Entertainment & Music Programme
Franko Heke is on a mission to raise consciousness through his music and workshops. Drawing on ancient mantra in combination with his own cultural roots, Franko’s devotional sessions are bound to coax your own divine voice into the open with his distinct fresh sounds for today. With years of touring rock music under his belt, Franko’s compass has drawn him north toward a movement, which brings people together, celebrating our unique gifts, our connection to one another and to mother earth. Sought after for yoga, meditation and transformational festival events, Franko’s boundless energy for the betterment of all beings. Having opened for Xavier Rudd and Nahko & Medicine for the people as well as sharing the microphone with Donavon Frankenreiter, Franko Heke is poised to have his message heard far and wide.
Bio The Twisty Twinz - Jola and Nele Siezen Born into this world as identical twins, Jola and Nele began their strong physical and emotional bond in the womb, which continues in their play and work today. In 2002 they completed a diploma in theatre and performing arts at Selwyn College (Auckland). Moving to Christchurch in 2005, they completed a two-year Diploma in Circus Arts at Circo Arts (CPIT, Christchurch), specialising in partner acrobatics, aerial silk/sling and acrobatic stilt walking. In 2018 Jola and Nele Siezen completed the 'Acro Mastermind Teacher Training' with Jason & Chelsey Magness -(2018- Te Anau NZ). Over the past 20 years they have traveled extensively performing, training and teaching in New Zealand, Australia and Europe, working with a vast variety of artists and performers. Jola & Nele Siezen are founding members of the Loons Circus Theatre Company http://www.thebutlershow.com<http://www.thebutlershow.com www.thebutlershow.com , they are also Guiness world record holders (three people in a small box)- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTyQgCruY-E. The Twisty Twinz are now based in Nelson NZ- where they live and teach and perform when not on tour around the globe!
Sika is a multi-instrumentalist performance artist. His instruments bridge us back to the timeless story of humanity’s relationship with sound. He has been offering concerts worldwide for over 25 years and weaves together sound, music and earth wisdom. Based in New Zealand, he is recognized by Māori, Native American and Aboriginal elders, including the Yuin tribe of South Australia. Today, besides being an internationally respected musician, Sika is considered a wisdom keeper. His sounds invoke a primal memory, which is common to us all. Sika tours internationally each year, primarily in the UK, New Zealand and Australia. His UK 2019 tour included numerous festivals and public events such as: Stonehenge, Carnglaze Caverns and The Royal Academy. He has recorded nine solo albums and collaborated on numerous projects with other artists around the world. Other notable landmarks in his extensive career include Westminster Abbey, The Commonwealth Institute and TePapa NZ National Museum. He has played extensively in Australia and made several U.S.A. tours.
Originals and improvisations straight from two true hearts of creativity. Paul and Kristina’s partnership spans over 32 years of storytelling, playing music together and raising a family. For this Evolve festival, they bring their full repertoire of strings, percussion and beautiful handmade wooden and bamboo flutes to share with you so come and relax, be inspired and chill out to the sounds of KiwiJam.
Samantha Dench- Creative Vinyasa with live music ~ meditation, grounding. Samantha is a qualified Yoga, Meditation and Breathwork Facilitator who teaches all over the world. Currently leading the Head of Health & Wellness department at Maruia Hot Springs in the Lewis Pass, where she is teaching, coaching and guiding sauna infusions. Yoga has been a part of Samantha’s life for over 15 years. Her practice has helped her grow stronger, more flexible and fearless, both on and off the mat. Yoga inspires Samantha to live each day more mindfully, moment to moment. Completing her first yoga teacher training in the south of France, with Patrick Loubert she further continued her studies around the world: in Spain, Bali and New Zealand. She believes we are continuously learning and evolving. Samatha has a strong daily meditation & pranayama practice to keep her centred and grounded and is currently diving into studying Rebirthing Breathwork. When you attend Samantha’s yoga workshop, you can expect a combination of creative sequencing, a spirit of playfulness and a dose of inspiration to help you deepen your practice. Samantha seeks to help others thrive by nurturing body, mind and soul with yoga, and breath. Her hope is that you step off the mat feeling refreshed, nourished and balanced. Samantha’s unique approach to teaching has you moving with your breath and feeling the rhythm of the flow within you.
