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			<title>THE ROCK 2000 - 07 September 2020</title>
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				<![CDATA[Coming soon to Spark Arena!  The Biggest Music Event in the Universe has Landed, The Rock 2000! This year the stakes have been raised.      Witness the business end of The Rock 2000 countdown before we take the party into the night with Devilskin, Villainy, Racing and Head Like A Hole (HLAH).     Plus, for the first time EVER, you can guarantee your spot at this previously invite-only event with tickets just $30! Voting opens and tickets go on sale from 9am Monday 14 September.     ]]>
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			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/the-rock-2000-2020/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 07 Sep 2020 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>SYNTHONY - 28 July 2020</title>
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				<![CDATA[Coming soon to Spark Arena!   Synthony.com Presale: 9am, Tuesday 4 August 2020  Tickets on Sale: 9am, Wednesday 5 August 2020      Following sold out shows for the past 3 years running, Synthony returns to Auckland with their most spectacular show to date, featuring the biggest line-up of some of the best and most loved tracks from the last three iterations of the show.      A true celebration of the dance music of our generation with     The Auckland Symphony Orchestra  Conducted by Peter Thomas  Hosted by General Lee     Featuring performances by:  Jason Kerrison P-Digsss (Shapeshifter) Ria Hall Jenny B (Corona) Cherie Mathieson Helen Corry Nate Dousand Ella Monnery Lewis McCallum  With support from:  Otosan (Live) Dick Johnson Greg Churchill  Synthony is proud to be part of Aucklands 2020 Elemental Festival. Elemental AKL, Auckland's premier arts and culture festival, is back this October, celebrating the stories, culture and cuisine of Tamaki Makaurau through arts, eats and beats. From 1-31 October 2020, a curated series of free and ticketed events will transform the region's eateries and bars, theatres, public spaces and more into an urban oasis of exciting experiences. View a full programme of events and more information. ]]>
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			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/synthony-2020/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 28 Jul 2020 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>FAT FREDDY'S DROP - 20 July 2020</title>
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				<![CDATA[Coming soon to Spark Arena!  Eccles Entertainment regret to announce that due to current COVID-19 Alert Level 2.5 status in Auckland the headlining Fat Freddy's Drop concert on The Cauldron stage in Spark Arena on Saturday, 26th September 2020 has been postponed.  A practical decision has been made by promoter Eccles Entertainment to delay announcing a new show date until Auckland and the rest of New Zealand are back in COVID-19 Alert Level 1.   As soon as we move to COVID-19 Alert Level 1 we will announce  a new show date. We hope to present Fat Freddy's Drop on stage at The Cauldron, Spark Arena in October  Brent Eccles.  All tickets that have been purchased to the concert on Saturday 26th September 2020 remain totally valid to the yet to be announced new date. ]]>
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			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/fat-freddys-drop-2020/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 20 Jul 2020 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>SOL3 MIO - 13 July 2020</title>
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				<![CDATA[Coming soon to Spark Arena!  With Auckland moving to Alert Level 3, our Spark Sessions concert with SOL3 MIO will not go ahead this Thurs 13 Aug. At this stage the concert is not cancelled, and we expect to have an update for everyone about whether the concert can be rescheduled in the near future.  We are disappointed and we know you will be too, but the most important thing is that we all work together to beat Covid-19 again.  All ticket holders will receive updates via email from Ticketmaster, and we will be posting here on our website with any updates.  Take care, and we look forward to welcoming you back with live music as soon as it is safe to do so.     Following on from their hugely popular streamed Spark Session during New Zealand's COVID-19 Lockdown, SOL3 MIO will perform their only concert for 2020 at Spark Arena on Thursday 13 August.  At SPARK SESSIONS: SOL3 MIO, the Kiwi trio will perform operatic arias with a live orchestra and treat the audience to their most popular songs and signature storytelling and humour.  Fans from outside Auckland will be able to see the show in a Spark Sessions live stream on Spark's Facebook page.  Following their sold out SOL3 MIO: Back to Basics tours last year, their performances as a group have been few and far between as they travelled the world. Their individual careers continue to flourish, but after months of lockdown in France and then America, Pene Pati has flown home to join his brother Amitai Pati and cousin Moses Mackay for this one-off concert before he heads back overseas.  We didn't expect to be able to do any SOL3 MIO shows this year because of opera commitments in America and Europe, but with everything on hold in most countries, I decided to come home for this concert while I could, Pene Pati said.  We can't wait to perform together again, and with an orchestra behind us it's going to be a really memorable night, especially since it's our only concert this year. We really hope all our Auckland fans and a few out of towners can make it because it'll be a while before we see our fans again.  We can only do this one show in 2020, and since we can't visit the rest of New Zealand this time, we're grateful that Spark has made it possible to broadcast the show on Facebook, Pene Pati said.  Following SPARK SESSIONS: SOL3 MIO, fans have an opportunity to see Amitai Pati in an opera setting when he makes his New Zealand Opera debut, starring as Jupiter in Handel's baroque opera Semele, staged at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in September. Tickets for Semele are available at nzopera.com.  After losing work in America and Europe during lockdown, Pene Pati will leave New Zealand almost immediately after the concert to prepare for engagements at acclaimed Opera Houses in Europe. He will perform the title role in Mozart's Mitridate for Berlin Staatsoper, sing solo recitals in Paris and Bordeaux, then perform in the rarely performed Fredegonde, by Saint-Saens in Dortmund, Germany - participating in the first ever recording of the work.  Moses Mackay remains based in New Zealand where he has been composing music for a forthcoming solo project. He gave fans a taste of his original songwriting with Embers of Fire', released online last month.  Tickets to this one-off concert go on sale at 9am on Friday 17 July via Ticketmaster. Spark customers have the chance to win the very first tickets to the concert now at www.spark.co.nz/music. Don't miss this year's only chance to see New Zealand's favourite operatic group live in concert. ]]>
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			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/sol3-mio-2020/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 13 Jul 2020 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>DAVE DOBBYN - 02 July 2020</title>
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				<![CDATA[Coming soon to Spark Arena!        Eccles Entertainment and Mediaworks regret to announce that due to current COVID-19 Alert Level 2.5 status in Auckland the stand-alone Dave Dobbyn concert in 'The Cauldron' at Spark Arena on Saturday 12 September has been postponed. The new date is yet to be confirmed.     A practical decision has been made by promoter Eccles Entertainment to delay announcing a new show date until Auckland and the rest of New Zealand are back in COVID-19 Alert Level 1.     As soon as we move to COVID-19 Alert Level 1 we will announce a new show date. We hope to present Dave Dobbyn on stage at The Cauldron, Spark Arena in October  Brent Eccles.     Your current ticket will remain valid for the new date. All ticket holders will receive updates via email from Ticketmaster, and we will be posting here on our website with any updates.        Ticketmaster Presale: 12noon Tuesday 7 July 2020 Tickets on Sale: 12noon Thursday 9 July 2020   Eccles Entertainment and Mediaworks bring you original kiwi hitmaker Dave Dobbyn playing this September in 'The Cauldron' at Spark Arena!  Dave Dobbyn and full band, with the addition of a horn section, will take the stage to play through a selection of homegrown anthems and rarities.  Over the last 40 years Dave has written some of NZ's best known songs - Beside You', Be Mine Tonight', Language', Outlook For Thursday', Loyal', Whaling', Kingdom Come', It Dawned On Me', Guilty', Devil You Know', Slice Of Heaven', Magic, what she do', Oughta Be In Love', Welcome Home' and many more from Th' Dudes, DD Smash and his prolific solo career.  With a career that spans decades and appeals to all ages, Dave Dobbyn is consistently carving a new path and crossing boundaries with his personalized approach to making music for the people.     The Cauldron mode at Spark Arena offers something for everyone, with a party floor and intimate seated theatre experience. The GA standing floor gives access to three sides of the stage, offering a unique side of stage' experience for those who arrive early, and guests on the floor will have direct access to bars located inside the arena itself. For those who wish to sit, all seats in the bowl have a perfect vantage point of the stage. Tickets start at $49.90 (+ booking fees) for the GA Floor, $59.90 (+ booking fees) for B Reserve seating and $69.90 (+ booking fees) for A Reserve seating.     Milly Tabak and her extraordinary band The Miltones (Liam Pratt, Chip Matthews, Guy Harrison and Tom Broome) will be joined for this special show at The Cauldron by powerhouse singers Sandy Mill and Michael Murray!  Since forming in 2014, Milly and her 4-piece band The Miltones have been turning heads with their live performances including a stand-out set at WOMAD. The support slot comes just after release of second album Honest Woman. Their debut album picked up the Taite Music Prize for Best Independent Album. ]]>
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			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/dave-dobbyn-2020/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Thu, 02 Jul 2020 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>AKL20 - 24 June 2020</title>
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				<![CDATA[Coming soon to Spark Arena!   2020 strikes again. Unfortunately with today's announcement that Auckland will remain at Alert Level 2 up until at least October 5, we will need to reschedule AKL20 to a new date.     Our team are working with the artists and Endeavour Live to find a new date and will make an announcement shortly including any details around refunds should you no longer be able to make the rescheduled date.     We thank you in advance for your patience.         Endeavour Live is proud to present:      AKL20 - A Celebration of Auckland Dance Music     Nice'n'Urlich    Aural Trash     Dick 'Magik' Johnson Live  General Lee     Sin      For one night only, Auckland's Spark Arena will be transformed into a super club dedicated to the electronic music scene of the past couple of decades. The opportunity to escape the real life for a while and dance to the music that brought so many people together over the years and catch up with new and old friends who lived through it all.     With a lineup consisting of some of country's top DJ's synonymous with the period, expect a five and half hour throwback session that will take us down memory lane to some of the defining tracks of a generation. Performing on a massive audio and lighting production set up at Spark Arena, this is the opportunity to reconnect with friends over your long lost love of electronic music in a party safe environment.      Tickets are onsale from Friday 26th June, 9am ]]>
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			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/akl20/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 24 Jun 2020 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>BENEE - 18 June 2020</title>
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				<![CDATA[Coming soon to Spark Arena!  Vodafone Presale: 10am Monday 22 June 2020 Live Nation Presale: 11am Wednesday 24 June 2020 Spotify Presale: 11am Wednesday 24 June 2020 Ticketmaster Presale: 11am Wednesday 24 June 2020 Tickets on Sale: 12noon Thursday 25 June 2020  Auckland indie-pop phenomenon and rising global superstar BENEE has announced a run of headline shows for New Zealand in October. The Supalonely' singer, who recently performed on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, has been on a meteoric rise to stardom. With her hit singles playlisted the world over, Benee has collected over half a billion streams and a passionate global fan base obsessed by her groove-drenched sound and quirky lyrical take on the world.  Since bursting onto the scene with her debut single Tough Guy', Benee has been quickly recognized as an artist synonymous with dropping irrepressible bops and bona fide pop earworms. Her global breakout hit Supalonely' is certified Gold in the USA and already Platinum in Australia, Belgium, Canada, Mexico, Norway, New Zealand, and the Netherlands. She's held the #1 spot on radio in Germany and #12 in the US.  Her single Soaked' is Double Platinum in Australia and New Zealand and she has Platinum discs for Glitter' and Gold single awards for Evil Spider' and Find An Island' on both sides of the Tasman.  The young artist, whose real name is Stella Bennett, claimed four NZ Music Awards in 2019, taking home prizes for Best Single (Soaked'), Best Solo Artist, Best Pop Artist and Breakthrough Artist. Josh Fountain also collected the Producer of the Year award for his work on her records.  BENEE has performed sold out shows across the UK, Europe, the USA and Australia. ]]>
