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ROCKONZ Rock 'n' Retro Festival 2009 - Sunday 10 May to Sunday 17 May, 2009
Hi Folks - Cecile and Dion here,
Once again we are starting down the track towards the 2009 ROCKONZ Retro Festival celebrating the music, the people, and the genre of the era, with our week long programme starting on the 10 May 2009. The time has come to alert you all to the Festival timeline. We are of course looking for volunteers to help make ROCKONZ a great event, and to those of you who have helped before, we are looking forward to working with you again. We are looking to have a get-together Festival meeting on Sunday 1st March at the Cashmere Club at 3.00pm, to introduce the steering committee to you all and put out a list of tasks which need people to complete them. We are also very keen to get a fresh perspective from you all, once you hear what we are attempting to achieve. From this point our Webmaster will be putting up new information on the website as it is finalised. We have had lots of queries from car owners wanting parade details. To register, see the details on the "Cars" page on this website, phone Peter McCaw on 03 344 1963 or e-Mail him at chev.nomad@xtra.co.nz
The ROCKONZ Magic
Starts on Sunday 10 May as the Classic Cars, HotRods and Motor Bikes assemble to take part in the ROCKONZ Parade, which will start from the New Brighton foreshore at 11:15am and arrive into Cathedral Square at noon to a welcome and opening by Councillor Barry Corbett at around 12:30pm
The ROCKONZ Music Man
Norm Bland will perform his special brand of Rock and Roll music, and there will be dancing by Rock 'n' Roll clubs and enthusiasts, along with other fun entertainment. ROCKONZ and Canteen supporters will organize these fun activities, competitions, raffles and stalls to raise funds for Canteen (Teenagers with Cancer). The Canteens have organized a band of their own to play their music on the day. Dress up, join in and keep warm by dancing along to the music or nibbling a sausage from the Solid Gold FM sausage sizzle. Later at 4:00pm, the Cars will parade to the Cashmere Club (which will be open to the public for the ROCKONZ Retro Festival Week) to take part in the Opening night fun. If wet we will cancel Cathedral Square until the following Saturday and go straight to the Cashmere Club where the cars will go on display in the car park. The Opening Night at the Cashmere Club will be a great night. Dress up, join in the fun, sing, dance or just listen and maybe win a prize at the Club. Families are most welcome. There will be raffles, competitions, a barbecue at 5.00pm and the Rock 'n' Roll dancing from 6:00pm. The ROCKONZ Hall of Fame band and local members of the ROCKONZ Hall of Fame will entertain everyone throughout the evening. Johnny Campbell and the Detours are reforming to join the fun on the night and will feature John Clinton, former Detour and now drummer in multi-award winning Australian group "The Wolverines". John is flying over from Australia especially to rejoin his old mates for this great occasion.
ROCKONZ Music Nights
Every evening over the Festival week, music nights will be held at the Cashmere Club which is open to the public and is family oriented. Dress up and join in as there will be raffles, fun competitions and prizes. Each night will have a flavour of its own from Rock 'n' Roll, Country, to "Middle of the Road" and Blues. Opening night (Sunday) will feature the "ROCKONZ Hall of Fame Band" supported by a reunion appearance from 60s group "Johnny Campbell and The Detours", and featuring former Detour and now Wolverines drummer John Clinton who is flying in from Australia for the occasion. The Canteen teen band will be playing on Monday night, along with student bands from the CPIT Rock Music School, bringing a younger perspective to our "Retro" 60's and 70's music, and working to raise funds for their cause. Tuesday night there will be an all-night spectacular performance by "Johnny Campbell and The Detours", who will be supported by various Hall of Fame Artists, including Peter Nelson of Castaways fame (with original Castaways Don Clarkson and Doug Petrie), Vigilantes lead singer and one-time honarary Detour Dixon McIvor, local duo Gillette-McKay performing original material from their new "Moontide" CD (you will also be able to purchase their CD at ROCKONZ music nights), perennial Toni Williams, the fabulous Eddie Low and anchor-man for the night Jon McRae. The incomparable Cactus Swing Band will open the evening. "The Beagle Boys" will deliver their special brand of Blues on Tuesday night, and Solid Gold (featuring Maurice and Gary Sammons) will apear on Thursday night. Friday night will herald the appearance of local stars "The Nicotine Brothers" Both of the latter have large followings in Christchurch.
