Bryan Adams

Bryan Adams brings rock back

He encapsulates the 1980s, with a career spanning more than four decades and a signature brand of feel-good rock’n’roll hits, now Bryan Adams is returning to New Zealand with his ‘Shine A Light’ tour.       Presented by Neptune Entertainment and The Breeze, the four-date tour will celebrate the release of his forthcoming album Shine […]

Entertainment Company

Making musical magic: the Entertainment Company

As the name suggests, the Entertainment Company is able to knock your socks off, providing your function with the most awe-inspiring choreographed music and dance extravaganzas in town.     Director/Choreographer Sandy Gray has years of experience putting on the most magical and spell-bounding performances, thanks to her team of Christchurch’s most talented dancers, musicians, […]

String to her bow

String to her bow: Cathy Irons

Acclaimed violinist Cathy Irons has added another string to her bow – pardon the pun – for the Classical Jazz Quartet’s concerts in Southern Lakes later this month.     Cathy and fellow Christchurch-based musicians Barry Brinson (piano/keyboard), Michael Davis (bass) and Doug Brush (drums) return for two shows at Labour Weekend, following their warm […]

Stan Walker

Stan Walker hits the high note: Q&A with Stan Walker

It’s been the biggest year of Stan Walker’s life; he has fought and won the battle against stomach cancer. Now he’s getting back to what he loves, with a 12-date New Takeover tour that will see him performing across New Zealand’s main centres throughout October and November.     Metropol caught up with Stan to […]

Sons of Zion

A Reggae Return: Sons of Zion

Hit Kiwi band Sons of Zion has just wrapped-up a seven-date nationwide tour, while their latest hit ‘Drift Away’ continues to dominate Kiwi radio and smash up the charts.     The band’s single ‘Drift Away’, which comes from their new full-length album Vantage Point, has been the no. 1 most played song on New […]

Phil Collins

Phil Collins Rocks into Town: Not Dead Yet Live! Tour

Global superstar Phil Collins will be rocking his way down under, early next year. The former Genesis singer and drummer has been making his way across the US and Europe as part of his Not Dead Yet: Live! Tour, presented by TEG Dainty.     One of the most successful artists of the 1980s with […]

Artistic Attraction

North Canterbury’s Artistic attraction

As an escape from any urban existence, North Canterbury is perfect. Not only spectacularly beautiful, it boasts pure mountain air and hot pools; forest or alpine walks and mountain-biking. That high-adrenaline sports happen here is obvious when driving the last stretch over the precipitous Hanmer bridge.   Home to a great gourmet and shopping scene, […]

Bic Runga

Hitting the right note: Q&A with musical talent Bic Runga

Bic Runga is one of Canterbury’s most successful exports and, although she hasn’t gone far – just the other end of the country – Christchurch is where her heart is. Bic released her debut album Drive in August 1997 to popular acclaim; an album that is widely regarded as one of New Zealand’s most iconic. […]

Lionel Richie

Lionel Richie: A living legend

Last month, Christchurch was witness to one of the best musicians of the 1980s. The legend himself, Lionel Richie. Songwriter, actor, singer and record producer, he has been gracing our televisions of late with his role as an American Idol judge. With such hits as Endless Love, All Night Long, Stuck on You, Say You […]

Photo: Grant Hadley-Bennett

Vocal virtuosos: the talented performers behind ‘Oriana’

They’re young, vivacious and vocal virtuosos. Meet Amelia Ryman, Kimberley Wood, Matthew Harris and Harry Meehan, the faces of Oriana. This premier ensemble is rocking retrospective songs like nobody else – think sixteenth/seventeenth century retrospective! The name Oriana is a nod to Queen Elizabeth I. “Oriana was a kind of nickname for her; it was […]