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			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/benee-2020/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Thu, 18 Jun 2020 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>BREAKOUT 2020 - 26 May 2020</title>
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				<![CDATA[Coming soon to Spark Arena!  2020 strikes again. Unfortunately with today's announcement that Auckland will remain at Alert Level 2 up until atleast October 5, we will need to reschedule BREAKOUT 2020 to a new date.     Our team are working with the artists and Endeavour Live to work on a new date and will make an announcement shortly including any details around refunds should you no longer be able to make the rescheduled dates.  We thank you in advance for your patience.     BREAKOUT 2020 - an unprecedented new music event formed from the natural desire of the nation to breakout, get together with friends and party with some of New Zealand's top bass heavy music producers in front of one massive production rig.  NZ THE UPBEATS NZ STATE OF MIND FT MC TIKI TAANE NZ LEE MVTTHEWS NZ  NZ EMWA NZ FAIRBROTHER NZ WITTERS NZ  Brace your necks as Spark Arena becomes a playground and visual buffet for electronic dance lovers to feast upon this October. Kicking off from 6:30pm, some of the country's finest electronic producers will be given the keys to one the country's biggest production rigs to deliver a powerhouse display for the ages. Producer duo legends The Upbeats have been serving D&amp;B for breakfast since 2001, Lee Mvtthews continue the momentum from recent headliner sets across the country and a new album, and D&amp;B royalty State of Mind will come in swinging, teaming up with MC Tiki Taane, alongside support performances from rising stars EMWA, Fairbrother and Witters.  Lock in your tickets for this Spring's newest bass heavy music event at Auckland's Spark Arena.  Brought to you by Endeavour    ]]>
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			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/break-out-2020/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 26 May 2020 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>LAUV - 13 March 2020</title>
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				<![CDATA[Coming soon to Spark Arena!  US pop sensation LAUV brings the biggest shows of his career to New Zealand in September 2021, for his rescheduled ~how i'm feeling~ tour.        Since his debut album ~how i'm feeling~ dropped in early 2020 to critical praise, the multi-platinum artist has gone on to release a four-track EP called Without You, performed his song Modern Loneliness' on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, f*ck I'm lonely' with Anne-Marie on Late Night with Seth Myers and more.      Lauv had this message for his fans, regarding the rescheduled dates --     australia and new zealand, see you next year! rescheduled dates for the world tour are below. if u already have tickets, you're good to hold onto those. excited to come back to see u!     Ticketholders are encouraged to hold onto their tickets; all tickets purchased for the original 2020 dates will be valid for the corresponding rescheduled dates  you do not need to do anything, your existing tickets will be valid for entry on the new dates.     If you are unable to attend the rescheduled show please contact Ticketmaster to request a refund. ]]>
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			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/lauv-2020/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 13 Mar 2020 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>HARRY STYLES - 11 March 2020</title>
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				<![CDATA[Coming soon to Spark Arena!  Due to ongoing government restrictions, and out of an abundance of caution for the safety of our fans, crew and staff, the Harry Styles Love on Tour 2020' show in New Zealand scheduled to take place in November 2020 will be postponed.  In a message from Harry to his fans:  Everyone's health and safety remains our top priority, which is why I unfortunately have to postpone all 2020 shows in South America, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand until further notice. I really hope to play the shows as planned for 2021 but will continue to monitor the situation over the coming weeks and months. I can't wait to see you all on the road as soon as it's safe to do so.  The rescheduled dates will be announced in due course. Purchased tickets for the original dates will be valid for the rescheduled dates. We encourage you to hang onto their tickets until the rescheduled dates have been confirmed.     Live Nation is thrilled to announce HARRY STYLES' New Zealand Spark Arena show this November, following the earlier worldwide announcement of his extensive European and North American Love on Tour 2020. These will be Harry's first arena shows since his massive 2018 tour.  For complete tour, ticket and VIP Experience information, visit: livenation.co.nz     Love on Tour celebrates Harry's critically acclaimed second solo #1 album, Fine Line, which features the singles Light's Up,' Adore You,' and Watermelon Sugar'. Fine Line peaked at #1 around the world including Australia and New Zealand. It debuted at #1 on the US' Billboard 200 and made history as the biggest sales week for a UK male artist's album since Nielsen Music began electronically tracking sales data in 1991. Harry also became the first UK male artist to debut at #1 in the US with his first two albums. Fine Line is available now via Erskine Records/Columbia Records.     Joining Harry across all Australian and New Zealand tour dates is one of the UK's biggest pop stars, MABEL. The 22-year old daughter of legendary singer Neneh Cherry and producer Cameron McVey has an instinctive gift of melody that has made quite an impression since bursting onto the scene in September 2015. Since then, Mabel has been nominated for 3 BRIT Awards, winning the category for British Female Solo Artist', had the biggest selling single in the UK by a British Female artist and racked up more than 1 billion streams worldwide. The Evening Standard has described her as a gutsy new star with The FADER adding she is the best R&amp;B to come out of London in recent memory.       ]]>
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			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/harry-styles-2020/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 11 Mar 2020 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>DAVID GRAY - 04 March 2020</title>
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				<![CDATA[Coming soon to Spark Arena!  David Gray's November tour has been rescheduled to the new date of Saturday 27 November 2021. If you have already printed your tickets, don't worry, your tickets are still valid and will grant you entry on show day. You don't need to do anything.     David Gray had this message for his fans --   Hello New Zealand,  I finally have some important information to share with you about the inevitable rescheduling of The White Ladder Anniversary dates - all dates will now be happening in 2021. All existing tickets remain valid so please hang on to those.  At the moment everything feels a bit like being in some weird David Cronenberg film in which impending events keep moving off further and further into the future, but rest assured, these shows will happen! And when they do happen they're going to be charged with a heightened sense of joy and celebration.  Thank you for your patience, stay safe, keep the faith and I'll see you all next year.      Chugg Entertainment and Frontier Touring apologise to any ticketholders who are inconvenienced by these rescheduled dates and thank fans for their support and understanding during these unprecedented circumstances.     All tickets purchased for the original dates will be honoured for the rescheduled dates. If you are unable to attend your new performance date listed above, please request a refund by Friday 24 July 2020.        Multi-platinum, multi-Brit and Grammy-nominated British singer-songwriter DAVID GRAY is bringing his White Ladder: The 20th Anniversary Tour to New Zealand to celebrate the trailblazing album's 20-year anniversary. The 7 million record-selling White Ladder will be performed in its entirety by Gray, together with all the original band members and with all the original equipment  followed by a set of the greatest hits.  Talking about the tour announcement, Gray said:  "It's the 20th anniversary of White Ladder, a unique record with its own remarkable history. Jammed full with big, open hearted songs and flooded with a raw emotional energy. It's an album that came from nowhere to steal the hearts of millions all over the world, completely transforming my life in the process. Twenty years on and it feels like White Ladder is just as alive for people now as it was back then - so to celebrate this milestone, I will be releasing a special anniversary version of the album and assembling all the original band members with all the original equipment, in order to take White Ladder out on the road and recreate the record in its entirety.  White Ladder was born of difficult circumstances. Gray had been struggling on the margins for a decade, a lonely figure with an acoustic guitar swimming against the tide of Britpop, grunge, hip hop and electro. He came close to quitting. But instead, he asked himself some difficult questions: Can you make a better record? Can you write a better song? The decision was to open up and give it everything I've got.  Written and recorded on minimal budget by Gray in the bedroom of a tiny terraced house in Stoke Newington, David experimented with drum machines and electronic elements, creating a blend of folktronica that has since become a familiar part of the musical landscape. White Ladder boasts classic hit singles Babylon', Please Forgive Me' and Sail Away'. It remains in the top 30 best-selling British albums of all time, is the best-selling album ever in Ireland, and three times platinum in New Zealand.  White Ladder remains an album of great depth and startling beauty, a superlative collection of emotional songs capturing a very special moment in time, as raw and immediate as when it was recorded. It's one of 11 complex, ambitious and heartfelt albums Gray has recorded in a career than spans 25 years. Some, like White Ladder, have been big commercial successes (2002's A New Day At Midnight and 2005's Life In Slow Motion were UK chart toppers), others have been more intimate and experimental. All feature music that is both intimate and broad, intensely personal yet capable of speaking to the masses.  Says Gray, What happened with White Ladder involved more than music. It was a sort of heart and soul moment of total surrender for everybody involved, for me and the audience. That was it. It doesn't get any better than that.     This sentiment is sure to ring true for the enigmatic performer's visit this November. Celebrating an album that has touched many, White Ladder: The 20th Anniversary Tour is not to be missed. ]]>
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			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/david-gray-2020/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 04 Mar 2020 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>WWE LIVE NEW ZEALAND - 25 February 2020</title>
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				<![CDATA[Coming soon to Spark Arena!   WWE Live in Auckland scheduled to take place on Saturday, August 8, 2020 has been postponed and will now take place on Saturday, July 31, 2021. All tickets for the August 8, 2020 event remain valid for July 31, 2021. If you are not able to attend the new date please contact Ticketmaster NZ before May 31, 2020.      WWE Live returns to Auckland this August for the only New Zealand show for 2021!  The wait is finally over, after a sell-out show in 2016 that saw 10,000+ WWE fans pack into Spark Arena, WWE returns for one electrifying night on Saturday 31 July 2021.  Fans attending WWE Live in New Zealand will be able to see WWE Superstars live in action as featured on RAW including Seth Rollins, Becky Lynch, Drew McIntyre, Buddy Murphy, Charlotte Flair, AJ Styles, Luke Gallows, Karl Anderson, The Kabuki Warriors, Andrade, Bobby Lashley, Aleister Black, Ricochet, Samoa Joe and many more*.   *Talent line-up subject to change.     TICKETS &amp; VIP PACKAGES   TEG Dainty pre-sale begins 10am, Monday 2 March 20200   On sale to the public 10am, Tuesday 3 March 2020  ]]>
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			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/wwe-live-2020/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 25 Feb 2020 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>ALANIS MORISSETTE - 18 February 2020</title>
