The 48th National Jazz Festival has just announced the line up of top New Zealand bands and international guests for the iconic Downtown Tauranga

Carnival and TV3 Jazz Village as part of the Festival in Tauranga at Easter.

The Downtown Tauranga Carnival takes place in the central city on Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 April with four stages showcasing the diverse assortment of jazz with free entry. On Sunday 4 and Monday 5 April, the TV3 Jazz Village at the Historic Village features more than 20 bands on four stages as well as strolling bands, food and art stalls and activities for the children and entry is $10 for adults and free for children under 14 and TECT cardholders.

“We want the National Jazz Festival to be for everyone,” says Festival Director Arne Herrmann.

“The Downtown Tauranga Carnival and the TV3 Jazz Village will be fun events for the wider community, with the Carnival being an upbeat street affair, and the Jazz Village catering for a more relaxed family day out with some great jazz music.”

The TV3 Jazz Village, Tauranga’s own version of New Orleans’ French Quarter, was a crowd favourite in 2009 with thousands of visitors joining in the fun and Mr Herrmann says this year will be even better with more bands and more activities. Lining up at the village will be top New Zealand musicians Kokomo, Torch Songs, Shaken Not Stirred and the Darcy Perry Band. International guest performers include Yggdrasil (Faroe Islands), Phil Tweed and Mark Lockett from Australia and Mike Cooper (UK).

And you can star too – bring along your instrument and join in on the Hothouse Jamming Stage with the Hamilton Blues Club on Saturday and the Bay of Plenty Blues Club on Sunday. Tickets for the TV3 Jazz Village are $10 adults and free for children under 14 and TECT card-holders. Tickets can be pre-booked and there will be two entrances into the village from 17th Avenue.

The Downtown Tauranga Carnival runs from noon to 5pm each day with four stages – Classic Hits Stage at The Strand, Strand 2, Red Square and a special Indigenous Stage at Aspen Reserve. Among the artists on the Classic Hits and Strand 2 stages are local Tauranga favourites, the Self Righteous Brothers Blues Ensemble (Derek Jacombs and Nigel Masters from Kokomo), NZ jazz drummer Frank Gibson with The Young Lions, , Mike Garner, Brilleaux, Reputations and Liquid Colours from Auckland. \

The Indigenous Stage features award winning Maori Jazz musician Whirimako Black, Tait Kora Band, Leon Wharekura Band, Three’s Company and Tim Cooper Whanau and Friends, while Red Square has a Blues Buffet on Saturday and The Impressions on Sunday.

The Downtown Tauranga Carnival and TV3 Jazz Village are just two of the highlights of the 48th National Jazz Festival held in Tauranga from 1-5 April and as one of the oldest jazz festivals in the world, the National Jazz Festival is an iconic event on the music calendar in New Zealand.

A short film about New Zealand has given one young film-maker his ‘Big Break’.

The film ‘Working Day’ by Andres Borghi from Argentina was selected by New Zealand film legend Sir Peter Jackson as the winner of Tourism New Zealand’s 100% Pure ‘Your Big Break’ short film competition.

The winner has just been announced in the US, with the film screened to viewers of the 25^th Film Independent Spirit Awards, the premier independent film event in the US.

Andres Borghi was one of five finalists in the short film competition that travelled to Queenstown last month to direct their films alongside Lord of the Rings producer Barrie Osborne.

Sir Peter Jackson said: “The standard of all five films was very high. Any of them deserved to win, but it came down to personal choice. [Working Day] stood out as a fresh and original piece of storytelling. This was an extremely accomplished piece and I will definitely be keeping an eye out for Andres’ future work.”

“100% Pure New Zealand jump started my work and career,” says Andres Borghi, who also acted in his film. “I also thank Peter and Barrie for helping me polish my work and gain international exposure.”

Borghi and the other finalists – two Americans and two New Zealanders – were selected from a pool of over 1,000 screenplays submitted between 9 December 2009 and 15 January 2010.

Tourism New Zealand Chief Executive Kevin Bowler said interest in the competition exceeded expectations, with the competition website – www.your-big-break.com – attracting 18,000 votes and 2.5 million video views in the first phase of the competition.

“This campaign has generated a huge amount of interest from the film community both here and internationally, and was extremely successful in terms of both the number of entries received and website views.

“The involvement of industry heavy-weights Sir Peter Jackson and Barrie Osborne helped attract attention in the US, which can be a challenging market to get our 100% Pure New Zealand message across in.

