Victoria Halls, Stoke-on-Trent - 8th June 2007

[Andrew]

dkeeno said:

I managed to obtain a copy of the lovely event posters for this concert and have a copy on my computer, however i dont know how to put pictures up, could anyone help me? either by explaining or putting the picture up for me if i email it you.
Thanks,

Danny

Hi Danny,

It's great to hear from you I'm delighted to hear that you have managed to acquire one of the event posters for this concert. I would be more than willing to explain to you how to post pictures up on the Forum... I will send you a PM with the details. If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Regards,

Andrew

[Andrew]

Hi All,

Here is a copy of the poster for Hayley's concert in Victoria Hall, Stoke on Trent on Friday 8th June 2007.
Danny Keen ('HWI' member "dkeeno") provided this image of the poster for us. Many thanks for sharing this with us Danny...

Andrew

[grant]

Hi All.

Don't know whether or not this concert is sold out, but there is a single ticket on Ebay:-

Buy it now £20.00 or bidding from £10.00

Best wishes
Grant

[geralynnk]

Hi Roger,

I have heard alot about Hayley's work with UNICEF and her "Bikes for Ghana" appeal. Even though I won't be able to attend the event, I would like to make a donation to this most wonderful cause. Would you happen to have an address where I could send my donation to. I would very much appreciate your assistance.

Thanks so much!

Geralynn

[roger]

Hi Geralynn,

Many thanks for your kind offer. The link below takes you to the "Bikes for Ghana" page of the UNICEF NZ website. On that page is a button which says "Donate now". On that page, be sure to check the "Bikes for Ghana" appeal again to ensure all donations go specifically to that campaign.

There is also a link for those who wish to pay by cheque!

UNICEF NZ - Bikes for Ghana

In case anyone is wondering, there are laws which make it impossible for HWI to collect (or handle funds) for charity unless we are licenced to do so.

Roger

[grant]

geralynnk said:

Hi Roger,

I have heard alot about Hayley's work with UNICEF and her "Bikes for Ghana" appeal. Even though I won't be able to attend the event, I would like to make a donation to this most wonderful cause. Would you happen to have an address where I could send my donation to. I would very much appreciate your assistance.

Thanks so much!

Geralynn

Well done Geralynn. Hayley will really appreciate your donation.

Best wishes
Grant

[dkeeno]

approximately 70 tickets have just been released by the Hall, row DD-C in the stalls. These tickets were originally being held for sponsors and schools but they have now decided to sit somewhere else so if anyone wants tickets still these are fantastic seats that have become available.

Danny

[Stephany]

Hi everyone,
There was a short article about this concert in last Friday's issue of "The Sentinel". Here it is.

Best wishes,
Stephany

Hayley gives us something to treasure
1 June 2007
(C) The Sentinel, 2007.

New Zealand singing sensation Hayley Westenra will be performing tracks from her new album, Treasure, as well as other classical favourites at Hanley's Victoria Hall next Friday evening.

All profits from the concert will be donated to UNICEF - bikes for Ghana. Starts 8pm.

Box office 0870 060 6649.

[dkeeno]

Hi Everyone,.
There was a full page feature on this concert in todays Sentinel Sunday, featuring an interview with Hayley. I will copy the article over at a later date or if someone else wishes to do it before me then feel free!
Anyone still up for a meal before the concert?

Danny

[Stephany]

Hi Danny,
I'm very much looking forward to reading the article & interview.
No pressure or anything
Thanks!

Best wishes,
Stephany

[dkeeno]

www.thisisthesentinel.co.uk
Hopefully that link should take you to the newspaper website which the article on Hayleys concert appeared in. You then do a search for hayley westenra and its the article form june 3rd that appears. In the actual paper this took up a whole page and was accompanied by a large photograph but this does not appear on the website. Sorry the link couldnt be more specific, i tried but it was so long that it didnt work
Danny

[Richard]

Thanks Danny!

I see the problem with that long link, and I can fix it. The article is HERE.

ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE FOR HAYLEY - INCLUDING HANLEY

09:30 - 03 June 2007

"I was a different kind of nervous. I was excited about the chance to do something meaningful but I was shaking in my shoes. The singing was a piece of cake because I was thinking, 'How am I going to grab him before he gets away?'"

The singer in this case is Hayley Westenra, a classical performer from New Zealand who has been famous since she was 16 and has only just turned 20.

The occasion was St Patrick's Day, the venue was the White House and the man Hayley wanted to grab was the President of the United States, George W Bush.

Any CIA agents reading this can stand down, though, because Hayley just wanted to talk to Dubya about climate change.

"Just recently I became a matron for the Women's Environmental Network," she says. "I was very keen to have a talk with him about global warming but didn't get the opportunity because of a terrorist alert.

"I was gutted, I really was. I wanted to bring the issue to the forefront of his mind even if it was only for a few seconds."

