Mon, 19 Oct 2009 9:52p.m.
Tim and Neil Finn
By Tova O’Brien
More than 10,000 people packed into Auckland’s Vector Arena tonight for the first of the “I love the islands” Samoa relief concerts tonight.
A quarter of a million dollars has already been raised, and there are still four more concerts to go.
The stage at Vector Arena has seen more than its fair share of famous faces, but tonight’s line up was a rare show of Kiwi musical force.
At a sound check earlier today, Tim and Neil Finn pointed out just how strong the acts are.
“You won’t see this combination probably anywhere else, ever again,” they said.
“It’s one of the nice upshots of this united effort is that you get a bill that is incredibly diverse and eclectic.”
The money raised will go to those who were affected by the tsunami in Samoa.
“It’s pretty dire,” says rapper Scribe.
“I think they need something like $190 million to really rebuild, which is a phenomenal amount of money. I don’t know if we can raise $190 million with this concert – but every bit counts.”
The villages of Scribe and fellow rapper Savage were the worst hit in last month’s tsunami.
“I’ve never experienced anything like this in my lifetime, and no one thought we would,” said Savage.
The impact has been universal – a cast of more than 25 musicians coming together for the concerts.
From Dave Dobbin, to Opensouls, Elemeno P and The King Pin Finns, all travelling from Auckland to Christchurch, Dunedin, New Plymouth and finally Wellington.
“There is Samoan influence on culture, music, arts, fashion – it’s immense. So it’s no wonder we relate to their dilemma,” says Neil Finn.
Busloads of people from Samoa’s tsunami affected South Coast will be taken to Apia for a final concert on October 31.
All proceeds from the New Zealand shows are expected to be handed over that night.
3 News
