Amazing line-up of artists confirmed for Band Together Concert for Canterbury on October 23

An amazing line up of artists has now been confirmed for the Band Together Concert for Canterbury next month, to help those affected by the Canterbury quake, which is being organised by Paul Ellis and Opshop’s Jason Kerrison with help from Mojo Auckland.

The free concert, in Christchurch’s Hagley Park on October 23 is shaping up to be the biggest free concert ever staged in New Zealand.

As well as creating the brand concept Mojo is working with the pair to attract sponsors for the event. So far Vodafone, AMI, ANZ, TV3, Fairfax and Air New Zealand are giving substantial support, with more announcements to be made in the coming days.

Some of New Zealand’s best-loved bands and solo artists are comingtogether to entertain Cantabrians following the earthquake andsubsequent aftershocks that continue to shake the region. Canterburystalwarts The Exponents are specially reforming for the event. Theirsong, Christchurch (In Cashel St. I Wait), is the theme song of theconcert.

They’ll be joined by Opshop, The Feelers, Minuit, Clap Clap Riot,Midnight Youth, Ivy Lies and The Bats. The star-studded line up alsoincludes Bic Runga, Dave Dobbyn, J.Williams,

Che Fu, and Dane Rumble plus Julia Deans, King Kapisi and Nathan King.

Two of the biggest artists who started their careers in Christchurchover forty years ago – Ray Columbus and Dinah Lee – are returning toreprise their hits.

A total of 31 acts will be taking to the stage on Saturday October 23. The full day of music and entertainment starts at 11 am and finishes at8 pm.

Organisers Jason Kerrison and Paul Ellis say the concert is a chancefor Cantabrians to come together in the wake of the earthquake thatstruck the region on September 4: “It’s a day to reconnect with yourfriends and family, enjoy the best of New Zealand music, and just havea great time,” says Ellis.

Both are extremely appreciative of the talent who have put up theirhands to help: “It’s a fantastic mix of artists and we’re so lucky thatso many have been able to make themselves available for this,” saysKerrison, whose band Opshop will be performing on the day. The amountof talent that is going to be on that stage is extraordinary.”

Many of the artists were born and raised in the region, or have calledCanterbury home at some stage of their lives or careers, while othersjust wanted to do something to help the people of Canterbury recoverfrom their earthquake ordeal.

Joining the artists will be a number of sporting stars plus TV andradio celebrities to host the event, which will be broadcast, LIVE fromTV3 from midday.  

Sponsorship is funding the daylong concert and there will beopportunities for the rest of the country to donate to Cantabriansthose in need.

PIC: The Right Honorable Prime Minister John Key with Mojo chairman Graeme Wills.

Band Together – Concert For Canterbury

Hagley Park, Christchurch, NZ