ROCKONZ Rock Hall of Fame Awards Dinner and Charity Auction
* 6:30pm 15 May, Grande Café, Christchurch Casino
This Star-studded event presents an opportunity to "rub shoulders" with the Stars, and will be attended by celebrity newly-weds, Shane and Nerida Cortese, along with Chet O'Connell and Jonathon Scott who are coming from Auckland to celebrate with Frankie Stevens, (flying in from Wellington), as he receives his award and is welcomed into the ROCKONZ Hall of Fame as a ROCKONZ International Star. There will be other musicians and performers from 1960's including John Clinton, formerly with Johnny Campbell and The Detours and now drummer in the multi-award winning Australian band "The Wolverines" (who have a massive following over the ditch). Others will be inducted in their own categories, such as ROCKONZ Southern Stars, awarded to those who have had extensive careers in the South Island. There will also be a posthumous award made to Gary Thain, who walked the world stage as bass player for the 70's band Uriah Heep. Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker will present the awards on this special occasion, and Deputy Mayor Norm Withers will handle the auctioneering duties for the Alan Bean Centre Spinal Trust Charity Auction. This will provide the opportunity to bid for items such as a T-shirt signed by members of "The Shadows", a bottle of wine from the winery of Sir Cliff Richard and other significant items. Award Dinner tickets are priced at $80.00 which includes a high quality three-course meal valued at $65.00 .... The Trust will rely on the Charity Auction to raise funds for the Alan Bean Centre Trust. Tickets can be purchased from the Canterbury Education and Community Trust. Enquiries can be made by telephone 03 383 3992, or by e-Mail: dices3@xtra.co.nz Ticket price: $80.00 - discounts being available for Hall of Fame Members.
ROCKONZ Rock Hall of Fame Awards 2009: Nominations - closing 31 March, 2009
The Nominations page on the ROCKONZ website is open for people to put forward artists from the 1950's, 60's, and 70's for consideration for the various awards available under the current ROCKONZ Hall of Fame criteria. Log on to the Hall of Fame pages and make your nomination for the entertainer, musician, band, or other "rock-relevant" individual(s) of your choice.
ROCKONZ Hall of Fame web pages ....
Logon to the ROCKONZ Rock Hall of Fame pages to view the biographies of the ROCKONZ Rock Hall of Fame members.
Jive Classes - Nerida Cortese
* Saturday Morning 16 May, at The Cashmere Club
Nerida has achieved New Zealand wide recognition as a dancer with her winning efforts in the "Dancing with the Stars" Television programme (which is being recorded at present, and due to go to air again soon). In fact "Dancing with the Stars" is where Shane and Nerida made a lasting connection through their having danced together on the programme. Nerida will be holding a class for beginners and a class for more experienced dancers as above. This is open to all interested dancers and you can get more details at avoncityrnr@yahoo.co.nz, or you can Telephone on 03 365 5720 or Fax to 03 980 7148
ROCKONZ Eureka Concert-Dance
* 7:30pm 16 May, Christchurch Town Hall Auditorium
This is the high point of the Festival. Don't miss out! The Eureka Trust has generously supported the Concert with the aim of making it accessible to everyone wanting to come along and join in the fun. The tickets will go on sale in the next two weeks and will be $39.50 for Adults and $20.00 for children, with a family concession ticket for 2 adults and 2 children for $110.00. These will be available through Ticketek. Club members can arrange block bookings through their own Rock 'n' Roll, Cliff Richard and Elvis Clubs, at a special concession rate. Contact your Club Secretary or call Cecile Murphy on Telephone 03 383 3992 (Mobile 027 416 2674), or by e-Mail: dices3@xtra.co.nz to get details on how to take advantage of this concession rate. The ROCKONZ Eureka Concert-Dance will be a variety music and dance night, with Stars - Shane Cortese and the Class of 58, Frankie Stevens, arriving in their Crown Limousines to the Christchurch Town Hall on the Saturday night 16 May at 7.15pm, to a red carpet welcome. They will join the audience at their special tables next to the dance floor. Murray "Muzza" Inglis, the Solid Gold 92.9FM Drive Home Host (2:00pm-7:00pm), is flying down from Auckland to take part in the Festival fun and be the MC for the Concert on the night. The Peter Sowden/Brian Ringrose band "ABOUT TIME" will open the show with a great selection of local artists and entertainers from the ROCKONZ Rock Hall of Fame, including, Peter Williams, Pat Kearns, Norm Bland, Anthony Easterbrook-Carter, Lorraine Liles, and Cecile and Dion Murphy. Several other acts are under negotiation and will be announced as they are confirmed.
