A classic rock extravaganza will hit the south this summer, with a triple headline act spearheaded by Pat Benatar at Gibbston Valley.

The Gibbston Valley Winery will host Benatar - the soaring voice behind many lovelorn anthems including Love Is A Battlefield, All Fired Up, We Belong and Hit Me With Your Best Shot, along with Bachman and Turner (part of the former Bachman Turner Overdrive) and America on February 23.

Taking Care of Business, American Woman and You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet will all be belted out as part of the Bachman and Turner set, and America's You Can Do Magic, A Horse With No Name and Ventura Highway will open the event in a slightly mellower set.

Greenstone Entertainment chief executive officer Amanda Calvert said she scheduled the bill following the success of the company's 2012 Gibbston gig headlined by the Doobie Brothers and Little River Band, and said they were proud to feature such a legendary lineup.

"Collectively these three bands have had 18 chart and 21 album hits in New Zealand alone, and this will be the first New Zealand show for both Pat Benatar and Bachman and Turner," she said.

"So fans will be excited to finally have the opportunity to see such acts, along with America live in concert, and performing in such beautiful and scenic outdoor locations."

Greenstone Entertainment has also scheduled concerts with the same lineup in Taupo and Matakana, north of Auckland.

With a week off between the North Island gigs, all of the bands on the bill would be well rested and recharged with lots of sightseeing under their belts for their Queenstown appearance, Ms Calvert said.

There had been huge support from the entire southern region for last year's Doobie Brothers and Little River Band gigs at Gibbston, Ms Calvert said.

"We love the fact that people from all over Southland and Otago made the journey to Queenstown last year, and hope all those great fans of great music will do the same this year."

The 15,000 available tickets go on sale through ticketek, i-Site centres and the Gibbston Valley Winery on September 24. Tickets are $95 plus booking fees, but for local residents it will be $85. Children under 12 will be able to attend for free. While food, beer and Gibbston Valley wines will be available on-site, concert-goers will also be able to take their own food and non-alcoholic drinks.

- © Fairfax NZ News

Comments