together businesses, community groups, towns and villages all in a fun-filled day, which will boast a food festival in Bembridge harbour, a Grand Parade and many more family-friendly activities. This is a fantastic way to experience the very best of Island life – and will be a day out to remember.

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Festival frolics on the Isle of Wight

The Isle of Wight Festival 8-11 June
This iconic festival is known as one of the best music festivals in the UK – and is not to be missed. Winner of the Best Family Friendly Festival in the 2016 Family Traveller Awards, it is ideal for music lovers of all ages, and with headliners this year including Arcade Fire, Rod Stewart, David Guetta and Run DMC, it is not to be missed. Plan ahead and book ferry travel soon to take advantage of Wightlink’s Early Bird Ferry Fares until 31 January 2017.

Ventnor Fringe 8 – 13 August
Originally created by a team of local students in 2010, Ventnor Fringe follows the core principles of the famous Edinburgh Fringe that inspired it, in which any artist can take part. From musicians to comedians, poets to dancers and pop-up cinemas to woodland sing-alongs, the Ventnor Fringe is an exciting place for a culture vulture. Ventnor Fringe has grown into one of the Island’s most exciting new eclectic festivals, attracting performers from all over the world.

Jack up the 80s 11 – 13 August
With the artists Jason Donovan, Alexander O’Neal, Bruce Foxton From The Jam and The Real Thing already confirmed, this 80s revisit in Ryde is sure to be a hit. Tickets will be on sale from 23 January, so make sure to grab these tickets while they’re hot – after all, they are Especially For You.

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Music at Masada

THE legendary electronic music artist Jean Michel Jarre will perform at Masada, Dead Sea, #Israel, this coming April. The concert is part of a big-scale campaign to bring awareness to the environmental issues that the Dead Sea is facing

The French musician, considered one of the pioneers of electronic music genres such as synth pop, new age and ambient, will perform at Masada on April 6.

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Picture Credit: nuc_gr 67747296@N00/4660851822 via photopin

Tourism Ireland film highlights Ireland’s biggest traditional music festival

PLANNING ahead for next year? Have a look at this . . . four days, 17 unique venues, one great traditional music festival … Tourism Ireland has unveiled a new film called “Temple Bar TradFest 2017”. 

Every January, Ireland’s largest traditional music festival takes place in Dublin’s Temple Bar, with four great days of music and dance. 

The film is being promoted through Tourism Ireland’s social platforms, including Facebook (3.8 million fans worldwide), Twitter (379,000 followers) and YouTube.

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Bristol Jazz and Blues Festival

BRISTOL Jazz & Blues Festival returns from Thursday March 16 to Sunday March 19 with an incredible line-up of over 50 events across three venues. 

One of this years highlights is Macy Gray and Saturday night looks to be a spectacular night with iconic movie themes from the 60's and 70's featuring the Army of Generals string orchestra and a 21-piece jazz orchestra.

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Music tourism hits the high notes for Britain

UK MUSIC has published ‘Wish You Were Here -2016’, a study highlighting the contribution made by #livemusic and music tourism to Britain’s economy in 2015. 

The report features both national and regional figures and for the first time reveals the impact of music tourism to twelve UK cities: Norwich, Leicester, Newcastle, Manchester, Belfast, Glasgow, Brighton, Exeter, Cardiff, Coventry, Hull, and London.

The study’s finding included:

• A total audience of 27.7 million attended live music events in the UK in 2015. 

• More people are watching live music locally …. 17.3 million local residents attended music events in their area in 2015. This was up by 14% from 2014. 

• 3.7 million attended a #festival in 2015 in the UK, and 24 million attended a concert. 

• Music tourism generated £3.7 billion in direct and indirect spend in the UK last year, up by 7% on the previous year. 

• There were 10.4 million music tourists in the UK in 2015, 38% of the whole live music audience. 

• Overseas music tourism increased by 16% to 767,000 visitors. 

• There were 39,034 full time jobs in the UK sustained by music tourism. 

• Music tourists generated a £549 million box office spend on tickets in 2015, £38 million of which came from tickets bought by foreign tourists. 

Jo Dipple, UK Music Chief Executive commented: ‘The appetite for live music continues to grow. Last year overseas music tourism increased by 16%, whilst British music events were attended by a staggering 27.7 million people in 2015. What this report shows, unequivocally, is the economic value of live music to communities, cities and regions.’ 

*UK Music is the umbrella organization which represents the collective interests of the country’s commercial music industry, including artists, musicians, songwriters and composers, record labels, music publishers, and studio producers.

www.ukmusic.org

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Picture Credit: 8816624@N08/2640811031 De Parade 2008 via/photopin.com

Bands by the sea

PLANS are in hand to stage Thorpefest, an outdoor music festival at the Thorpeness Country Club, near Aldeburgh on Suffolk’s Heritage Coast on July 2.

Featuring almost a dozen bands from 12noon until 10pm, the charity concert replaces the Music by the Sea event, which has been held outside the White Lion Hotel on Aldeburgh’s sea front since 2012.

Peter Osborne at organisers TA Hotel Collection said: ‘With music by the Sea attracting more than 10,000 people, it has become necessary to move and revamp the event. The privately-owned Thorpeness Country Club is the perfect secure venue with both indoor and outdoor space including a large lawn overlooking the sea.

‘For the first time, it would be a pre-sold ticketed event welcoming 3,000 people to enjoy some great music performed by national acts, emerging local artists, tribute bands, and favourites from previous years.’

Bands include the Austin Beats, whose repertoire features music made famous by The Rolling Stones, the Kinks, and other artists from the 50s and 60s.

Champagne, beer tents, and a BBQ would be provided by the Thorpeness Dolphin Inn and the White Lion Hotel.

Tickets are priced at £12 per person, or £10 for Thorpeness Country Club members, £8 for under 12s and free for under 5s.

For full details, go to www.thorpenesscountryclub.co.uk, www.whitelion.co.uk, or www.brudenellhotel.co.uk

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