Although we didn’t realise it at the time, the 2020 Newtown Fair was our last gig before lockdown, just over two weeks later. It was also to be the last gig with our dear friend Mathew Gale.
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This was our first time at the Life Flight Trust Open Day – and it was a beautiful day for it.
It was quite exciting to be hanging out amongst the planes, helicopters, emergency vehicles, dashing life-saving-emergency-personnel, and cute rescue dogs. And banana dogs! Don’t forget those fruit-sniffing heroes!
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The Pride Hikoi is a waterfront Rainbow parade from Civic Square that culminates in the opening of the Out in the Park event in Waitangi Park. We were asked by some of our Rainbow members and allies to drum and dance at this event, which we were delighted to do.
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Oof!
We were invited to perform at the Round the Bays event (for the Fiji Airways Corporate Zone), entertaining the runners as they race past. Our drummers and dancers performed from 7:45am to 9:30 am – playing off and on for runner groups passing by.
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You know how sometimes you get those lovely performances where everything just feels right – and you don’t know how or why, but it’s a great experience when it happens?
This was one of those nights.
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Wellington Batucada drummers and dancers were invited this year, for the first time, to perform at the Upper Hutt City of Song Festival.
What a beautiful day – and what a lovely venue, with the large stage in amongst the dappled shade of the trees at Harcourt Park.
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What a lovely day, and what a lovely gig.
My goodness. What a stonkingly hot day that was – you can’t beat Welly etc etc.
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Wellington Batucada is absolutely thrilled to have been invited by Wellington composer John Psathas to take part in Cubasonic – his original score for over 500 musicians written especially for this year’s CubaDupa.
We’ve been learning and rehearsing our part in this epic piece since November and we’re really excited to be involved. The score is nothing like anything we’ve ever played before, which makes it fascinating and an excellent challenge to get our heads around.
John Psathas and CubaDupa director Gerry Paul were interviewed on Radio New Zealand this week. Have a listen and get excited about what’s to come – it’s gonna be huge!
A mass musical disruption is coming to the Capital as part of the CubaDupa festival next month.
500 muscians will line Cuba Street from one end to the other and perform an original score by Wellington composer John Psathas.
Add in a sound system across multiple city blocks and a locally-invented Tesla coil that can be played like a keyboard and shoots lightning into its surrounding and you’ve got Cubasonic.
Lynn’s guests are John Psathas and CubaDupa director Gerry Paul. CubaDupa is on March 28 and 29 in Wellington.
RNZ, Nine To Noon, 7 February 2020
At a remote venue on the windswept hills above Ohariu Valley we were the surprise entertainment as we drummed and danced at the wedding of Marina and Andrew – a lovely Brazilian/Kiwi couple.
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Wellington Batucada drummers entertain the sponsored walkers at Walking Stars Wellington. Video by Tom S Etuata.