Redwood often collaborates with live musicians, weaving poems into musical tapestries to help the medicine sink in. Their rhymes grow out of a deep connection to earth, a love of community and a passion for justice and healing of our inner and outer worlds. Words flow from the heart with humour and compassion – aiming to reconnect us all with our true nature. Common results of a live performance include open hearts and shining eyes.
Zana Prana :: a wild wandering New Zealand born Sound Alchemist, DJ, Multi Instrumentalist & Singer. Passionate about initiating the realms of liberation through curating musical experiences that drip with culture, connection & transformation. Zana travels the world facilitating transcendental soundscapes for movement journeys through weaving her own ethereal vocals, live instruments, medicine music, tribal bass, emotive classics, funky jazz, indigenous shamanic and ritual world music.
Bio The Twisty Twinz - Jola and Nele Siezen Born into this world as identical twins, Jola and Nele began their strong physical and emotional bond in the womb, which continues in their play and work today. In 2002 they completed a diploma in theatre and performing arts at Selwyn College (Auckland). Moving to Christchurch in 2005, they completed a two-year Diploma in Circus Arts at Circo Arts (CPIT, Christchurch), specialising in partner acrobatics, aerial silk/sling and acrobatic stilt walking. In 2018 Jola and Nele Siezen completed the 'Acro Mastermind Teacher Training' with Jason & Chelsey Magness -(2018- Te Anau NZ). Over the past 20 years they have traveled extensively performing, training and teaching in New Zealand, Australia and Europe, working with a vast variety of artists and performers. Jola & Nele Siezen are founding members of the Loons Circus Theatre Company http://www.thebutlershow.com<http://www.thebutlershow.com www.thebutlershow.com , they are also Guiness world record holders (three people in a small box)- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTyQgCruY-E. The Twisty Twinz are now based in Nelson NZ- where they live and teach and perform when not on tour around the globe!
Snippets from Aj's street side "comments" book: “I never knew I could fall in love with an instrument in the space of a few minutes. You’re obviously a master” “I’ve heard people say music takes them to a different place but I never really experienced that myself, until I heard your music. I can't even describe what that place is, all I know is time stops.” *** From humbly offering up his music as a street performer, to playing in concert halls on the finest of instruments, Aj has enchanted his audiences, taking them on journeys of depth and sensitivity that are rare in todays fast paced world. AJ has sold over 10000 CD’s, gone viral online, been featured by AirZealand, 100%Pure NZ, Good Morning Australia, Ferrari, a Chinese reality TV show and many more. He has primarily graced the shores of Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown, for the past 8 years, playing his original compositions on a specially adapted street piano which he lovingly restored. Busking has allowed him to make his music available to many people who would otherwise not experience it, and has revealed an almost universal appeal. Music that frames the silence... inviting you to explore the outer limits of sensitivity, and experience how much beauty there can be in a single moment.
Daughter of legendary Country musician John Grenell, Amiria grew up on a farm in Whitecliffs, Canterbury where her family hosted decades of music festivals in the back paddocks.She has followed her heritage into a colourful and long standing career as a touring artist and respected songwriter. As well as touring solo or in various duo's, Amiria has also been a member of New Zealand touring super-group Fly My Pretties.Her crystalline voice finely balances between gentle restraint and emotive strength, with instrumentation that is equally impressive.Winner of a Tui NZ Music Award for her album 'Three Feathers' & a finalist for the same award for her album 'Autumn', this songwriter is currently recording a whole new set of songs for her fourth full length album.Her style is New Folk & country. Her songwriting is honest, delicate and filled with a love of nature and adventures.