“This competition has not just created ‘talkability’ around New Zealand, it has also given us five excellent short films that capture New Zealand’s scenery, our people and culture which will be seen around the world.”

The five winning films were shown on the Independent Film Channel (IFC) and to around 1,800 celebrities, media and film industry professionals in the 100% Pure New Zealand lounge at the Spirit Awards ceremony.

Television advertising on IFC and Sundance over the last month has helped drive awareness of the competition, and is expected to increase viewership of the Spirit Awards and the winning film.

Engagement through social media websites has also been strong, with over 1,400 fans following developments through Facebook and the ‘Your Big Break’ blog.

A follow-up online campaign will run from Monday 8 March, encouraging film-lovers to book their New Zealand holiday now.

The last New Zealand Fringe Festival ended with a question mark over its head about whether it would continue. It did, it rocked, and it will continue.

Now Fringe 2010 has ended with a glorious bag with the naming of the best of all there is in 2010 and a new inductee for the Fringe Hall of Fame.

The New Zealand Fringe Festival held its Award and Closing Night Party on March 7 at the Paramount Theatre, blowing out the candles on its 20th Birthday festival celebrations.

Fourteen awards were announced to celebrate the best on show at Fringe 2010, and a new member of the Fringe Hall of Fame was honoured.

In 2009, Bret McKenzie and Jermaine Clement from Flight of the Conchords were inducted. The was hosted by Derek Flores and Vinyl Burns from talk show The Chit Chat Lounge and featured entertainment from this year's crop of Fringe participants, including The Crimson Club and Galaxia.

In the spirit of the best sporting adage, Fringe 2010 producer Zelda Edwards said this year's festival was a triumph in the face of adversity.

"This year was a battle that was fought hard and fought long," she said, " but we all are proud to have put on the best festival in the twenty years of Fringe.

"The Fringe is a festival that embraces and encourages the leading edge of arts and entertainment and despite the question marks that hung over this year’s event we're beyond happy with how things turned out.

"We feel that in 2010 that the city really embraced the Fringe, from our opening day with the glorious Running of the Fringe right through to the end. We have to say thanks with all our heart to our supporters, the Wellington City Council and everyone who has not only put on a Fringe show but seen one as well.

"The Fringe is an essential part of New Zealand's arts and culture, providing an opportunity for so many voices to be heard. Long may it continue," she said. An announcement to the Fringe Festival's future will be made in due course.

Fringe 2010 Award winners

(winners in bold)

Christchurch will be hosting the 5th Deaf Short Film Festival in May 2011.

The final date has not yet been confirmed. The current Short Film committee believe we need a new logo, so we have set up a competition to find a new logo for the Film Festival.

There will be a prize for the best design. Can you design a logo that will match the name ‘NEW ZEALAND DEAF SHORT FILM FESTIVAL’

Any design colours, text font, style can be used. Be creative! Design in A4 paper, we prefer to receive file by email attachment. Hand-drawing is fine. The winner will receive free ticket to the Deaf Short Film Festival in Christchurch.

Deadline: 22nd March 2010

Please email to communication@deaf.org.nz

All of logos will be shown on Deaf Aotearoa’s website for the Deaf community to vote.

For Twenty-Four years, the New Zealand International Arts Festival bringing World Class Arts entertainment from around the World and within New Zealand.

Since 1986, each Festival has offered a bold artistic programme of the highest quality, featuring theatre, classical and world music, opera, dance, jazz, family and free events, a literary programme and the visual arts.

Last Saturday, I was able to watch “Transport Exceptionnels”,a dance duet between man and machine as part of the New Zealand International Arts Festival.

Transcending spectacle and danger, dancer Philippe Priasso is paired with a mechanical digger in this astoundingly witty exploration of the traditional "dance for two".

I would say. “ A love affairs between Man and Machine, beyond boundaries”.

Despite the intense heat, Hundred of people watched the 20 minutes show, Transports Exceptionnels follows an intimate seduction initiated by Priasso.

Dominique Boivin’s choreography expands and redefines dance tradition and the use of outdoor space and digger.

Unfortunately, Priasso, or the digger driver, don’t want to talk to a blogger but if you are from large newspapers or network I bet, they will say,”yes”.

Over-all the show was great and superb. Here are some photos you want to check or Priasso itself.

I wish I could see other performances during the festival not only the free event.

What do you think  Ms. SUSANA LEI’ATAUA?

The New Zealand International Arts Festival is a biennial multi-arts festival held in the capital city, Wellington.