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				<![CDATA[Coming soon to Spark Arena!  Live Nation regret to advise that due to ongoing travel restrictions to New Zealand, the Alanis Morissette 2020 World Tour  Celebrating 25 Years of Jagged Little Pill' originally rescheduled to November 2020, will now be rescheduled to November 2021.     The event will now take place on Thursday 25 November 2021.  Your current tickets are still valid for the new date, however if you can no longer attend on the rescheduled date you can request a refund.     "So much going on inside and outside.... take care of yourselves and each other. can't wait to see you when it is safe for us all to gather. Hand on all hearts til then!  Stay safe and see you soon" - Alanis   Live Nation apologises to any ticketholders who have been inconvenienced by the rescheduling and thanks fans for their understanding and support during these unprecedented times.   Unable to attend the new show date?  You will need to request a refund from Ticketmaster. If you booked online or over the phone, the credit card you used to purchase your tickets will be refunded at your request. The refund process can take up to 10 days. Once processed, please allow 3-5 days for the funds to show on both your balance and statement. We ask that all refund applications be submitted prior to 5pm on Friday 25 September 2020.     Contact Ticketmaster     For complete tour, ticket and VIP Experience information, visit: livenation.co.nz   Since 1995, Alanis Morissette has been one of the most influential singer-songwriter-musicians in contemporary music. Her deeply expressive music and performances have earned vast critical praise and seven Grammy awards. Morissette's 1995 debut, Jagged Little Pill was followed by nine more eclectic and acclaimed albums. She has contributed musically to theatrical releases and has acted on the big and small screen. Outside of entertainment, she is an avid supporter of female empowerment, as well as spiritual, psychological and physical wellness.  In 2016, Alanis launched Conversation with Alanis Morissette, a monthly podcast that features conversations with a variety of revered authors, doctors, educators, and therapists, covering a wide range of psychosocial topics extending from spirituality to developmentalism to art.  On December 5, 2019, Jagged Little Pill the musical made its Broadway debut at the Broadhurst Theatre in New York City.  Also in December 2019, Alanis released her newest song Reasons I Drink.  The track comes off Alanis' highly anticipated ninth album, Such Pretty Forks In The Road, due out May 1st. For more information, see www.alanis.com. ]]>
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			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/alanis-morissette-2020/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 18 Feb 2020 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>FAITH NO MORE - 05 February 2020</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Coming soon to Spark Arena!  Frontier Touring and Faith No More wish to advise the rescheduling of the band's upcoming show in New Zealand to February 2021, in light of the current COVID-19 crisis and subsequent Government directives and travel bans.     "Friends Due to the spread of the COVID-19 we have no choice but to postpone the FNM concerts we had planned in New Zealand and Australia in May.       The circumstances that have forced this decision are well beyond our control but not being able to play for you all stings like a motherf*^ker. We wanted to figure out how to address our upcoming tour down there in terms of rescheduling and postponements but basically  We fully intend to make good on our promise to come down and perform for you all. Hold on to your tickets, postponement dates are as follows. If these new dates don't work, we'll refund your ticket.     Thank you for supporting us and the quest for public safety.     We will see you soon,  Billy, Jon, Mike, Mike and Roddy"        Originally set for May 2020, Faith No More will now perform at Spark Arena on Wednesday 24 February 2021. Frontier Touring and Faith No More apologise to all those affected by the date changes and thank fans for their support and understanding.      Sign-up to Frontier Members' Presale: Monday 10 February 2020 Tickets On Sale: 12noon, Wednesday 12 February 2020     Faith No More has taken many twists and turns over the years, and both Australia and New Zealand have been with us every step of the way; this is something that we have always appreciated. Nevertheless, we realise that it's been 20 years since our last proper tour there. If we wait another 20, we'll be in our 70's. This shit stops NOW!  Bill Gould, Faith No More     Frontier Touring are thrilled to announce one of music's most influential and commanding bands, Californian five-piece Faith No More, will visit New Zealand in May 2020! This will be among Faith No More's first international gigs worldwide since 2015.    Sign up to take part in the Frontier Members Pre-sale, which kicks off on Monday 10 February  see the website for staggered pre-sale start times. General Public tickets to all shows will go on sale 12noon Wednesday 12 February via frontiertouring.com/faithnomore.   Faith No More's pioneering, genre-defining career saw the band morph from cult underground heroes to boundary-pushing global chart-toppers, mixing metal to alt-rock to hip-hop to punk and much, much more.       Lending their support following Australia's bushfire crisis, Faith No More will be donating $1 (plus GST) from each ticket sold across the AU/NZ dates to Animals Australia, and state fire services in affected areas, including: NSW Rural Fire Service, Country Fire Association VIC, SA Country Fire Service, Rural Fire Brigades Association QLD. Last month, FNM announced all proceeds of their upcoming Manchester, UK, gig in June will also benefit Aussie charities.    ]]>
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			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/faith-no-more-2020/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 05 Feb 2020 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>THE OFFSPRING WITH SUM 41 - 28 January 2020</title>
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				<![CDATA[Coming soon to Spark Arena!  A message from our DAL family to yours.   As you would be aware the New Zealand Government regulations surrounding COVID-19 now restricts the static gathering of over 100 people. The restrictions are changing regularly and we have now entered a period of uncertainty on how long these measures will be in place. Your safety, as well as the safety of artists and our staff is of utmost importance to us. We are working tirelessly with The Offspring and Sum 41 to reschedule the tour and will bring you information on new dates as soon as we can.  We thank for your patience and understanding whilst our incredible team works around the clock to get this information to you. Your ongoing support and passion for live music is what keeps us in business and spurs us on to deliver incredible concerts. Please hold on to your tickets as ALL tickets will remain valid for rescheduled dates.  Stay safe! Love from the Destroy All Lines Family     Sign up for Pre-Sale Tickets: 9am, Friday 31 January 2020 Tickets On Sale: 9am, Monday 3 February 2020     THE OFFSPRING, one of the world's most exciting and enduring punk rock legends need little introduction.     Having performed over 1100 shows across the globe, selling more than 40 million albums worldwide the band are thrilled to return to Australia for their first headline tour in 16 years in April with very special guests SUM 41.     In true THE OFFSPRING style, this will be no ordinary show. Their incendiary live show will showcase wall to wall bangers of their anthemic, oft-humorous punk-pop singles throughout their impressive career including all of the band's best-known hits such as Self Esteem, Come Out And Play (Keep 'Em Separated), The Kids Aren't Alright, Original Prankster, You're Gonna Go Far, Kid and loads more!     Joining this titanic double bill of epic punk rock proportions is SUM 41 who will be performing a full one-hour set including hits such as Fat Lip, In too Deep, Still Waiting and tracks from their latest release, Order In Decline. Order In Decline is undoubtedly SUM 41'S heaviest and most aggressive album in their storied career, while also being its most dynamic and raw.  After over 15 million records sold worldwide, a Grammy Award nomination, 2 Juno Awards (7 nominations), a Kerrang! Award in 2002, as well as multiple Alternative Press Music Awards, SUM 41 are uncompromising and honest with no intention of slowing down.     This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to see these two punk power houses in action so start warming up those vocal chords, iron that crusty punk shirt and get yourself down to one of these shows.       ]]>
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			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/the-offspring-sum-41-2020/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 28 Jan 2020 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>TOUCH BASS 2020 - 21 January 2020</title>
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				<![CDATA[Coming soon to Spark Arena!  Touch Bass now has a new date of Thursday 1st April 2021.  Endeavour Live, Red Rum and Pitch Control are proud to announce that we have confirmed the entire lineup for the new date. We would like to thanks the artists for their co-operation during these testing times for the industry.  Should you no longer be able to make the new date, we ask that any refund requests are made to Ticketmaster by Friday 4 September 2020.     Appreciate everyone's support in holding onto your tickets for the new schedule date of Thursday 1st April 2021. Better Late Than Never!     New Zealand's leading breakbeat party TOUCH BASS returns this Easter 2021. Coming on stronger each year, Touch Bass Auckland will be back on Thursday 1 April (5:30pm - 12:00 Midnight) at the Spark Arena.     The 2020 edition brings in heavy-weights EXCISION (Canada), BORGORE (Israel) B2B SVDDEN DEATH (USA), SUB FOCUS (U.K.), DREZO (USA), DION TIMMER (Netherlands), FLAVA D (USA) and Jessica Audiffred (Mexico)     The loudest rigs, biggest production, best venues and every show sold out since inception, don't sleep on these eggs.     Top-lined by the return of the world's leading bass exponent EXCISION, Canada's prince of dubstep, Lost Lands festival pioneer, Rottun Records head honcho and our most requested artist steps back to the decks to front the hottest LED show ever with all new visuals from the current APEX tour.  A world exclusive back-to-back performance from BORGORE (Israel) and SVDDEN DEATH (USA) throws one of the genres original OG's (long overdue to return) alongside its hottest new commodity for an ear-splitting step into the unknown.  UK drum &amp; bass don SUBFOCUS (U.K) rolls into Touch Bass for the first time, renowned for his fast hands, quick beats and genre crossing eclectic sets / production we've been chasing this one for years.  DREZO (USA) leads the 4 x 4 bassline charge, pioneering his own sound the EDC fave is set to drop one of the more unique and anticipated performances to Touch Bass yet.  We deliver the Australasian debut of DION TIMMER (Canada) 2019's biggest mover already has a string of Dubstep anthems under his belt, co-writing with Excision and headlining festivals around the globe.  UK Bassline, D&amp;B and garage mistress FLAVA D (U.K) rounds out the internationals, feeding her Australian rise after smoking arenas at Listen Out.  Auckland receive the additional exclusive treat of JESSICA AUDIFFRED (Mexico) a rising bass star breaking globally out of Mexico City, we think she'll be back for years to come. ]]>
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			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/touch-bass-2020/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Jan 2020 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>TAME IMPALA - 20 January 2020</title>
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				<![CDATA[Coming soon to Spark Arena!  Laneway Presents, Chugg Entertainment &amp; Frontier Touring regret to announce that Tame Impala's concert scheduled for Thurs 16 April will not be able to go ahead, but will be rescheduled. The show originally planned to be held next month has now been rescheduled to Sat 5 Dec.  Unfortunately Khruangbin are not available for this rescheduled tour date, however we will be announcing a new support artist in the near future.  Tickets already purchased for the Thurs 16 April show will be valid for the rescheduled date, and all remaining tickets are now on sale for the new date of Sat 5 Dec.  What if I can't attend the new date?  If you are unable to attend the new event date on Sat 5 Dec please contact Ticketmaster New Zealand to request a full refund (including ticket insurance premium and refundable ticket purchase, if relevant) by Fri 10 April.  If the credit card used to make this booking has changed, or is no longer valid (prepaid Visa and MasterCard included), you'll need to contact Ticketmaster's Customer Service Team and follow the instructions carefully. If your original card has a new expiry date, you only need to provide the new expiry.  If your tickets were purchased from a Ticketmaster outlet, you will need to contact their Customer Service Team to have your refund sent to your nominated bank account.  Contact Ticketmaster Customer Support     This December, legendary psych-rock phenomenon TAME IMPALA perform their biggest ever Auckland show.  Led by multi-instrumentalist Kevin Parker, Tame Impala have established themselves as one of the most astounding live acts around. A meditative, light-infused party of psychedelic euphoria, their live experience is world renowned - last year impressing at prestigious headlining slots such as Coachella, Glastonbury, Primavera, and Splendour in the Grass.  the mind-melting live experience that's made them one of Australia's most treasured and in-demand music exports  triple j  The panoramic sound, trippy light shows, and confetti cannons of Tame Impala's live shows are the stuff of stoner legend. - Pitchfork  Released in February, The Slow Rush is the latest offering from the chart-topping outfit. The record was triple j's feature album on release, with the band delivering stunning renditions of album tracks "Lost In Yesterday" and "Breathe Deeper" on Jimmy Kimmel Live!   In a huge coup, Tame Impala claimed Number 1 on triple j's Hottest 100 of the Decade countdown in March, with their 2015 track "The Less I Know The Better".  This December, Tame Impala will deliver songs from their latest brand new record to fans of all ages, along with favourites "Feels Like We Only Go Backwards", "Let It Happen" and more!  Sure to be one of the most exciting tours of the year, experience Tame Impala's triumphant return to New Zealand!    ]]>
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			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/tame-impala-2020/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 20 Jan 2020 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review - Liam Gallagher - 20 December 2019</title>
