Indian Percussion with Sanjay Dixit
11.00am | Sat 24 Feb
Sanjay Dixit has been pursuing the art of Indian percussion since he was nine, learning from Pt Gyan Shankar Ghosh of Mumbai, India. He has played solo and accompanied a wide array of instrumentalists and vocalists in India, Sweden, Russia and New Zealand, and coaches theory and practise of tabla at the New Zealand School of Music in Wellington.
Raashi Malik with Live Band
12.00pm | Sat 24 Feb
Raashi Malik's soulful voice is mostly associated with Wellington band Rhombus. Having recently returned from showcasing her songs in India, Raashi will be performing a mixture of soul fusion and traditional Indian folk with a live band featuring Rhian Sheehan (guitar), Rim Beals (bass), Ariel While (drums) and Jess Chambers.
The Midnights
1.00pm | Sat 24 Feb
Aotearoa original flax roots reggae. From their first live gig at Carnival in 2002, The Midnights have been performing their distinctive style of blues, jazz, soul and roots reggae in local festivals and clubs around the country.
Tahu
2.15pm | Sat 24 Feb
Tahu combines Taonga Puoro (musical instruments of the NZ Maori) and Western Classical Guitar traditions. Using both original compositions and improvisation, Tahu aim to explore the New Zealand landscape through a unique sound experience. Performers are Mike Hogan (Guitar), and Alistair Fraser, Henare Walmsley and Wiremu Namana (Taonga Puoro).
Candela
3.00pm | Sat 24 Feb
Candela is a ten piece salsa band, playing a sizzling selection of tunes from Cuba, Puerto Rico and New York City. A visual and musical spectacle, Candela features a five piece rhythm section, three horns and two singers. The band blends the talents of musicians from Cuba, Europe and New Zealand, and promises a high energy performance with horn lines building to crescendos, fiery percussion solos, and beautiful exotic Spanish lyrics.
Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra
4.15pm | Sat 24 Feb
Drawing together some of Wellington's favourite musicians and commanding the four-string like you've never heard it before, these merry strummers faithfully reproduce hit songs across the musical spectrum. Expect inviting sing-alongs, outstanding instrumentals, well-dressed individuals, sparkling harmonies and comic banter.
Troika
5.00pm | Sat 24 Feb
Bringing to Carnival the true sound of Eastern Europe Gypsy music, this three piece band comprises of Alistair Cuthill (Mandolin), Slava Fainitski (Fiddle) and Ira Dudarenko (keys).
Parcel of Rogues
6.00pm | Sat 24 Feb
Alt country/Celtic/Americana band Parcel of Rogues formed in 1997 out of a mutual affinity with the darker side of country music exhibited by artists such as Steve Earle and The Bad Livers etc, combined with a Celtic twist. The line up includes 'Dusty Bones' (guitars, harmonica, bodhran, vocals), Billy Bob Stone (banjo, mandolin, guitar, vocals), WT Heehaw (bass), Junior Nash (drums).
O MATA! Tokelau Dance Group
6.45pm | Sat 24 Feb
Malo ni! O Mata are a group of young New Zealand born Tokelauans who came together in May 2005 to share with the world their love of our Tokelauan culture. ‘O Mata’ is an expression in Tokelauan that emphasizes joy, passion and pride in performance. Ages range from 13yrs to 30yrs and although the group are all of Tokelauan descent they also have a rich and diverse range of ethnicities which include Cook Islands, Samoan, Tongan and Wallisian. Whakawhetai.
Vhirin
7.30pm | Sat 24 Feb
Vhirin is a group of young Kanaks from the tribe of Tchambouène, in Pouébovillage located in the north of New Caledonia, playing the politically-inspired, reggae-influenced "Kaneka" music which originally emerged in 1985 during their fight for independence. Appearing courtesy of the New Caledonia New Zealand Season 2007, supported by the Government and Provinces of New Caledonia www.NewCaledoniaSeason.co.nz
Tropical Downbeat Orchestra
8.30pm | Sat 24 Feb
A seven piece soul-funk-jazz collective from Hawke's Bay playing original compositions of groove-based flat-out funk. The irie organ, horn ensemble, dynamic drum tempo, soulful female vocals, underlying bass, and rhythm guitar will shake your brain to a different strain.
Big Bada Boom
10.30pm | Sat 24 Feb
This Wellington-based, Indo Asian outfit consists of six south Asian artistes creating Aotearoa's version of the UK's Asian Underground scene with influences from Bhangra, Bollywood, Hip Hop, Dancehall and all grooves Asian. An underground extravaganza of dhol laden beats, coupled with lyrical madness, some downright righteous rhythms, and a heap of groovin'.
Bongmaster:
12.00am | Sun 25 Feb
Like ghosts from the past comes the original BONGMASTER. Their live acts are far too rare an occurrence possibly because of the logistical problems of organising the 15 odd people that make up Bongmaster. The fine line up includes members of Fat Freddy's Drop, Weta, Ebb, Trinity Roots, Little Bushman, Scribes of Ra, The Eggs, Wai, and who knows how many more, its ridiculous.