Erakah with the Levites ... and a couple of friends.

The lovely Erakah, just before the performance at AUT's Manukau Campus.

It was quite a different event to the one I went to a few years ago.  This was quite a low key affair, but the performances by the Levites and Erakah were wonderful.  Quite a small stage and only a few centimetres of the ground.  I was concerned that I was going to get wet, but the weather stayed fine and most of the audience fitted under the marquee.  Just a shame there wasn't a few more people to join in the fun!

Anyway, besides Erakah and the Levites we were treated to Stan Walker and Sam Cowley.  Three talented vocalists on stage supported by the Levites.  It was a real treat.

I'll close this post with a few more shots from today ...

Erakah in full flight on stage at AUT's Manukau Campus.

The lovely Erakah Nansen.

The Levite's Jacob Nansen on keys

Junior Nansen on bass guitar.

Ross Nansen on drums.

Ross on drums again ... but this time in colour :-)

Stan Walker just before going on stage at AUT's Manukau Campus.

Stan Walker, Sam Cowley and Erakah just before the performance.

Sam Cowley backstage before the performance.

Sam Cowley.

Sam Cowley on stage at AUT's Manukau Campus.

Stan Walker singing on stage with Erakah and the Levites (Christmas Ropati in the background)

Tribal Conexions

Hemi Pirihi on drums.

Tewhetu Pirihi on Bass Guitar .. and vocals.

Day one of the 2012 Manukau Institute of Techology Orientation saw Tribal Conexionz performing on stage.  A three piece Reggae Band and rather good too!

Seeing the three guys on stage I must admit to not having very high expectations of their performance.  First impressions were wrong.  These guys were really quite good!  The Rod Stewart song was a bit of a surprise to hear from a Reggae Band, but it was sweet.  The boys worked well together and produced some good Reggae sounds.  Sadly I couldn't stay too long, just long enough to get a few snaps of the boys on stage.

Good band, great atmosphere and lots of fun had by everyone who was there.  Quite looking forward to seeing them again and snapping a few more shots.

Tewhetu Pirihi at Manukau Institute of Technology's 2012 Student Orientation

Antony Pirihi on lead guitar and vocals.

Changes afoot ...

Lone fisherman, late evening, Maraetai New Zealand.

After twenty years with my current employer the time has come for a change.  I have just less than two weeks before I leave work and consider doing things other than IT.

Am I concerned, anxious or worried in any way about the future?  Surprisingly not!  I must admit to being quite excited about the idea!  Really excited for what the future may hold.

One thing I'll do is have a rest.  A long rest I think.  Go and look at the beautiful scenery here in New Zealand and take my time to look, listen and chat to people (check this out).  Who knows ... I might even try my hand at fishing like the gent in the first image in this post!

I've often had the desire to spend more time outdoors, so that's one thing I'll be adding to my list.  I'll be taking more landscape shots ... something I've always really enjoyed but never had the time to develop.  I always seemed to be in a rush and just ended up taking snapshots rather than photographs.

The bands?  Can't resist the bands!  I've met so many lovely talented people working in the music industry here in NZ and am seriously keen to spend more time with them.  Performances are often late at night which has been awkward due to early starts at work ... but now I have a chance to spend more time with the bands.

So, please tag along with me on this blog as I update you with images from my travels, gigs and whatever else crops up.  I'm hoping to have a heap of fun with plenty left over to share with you.  Remember you can also find me on Google+ and Facebook.  

Depressed?  Not a bit of it!  The future looks sunny and bright ... just like the flower below :-)

Sunflower bloom

Waitangi Day at the Barry Curtis Regional Park ... a few more shots

Here's a few more shots of Ardijah's performance on Waitangi Day at the Barry Curtis Park.  Wonderful atmosphere and great performances by all the bands that were on stage on Monday.  Great fun.  Hopefully the shots below will bring back happy memories of the day for you ...

The hugely talented Rico Tali

Rico on sax.  Very skillful on sax.  Gorgeous sounds.

Rico Tali on ukelele ... and vocals.

Ryan Monga Jr. on bass guitar

Ryan Monga Jr.

The lovely Betty-Anne.

Betty-Anne and the crowd.  Having fun?  You bet!!

Yup ... quite a few folks in the audience ... totally enthralled by Betty-Anne and Ardijah.

The lovely Betty-Anne.

Waitangi Day at the Barry Curtis Regional Park

Just a few of the folks enjoying a wonderful performance by Ardijah.

Busy?  Haha!  Just a little!!!  Heaps of people at the Barry Curtis Park enjoying a glorious day with some of New Zealand's top musical talent putting on a free show.  A real family affair and I think everyone had a wonderful time.  Shame it's not Waitangi Day more often!

Sadly I didn't get there until later in the day.  The blackbirds and thrushes have discovered my blueberry bushes so I spent a good part of the morning setting up netting.  I didn't get to the park until close to 3pm when Ardijah came on stage.  These guys have talent.  Big favourites of the crowd too.  Betty Anne on lead vocals and ukelele is a star performer.  I'll add a couple of shots at the end of this post for you to look at.

Really looking forward to seeing and hearing Ardijah again in the very near future.

Betty Anne in fine voice at the Waitangi Day celebrations.

Betty Anne and just look at the crowd!

The band ... Ardijah.  (L-R: Ryan Monga, Betty-Anne Monga, Rico Tali, Karl Benton and Ryan Monga Jr.)