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Seven Sisters concert

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Celebrate Matariki as seven female artists serenade you beneath the stars.

Tonight’s stage sparkles with the following line up of Lisa Tomlins, Ria Hall and Puawai Cairns, Kali Kopae, Bella Kalolo, and delicious diva, Ramon Tewake. In no particular order the seven sisters are as follows:

Your MC for this evening’s performance is … Riria Hotere of Tales from Te Papa fame. Before this, Riria was a member of the cast of the reo Māori language edutainment soap opera Kōrero Mai. She can sing too! Riria hails from Te Nōta and Ngāti Maniapoto.

Soul sister Lisa Tomlins is a perennial favourite with Wellington crowds. Tomlins has performed with Fat Freddy’s Drop, Rhombus, Wellington Super Band Fly My Pretties, and countless other local bands. Lisa hails from Ngāti Kahungunu.

Ria Hall sings a combination of Roots and Reggae, but with her own soulful twist. Ria hails from Tauranga Moana. Her whakapapa (family tree) branches out to Ngāti Ranginui, Te Whānau a Apanui, Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Tūwharetoa and Waikato. Ria is a member of the Crusaders of the Kapa Haka world, Te Waka Huia. Ria has toured Europe with Holly Smith. Ria is working on her debut EP, which should be due for release after July. Keep an eye out for this whetū (star) on the rise.

Just like Stan Walker and Ria Hall, Puawai Cairns hails from Tauranga Moana. At the age of 13, she took up guitar lessons. Puawai can play flamenco, classical, jazz and the Māori strum too. According to Puawai, ‘I like simple, stripped back music that seizes the soul through meaningful lyrics and truthful sound.’ Puawai will be accompanying her cousin Ria Hall on the ‘jingajack’ (guitar). Her iwi are Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāti Pukenga and Ngāi Te Rangi.

Bold and dedicated, Bella Kalolo is renowned for her dynamic and vibrant performance, whether recorded or live – her soulful style is filled with both passion and integrity. Back in November 2009, Bella released her first single, ‘I feel like I’m in love’. Bella is in the process of making her debut album. http://www.bellakalolo.com/

Kali Kopae is an amazingly talented singer who also happens to be a busy actress. Kali recently performed in Miria George and Jamie MacGaskil’s musical play, He Reo Aroha to rave reviews. In a previous life, Kali was a top 5 finalist on NZ Idol (2006). Kali Kopae is also a graduate of the National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Arts with a degree in Performing Arts.

Ramon is a television and film director and a singer/songwriter. With more than 10 years on the live circuit, Ramon has been described as raw, energetic and playful. She created her first EP in 2003, appropriately titled The Arrival, which was a deeply personal set of songs, executed with an acoustic guitar, a bucket full of emotion and honesty, and a lot of tongue-in-cheek – a trademark quality to her music.