In her own way, Hayley is as recognisable a figure internationally as the man she wanted a word with. She's had platinum albums, toured the world and performed for luminaries including the Queen, Tony Blair and Prince Charles.

On Friday, Hayley is visiting Stoke-on-Trent to perform in the Victoria Hall, Hanley. It's a charity show in aid of UNICEF and their Bikes For Ghana campaign.

"I've been an ambassador for UNICEF for four years now," she says. "It took me a while to sign up because I was unsure about whether I'd be up to the huge responsibility. I didn't want to be just a face.

"It's a children's charity and at the time I was 16 so it made sense. I can't really save the world but it's nice to have the opportunity to raise awareness.

"Bikes for Ghana has been very successful so far and I'm in talks about starting a new project. I visited Ghana and I'd love to go back there because I had such a good time and it would be great to see them with their new bikes."

Since being discovered busking in Christchurch aged 14, Hayley's musical journey hasn't had a chance to stop. Most recently, she's been touring the US with a group called Celtic Woman.

"I'm a little bit delirious," she admits. "I haven't had any sleep for I don't know how many hours.

"I flew in from the last Celtic Woman date in Denver, Colorado, this morning. The show there got rained off so my final show was a no-show.

"Celtic Woman are a huge phenomenon in the States and performing with them was an amazing experience, very different to what I'm used to.

"It's the vocal equivalent of Riverdance. It's very big and dramatic. It's strange and challenging being in a group on stage rather than being a solo artist.

"In a way, it takes the pressure off because I don't have to carry the entire show on my shoulders. But there are harmonies and there's a lot more movement, so I was paranoid about being in the wrong place at the wrong time."

That's not something that's happened often in Hayley's career. Her first album, Pure, featured pop, classical and traditional Maori songs and was an immediate hit. Odyssey and Treasure have followed, with classical and Irish tracks among some songs she's written herself.

She says: "I have a great-grandmother who was Irish and I've also got Welsh and Scottish in me. I've enjoyed exploring my Celtic roots .

"I don't want to pin myself down while I'm being creative. I like trying lots of different things. I don't feel restricted in any way because I get to try folk and classical and everything.

"I feel like I've only really scratched the surface and I'm excited about numerous musical possibilities. I worked with a group in Nova Scotia and found it inspiring, but I'm enjoying my own songwriting as well.

"I love pop music but I think it's important to stick to what you're good at. This music I find very fulfilling creatively and vocally. I get a lot back."

When Hayley isn't on the road, she lives in Britain.

"Today I'm waiting to move into a new flat for the next six months," she says. "I'm kind of calling London my second home.

"It's where my record company is based and I do a lot of work in the UK so it makes sense. It's English-speaking and I've got friends here. I love the variety, it's such a multi-cultural city.

"There are all cultures and all walks of life. There's so many people from overseas living here that I don't feel like such a foreigner. I love it in the summer, I'm so pleased to be here right now."

The singer is never in one place for long, however, and after four years of touring has become accustomed to life on the road.

"My luggage is my life," she admits. "I'm hoping to have a more permanent base but I've been touring non-stop for four years.

"I enjoy it, though, so I can't really complain.

"I get back home and I'm keen for a break, but after a week I'm getting itchy feet. Singing is something I love and still feels like a hobby even though I'm travelling all over the world. I have to remind myself not to take it for granted."

INFORMATION: Hayley Westenra performs at the Victoria Hall, Hanley, on Friday, June 8, at 8pm. Tickets are £15 and £20 from the box office on 0870 0606649.

Richard

[Stephany]

Thanks Danny for providing the interview and thanks Richard for posting it here.
It's a very interesting article - particularly the passage about Celtic Woman. The pressure must be extremely different because she doesn't carry the entire show on her shoulders and yet, this kind of tour is probably more exhausting than a solo one.

[grant]

Hi everyone

I did say to Hayley in Cardiff "See you in Stoke on Friday!" so I suppose we'd better start concentrating on this one now. (Who said it was hard to concentrate on work? Well, anyone remember where their bed is? )

I've just scanned through this thread and it does seem that most are up for a meal before the concert. Danny has suggested "Mingh's Buffet" as a possibility. This suggests an 'all you can eat' venue which sounds good to me!

May I suggest we all meet outside the venue (theatre not restaurant!) as say 5pm to make a final decision?

Post your thoughts below people! I look forward to another HWI gathering an another great evening with our beautiful Hayley. Now I am going to bed.

Night night
Grant

P.S. Danny, I believe there is a multi-story car park in the vicinity - do you know what the charges are? May help to know for the purposes of having enough change!

[Joe]

Thanks for the poster, Andrew, This and that lovely interview was kindly provided by Danny .

Have a wonderful time everyone if you are travelling up to Stoke-on-Trent for Hayley's performance. I shall be with you in spirit.

Also enjoy your meal at Mingh's Buffet! Have an egg roll for me!

Best wishes to all,
Joe