Following the success of last year’s inaugural Love Ball, Natalia Vodianova and Lucy Yeomans, Editor-in-Chief of Harper’s Bazaar UK, last February 24 hosted The Love Ball, proudly supported by De Beers in aid of the Naked Heart Foundation.

Natalia Vodianova was radiant in a stunning De Beers necklace made of pear-cut diamonds, totalling over 122 carats.

The glittering event was attended by the worlds of fashion, art and high society including Kate Moss, Joely Richardson, Stella McCartney, Donna Karan, Elizabeth Hurley, Diane von Furstenberg, Harvey Weinstein, Mario Testino, Matthew Williamson, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Ernesto Bertarelli and Mariacarla Boscono, stunning in the beautiful Arabesque earrings and cuff from De Beers Guests admired the centrepiece of the event and evening’s charity auction, The Magic Moment necklace, designed by Natalia herself and created by De Beers.

Inspired by the precious moment when two people meet, Natalia recalled the famous love poem by Pushkin (A Magic moment I remember…) when designing the piece. Natalia also wanted to capture her own magic moment, the instant she saw the children’s happiness and excitement at the first playground opened by the Naked Heart Foundation.

“Designing this piece with De Beers was an experience I will treasure forever. Creating something so precious that truly represents my passion for the Naked Heart Foundation was a unique opportunity for which I will be eternally grateful.” Natalia Vodianova.

“We are honoured to have been able to support The Naked Heart Foundation and are proud that the beautiful Magic Moment necklace contributed to Natalia’s spectacular evening of fundraising. Her natural elegance and flair made this piece truly exquisite and we hope that the new owner will treasure it not only for its breathtaking beauty but also for the generosity of spirit it represents. This fantastic evening was truly a magical moment, and the start of a wonderful collaboration between De Beers and The Naked Heart Foundation”, François Delage, CEO of De Beers Diamond Jewellers.

The delicate diamond studded chains of The Magic Moment necklace gently encircle the body and capture two De Beers pink and white heart shaped diamonds, a reference to love ensnaring and seizing a heart at that magical moment.

The central pendant features a 1.10 carat fancy intense pink heart-shaped diamond, paired with a 3.06 carat white heart-shaped diamond, hand set in delicate micropavé adding texture and depth. The pendant dances elegantly on a chain of white gold, studded with white, pink and yellow diamonds, part of the chain is detachable for versatility.

The Magic Moment necklace can be worn either as an intricate statement or as a sophisticated pendant. The necklace was displayed throughout the evening, allowing guests the opportunity to admire the expert craftsmanship and diamond selection that epitomises De Beers Diamond Jewellery, and guests were entertained by Leona Lewis, Sharleen Spiteri, Yusuf Islam and Paloma Faith During the evening, this one of a kind piece was auctioned along with bespoke pieces of art by the likes of Tracey Emin, Dinos and Jake Chapman, Peter Blake, Jeff Koons, Marc Quinn and Anselm Reyle.

The Auckland pair behind label 21Grams, Andrew McCulloch and Shaun Bay, have launched a new e-store that sells a variety of streetwear fashion brands.

“Online shopping is becoming more popular and getting easier for the consumer to utilize,” says McCulloch.

“I mean, who doesn’t want to be able to buy the latest gear without having to even get out of their slippers?” he says. Called Stitched.co.nz, the estore will focus on providing quality men’s and women’s streetwear along with skate boards, accessories, shoes and more, all at competitive prices.

“We aimed to make shopping on the site as easy and enjoyable as possible while maintaining fast delivery times and great customer service,” says McCulloch.

The site has been set up so customers can access hand selected brands from around the world without having to deal with exchange rates or high shipping costs.

“Some of brands we will sell are smaller, more underground labels,” says Bay. “We want to help them get their gear out to the public, because there is some cool labels in New Zealand that either don’t get the exposure they deserve or are so new that most of the general public haven’t discovered them yet,” he says.

As well as 21Grams, the site will offer ABC, 57Cartel and Simply Complicated; with garments ranging in price from $50 to around $400.

 Popular TV3 personality, and M2 Woman of the Year, Samantha Hayes, has been confirmed as the host for the Emerging Designer Awards on Thursday 11 March.

Crowd favourites and dynamic duo Carol Hirschfeld and John Campbell will return to host the iD Fashion show on Saturday, 13 March.

Carol will host the iD Fashion Show on Friday 12 March in true style, following her outstanding performance as host at the first iD Emerging Designer Awards show in 2005.

The 2010 iD Dunedin Fashion Week Emerging Designer Awards show has a very limited number of tickets available, while tickets are still available for the two iD Fashion shows held on 12 and 13 March 2010.

