Tomorrow night, as the country hunkers down for another cold night, the temperature at Founders Theatre will be burning red hot as the 'Ahi Kaa - Home Fires' concert makes a return to the city.
"Featuring a stellar line up of award-winning performing artists including The Modern M?ori Quartet, Ardijah and Three Houses Down and supported by guest appearances from top local talent, the Ahi Kaa - Home Fires concert will be the hottest place in town," says event promoter, Craig Muntz of Aotearoa Experience.
The Ahi Kaa Home Fires concert is part of a broader arts and cultural programme called HAKA.
"In 2011 a HAKA programme was staged in support of the REAL New Zealand Festival. A HAKA programme was also staged in 2013 in support of the Hamilton Gardens Arts Festival. This year we are staging a HAKA programme in support of the 'Matariki ki Waikato' festival, which celebrates the Maori New Year," said Craig.
"The rising of the Matariki constellation is a time for reflection and for looking ahead and the Ahi Kaa - Home Fires concert and the broader HAKA programme complements Matariki celebrations by providing a platform to showcase and support our unique intangible cultural heritage and local performing artists."
"Events such as the Ahi Kaa - Home Fires concert are also very much about supporting our local community," said Aotearoa Experience director, Lee-Ann Muntz.
"Through the invaluable support of Creative New Zealand and Trust Waikato as well as the support received from other community oriented organisations such as The Southern Trust, Waikato-Tainui, Te Puni Kokiri, WEL Energy Trust, Tainui Group Holdings, Grassroots Trust and Te W?nanga o Aotearoa, we have been able to secure a fantastic line up of top artists for the concert and HAKA 2015 programme.
"Furthermore, we are able to support the participating artists with high quality sound, lighting and stage production which will add to the overall experience for participating artists and audience alike. Also important to us is the fact that we are able to offer such a high quality show while keeping ticket prices affordable for the community," Lee-Ann said.
Tomorrow's concert at Founders Theatre begins at 7pm. The line-up includes Te Pou o Mangatawhiri, Modern Maori Quartet, Ardijah, Three Houses Down, Native Nations, Adam Whauwhau and Te Kahu Rolleston.
Cost: $12.50 to $17.50 (plus service booking transaction fees). Tickets from www.ticketek.co.nz. For more information see facebook.com/AhiKaaHomeFires.