Danni Parsons' delicate and 'honey-sweet vocals' found harmonic delight in the raw vocals of Kiwi rock and roller Lance Shepherd back in late 2019. Together they offer up an exquisitely silken sound that weaves together soaring harmonies and mesmerising vocals with a ‘velvety and gentle timbre’, 'Rich with harmony and heartfelt lyrics. Their musical tapestries are woven through with a golden thread of humanity – strongly relatable tales of identity and resilience, strength and fortitude. A class act indeed' ~ Ambient Light. Their debut album & latest singles have received glowing 5* reviews & they were voted into the 'Top 10 Live shows of 2021' list by Kev Rowland of Muzic.net.nz. Performing live they have been likened to The Innocence Mission, Goldenhorse, Angus & Julia Stone, Civil Wars & Fleetwood Mac.
Fusing music and theatre into a captivating live show of high-energy rock-funk anthems and improvised acts, Genre Fluid guide you through a musical experience with their unique synergy on stage, morphing style, sound and character into a dynamic experience for all ages to groove and be moved.
Our sound is inspired by Romani and Balkan music with doses of Dub, Latin, Afro Beat and electronic dance styles and fully live. The overarching theme is that its danceable! We call our sound World Street Party Music. We're all about dance and sound induced fun and collective joy for any ages. Our line up is Violin, Saxophone, Guitar, Drums and Bass guitar. We have a live recorded album already out and are about to release a new studio album both full of original music. Yurt Party fit into a big, unique box, creating collective joy for over 5 years. Drawing inspiration from traditional east European and Balkan music with splashes of dub, electronic, latin and afro beat dance grooves. The band, now rather large in size and sound have been converting festival audiences around NZ into wild frenzies of beat induced fun. Festivals include Nostalgia, Luminate, Relish, Tora Bombora, Kiwi Spirit Festival and more. Propelled by sold out shows, the band intend to spread their music far and wide with upcoming album releases and festivals over the summer.
Anirvan Deva is a DJ on the path of sharing mysticism with beats and deep sounds. Rooted in the richness of diverse musical traditions, his multicultural sound crosses borders between world fusion, tribal-shamanic downtempo and various tonalities of electronics with deep grooves, big bass and even mantras. Originally from Italy, Anirvan Deva moved to Aotearoa 11 years ago and he is a cornerstone of the NZ's ecstatic dance scene, yoga & alcohol free events and festivals such as NZ Spirit, Earth Beat, SolRise, Deep Dance Tribe, Vegan Food Fest, Voices of the Sacred Earth, NZ Yoga Day (to name a few). "What and how I play is a sound journey, a vibrational storytelling designed to move the body, expand the mind and fill the heart."
Ecstatic Dance is a journey through movement & sound lead by a live DJ . It's a safe space to come as you are, and to move as you wish.
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Nikki Scarano & Pablo Salas (DJ Green Chilli) are Nelson based Ecstatic Dance facilitators.
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Nikki is a traveler, a fire performer, and a yogi with a passion for conscious movement & healing.
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Pablo is a Latin Dance instructor and experienced DJ who can create beautiful musical transitions on the dancefloor.
A Piano and drums based musical journey also including a projected visual element. Snippets from Aj's street side "comments" book:“I never knew I could fall in love with an instrument in the space of a few minutes. You’re obviously a master”“I’ve heard people say music takes them to a different place but I never really experienced that myself, until I heard your music. I can't even describe what that place is, all I know is time stops.”***From humbly offering up his music as a street performer, to playing in concert halls on the finest of instruments, Aj has enchanted his audiences, taking them on journeys of depth and sensitivity that are rare in todays fast paced world.AJ has sold over 10000 CD’s, gone viral online, been featured by AirZealand, 100%Pure NZ, Good Morning Australia, Ferrari, a Chinese reality TV show and many more.He has primarily graced the shores of Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown, for the past 8 years, playing his original compositions on a specially adapted street piano which he lovingly restored. Busking has allowed him to make his music available to many people who would otherwise not experience it, and has revealed an almost universal appeal.Music that frames the silence... inviting you to explore the outer limits of sensitivity, and experience how much beauty there can be in a single moment.
