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It seems like we’ve been counting down the days for ever, but the Rugby World Cup 2011 is finally here! Wellington Batucada has been invited by the City Council to do a series of performances for the World Cup celebrations, and our first gig was in the Fanzone on opening night. Continue reading
It’s very industrial underneath Westpac Stadium – all concrete pillars and not much lighting to speak of.
Somehow, when I was imagining us playing at the All Blacks vs Springboks tri-nations match last week I was picturing it being quite dimly-lit on the field as well, so it was a bit of a shock as we walked around the corner and could see the far end of the player’s tunnel in front of us, with the field and thousands of yellow seats beyond. I’d forgotten there’d be floodlights! It was brighter than a very bright thing out there! Crikey!
We gathered in formation on the edge of the field just in front of the tunnel, Tim gave the signal to begin, and we began our parade. Continue reading
Last Tuesday, I was drawn like a fly to a pile of fishheads to the Overseas Terminal for the launch of FishHead magazine…
…The seven minute voyage across the harbour seemed to have been planned entirely so the hipsters could get their “on a boat” badge on Foursquare. Oh hipsters and their adorable need to collect things. Anyone would think that their lives were hollow and empty or something. Things got more lively on land, where we were welcomed by Batucada, fishheads firmly in place.
The band sounded great outside, marching back and forward and hitting their percussiony bits. When they came inside later on, it was a little too loud though, so this Fly wasn’t surprised to see guests slipping outside to get their Titanic on…
The Masked Barfly – 30 March 2010 – The Wellingtonista
Thousands of Wellington residents and rugby fans turned out in the central city to show this year’s crop of NZI Sevens players what to expect this weekend.
The parade, featuring the tournament’s 16 teams, kicked off at 12.45pm and was led by Wellington samba band Batucada and the Argentinian sevens team.
Fans clapped and cheered as players passed through the central city streets with the teams arriving to a packed-out Civic Square. Each team captain was called to the stage where they addressed the excited crowd, which saved its biggest cheer for the home team…
Stuff – 4 February 2010
The first weekend in February is always a big one for Wellington, and this year promises to be the same…
“So theoretically, you could head to One Love in the morning, go to Waitangi Park for the afternoon, and then join Wellington Batucada as they drum their way from Queens Wharf to Westpac Stadium in the lead up to kick-off. And if you’ve enough energy left in between – check out the OK Dinghy Regatta on the Waterfront,” says Cr Morrison.
Wellington City Council News – 21 January 2010
batucada peformance 1 @ parihaka (via karenkeefe22)
WellingtonBatucada.wmv (via newswirenz)
(via xenogram)
Shrek was a hit, as usual. So too were the foam cannons and of course the Batucada dancer with the skimpy pants.
The public turned out to the annual Blossom Parade in droves on Saturday and they were not disappointed as close to 1000 people danced, waved and cheered through the streets of Hastings…
… The Batucada dance group from Wellington, which is a regular fixture at the parade, set the mood for the first-time Caribbean Steel Band later on.
Hawke’s Bay Today, 14 September 2009
Brazilian drumming will introduce a four-day season of new documentary films from Brazil at the New Zealand Film Archive tonight. The season is titled Reel Brazil.
The popular Wellington Batucada drumming group will be performing from 6.15, and there’ll be complimentary caipirinhas before the first screening at 7pm – Empress of Carnaval.
Then on Thursday, Friday and Saturday there’ll be two or three sessions each day, followed by a fund-raising screening for the drummers.
Wellington.Scoop, 26 August 2009