MTV Snow Jam Countdown

Terrace Downs Resort. Image Supplied.

If I was to throw around names like Lil Jon, Fat Joe, Baby Bash and P-Money you’d know I was talking about Hip Hop right? These guys are flying in to Christchurch in just over two weeks to perform along side Donavon Frankenreiter, The Grates, The Potbelleez, Cut Off Your Hands, PNC, David Dallas and local boys Opshop – and if you’re all wondering what this has to do with the gorgeous photograph I’ve posted here, that’s where they’ll be performing! MTV Snow Jam 2008 is being staged at Terrace Downs Resort (above), near Mt Hutt on Saturday, August 16th and if the music doesn’t knock your socks off the landscape surely will. Even better, it’s a free event being produced by MTV Australia and New Zealand and this year it will be broadcast in 30 countries. Dream event (if you’re a hip hop fan) and a dream location!

The Spirit of India 2

Spirit of India musicans, Christchurch 2008, Ajr

What a glorious way to finish an altogether spectacular day! Last night’s 28th Spirit of India performance at Christchurch Art Centre’s Great Hall was something to tickle every nerve ending – the lilting sounds of exquisite flutes made almost human by Dr Natesan Ramani, performing with his son and grandson – all three brilliant flautists – accompanied by the astounding drumming talents of Raja Rao on his colourful Mridangam (double-headed drum) and fleet-fingered Trichy Murali on the Ghattam (clay pitcher drum). This a taste of South India, with young North Indian singer, Manjiri Kelkar doing astonishing things with the human voice, accompanied by tabla and harmonium players. I’m no musician but it seemed to me, a breathtaking interweaving of complex, subtle sounds and melodies that I would sit through all over again. www.nataraj.org.au

The Spirit of India

A little piece of India fell into my letterbox today and my heart skipped an extra beat. When I opened the brochure about the forthcoming visit of India’s most celebrated flautist, Natesan Ramani and singer Manjiri Kelkar courtesy of the Nataraj Cultural Centre, which organises these Spirit of India concerts, I was immediately transported back to the colour, the passion, the exuberance and the explosive intensity of India itself – that wonderful world where ghazals, ragas, tablas and sitars send pleasurable shivers down the spine. Spirit of India 2008 is bringing this unique double-bill – voice and instrument, north and south Indian classical music – to Dunedin (Otago Museum) and Christchurch (Arts Centre) on March 18th and 20th respectively. I can’t describe classical Indian music – certainly not technically – but the words ‘bold, tragic, sensual, erotic, spiritual, rich, emotive’ all spring to mind. But a description will always fall short; experience is the thing and these performances will be a rare treat. http://www.nataraj.org.au/