Hi All. Wonderful to have a warm Kauaeranga welcome for David and Olivia at our last show. What a magical evening! The mulled wine was a big hit too! We ran out before the gig even started. We will make sure there is more available next time. If anyone is missing one cactus-shaped earring, it was found on the front steps of the hall after the gig. Reply to this email and I’ll get it back to you.
Our next show brings some tropical warmth to the Valley. We are lucky to secure Niuean musician Malcolm Lakatani on Saturday, July 25th for an evening of Niue culture. Mal will be playing some original Niuean music, some hitherto unreleased material and some covers as well as stories. Be prepared for some sing-alongs!
If blending languages, cultures and musical styles were an Olympic sport, Malcolm Lakatani would be a gold medallist. Born in New Zealand and proudly Niuean, Lakatani has built a reputation as one of Aotearoa’s most versatile and accomplished musicians, performing in both English and Niuean and effortlessly moving between contemporary soul, Pacific rhythms and traditional Niuean music.
After touring internationally with renowned Pacific group Te Vaka, Lakatani launched a successful solo career, performing at major events including the opening night of Auckland’s Pasifika Festival. His debut EP, Quote Unquote, combined soulful songwriting with innovative interpretations of traditional Niuean songs and earned three nominations at the 2010 Pacific Music Awards.
A gifted vocalist, guitarist, keyboard player and drummer, Lakatani has performed alongside leading New Zealand artists including Che Fu, Awa and David Dallas. He is also a respected music educator and founder of the Creative Souls Project and Little Souls Music Academy, programmes dedicated to nurturing young people through the arts.
Audiences can expect an uplifting evening of outstanding musicianship, powerful storytelling and rich Pacific cultural traditions.
