In Defense of Not Getting It

If I say “Freddy Prince” and you think “Junior”, then it's a fair call that at some point in your life you've probably seen a rubber-clad Rachael Leigh Cook cavorting with a midget on stage.

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Many pilgrims would have been thinking “the gods must be crazy” with reference to the fickle summer that Aotearoa has experienced – but WOMAD 2012 was all about the sunshine – the perfect Indian summer.

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With a line-up covering all parts of the globe, WOMAD 2012 was greeted with perfect blue skies and Brooklands Park beaming with the vivid colours of a lush summer. The stage seems set for a perfect festival, so lets check out the myriad of sounds filling this beautiful arena.

The only necessary dilemma about an amazing festival is how to navigate your timetable, catch all the vital attractions and also taking in the random encounters that meet you along the way.

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Wednesday evening took place a-top a mustard couch next to a German physics academic, a packet of liquorice allsorts and a dear friend. With the University’s iconic clock tower lit up in the background, a full courtyard was transported to an era of societal upheaval: the end of World War II and the confusions of gender roles.

To the general Joe public Shakespeare may not be everyone’s cup, yet Director Sam Pascoe, Producer Oliver Rosser and a talented cast mastered a brew well-suited for all in AUSA’s Summer Shakespeare Much Ado About Nothing. Easily considered one of Shakespeare’s most popular comedies, the production draws on traditional themes of love and deceit - these are tactfully woven alongside plenty of wit to whet the audience’s appetite.

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EntertainMe chats with actor Julia Croft as she prepares for the upcoming season of Little Histories of the Life Ordinary at The Basement Theatre from 20th- 24th March.

Where did the name of the show originate from?

I actually saw someone reading a book in French on a train and badly translated it and that was the result. I thought it had a nice ring to it, and it was a great provocation to devise around.

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Served well after dark: Fat Boy Slim, Die Antwoord & Skrillex.

A sweaty and somewhat frantic dance-floor of all-age ravers packed out Auckland’s Vector Arena in early March. The highly-anticipated triple bill of Fat Boy Slim, Die Antwoord, Skrillex & Guest Porter Robinson was a side show from Australia’s Future Music Festival. Their hot and heady appearance was an easy sell-out.

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With WOMAD 2012 just around the corner EntertainMe heard from Bandleader and Violinist Aurel Ionita of Mahala Rai Banda all the way from Romania.

Describe Romanian Gypsy music to those that are not familiar...

Most of our songs stem from traditional Romanian music. We grew up with this music; and have played hundreds of traditional songs at weddings. It is part of our life. We take the tunes and adapt them in our own way. Sometimes we play a traditional song and play it in a reggae style. From time to time somebody from the band suggests an international hit (either Oriental or Western) and we adapt it. Our music is influenced by funk, soul, oriental, bollywood and reggae. We play Gypsy music, because we are Gypsies and this music is produced to move and dance to. You can’t sit in a chair and just listen to it.

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Adam Page is known for his quality beard and musical talents. EntertainMe got the latest from him, in the countdown for his performance at WOMAD 2012.

What magic do you like to make in the music industry? Describe your sound to those unfamiliar.

Modern blues, beats, Gospel Soul with the odd acoustic song in there..... sorry that's more than five.

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