The judges for the 2010 iD Dunedin Fashion Week Emerging Designer Awards are: Zandra Rhodes, international fashion designer; Stefano Sopelza, Mittelmoda Fashion Award Project Supervisor, Italy; Katie Newton, fashion and beauty editor of the Sunday Star Times, Sunday Magazine; and, Isaac Hindin-Miller, fashion blogger. Judges for the jewellery section of the Awards are: David McLeod, Dunedin sculptor and jeweller; and, Andrew Logan, international sculptor and jewellery designer.

Can’t wait for WOMAD – experience the sounds of WOMAD New Zealand 2010 on the newly released compilation CD, WOMAD NZ 2010: Sounds of the Planet.

The CD is the official compilation released ahead of the three-day festival which takes place 12-14 March 2010 at Brooklands Park and TSB Bowl, New Plymouth.

Providing a snapshot of WOMAD 2010, the 14 artists featured on the compilation CD take listeners on a journey through a bold cross-section of genres, cultures, nationalities and generations – from the soulful strains of Ethiopian singer Mahmoud Ahmed to the pristine classical folk of Finland’s Lepistö & Lehti; from the outrageous chanson ska punk of Babylon Circus to the plaintive oud virtuosity of Algeria’s Kamel El Harrachi.

The hot and feisty gypsy fusion of Ojos de Brujo, where flamenco meets hip hop; Mariem Hassan’s emotive refugee cry from the Western Sahara; and haunting prairie rock of Calexico that billows from the hot Arizona winds provide a whirlwind of experience of the wider world of music in your own living room.

WOMAD NZ 2010: Sounds of the Planet Track Listing:

1.       Kamel el Harrachi – Ya Rayah

2.       Calexico – Victor Jara’s Hands

3.       Lepistö & Lehti – Helsinki

4.       Ojos de Bruo – Nuevo Vida

5.       The Skatalites – New York Minute

6.       Public Opinion Afro Orchestra – Two Sides of the Truth

7.       Mahmoud Ahmed (Ethiopiques) – Ere Mela Mela

8.       Babylon Circus – La Cigarette

9.       Mariem Hassan – La Tumchu Anni

10.   Ladi6 – Walk Right Up

11.   Mairtin O’Connor Trio – Crossroads Crossroads

12.   Dub Colossus –Sima Edy

13.   Amal Murkus – Stranger in a Far City

14.   Nickodemus – Mi Swing es Tropica

WOMAD NZ 2010: Sounds of the Planet is available now from record stores and usual music retailers.

Tickets for WOMAD New Zealand 2010 are available now through Ticketek. Visit www.womad.co.nz for more information.

Martirio, a flea-bitten Texan town. 

Vernon's best friend, Jesus, has just massacred sixteen of their classmates before killing himself. With the murderer dead, there's no one to blame for the tragedy. The town, hungry for a scapegoat, turns its sights on Vernon.

Every one wants a piece of the action and the bumbling cops and television reporters are out to exploit the killings. With his world crumbling before him, Vernon flees but the police and tv crews are in hot pursuit.

The controversial winner of the Booker Prize in 2003, Vernon God Little by DBC Pierre is a biting satire of the America we love to hate: the media, the judicial system, obsession with food, religion and adolescent angst.

 Downstage is proud to continue its commitment to encouraging and showcasing our next generation of artists. Overseas productions of Vernon God Little have been performed by adults for young people, this youth focused production gives the voice back to the generation it represents.

 About Long Cloud Youth Theatre

Long Cloud Youth Theatre is a unique training and production company for young actors aged 16-21 years.  With recent productions Spring Awakening, The Crucible and Titus Andronicus, Long Cloud has been celebrated as a hothouse for New Zealand's most exciting young theatre talent. Vernon God Little is Long Cloud Youth Theatre’s Summer School 2010 project, partnering students with Long Cloud’s core actors for six weeks.

 Vernon God Little

Dates: 4-13 FEB

Times: 6:30pm Tue-Wed and 8pm Thu-Sat.

Prices: $20 to $25.  Meet the Artists: Tue 8 FEB

Matinee: Sat 13 FEB @ 3pm

Directed by Sophie Roberts and Willem Wassenaar. Designed by Glenn Ashworth and Andrew Foster.

 Tickets can be purchased online, by phone at (04) 801 6946 or in person at Downstage’s box office. For up-to-date information visit www.downstage.co.nz Downstage is proudly sponsored by BNZ.