Pride of the Pacific 2009 – Night Concert Photos

Images/A Colourful Guy (double click to enlarge)

Hi all,

Above are a few of the photos I snapped at the Pride of the Pacific 2009 night time benefit concert for Tonga which was held at Finnegan's Irish Bar in Royal Oak this past Saturday night.

The performers featured are DJ Willie, Chase, the Babylon Riddim Band, Jah Make Yah, Fob Squad, Devolo & Mareko and 6 Pound.

What I said about the day concert previously applies to the night concert as well; if you missed this one you missed a real treat! As a matter of fact, I found the night concert to be even more enjoyable as it was an R18+ event and everyone really let loose! ;)

Just as a side note: After the concert was over there were a number of young people that had gathered in the parking lot across the road from Finnegan’s. Well, wouldn’t you know, in their infinite wisdom the New Zealand Police decided to implement Operation Booze Blitz on the crowd.

I was outside well prior to the police showing up and I can assure you that there was absolutely nothing out of the ordinary going on; there was no violence happening; no crime and no one was overly drunk or disorderly.

It was just a bunch of young people whooping it up as young people tend to do. Hell, I frequently whooped it up myself in my late teens and early twenties!

Anyway, within seconds of the first police car showing up, and the officers harassing the young people for no apparent good reason, a beer bottle got thrown, and then another! That did it! Within the space of five minutes we had six police cars and twelve officers on the scene and the crowd was quickly dispersed.

The whole thing was totally unnecessary and the police caused a problem where none actually existed! So much for Operation Booze Blitz!

Kind regards

Pride of the Pacific 2009 – Day Concert Photos

Images/A Colourful Guy (double click to enlarge)

Hi all,

Above are a few of the photos I snapped at the Pride of the Pacific 2009 daytime benefit concert which was held at the Son and SK8 Hall in Glen Innes this past Saturday.

The performers featured are DJ Willie, 6 Pound, the Birthday Boys, Mareko & Devolo, the Babylon Riddim Band and Juliet.

As you can see my investment in a new camera has really paid off quite well and I’m very satisfied with the results.

I’ve decided against writing up a review as I have way too much on at the moment. However, I will say this, nearly all the performances were exceptional and anyone not attending the concert missed a real treat!

Kind regards

Pride of the Pacific 2009 - Preview

Young performer from Babylon Riddim Band at the Pride of the Pacific 2009 daytime concert.

Image/A Colourful Guy

Hi all,

Yesterday while most people were focused on Coca Cola’s Christmas in the Park, A Colourful Gal and I headed on over to the Son and SK8 Hall in Glen Innes to enjoy a benefit concert for Tonga, Pride of the Pacific 2009. I also went to the R18+ night time concert at which was held at Finnegan's Irish Bar in Royal Oak.

Since it’s a Sunday, and no one is paying me to do this, I’m not going to give a full review nor post photos from the concerts at this time. However, I will say that for fans of Pacific Reggae, Hip and Hip and RnB, if you weren’t at either show you missed a real treat!

Please do stay tuned for my more comprehensive coverage of Pride of the Pacific 2009.

Kind regards

Pride of the Pacific 2009 - Concert for Tonga

Image/Pride of the Pacific

Concert for Tonga

By SARAH MOYES - East And Bays Courier

Family man and music lover Vili Tuitupou wants to do what he can to support the people of Tonga.

Tomorrow Mr Tuitupou, known as DJ Willie, is holding a family concert in Glen Innes as part of his Pride of the Pacific charity tour.

The Mt Wellington man has used his connections within the music industry to get performers for the fundraising gig.

Born in Tonga and raised in Glen Innes, Mr Tuitupou still has strong ties with the islands.

Tonga’s economy is making it difficult for locals to earn money and support their families so he is putting on his third concert in three years to help raise funds for food parcels.

"A survey in 2007 showed only 20 percent of people in Tonga had jobs. My uncle is a builder and earns $50 to $60 a week to support his five kids.

"We have it pretty good over here, so I want to help."

The Pride of the Pacific show will also showcase young musical talent.

There will be performances by New Zealand and Australian artists, as well as local musicians such as Tamaki College’s school band.

"There are some very talented young artists.

"It’s big for them to perform next to guys like Devolo and Mareko from Deceptakonz Dawn Raid," he says.

Artists are performing for free. Some of them travel to Tonga with Mr Tuitupou to put on a free concert and help distribute food parcels.

"We could keep the money for ourselves, but we want to give it away," Mr Tuitupou says.

He is also taking stationery to a school that was badly hit by the September tsunami.

Every year the tour gets bigger and he hopes more people will support the concerts, especially the island community.

The afternoon concert will be held at the Son and Skate Hall next to Pak’nSave in Glen Innes from 2pm with a $5 entry fee.

An R18 evening gig will follow at Finnegans Irish Bar in Royal Oak from 9pm to 2am.

Mr Tuitupou will be travelling to Tonga on December 31 to distribute the food parcels.

For information about Pride of the Pacific 2009 contact Mr Tuitupou/DJ Willie on 027-733-5219.