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				<![CDATA[ "Is there anyone in the world who appreciates Liam Gallagher's performance and ability as a rock n' roll frontman as much as he does? Despite a 90-minute set filled with an arena of screaming fans and some of the most unified crowd singing I've heard this year, I highly doubt it. Although Gallagher epitomises the hyper-interested-but-disinterested rock-star it was, difficult as it may be to accept, refreshing to see someone who matches their bravado with their charisma and performance."  Read the full article on the 13th Floor website. ]]>
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			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-liam-gallagher/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 20 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review - Festival X Rising - 28 November 2019</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ "Initially scheduled to be held at Western Springs, a change of venue a few weeks ago saw Festival X Rising relocated to Spark Arena; the cancellation of Australian DJ Anna Lunoe who has performed at such esteemed events as Coachella, Lollapalooza and TomorrowWorld on the day of the event only further adding to the initial worry lines. But with a stellar line-up that offered something for everyone, culminating in a headline slot from none other than Calvin Harris himself, a couple of stumbling blocks was certainly not enough to derail celebrations."  Read the full article on the Ambient Light website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-festival-x-rising/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Thu, 28 Nov 2019 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>JAMES BLUNT - 22 November 2019</title>
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				<![CDATA[Coming soon to Spark Arena!  Frontier Touring regret to advise that due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and Government restrictions, the planned November 2020 New Zealand tour by James Blunt has been cancelled.     James Blunt would like to thank fans for their understanding and looks forward to returning to New Zealand at a future date.     How do I get my refund?  If you booked online or over the phone, the credit card you used to purchase your tickets will be refunded automatically. The refund process can take up to 10 days. Once processed, please allow 3-5 days for the funds to show on both your balance and statement.  If the credit card used to make this booking has changed, or is no longer valid (prepaid Visa and MasterCard included), you'll need to contact Ticketmaster's Customer Service Team. You do not need to contact them if your card remains valid. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/james-blunt-2020/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 22 Nov 2019 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review - Tash Sultana - 22 November 2019</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ "Tash Sultana is simply unlike any musician I have ever witnessed live, and the list of staggeringly impressive moments on display last night make it a challenge to encapsulate in a single review. Should I start with their ability to perform a solo set that rivals the sound of a 10-piece band, or that Sultana is capable of commanding an almost endless collection of instruments and effortlessly weaving them into a fluid and overlapping psychedelic soundscape?"  Read the full article on The 13th Floor website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-tash-sultana/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 22 Nov 2019 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review - Khalid - 21 November 2019</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ "A stunner of an Auckland late Spring day melted into a hot night at Spark Arena for the second consecutive appearance of Khalid on his worldwide Free Spirit tour. It was a historical night that I'm sure the crowd, like myself, will cherish for more than just the good times shared but for the special Grammy moments in the careers of both Khalid and Lucky Daye that will be marked on that evening for them."  Read the full article on the Radio 13 website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-khalid/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Thu, 21 Nov 2019 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review - Shawn Mendes - 11 November 2019</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ "It's hard to believe that this young gentleman is only twenty-one years old; with an already impressive discography to his name that includes three studio albums and two EP's he is certainly well established and yet it is obvious that there is also far much more to come from this skilled guitarist who is just as comfortable serenading his fans from behind a piano."  Read the full article on the Ambient Light website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-shawn-mendes/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 11 Nov 2019 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>LENNY KRAVITZ - 16 October 2019</title>
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				<![CDATA[Coming soon to Spark Arena!  Due to recent announcements by the New Zealand Governments the Lenny Kravitz - Here to Love Tour is being rescheduled.  We appreciate your understanding as we work to reschedule the tour. An announcement about new dates will be made in due course.  Ticket holders are encouraged to hold on to their tickets pending confirmation of new dates.  Ticketmaster New Zealand will contact all ticket holders via email with further information.     One of the most successful and best-selling artists of his generation, Lenny Kravitz is coming to New Zealand in March 2020 as part of his Here to Love World Tour. The tour, presented by TEG Live, will be the first time Kravitz has ever toured New Zealand.  Regarded as one of the preeminent rock musicians of our time, Lenny Kravitz has transcended genre, style, race and class over the course of a 30-year musical career.  Revelling in the soul, rock and funk influences of the '60s and '70s, this writer, producer and multi-instrumentalist has won four consecutive Grammy Awards, as well as set a record for the most wins in the Best Male Rock Vocal Performance category.  Known for his undeniable, energetic gigs, this run of shows promises to uphold his live legacy yet again. Bringing all the classic hits along with the new music from his most recent album, Raise Vibration, where Kravitz elevates the union of rock n roll, funk, blues, and soul.  Receptive to youthful inspiration, but enlightened by three decades of wisdom, Kravitz represents a powerful creative rebirth and a bold, bright, and brilliant body of work befitting of his legacy and boundless spirit.  In addition to his eleven studio albums, which have sold in excess of 40 million worldwide, this multidimensional artist has segued into film, appearing as Cinna in the box-office hits, The Hunger Games and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. Kravitz can also be seen in the critically-acclaimed films Precious and The Butler.    ]]>
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			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/lenny-kravitz/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 16 Oct 2019 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review - Joe Bonamassa - 30 September 2019</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ "The evenings show presented a great platform for Joe Bonamassa to shine, as he also brought with him a dynamic eight piece strong band, including a horn section, and trio of female backing vocalists. Amongst the rhythm section was also an ace; former Stevie Ray Vaughan keyboardist Reese Wynans. This was the quintessential blues big band line-up."  Read the full article on the Ambient Light website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-joe-bonamassa/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 30 Sep 2019 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review - Jimmy Barnes - 30 September 2019</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ "Attending a Jimmy Barnes show is much like riding a mechanical bull; you better strap yourself in and hold on tight, as you are about to be taken on the ride of your life. Relentless, high-energy and loud, Barnes is zero to sixty for two solid hours."  Read the full article on the Ambient Light website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-jimmy-barnes/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 30 Sep 2019 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review - Fleetwood Mac - 20 September 2019</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ "Mick Fleetwood once again took the mic to give a heart-warming intro to Finn's Don't Dream It's Over', rendered here in a delicate, acoustic form. At its conclusion, Nicks reiterated that songs that good only come along once in a lifetime before joining Finn for the duet Landslide.' Hold Me' exemplified the bpm reduction benefits, by this stage the band creating a groove worthy of a supergroup in harmony."  Read the full article on the Ambient Light website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-fleetwood-mac/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 20 Sep 2019 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review - Troye Sivan - 14 September 2019</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ "As a performer, Troye showcased his obvious vocal ability and range. He contrasted deliciously sparkly pop numbers 1999 with heart-wrenching silken ballads such as Postcard, the stage production capturing their change in mood with ease. While Troye owned the stage with style and grace. One minute he would be strutting like he was walking into Family at 1am as hyperbolic lights swirled around him, the next he would be curled up on a faded leather sofa, lit only by a few lamps."  Read the full article on the Radio 13 website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-troye-sivan/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Sat, 14 Sep 2019 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>BACKSTREET BOYS - 13 September 2019</title>
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				<![CDATA[Coming soon to Spark Arena!  Due to recent announcements by the New Zealand Government the BACKSTREET BOYS  DNA World Tour 2020 tour is being rescheduled to     Wed 28 April 2021  Auckland, Spark Arena (previously Sat 16 &amp; 17 May 2020)     In a message to their fans, the Backstreet Boys said:     We were extremely excited to bring our DNA World tour down under to our Kiwi and Australian Fans. Unfortunately we have to postpone those dates. What's most important is that everyone is safe right now and we will be rescheduling for 2021. We love you guys so much, we hope you stay safe with your loved ones. Hang on to those tickets, cause when it's safe we're going to party like never before, and if you know anything about the Backstreet Boys.. there ain't no party like a Backstreet party cause a Backstreet party don't stop! Stay Safe, Be well, Peace and Love and we will see you soon xx     All tickets remain valid for the rescheduled show without the need for exchange. Patrons unable to attend the new date can obtain a full refund from the point of purchase. Refund requests should be submitted prior to 5pm, Sun 31 May 2020.     For questions relating to your ticket purchase, please contact Ticketmaster.        Backstreet's back, alright! Get your group together, because the biggest selling Boy Band of all time (100 million albums), the BACKSTREET BOYS are heading back to New Zealand in 2021 for a show in Auckland.  Featuring their signature, flawless choreography, costume changes, a pyramid-shaped stage of light, trap doors and giant video screens, Kiwi fans will experience their harmony-laden vocal prowess and arsenal of mega-watt hits such as; I Want It That Way', Everybody (Backstreet's Back) and As Long As You Love Me', plus songs from their tenth studio album, DNA.  The Backstreet Boys  AJ McLean, Brian Litterell, Nick Carter, Howie Dorough and Kevin Richardson, have been enthralling fans for 26 years. Touring in support of their tenth studio album and Billboard No: 1, DNA (Sony Music), DNA features the Grammy nominated single Don't Go Breaking My Heart'  from Stuart Crichton (DNCE) and Jamie Hartman; Chances' penned by Ryan Tedder and Shawn Mendes plus songs written by Lauv (Charli XCX), Andy Grammer, and Mike Sabbath (J Balvin).  BSB analysed their individual DNA profiles to see what crucial element each member represents in the group's DNA. Watch the video here, to see how their individual strains, when brought together, create the unstoppable and legendary Backstreet Boys.  That's what I love about the DNA album, says Kevin Richardson. We were able to bring all of our influences and styles into one coherent piece of work. These songs are a great representation of who we are as individuals and who we are as a group. It's our DNA. We're really proud of that.  After 14 months of setting and breaking records in Las Vegas, BSB's residency Backstreet Boys: Larger Than Life ended on April 27 following 80 shows.  Produced by Live Nation, The Backstreet Boys DNA World Tour - their largest arena tour in 18 years - began on May 11 with sell-out performances throughout Europe and the United Kingdom and is currently trekking across North America.  Vegas was amazing and the UK, European and US dates have been an absolute party, says Howie D. Now it's time for us to visit our fans all over the world.   The journey is ongoing with us and there is so much left to do, added Brian Littrell. We're living the next chapter that hasn't been told yet, and that's exciting.  The Backstreet Boys have spent the best part of two decades honing their craft, no other Boy Band compares. For a night of pure nostalgia and entertainment, you do not want to miss them live in 2020.    ]]>