Samantha Dench- Creative Vinyasa with live music ~ meditation, grounding. Samantha is a qualified Yoga, Meditation and Breathwork Facilitator who teaches all over the world. Currently leading the Head of Health & Wellness department at Maruia Hot Springs in the Lewis Pass, where she is teaching, coaching and guiding sauna infusions. Yoga has been a part of Samantha’s life for over 15 years. Her practice has helped her grow stronger, more flexible and fearless, both on and off the mat. Yoga inspires Samantha to live each day more mindfully, moment to moment. Completing her first yoga teacher training in the south of France, with Patrick Loubert she further continued her studies around the world: in Spain, Bali and New Zealand. She believes we are continuously learning and evolving. Samatha has a strong daily meditation & pranayama practice to keep her centred and grounded and is currently diving into studying Rebirthing Breathwork. When you attend Samantha’s yoga workshop, you can expect a combination of creative sequencing, a spirit of playfulness and a dose of inspiration to help you deepen your practice. Samantha seeks to help others thrive by nurturing body, mind and soul with yoga, and breath. Her hope is that you step off the mat feeling refreshed, nourished and balanced. Samantha’s unique approach to teaching has you moving with your breath and feeling the rhythm of the flow within you.
A 2 hour participatory concert with interactive conscious dance that celebrates life, builds community connections and is an encouragement for the role of artists as vital players in social/ecological change from the techno-industrial growth to a life sustaining society. This is a journey of original songs, soul poetry and Open Floor dance. Jaime is a trained Wilderness Rites of Passage guide, Work That Reconnects facilitator and experienced teacher of Open Floor movement practice. He is the founder of the Centre for the Great Turning. For over ten years Jaime has been developing and leading workshops and retreats in New Zealand and Overseas. He is a grassroots poet, singer songwriter/dancer who is inspired by the Great Turning who is inspired by Joanna Macy, Bill Plotkin, Martin Shaw, Tarchin Hearn and many others.
Become enchanted by WildBloom Tribal Bellydance as they share an expression of life, art and feminine beauty. Inspired by ancient rhythms and movements, this collective of women dance the earth with devotion and cultivate joy and wild power through their offering.
Folky acoustic, between guitar and keys, Sarah backs up her clear voice that draws people on their inward journey, whether that is one of serious reflection, or with some comedic relief about life in general. Engaged with the audience with a story in between songs, it can be a listening or at times a sing-along experience since original music with ancient mantras generally get snuck into the set somewhere 😉 A singer/songwriter with a folky acoustic vibe, Sarah has a pure voice of healing, reminiscent of Jewel or Deva Premal. Her music is peppered with reflective lyrics of experience with the occasional mantra from her years of leading kirtan. And, on the other side, are quirky humorous stories of life and relationship. Be prepared for laughter meets zen.
