Concert concept just great

CHARLES ANDERSON

Summer Six, Saxton Field, Saturday January 9.

In concept, it was a much needed addition to the Nelson summer calendar, something everyone could enjoy and a great way to while away the Saturday hours.

In practice, however, the Summer Six needs a bit more tweaking before it can be considered a blinding success.

The vibe of the concert was just about right. Responsible Kiwis have a certain measure of what constitutes a good day out and more often than not it includes the family, the sun, good music, a quiet tipple and an early night. The concert ticked all of those boxes, making use of some of New Zealand's top musical acts.

Kicking off at noon, the Saxton Oval was bustling an hour later, with hundreds of groups having set up their blankets and nibbles and a loyal enclave of dance enthusiasts grooving to Nathan Haines.

The walk to the gate was interesting. The line stretched for what seemed like an age and got more disgruntled the further along you walked. The beer tent was not much better. I also unfortunately heard a horror story about the state of women's bathrooms, but because I did not want to put in the time to get a beer, and because I am not a woman, the toilet was not something I either needed or wanted.

The musical ensemble provided a bit of something from across the spectrum. The oldies enjoyed it and the very young ones managed to show up their elders on the dance floor on more than one occasion. The tunes of the Black Seeds even inspired one dreadlocked tourist to dance, if one can call it that, with a frantic intensity for about two hours straight before he disappeared into the crowd.

Katchafire is always a highlight, with some brilliant musicians coupled with a catalogue of songs that have become world famous in New Zealand. Concord Dawn were maybe a little out of place rounding off the gig and seemed to only serve to encourage the more moronic of punters to be even more moronic. The heavy bass lines appeared to fuel the attitudes of certain pubescent males who got a bit over-excited and decided to try out their favourite wrestling moves, much to the dismay of others who were trying to enjoy the concert's twilight.

However, despite its drawbacks, which could easily be prevented for next year, most would say it was a great Kiwi day out. It is a venture that should be applauded, and with a couple of minor adjustments, I might just get a beer next time.

- © Fairfax NZ News