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			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/backstreet-boys-2020/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 13 Sep 2019 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review - Post Malone - 13 May 2019</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ "Last nights sold out show in Auckland's Spark Arena was further proof of that, Malone massively increasing his attendee size, playing not one but two nights back to back in our city's biggest arena despite having only graced our shores in January of last year."  Read the full article on the Ambient Light website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-post-malone/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 13 May 2019 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review - Hozier - 29 April 2019</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ While there were plenty of fan-favourites and accompanying crowd-clapping, the strongest moments came when it was just the one man and his guitar on stage.  Read the full article on the 13th Floor website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-hozier/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 29 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Billie Eilish - 26 April 2019</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ "When [Finneas] returned to the stage at 8.45pm alongside Eilish, the energy was at an all-time high  and the word for word sing-along of Bad Guy' set a tone for the entire performance, with fans singing and screaming along to every single song."     Read the full article on the coup de main website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-billie-eilish/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 26 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review - You Are Us/Aroha Nui - 15 April 2019</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ "Auckland and New Zealand can take great pride in itself, last nights event yet another display of the strength that our citizens both great and small have at their core; our love for our fellow kiwi's, regardless of age, race or gender only continuing to grow. We are not perfect, but we continue to learn, and that is what is most important."  Read the full article on the Ambient Light website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-you-are-usaroha-nui/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 15 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Boyzone - 10 April 2019</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ "With a visually stunning show, filled with love and laughter, Boyzone closed the book on twenty-five years of music and a whole lot of memories in absolute style."  Read the full article on the Ambient Light website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-boyzone/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 10 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
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			<title>Gig Review - John Mayer - 25 March 2019</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ "There is no question about the talent that John Mayer possesses, he is a born wizard on guitar and that's complemented by his beautiful angelic vocals and his stagemanship."  Read the full article on the Ambient Light website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-john-mayer/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 25 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review - Judas Priest - 18 March 2019</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ "In what could be viewed as a little bit of English humour, Judas Priest came out swinging with Delivering the Goods' from their 1978 album Killing Machine, Halford showing absolutely no signs of slowing down anytime soon as he belted out vocals that left jaws on the floor. Renowned for his operatic' vocal style and his ability to easily move from one end of the scale to the other, Halford hit highs that could have shattered crystal glass in a heartbeat, his control of the microphone itself showing great professionalism."  Read the full article on the Ambient Light website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-judas-priest/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 18 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
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			<title>Gig Review - Bryan Adams - 13 March 2019</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ "Like a fine wine, Bryan Adams has only got better with age. A clich statement? Why very much indeed. However, one that those in attendance of his show last night at Auckland's Spark Arena would be loath to argue with."  Read the full article on the Ambient Light website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-bryan-adams/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 13 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
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			<title>Gig Review - Red Hot Chili Peppers - 11 March 2019</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ "RHCP are a truly age-defying band, performing with the same energy and charisma throughout a 90-minute set today as they did more than 20 years ago, and still delivering the musical quality and emotional crowd connection that packs out arenas wherever they perform."  Read the full article on the 13th Floor website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-red-hot-chili-peppers/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 11 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
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			<title>Gig Review - Bryan Ferry - 08 March 2019</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ "...then it was time for the man himself  the Chameleon of Cool, Mr Bryan Ferry. Casually sauntering on stage to whoops and cheers from the audience, looking absolutely stunning in a smart black suit and white shirt, he kicks off the show with Roxy Music's The Main Thing' and after blowing a kiss to the crowd, without a word we hear the smooth sultry notes of Slave to Love, from his 1986 solo album Boys and Girls while fingers of light caress the stage and the band around him."  Read the full article on the Ambient Light website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-bryan-ferry/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 08 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
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			<title>Gig Review - Arctic Monkeys - 07 March 2019</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ "But while new tracks allowed Turner to show off both his vocals and skills on the Fender Rhodes electric piano, which at times he ditched his guitar for when he wasn't stalking the stage like a lounge room lizard, there was still plenty for their day one fans; I Bet that you look good on the Dancefloor', Arabella' and Dancing Shoes' all reminding the audience that Arctic Monkeys still know how to be a balls to the wall English rock band when they need to be."  Read the full article on the Ambient Light website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-arctic-monkeys/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Thu, 07 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
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			<title>Gig Review - Eagles - 06 March 2019</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ "Hit after hit rolled over the audience, few bands in this day and age being able to promise a set of two and a half hours that was all killer and no filler."  Read the full article on the Ambient Light website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-eagles/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 06 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
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			<title>Gig Review - So Pop - 07 February 2019</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ "This was itthe evening where the neon dreams of thousands of nineties babies would culminate amongst some of the biggest pop names of the decade; So Pop ready to take one and all by the hand for a skip down a glitter covered memory lane."  Read the full article on the Ambient Light website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-so-pop/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Thu, 07 Feb 2019 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
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			<title>Gig Review - George Ezra - 05 February 2019</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ "With a knack for storytelling, a smooth as silk baritone voice and a healthy dollop of that affable English charisma, George Ezra was always going to be a drawcard; last night's sell-out show at Spark Arena irrefutably proving it."  Read the full article on the Ambient Light website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-george-ezra/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 05 Feb 2019 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
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			<title>Gig Review - Lily Allen - 04 February 2019</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ "After all this time, her signature sound remains undeniable - she's kept things simple and honest (both in her music and live performance); inviting us to commiserate through the tough times, helping us find the funny when we've lost the will to laugh and ensuring we feel less alone in our darkest hours of despair. Perhaps that is simply all we've ever needed."  Read the full article on the Radio 13 website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-lily-allen/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 04 Feb 2019 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
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			<title>Gig Review - Florence + The Machine - 31 January 2019</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ "She was a sight to behold, and seemingly effortlessly continued to hold the audience in the palm of her proverbial hand for the remainder of the night."  Read the full article on the Ambient Light website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-florence-the-machine/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Thu, 31 Jan 2019 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Slash Ft. Myles Kennedy &amp; The Conspirators - 29 January 2019</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ "Then the well known guitarist came on stage with a double-guitar. People were in awe, the seated concert-goers all pulled out phones to record the playing of this icon, wishing they could all be Slash."  Read the full article on the Radio 13 website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-slash-ft-myles-kennedy-the-conspirators/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 29 Jan 2019 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
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			<title>Gig Review - Anderson .Paak - 15 January 2019</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ "Moving between the drums and the microphone all evening, .Paak was on fire throughout, bouncing and jumping around the stage like a man possessed, while at one point he even stage dived into the crowd. His stage presence and showmanship was next level as he belted out banger after banger with the likes of Bubblin, Come Down and Tints working the crowd into an absolute frenzy."  Read the full article on the Radio 13 website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-anderson-paak/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 15 Jan 2019 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
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			<title>Gig Review - FOMO By Night - 10 January 2019</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ "Spark Arena's air-conditioned womb was the birthplace of last night's mass sensory experience that is the FOMO by Night Auckland leg of the hugely entertaining FOMO Festival Australia. With a mix of MC's, DJs and of course a royal visit from the Queen herself  Nicki Minaj."  Read the full article on the Ambient Light website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-fomo-by-night/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Thu, 10 Jan 2019 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
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			<title>Gig Review - Twenty One Pilots - 25 December 2018</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ "In the tumultuous times that we live in, in a world that at times appears to be self-imploding; the constant pursuit of finding purpose in one's life seems to relentlessly be banging at the door. twenty ne pilts encourage you to both create and then find your own meaning in that creation, therefore giving yourself a purpose and a point to staying alive."  Read the full article on the Ambient Light website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-twenty-one-pilots/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 25 Dec 2018 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