Tickets will be available through Ticketek shortly.
ROCKONZ Jam Session
* 3:00pm Sunday 17 May, Cashmere Club (Open to the public)
The ROCKONZ Rock Hall of Fame musicians and entertainers will join with local musicians to relax to the sounds of the 60's and 70's and enjoy good times together. Shane and Nerida will pop in to say goodbye before flying back home.
ROCKONZ CanTeen Charity Auction
* 5:00pm Sunday 17 May, Cashmere Club (Open to the public)
This is the last opportunity to help the Canteen kids raise the money needed to make their dreams come true. Items to auction are welcomed as well as bids on the day. At 6.00pm there will be a Barbecue for everyone, and we'll close sometime around 10:00pm
ROCKONZ Fund raising .....
Ideas are coming in fast on fun ways to raise funds. If you have a bright idea let us know. This year, The Canterbury Education and Community Trust has agreed to raise funds for:
CANTEEN: - ROCKONZ supporters are fully committed to raising funds to help make the road to recovery for the teenagers with cancer easier. Being a teenage in today's society is hard enough without serious health issues to cloud the way. The ROCKONZ Festival will focus their day to day fund raising activities over the Festival week for this charity. This includes the two Cathedral Square fun Sundays, music nights at the Cashmere Club (Open to the Public) and a lunch time concert in Cathedral Square on Friday 15 May from midday. Donations of items to auction or to be used as prizes are very much welcomed. Please let us have your ideas by either Telephoning on 03 383 3992, or e-Mailing dices3@xtra.co.nz
ALAN BEAN CENTRE Spinal Trust: - The Canterbury Education and Community Trust will hold a charity auction at the ROCKONZ Hall of Fame awards dinner on Friday 15 May at the ROCKONZ Hall of Fame Awards dinner at the Christchurch Casino. The funds raised will be used to help meet the Alan Bean Centre Library Spinal Trust funding shortfall. These resources are available to people with spinal injuries, and helping them in their road to independence in the future. This is a more up-market auction with auction items organized by Helping Hand who find them around the world for Charity Auctions and supply authenticity certificates with the items purchased. Once we have a selection confirmede will put them up on the website where you can see what's on offer.
We are organizing through the Christchurch Star for flute board signs to go up around the city to advertise the ROCKONZ Festival and in particular the ROCKONZ Eureka Concert-Dance. We would ask for people to volunteer to put up at least one sign on a fence or other great place to get the message out there. We need all the support we can get, and we are looking for friends to sell tickets to friends. It's going to be another great night, in fact good vibes are starting already with enthusiastic requests for information about the many facets of the Festival from people with differing perspectives. PLEASE feel free to give us your thoughts and ideas by either Telephoning on 03 383 3992, or e-Mailing dices3@xtra.co.nz
All the best from Cecile and Dion
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