Mud House, Waipara, NZ - 17 Feb 2008

[Ross]

I was the first person to get to the concert so I was first in line and got us a front row area to sit in. We were very fortunate that the concert was today as it would have been very wet if it was the last 2 days. As it was it started as a very nice cloudless day but as the concert started a cold breeze came up and it clouded over.Later as the wind died away it became quite pleasant again.
Rodders, Marianne and Graeme joined us for this concert but Akito stayed down in Queenstown.

Rodders, Belinda, Stuart, Marianne and Graeme (Tim arrived later)

Dave started again and he mostly did the same songs as last night although he did do some different ones as well. Hayley joined him for the last 2 songs which were the same ones last night.
While they were singing a World War 2 Mustang fighter came over the concert and waggled it's wings at us which was cool.
The rest of the concert (Fiona and Hayley) was a repeat of last night.
I better correct one song I mentioned last night. Hayley sung Mummers Dance and not Lovers Heart (silly me for getting this one wrong).
While Hayley was playing Sonny the crowd was so silent you could hear a pin drop.In fact throughout the concert everyone was quiet during the songs.Later when we talked to an English guy he thought us kiwis were too reserved and we should have been dancing so you cannot please everyone.
They got a standing ovation at the end and when they did the Welcome Home encore everyone got on their feet and moved closer to the stage and sang along with them which was great.
Jill, Isaac and Sophie sat behind us again for Hayleys part of the concert. You had to watch out for Jill poking her camera between us at times (lol). We also chatted to Gerald later as well.
The concert had sold out on the day so there was a big crowd there (about 3000) and a lot of people stayed for the signings. I got my T shirt signed by Dave and Hayley. Well only one more concert to go.I will keep uploading photos as I find time and I also managed to video Hayleys part of the concert so I can always treasure the Let Me Lie and Sonny songs. There were also a lot of cameras at the concert so maybe there could be a DVD of the concert coming ( I hope so).

[dutchjoyce]

Thanks Ross ,Again for your wonderful report, and wonderful pictures. It is great to see, that everyone enjoyed the concert, and are looking so relaxed. Your first picture,is a big HAPPY HWI family!!! Looking at it, i can feel the atmosphere!!!
Best wishes from the Netherlands, JOYCE.

[grant]

Another great report Ross and more great pictures. You are doing us proud with the coverage, for which many thanks.

Hope you are all still enjoying the sunshine and warm weather. I got up to a very cold minus seven this morning and had to scrape ice off the car before going to church!

Best wishes
Grant

[Steve H]

Thanks Ross, It looks fun, and thanks for getting these pictures up so quickly

..and according to you I was there too?

ROSS Wrote:

Rodders, Belinda, Steve, Marianne and Graeme (Tim arrived later)

Steve

[Nordly]

yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

thanks for the pcis/report Ross! I was feeling kinda sad all year why??? NO NEW CONCERT REVIEWS/ PICS!! (the Jan concert was too far from the Feb ones)

[Mark]

Hi Ross

Thanks so much for the photo's and your report of course The photos really help to capture the atmosphere of the whole event. I love Hayley in her bright red coat - will we be seeing that after the autumn concerts here in the UK do you think

You certainly made sure that you got the front row - lots of blankets laid out to secure your places

Thanks once again Ross.

Best wishes to you all

Mark

[Richard]

Well done Ross, you've done it again!

I love Hayley's outfits on stage, and that red coat really suits her too. She could get a job at Butlins! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

Best Wishes,

Richard

[stevemacdonald]

Oh my goodness, all that amplification! Hayley's ears must be ringing by now! At first I thought it would be a great idea for her to perform in the sweet, pure air of New Zealand, but I forgot about noise pollution. If you've ever been onstage at a rock concert, or any gig where the sound system, including stage monitors, is cranked enough for an outdoor audience to enjoy you'll know what I mean. Many famous musicians have suffered permanent hearing loss from their own concerts! I hope Hayley's wearing earplugs -- if that's an option.

[Ross]

stevehome said:

Thanks Ross, It looks fun, and thanks for getting these pictures up so quickly

..and according to you I was there too?

ROSS Wrote:

Rodders, Belinda, Steve, Marianne and Graeme (Tim arrived later)

Steve

Sorry I meant Stuart but we did think of you Steve while Stuart took his 2000th photo since being in New Zealand lol.
In fact the people running the merchandise and entrance gate are starting to call us groupies as we see them so often.

Dave signing my shirt


Dave meets the fans


My T shirt I bought, I also got a dark Blue Hayley Westenra T shirt as well


Hayleys, Dave and Fionas signatures on back of T shirt

Well thats all for now, I head off to Blenheim today stopping at Kaikoura to film the seals etc.

[roger]

ross said:

...while Stuart took his 2000th photo since being in New Zealand lol.

Oh, he's slowing down then!

Thanks very much for the great pictures, Ross. Enjoy the rest of the tour.

Roger

[thomas]

Thanks again, Ross, for the great report and pictures. Can't wait to see more.
And you even took some videos. Don't hesitate to post the videos as soon as you find the time.

Best wishes,
Thomas

[david]

Some fantastic photos and a great report there Ross, thanks for sharing here! Look forward to seeing more, and the video as well!

Best wishes

David

[Stephany]

Thanks very much for all the fantastic pictures, Ross!

Stephany

[scoobedoo]

Hi everyone, WOW, what a great concert Hayley and Dave turned on last evening. From start to finish the whole concept was simply BRILLIANT. Or though it has been two years since I have seen Hayley live on stage (almost to the day) there is quite a difference between the two concerts.

If the stage was any bigger than it was, then I am quite sure Fiona Pears would have used it, just where does Fiona get the energy from? Apart from the space used by the musicians on stage Fiona was prancing around all over the place. Was the stage big enough for Fiona? Probably not but she sure made use of what was available, a brilliant performance to open up Hayley's part of the program.

It has been said that Dave Dobbyn & Hayley Westenra are musically speaking “Miles apart” Yes, perhaps up to a point, but that would have been hard to pick with the duets that Hayley & Dave performed last evening as I didn't get program and Ross has made mention of the songs that were performed. You would think that Dave & Hayley had been performing together for a long long time.

Dave Dobbyn, good o'l Dave, been around for a year or three and never fails to turn on a brilliant performance, an excellent kiwi entertainer through and through. When Hayley came on stage with Dave for the first set the performance was simply awesome it really was. To me, this would be the best concert I have been to for quite sometime, plus the fact that it was a 100% kiwi entertainers proves without doubt they can foot it with best of the rest worldwide.

Thanks Belinda,Stuart,Ross,Tim, Graeme & Marianna for your company it was great to finally meet up with you all. We must do it again sometime in the meantime enjoy the rest of your stay in NZ and the remaining concerts that you are going to,

cheers,

Rodders

[Dori]

Wow, that venue was buddy, lol. Thanks for the photos, once again!

Dori