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			<title>Gig Review - Shania Twain - 19 December 2018</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ "Watching her perform one of the most dazzling shows to grace the Spark Arena stage this year was like watching a phoenix rise from the ashes."  Read the full article on the Ambient Light website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-shania-twain/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 19 Dec 2018 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Spark Arena Scoops Two Major Venue Awards - 30 November 2018</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ The 2018 Entertainment Venues Association of New Zealand (EVANZ) annual awards dinner took place at Eden Park on Tuesday evening where Spark Arena was awarded best in category and supreme venue of the year by EVANZ, the peak body in representing the venue industry in New Zealand  Spark Arena Scoops Two Major Venue Awards     The 2018 Entertainment Venues Association of New Zealand (EVANZ) annual awards dinner took place at Eden Park on Tuesday evening where Spark Arena was awarded best in category and supreme venue of the year by EVANZ, the peak body in representing the venue industry in New Zealand:   Eventfinda Large Venue of the Year 2018 Award  Viacom Supreme Venue of the Year 2018 Award      The judges recognized Spark Arena's work around sustainability, commenting that: In conjunction with a busy calendar of events, the Arena rolled out a number of customer focused initiatives in association with its brand and technology partner Spark, as well as leading the industry in sustainability.     In September this year, the venue has discontinued use of all single use plastics in its bars and is using fully compostable packaging for all its food and drinks service. In doing so, it has experienced around a 60 percent reduction in landfill waste output.     Spark Arena General Manager, Brendan Hines said We're thrilled to have won these awards, and it's a particularly pleasing acknowledgment for the hard-working Spark Arena team and commitment from our amazing partners during what's been a record breaking year of events at the Arena.     The awards dinner was the culmination of EVANZ Conference, an annual 3-day venues and events summit, which brings professionals from over 120 venues across New Zealand together to share insights, ideas and strategy and continue to build strong connections across the sector. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/press-releases/spark-arena-scoops-two-major-venue-awards/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 30 Nov 2018 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review - David Byrne - 19 November 2018</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ "This was a show that looked and sounded like no other. It's one fans will be talking about for some time to come. I hope you were there."  Read the full article on the Radio 13 website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-david-byrne/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 19 Nov 2018 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
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			<title>Gig Review - Def Leppard &amp; Scorpions - 13 November 2018</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ "Both bands proving unequivocally that the anthems of rock will always be in their own unique way, timeless."  Read the full article on the Ambient Light website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-def-leppard-and-scorpions/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 13 Nov 2018 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review - Kygo - 18 October 2018</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ "While Tropical House can often be written off as chill-out' music and not danceable, Kygo proved throughout the evening that he knew just where to place a well-timed drop to have the crowd bouncing in time to the bass line."   Read the full article on the Ambient Light website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-kygo/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Thu, 18 Oct 2018 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review - Panic! at the Disco - 17 October 2018</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ "Not once throughout the almost two hours does [Brendon Urie] falter, his vocals phenomenal in not only range (there is not a note this man cannot hit, a fact he continuously likes to show off throughout the night) but clarity and strength. Dressed in a black ensemble that combined both skin tight leather and a jacket with just the right amount of sparkle, Urie dazzled with both his smile and his dance moves. Here was a man who genuinely looked like he was enjoying every single hedonistic moment of being on stage."  Read the full article on the Ambient Light website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-panic-at-the-disco-2018/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 17 Oct 2018 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review - Listen In - 28 September 2018</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ "If this is the world class quality that Listen In has to offer there is no doubt that New Zealand will be welcoming it back with open arms."  Read the full article on the Ambient Light website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-listen-in/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 28 Sep 2018 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review - Cher - 21 September 2018</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ "Elaborate, entertaining and a consummate visual feast, this is a show worthy of jubilant celebration; Cher proving once and for all that age is nothing but a trivial number. To quote the diva herself; What is your granny doing tonight?"  Read the full article on the Ambient Light website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-cher/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 21 Sep 2018 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>P!NK SETS NEW ATTENDANCE RECORD AT SPARK ARENA - 14 September 2018</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ The Beautiful Trauma World Tour, presented by Live Nation, has smashed the previous record for the highest concert audience attendance at Spark Arena by any artist, attracting 73,087 fans from around New Zealand across the six nights.  FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 2018: AUCKLAND  PINK  BEAUTIFUL TRAUMA WORLD TOUR conquered Auckland with six incredible sold-out shows at Spark Arena through September 4-11.   The Beautiful Trauma World Tour, presented by Live Nation, has smashed the previous record for the highest concert audience attendance at Spark Arena by any artist, attracting 73,087 fans from around New Zealand across the six nights.  The previous venue record was held by Bruno Mars, with 48,783 tickets sold across four shows during the 24K Magic World Tour back in March 2018, and prior to that by Beyonce, both tours also presented by Live Nation.  Congratulations to P!NK, her band, dancers, management and her amazing crew for setting a new attendance record at Spark Arena in Auckland for the Beautiful Trauma World Tour," said Michael Coppel, Chairman, Live Nation Australia.  "Thank you for playing these six incredible shows  you have given New Zealanders, who travelled from all over the country, an unforgettable experience that has now officially gone down in history."  Returning to New Zealand after a 10 year absence Pink wowed New Zealand audiences with her  incredible stage presence, vocals and acrobatics. The critics raved:  "Pop sensation Pink kicked off the Auckland leg of her tour tonight with a riot of colour, acrobatics and insane vocal talent.  She swung on to the stage at a packed Spark Arena, literally dangling from a bejewelled chandelier as she belted out her hit Get This Party Started."   A fantastic night with an incredible performer. What a show!  New Zealand Herald  "...her voice  often cited as one of the best of our generation  is all she really needs to truly entertain, the rest of the show just the cherry on top. P!nk the personification of what it means to be an artist." - Ambient Light  Nailed the perfect amount of awe-inspiring goodness. be prepared for a show like you've never seen before - Music Nation   Breathtaking aerial performances, incredible choreography, sensational visuals and more! - Radio 13  P!NK's Beautiful Trauma World Tour highlights what will be the busiest year on record at Spark Arena with major shows that have already played the venue in recent months including multiple night runs by Roger Waters, Robbie Williams and Queen + Adam Lambert, Bruno Mars (4 shows), Celine Dion, Katy Perry and Kendrick Lamar. Other major multi-night concert tours announced for later in the year include Cher, Sam Smith and Shania Twain. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/press-releases/pink-sets-new-attendance-record-at-spark-arena/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 14 Sep 2018 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Spark Arena rolls out Zero Waste Strategy - 06 September 2018</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ Auckland's Spark Arena has switched to 100% compostable serve ware for public events. This week, the venue is implementing stage one of its Zero Waste Strategy, replacing all single-use cups and hot food packaging with carefully sourced plant-based alternatives. Compostable waste, which now includes cups, lids, straws, cutlery, napkins, food boxes as well as food waste, will be delivered directly to specialist local composting plant Envirofert, where it will be transformed into quality compost in just three months.  Thursday, 6 September 2018 Auckland's Spark Arena has switched to 100% compostable serve ware for public events. This week, the venue is implementing stage one of its Zero Waste Strategy, replacing all single-use cups and hot food packaging with carefully sourced plant-based alternatives. Compostable waste, which now includes cups, lids, straws, cutlery, napkins, food boxes as well as food waste, will be delivered directly to specialist local composting plant Envirofert, where it will be transformed into quality compost in just three months.  Spark Arena hosts over 500,000 customers each year, using well over a million disposable cups annually. A well-documented crisis in the recycling industry has seen reduced tolerance for contamination of recycling material, which has led to a substantial proportion of the venue's recyclable material ending up in landfill.  Spark Arena Design Strategist Judith Clumpas says that despite best efforts at the arena, cross-contamination of event waste combined with a reliance on concert-goers to understand which bin to use for waste such as coffee cups, napkins and discarded food is adding to the crisis.  It made absolute sense to make a change. If you could see the volume of mess that is left after a concert, you would be truly horrified to realise just how much ends up in landfill.  When the house lights go up at the end of a show, the mixture of rubbish on the floors has proved almost impossible to sort through, with the large waste compactor outside working hard to cope. This downside to the entertainment industry has spurred the venue's management team to thoroughly research the issues and find a new way to manage its environmental impact.  Designing a robust new system for waste management at Spark Arena has included sourcing ethical products from reputable local suppliers Innocent Packaging and Ecoware, creating bespoke bins with Method to promote behavioural change, and working closely with environmentally focused companies Green Gorilla and Envirofert to ensure products are disposed of in the right way. Clumpas said.  The result is a simplification of the experience for concert goers. All plastic, glass and tin recycling will be kept behind the bars, and customers only have compostable products in their hands. The unfortunate exception is lolly bags, snack packets and ice cream wrappers, which should still be placed in landfill bins to avoid contamination of the compost material. Greener Arena ambassadors will be on hand to keep it sweet, and the compost clean, and it is hoped that by stage two of the Zero Waste strategy, snack suppliers will have found a way to provide treats in compostable packaging.  People come to Spark Arena for a good time, and I see it as our responsibility not only to deliver a great experience, but to go further by doing the right thing as a good host, says Brendan Hines, General Manager, Spark Arena.  The venue team includes catering staff, cleaning, operations, admin, events and facility staff, who have been thoroughly involved in the planning and implementation of the changes.  My team are thrilled to implement this new strategy for the record-breaking run of six P!NK concerts this week. We estimate that for these shows alone 150,000 cups will be used, and it's good to know for sure they'll all be leaving here in the compost truck, not the landfill one. Catering &amp; Hospitality Manager, Mike Swan.  Says Brendan Hines, It's a great start, and I'm looking forward to seeing a positive shift across the events industry in the years ahead. I see more changes ahead, but we are taking it one step at a time, and trying to get it right.  It's good news too for the arena's bees, which have been busily making honey from nectar collected from the arena's backstage gardens and the Quay St Pohutukawa trees, and will be first to benefit from the creation of compost. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/press-releases/spark-arena-rolls-out-zero-waste-strategy/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Thu, 06 Sep 2018 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review - P!NK - 04 September 2018</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ "With P!nk's show culminating in her being strapped into a gyro-harness and literally somersaulting throughout the arena for a rousing rendition of So What' it appeared to be the finest way to finish the show But instead P!nk returned to the stage one last time in a simple white t-shirt and torn up jeans for a charming version of Glitter in the Air' reminding all that not only is she genuinely down to earth but that her voice  often cited as one of the best of our generation  is all she really needs to truly entertain, the rest of the show just the cherry on top. P!nk the personification of what it means to be an artist."  Read the full article on the Ambient Light website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-pink/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 04 Sep 2018 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - P!NK - 04 September 2018</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ "She's more than just a voice, she's a god damn inspiration and I am so lucky that for the 18 years I've been supporting her I was finally able to witness one of the greats live in concert. Hands down this show will go down as one of the most greatest shows I have every witnessed. There's not a lot of concerts that leave my jaw dropped and wondering but really, how does she do this?."  