Genre: Music

The Māori Sidesteps

Image result for the maori sidestepsPast Tour: Tour-Makers presented The Māori Sidesteps in Kerikeri (Upsurge Festival), Wanaka (Festival of Colour) and Wellington (CubaDupa) in March /April and Rotorua, Auckland (Auckland Live Cabaret Season), Hamilton, Whanganui, Carterton and Otaki in June 2019. If you are interested in The Māori Sidesteps please visit their Facebook page for more information.

 

 

Get ready for a night of hilarity as The Māori Sidesteps turn some of your favourite songs on their head in a mix of satirical skits and crooning goodness.

The newest and hottest Māori showband on the entertainment scene is fresh from a successful web-series, where one of their music videos has amassed over one million views. Festival folk up and down the country have been raving! The Māori Sidesteps relives the glory days of the Howard Morrison Quartet and Prince Tui Teka but deliver a fresh take on some of those old familiar party tunes. They put their own political spin on well-known songs, and entertain crowds with soulful harmonies and stand-up comedy.

Starring some of New Zealand’s best entertainers, Jamie McCaskill (Shortland Street, Takes a Village), Cohen Holloway (Hunt for the Wilderpeople, Thor Ragnarok, Find Me A Māori Bride), Regan Taylor (Mahana), and Erroll Anderson (Ghost in the Shell).

“An entertaining, belly laughing, poignant, thought-provoking, serenading, sing-a-longy night.”

These “hard-case Māori fullas” will give you and your mates the best night out!

Tour Media / Reviews 

5 April – Theatreview review 

“they perform with an awareness of who they are and what they do that gives rise to a joyous exuberance that both connects with and enthrals the audience.”

21 May – Rotorua Daily Post / ‘Distinctly Māori humour’ – the Māori Sidesteps coming to Rotorua next month 

4 June – Rotorua Daily Post / Māori Sidesteps bringing performance to heart of Māori showband rohe 

11 June – Seven Sharp 

12 June – Te Ao Māori News 

27 June – Horowhenua Chronicle / Māori Sidesteps to wind up their tour with Ōtaki gig at Māoriland

Björk: All is Full of Love

UImage result for blackbird ensemblePast Tour: Tour-Makers presented Björk: All Is Full of Love in Christchurch, Wanaka (Festival of Colour), Dunedin (Dunedin Fringe Festival in March/April 2019 and Wellington, Nelson (Nelson Arts Festival), Hamilton and Hawke’s Bay (Hawke’s Bay Arts Festival) in October 2019. If you are interested in Björk: All Is Full of Love or any further shows by Blackbird Ensemble, please visit their website for more information.

 

 

Musical direction by Claire Cowan

Performed by Blackbird Ensemble with guest vocalists; Anna Coddington, Mara TK, and Priya Sami

Blackbird Ensemble, New Zealand’s most inventive and theatrical chamber orchestra, presents an awe-inspiring homage to the inimitable Icelandic pop artist Björk.

In All is Full of Love, Blackbird Ensemble serves up an audio feast of Björk’s finest songs across the decades, reimagining her much-loved classics from Debut through to Medulla and Utopia.

Taking to the stage with signature flair they showcase a fine cast of vocal talent, with extraordinary visual design to evoke the themes which provide so much inspiration to Björk herself.

The line-up includes the talent of singer-songwriter Anna Coddington, the psychedelic soul of Mara TK, and dream-pop artist Priya Sami from the Sami sisters. A band of strings, brass, woodwind, keys and percussion presents custom arrangements by Silver Scroll-winning composer/director Claire Cowan.

“The bijou spectacle of Blackbird Ensemble is something to hear and behold …, with frisky fiddles and punchy saxes… Don’t miss out on the magic.“ -William Dart, NZ Herald

“Absolutely brilliant; musical execution in every regard quite superb…. a universe of musical textures. ….. it sounds mesmerising and magical and we are transported.” – Penny Dodd, Theatreview

“This show is absolutely mesmerising.” Anika Moa

Contains smoke/haze
Running Time: 90 mins no interval

Tour Media / Reviews 

22 February – Scoop / Blackbird Ensemble goes National with Björk homage show

OnMag / Thanks F*** It’s Friday with Claire Cowan of Blackbird Ensemble 

12 October – RNZ / Blackbird Ensemble back with more Björk 

14 October – The Dominion Post / Take Flight with Claire Cowan and the Blackbird Ensemble

18 October – Off the Tracks Review 

“it is an immaculately selected curation. It’s fairly immaculately performed too…this fantastic band absolutely nails it.”

25 October – The Hook NZ review 

“There is whooping and hollering and standing ovations and the feeling of a deep appreciation for the ambition of what has been strived for here, what has been achieved.

Little Shop of Horrors

header_logoTour-Makers presented The Little Shop of Horrors in Tauranga, Blenheim, Auckland, Christchurch and New Plymouth in 2015. If you are interested in this show please contact Jumpboard Productions.

The Little Shop of Horrors  opened in May 2015 to excellent critical acclaim. The production significantly ups the danger and excitement of Live Live Cinema by merging the band, Foley and actors into one small ensemble that work together at breakneck pace to create the live soundtrack. Our Audrey is also our pianist, Seymour is on guitar and all other characters are played by our drummer and our bass player. The Foley booth explodes out across the stage with sound effects now being generated by each and every performer. Opening season stars Byron Coll, Barnie Duncan, Laughton Kora and Hayley Sproull.

“The acting is tremendous, the musicality virtuous, the foley production ridiculous.” – Greg Bruce Metro Magazine

LSOH PROMO Herald Theatre from Phil Evans on Vimeo.