Jyoshna will share songs of unity, Ecstatic love and transformation from her latest album 'Unity Hours IV', that represent a musical diary of a woman's spiritual journey - a deep, vulnerable, yet strong and devotional experience! Jyoshna La Trobe is a NZ singer/songwriter and ethnomusicologist. Jyoshna's original music communicates to others her life’s journey, written from the heart and soul of an artist. Her 30 plus music albums range from intimate devotional love songs on Occen (1980) to her singer/songwriter style on Unity Hours IV (2022). She has also written on commission for feature films (Stars in Her Eyes), short films (Prout documentary), TV documentaries (NRK TV), festivals and other events.As a performer La Trobe works as a solo artist, and in groups. Working in collaboration with local musicians in Brasil, India, New Zealand, London, and Ireland of late, La Trobe has initiated recording projects and concerts, many of which benefit disadvantaged children in India, Haiti and Africa.As an ethnomusicologist La Trobe’s passion is to build bridges between people of diverse cultural backgrounds to bring greater understanding and appreciation between them. Her speciality is the investigation, musical analysis and promotion of Rarhi Kirtan (North East India), Maori and other indigenous music-culture’s. As a musician and ethnomusicologist of eastern devotional singing, kirtan plays a major role in Jyoshna's musical and academic career. Many of her music compositions are devotional songs and kiirtan or "chanting the name of the divine. Her research into the background of kirtan led her to Rarh, India, the homeland of the kiirtan tradition where she spent 2005–2010 documenting the Rarhi traditional kirtan performances. Her own kirtan compositions are a blend of western singer/songwriter genres and Rarh devotional musichttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jyoshna
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Opening Ceremony7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
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Franko HekeConnection, healing and presence…Franko Heke is on a mission to raise consciousness through his music and workshops.8:15 pm - 9:15 pm
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Jola Siezen Aeriel ActThe Twisty Twin - Jola Siezen9:15 pm - 9:30 pm
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SikaSika concerts are a hypnotic, rhythmic story, full of beauty and shamanic ritual. Didgeridoo, drum and percussion made from shells, bones... even leaves, contrasted with soaring native flutes and the haunting voices of Maori Taonga Puoro. Natural instruments looped to create evocative, ancient soundscapes. The whole stage becomes his artistic canvas... he even jumps down to play among the audience.9:30 pm - 10:30 pm
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KiwiJam in the Chai TentBe inspired and chill out to the sounds of KiwiJam10:45 pm - 11:45 pm
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Yoga ClassSamantha Dench- Creative Vinyasa with live music ~ meditation, grounding.10:15 am - 11:15 am
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Redwood ReiderRedwood Reider is a spoken word poet known for inspiring and uplifting live audiences.11:15 am - 12:15 pm
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Zana PranaA wild wandering Sound Alchemist, DJ, Multi Instrumentalist & Singer.12:30 pm - 1:30 pm
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Twisty TwinzThe Twisty Twinz1:45 pm - 2:15 pm
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AJ HicklingFrom humbly offering up his music as a street performer, to playing in concert halls on the finest of instruments2:15 pm - 3:15 pm
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Amiria GrenellAcoustic Folk3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
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In The ShallowsTogether they offer up an exquisitely silken sound that weaves together soaring harmonies and mesmerising vocals5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
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Genre FluidFusing music and theatre into a captivating live show of high-energy rock-funk anthems6:15 pm - 7:15 pm
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Yurt PartyOur sound is inspired by Romani and Balkan music with doses of Dub, Latin, Afro Beat and electronic dance7:30 pm - 8:30 pm
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DJ Anirvan DevaAnirvan Deva is a DJ on the path of sharing mysticism with beats and deep sounds8:45 pm - 10:00 pm
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Ecstatic Dance Journey in the TheatreEcstatic Dance Journey10:15 pm - 11:30 pm
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AJ Hickling in the Chai TentA Piano and drums based musical journey also including a projected visual element.10:45 pm - 11:45 pm
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Yoga ClassSamantha Dench- Creative Vinyasa with live music ~ meditation, grounding.10:15 am - 11:15 am
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Jaime HowellA two hour participatory concert with interactive conscious dance that celebrates life11:30 am - 1:30 pm
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WildBloom Tribal BellydanceWildBloom Tribal Bellydance1:45 pm - 2:00 pm
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Sarah Marlowe SpenceFolky acoustic, between guitar and keys, Sarah backs up her clear voice that draws people on their inward journey2:15 pm - 3:15 pm
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JYoshnaJyoshna will share songs of unity, Ecstatic love and transformation from her latest album 'Unity Hours IV'3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
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Closing Ceremony5:00 pm - 6:00 pm