Read the full article on the Libel Music website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-pink2/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 04 Sep 2018 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review - James Taylor &amp; His All-Star Band - 04 February 2017</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ "James Taylor's performance demonstrates how he is a masterful singer / song writer and a consummate entertainer. He makes a casual entrance onto the stage and is greeted by a full house at the Vector Arena. He is the consummate professional and also the consummate gentleman. He takes his first bow in gratitude to the audience to his immediate right then turns to the centre and bows and then to the people on his left. He doesn't say a word but his acknowledgement says a lot."  Read the full article on the Libel Music website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-james-taylor/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Sat, 04 Feb 2017 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review - Panic! At The Disco - 02 February 2017</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ "As soon as the lights went out, and Brendon Urie took the stage in his shiny, foil blazer, looking effervescent and delightful as always, there was an indescribable sound that emerged from the crowd. To anyone on the outside, it's just the sound of 10,000 people screaming, but the reality is that it's so much more than that. It's a sound that I've certainly experienced before, but one that is becoming rarer as the New Zealand music scene improves, and seeing your favourite band is becoming less of a novelty. It's the sound of every sensation you can possibly think of all rolled into one, a feeling that can't be described, despite it making up every part of you. It's my favourite sound in the world."  Read the full article on The Speak Easy website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-panic-at-the-disco/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Thu, 02 Feb 2017 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review - Puscifer - 29 January 2017</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ "Maynard James Keenan is a super-interesting dude, and this off-kilter creation of his just adds to the intrigue. He, his bandmates and luchadores delivered a top-class 90-odd minutes of entertainment and I look forward with renewed vigour to what he's going to do next."  Read the full article on the Libel Music website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-puscifer/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">341F526A-909C-4E0B-8C06-ED3F9E73D016</guid>
			<pubDate>Sun, 29 Jan 2017 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review - Nick Cave &amp; The Bad Seeds - 18 January 2017</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ "Only one who has seen a Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds show can truly understand the shambolic genius nature of their performances it is gloriously ethereal and sombre yet dirty and dignified. I have never experienced a live performance quite like Nick Cave, and find his performances so descriptive you JUST FEEL IT in every one of your senseslast night was no different."  Read the full article on the Libel Music website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-nick-cave-the-bad-seeds/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 18 Jan 2017 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review - Ben Harper and The Innocent Criminals - 02 December 2016</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ "On Friday night at Auckland's Vector Arena, Harper was his usual eclectic self with a two-hour set that spanned tracks from 2016's Call It What It Is right back to his mid-90s stuff... His buffalo hat came off and the ever gracious Harper thanked a mate from Mangere Bridge, the opening act Miller Yule and with that, he was on his way."  Read the full review on the Stuff website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-ben-harper-and-the-innocent-criminals/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">FAFCA497-27AA-48E0-9E1F-97FB3F342613</guid>
			<pubDate>Fri, 02 Dec 2016 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review - Nelly - 29 November 2016</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ "Nelly did not disappoint  Hot in Herre' from the 2002 Nellyville album absolutely brought the roof down, with the crowd led chorus easily drowning out the singer himself (much to the genuine delight on his face). Nelly wasn't quite done just yet, as by this point he had the fans eating out of his hand, so he kicked straight into Dilemma', encouraging all of the ladies in the audience to sing Kelly Rowland's part, a request that didn't need to be made twice judging by the chorus of voices. After a final thank you to the audience for allowing him to play in their house  Nelly broke into the 2010 hit Just a Dream complete with full hands in the air audience participation. And as he left the stage, removing and tossing his cap into the audience, the crowd saluted one of the 00's R&amp;B biggest hitters with well deserved applause."  Read the full review on the Ambient Light website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-nelly/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">E8C5B2A7-6250-4B37-A690-537424C344DC</guid>
			<pubDate>Tue, 29 Nov 2016 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review - TLC - 26 November 2016</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ "The crazily tight live band and stage show easily proved there is a mine of worth in their material that flows much deeper then Waterfalls'. It was a timely reminder that we're all human and we all feel awkward and unpretty some times. The unity felt at this show was unprecedented, even if you didn't know half as many of the words as your relentless sing-along attempts would suggest."  Read the full review on the Under The Radar website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-tlc/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Sat, 26 Nov 2016 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Ronan Keating - 04 November 2016</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ "There were more hits, some more people waving their arms, people professing their undying love, some more jokes and finally after a couple of hours the show came to an end with a very steady and long held note, which was quite impressive. Ronan sang ....."Did Auckland want him back?" The crowd went wild, so he sang "I guess i'll be back New Zeeeeeeaaalaaaand" Thumbs up Ronan and band, keep doing what you do!"  Read the full review on the Libel website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-ronan-keating/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 04 Nov 2016 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Slipknot - 26 October 2016</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ "The boys from Virginia dominated the stage for an hour, and there was not one point where their energy levels faded. Frontman Randy Blythe threw his body around like a rag doll, jumping from the drum set and speakers like it was nothing. They ended their electrifying set with their most popular headbanger, 'Redneck', and called for the biggest 'circle of death' New Zealand has ever seen."  Read the full article on the Newshub website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-slipknot/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">00670BC3-8086-4A30-A8ED-A517B89FEB54</guid>
			<pubDate>Wed, 26 Oct 2016 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Michael McIntyre - 19 October 2016</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ "The man is a real life Energiser bunny - you just give him a push and off he goes, non-stop and at full speed... He started off the show trying to do a Kiwi accent (and to his credit, he wasn't bad), mocking the way we say words like fish, six and sex before going on to employ catch phrases like "cheers bro, sweet as" and his favourite: "Gummon". All of which continued to return throughout the evening for an extra laugh or two."  Read the full article on the NZ Herald website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-michael-mcintyre/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">61C4E206-E415-4952-87B5-D2CFAEBD417F</guid>
			<pubDate>Wed, 19 Oct 2016 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Ellie Goulding - 01 October 2016</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ "If you have a light, please shine it". The arena lit up with the lights of thousands of mobile phones. Her drummer took a photo while we waited to see where all this was going. "Who remembers shows with no phones and only lighters?". And then her powerful closure, "I've been doing shows for 8 years and more and more, I see people just watching the show through their phones, but not actually WATCHING the show. (So)let's go back in time, and just have an experience in this room tonight. Put both hands up with no phone in sight".  Read the full article on the 13th Floor website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-ellie-goulding/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">DEC0831F-B533-4534-A4FA-B9C1ADC6850C</guid>
			<pubDate>Sat, 01 Oct 2016 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Pentatonix - 10 September 2016</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ "While they may be seen by some as a gimmick act, we found ourselves so swept away by the show that we had to keep reminding ourselves to appreciate the fact that there was no instrumentation other than the five voices  the sound they produced was huge."  Read the full article on the Libel Music website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-pentatonix/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">948903ED-B6CB-4361-8B9D-20CC4D4C4D32</guid>
			<pubDate>Sat, 10 Sep 2016 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Selena Gomez - 13 August 2016</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ "The 24-year-old Disney alum dazzled a buzzing Kiwi crowd of mothers, daughters, BFFs and staunch squad supporters on Saturday night, with her debut New Zealand show. Auckland's Vector Arena played host to thousands of pre-teens - mums in tow - for Gomez's Revival Tour spectacular."  Read the full article on the Stuff website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-selena-gomez/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">EF8FCEC5-369B-4EF7-BAD4-2637162C855D</guid>
			<pubDate>Sat, 13 Aug 2016 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review - Macklemore &amp; Ryan Lewis - 28 July 2016</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ "He knew how to create some fun within the show, with handing out chocolate chip cookies to the people in the crowd and then going on to beat the world record of throwing a cookie all the way from the stage to the back of the Vector Arena, WHICH HE DID! Such a fun and all round inspiring concert, the man really knows how to get the crowd going!"  Read the full article on the Libel website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-macklemore-ryan-lewis/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">1B416711-B7F8-4948-964A-D7E044CC9B49</guid>
			<pubDate>Thu, 28 Jul 2016 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Flume - 22 July 2016</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ "As he looked up every now and again, he showed extraordinary humbleness, as he couldn't believe the amount of people that showed up to see him perform. The show was a sold out crowd, every corner of the arena was filled with die-hard fans, no on sat down, and why would you with an energy like that!"  Read the full article on the Libel website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-flume/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">ECC890AB-4FB9-4F64-9749-7B5AFAB35616</guid>
			<pubDate>Fri, 22 Jul 2016 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - The Cure - 21 July 2016</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ "It's Thursday night at Vector. The black hair/eyeliner/lipstick is out in full force. And we are all waiting for the man himself, Mr Robert Smith. Yes, for the first time ever I got to catch a glimpse of our old chum singing all our favourites. And more. Much more. No need for a support band as I hear these guys play a long set (four encores anyone?)."  Read the full article on the Libel website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-the-cure/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">E225AAC3-CB50-4EEF-8522-AD8CE604C62F</guid>
			<pubDate>Thu, 21 Jul 2016 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review - Broods - 15 July 2016</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ It's good to be home! Georgia announced, before humbly informing the audience that a percentage of the proceedings of this show are being donated to the Key To Life Charity in support of mental illness, dedicating their track Freak Of Nature to anyone who has had to go through that. What followed was the most emotionally honest and unforgettable performance you could ever imagine, proving a reminder of not only the duo's musical talents, but also their songwriting merits."  Read the full article on the Libel website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-broods/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">5722B992-FA87-48BA-98E5-1800CE2AC2D5</guid>
			<pubDate>Fri, 15 Jul 2016 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Rudimental - 04 May 2016</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ "The excited crowd was more than ready for Rudimental to take the stage. I don't know if I've ever seen the floor of Vector Arena so packed. If you thought Rudimental was just the four-piece group when they perform live, you'd be wrong. The eight-piece band is full of energy and soul, running across the stage during the show to fulfil their different roles. Auckland, make some noise was a regular announcement last night."  Read the full article on the Tearaway website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-rudimental/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">4B32B4A4-5C2C-4225-A359-85BE01141FA6</guid>
			<pubDate>Wed, 04 May 2016 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Iron Maiden - 01 May 2016</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;With huge arena shows like this, you usually get the same set list and theatrics on each stop on the tour, so any deviation is appreciated. What stood out in the New Zealand shows was the band&rsquo;s love of rugby and Dickinson proudly donned his All Blacks jersey, given to him days earlier in Christchurch, during the encore.&quot;  Read the full article on the 13th Floor website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-iron-maiden/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">EBC8D25F-6A05-4681-8A60-07CF11509CF9</guid>
			<pubDate>Sun, 01 May 2016 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review - Black Sabbath - 28 April 2016</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;The lights dimmed at Auckland&#39;s Vector Arena and a demon burst out of the flames onto a big screen, as though it was the creature guiding us on our journey for the night. A deafening guitar riff sung out and a sea of black rushed towards the stage -- play time was over, the Kings had arrived.&#39;  Read the full article on the Newshub website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-black-sabbath/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">260A8381-A936-4CCD-B2E3-00B2DC665921</guid>
			<pubDate>Thu, 28 Apr 2016 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review - Twenty One Pilots - 18 April 2016</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;Considerably less tired than they appeared at their Powerstation show last year, frontman Joseph also seemed to be in very chatty mood, stopping to talk to the audience after every few songs. &quot;We know here in New Zealand most acts have come straight from Australia and they&rsquo;re pretty tired because you&rsquo;re the ones right at the end of their tour, so we want you to know that we came to you first. Because we wanted to see you before Australia. Can you also do us a favour and please have us back some time?&quot; Joseph announced to an abundance of screams and promising cheers.&quot;  Read the full article on the Libel Music website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-twenty-one-pilots/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">12261DF7-BFC8-40DA-B40A-DB32DAE3EB7D</guid>
			<pubDate>Mon, 18 Apr 2016 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Tom Jones - 19 March 2016</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;The sexy hip gyrating has been replaced with a more modest knee bend, but Tom can still get his fans going with his signature holler of &ldquo;Oh Yeah?&rdquo; between each animated performance! And just to ensure we still got that sexy Tom Jones experience, his old moves were bought back to life on the giant screen behind him as his younger self was portrayed.&quot;  Read the full article on the Libel Music website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-tom-jones/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Sat, 19 Mar 2016 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - SOL3 MIO - 11 March 2016</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;We took a more personal musical journey as the boys sang a few more contemporary tunes from their past, &#39;Yellow Bird&#39;, &#39;Island in the Sun&#39;, &#39;Fix You&#39; and &#39;Volare&#39; to mention but a few as well as sharing stories of their individual journeys and why those particular tunes meant something to them. This was certainly the more emotional section of the evening with tales of performing in old folks homes to working as security at the very arena we were sitting in to the loss of loved ones, you would&#39;ve had to have been born of stone to not get a little watery eyed at some stage.&quot;  Read the full article on the Libel Music website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-sol3-mio/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 11 Mar 2016 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Madonna - 05 March 2016</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;Madonna changed the RPM as often as she changed her outfits, it was incredible and seamless. With a show that was like something out of the Las Vegas strip, Madge and her team of seriously talented dancers put on a show that rivaled Cirque Du Soleil. At times, I felt it was a distraction from the Queen of Pop being potentially out of tune - un-alas this was not the case. Madonna hit the notes she was supposed to and really delivered.&quot;  Read the full article on the Libel Music website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-madonna/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Sat, 05 Mar 2016 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Simply Red - 27 February 2016</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;It takes guts for a band to do two encores, but Simply Red has the audience so securely on lockdown that they&#39;d hang out for ten encores. Even someone who could barely name a Simply Red song going into the concert is waiting for this song, is waiting for the sprightly Hucknall to belt this song. It&#39;s &quot;If You Don&#39;t Know Me By Now&quot;. One of the quintessential power ballads of the 80s. After a genuine thank you to the audience, Mick Hucknall invites us to sing along. The crowd, me included, scream every word.&quot;  Read the full article on the Stuff website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-simply-red/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Sat, 27 Feb 2016 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - A$AP Rocky - 24 February 2016</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;During &quot;M&#39;$&quot;, his money-loving ode to extreme wealth and a head-spinning highlight from last year&#39;s excellently trippy album At. Long. Last. A$AP, the 27-year-old&#39;s chorus was punctuated by cannons shooting hundreds of fake bank notes into the air.&quot;  Read the full article on the NZ Herald website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-aap-rocky/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">8C3663A2-BF0F-4C2A-A613-79769330E486</guid>
			<pubDate>Wed, 24 Feb 2016 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Media Review - Cirque du Soleil - Quidam - 14 February 2016</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;There was dancing, singing, skipping, juggling and flying. Drama, thriller and comedy all rolled into one perfectly choreographed 2 hour carnival. By the end, my face hurt from smiling, and my palms sore from clapping.&quot;  Read the full article on the Libel Music website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/media-review-cirque-du-soleil-quidam/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Sun, 14 Feb 2016 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Media Review - Oprah Winfrey - 16 December 2015</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &ldquo;It was lights, camera, Oprah on Wednesday night, as An Evening with Oprah kicked off in spectacular fashion, for her legions of Kiwi fans and admirers. A clearly pleased Winfrey began the night showcasing her newly acquired &quot;prized possession&quot; - a signed All Blacks jersey. The AB strip was presented to her earlier in the evening at a VIP Q&amp;A by World Cup-winning coach Steve Hansen. &quot;I think it&#39;s so precious they all signed it for me,&quot; Winfrey told the sell-out crowd at Auckland&#39;s Vector Arena.&rdquo;  Read the full article on the Stuff website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/media-review-oprah-winfrey/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 16 Dec 2015 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Lucinda Williams - 04 December 2015</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;As it turned out, the shrunken down version of the Vector provided a perfect setting for the show and the sound was outstanding&quot;.  Read the full article on the 13th Floor website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-lucinda-williams/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">650FF8EE-3BE4-499E-8537-FA79D6D46E78</guid>
			<pubDate>Fri, 04 Dec 2015 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Florence + The Machine - 21 November 2015</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;Whoever coined the phrase &#39;fiery redhead&#39; must have had Florence Welch in mind. Waves of red hair flew everywhere as the 29-year-old front woman of Florence and the Machine skipped across the stage, bare foot, with a tambourine during the final show of their How Big tour, at Auckland&#39;s Vector Arena.&quot;  Read the full article on the NZ Herald website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-florence-the-machine/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">0593DAFB-81CE-440E-AB3F-A257A082314C</guid>
			<pubDate>Sat, 21 Nov 2015 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
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			<title>Gig Review - Mumford &amp; Sons - 11 November 2015</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;There were pauses between songs as the band worked out quite what they were doing. At one point, they explained, they were still figuring out the set list... But it only added to the sense that this was something special; a unique experience for these fans alone.&quot;  Read the full article on the NZ Herald website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-mumford-sons/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 11 Nov 2015 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
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			<title>Gig Review - Burt Bacharach - 07 November 2015</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;As the 87-year-old composer made his way to his Steinway grand piano if was clear that the years had taken a toll on his body, but when he sat down to play, it was immediately clear that his spirit and talent had not diminished in the slightest... It was a masterful display of some of the most wonderful songwriting of the past 50 years. And the way it looks, Burt Bacharach isn&rsquo;t finished yet.&quot;  Read the full article on the 13th Floor website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-burt-bacharach/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">08701483-1593-4B8B-9582-66DB4A34264A</guid>
			<pubDate>Sat, 07 Nov 2015 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
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			<title>Gig Review - Hozier - 05 November 2015</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;The sold-out audience&#39;s delighted screams could be heard every time the Irish singer spoke - his strong accent send thrills through the crowd...&quot;  Read the full article on the NZ Herald website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-hozier/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">D24CCC38-940A-4A88-BF0C-0E3236D4F48C</guid>
			<pubDate>Thu, 05 Nov 2015 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
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			<title>Gig Review - Robbie Williams - 03 November 2015</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;This is Robbie Williams&rsquo; &ldquo;Let Me Entertain You&rdquo; tour.  And after sitting (and standing) through his nearly two hour show at Auckland&rsquo;s Vector Arena, no matter what you think of his music or his persona, one thing is certain, the man delivered on his promise. I would venture to say that every one of the 10,000+ folks in the audience were definitely entertained.&quot;  Read the full article on the 13th Floor website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-robbie-williams/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 03 Nov 2015 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Neil Diamond - 19 October 2015</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;There aren&#39;t many men who could pull off the role of smouldering sex symbol at 74. Neil Diamond is still giving it his best shot, shamelessly flirting with the adoring crowd at Vector Arena on Monday night, throwing off his jacket to delighted oohs, and shaking his hips with glee.&quot;  Read the full review on the Stuff website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-neil-diamond/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">C88EE3CF-F570-4968-94CF-030A8AB97B56</guid>
			<pubDate>Mon, 19 Oct 2015 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Kiss - 16 October 2015</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;Gene Simmons is playing a bass guitar shaped like a giant axe. Stabbing at it so a demonic riff erupts from the speakers, the Kiss icon is eyeballing his Kiwi fans while blood pools in his mouth, drips down his legendary tongue and splashes onto his silver space armour. Did we mention that Simmons is standing on top of a giant spider rig dangling metres above Vector Arena&#39;s stage? Did we also mention that he flew up there? And that he&#39;s 66 years old? Sixty flippin&#39; six?&quot;  Read the full review on the NZ Herald website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-kiss/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">3F7BDCA9-2F4F-4278-919D-CFD4EAD146D8</guid>
			<pubDate>Fri, 16 Oct 2015 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Maroon 5 - 03 October 2015</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;All in all, the show was a complete hype fest and definitely one for the books. Maroon 5 will be playing again at Vector Arena to another sold out show, if you missed out on this I feel for ya, cause without a doubt this was a show that managed to climb its way into my top 10 concerts.&quot;  Read the full article on the Rip It Up website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-maroon-5/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">ED5F1087-3C1F-4746-BF16-FFBAF76A4A15</guid>
			<pubDate>Sat, 03 Oct 2015 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Imagine Dragons - 08 September 2015</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;They are without a doubt a band you must see live, incomparable to hearing the recorded music. Never Changing got Auckland&#39;s pipes warmed up and ended with a generous account of Dan talking about what they have been up to in Auckland. Inspired by the people and the home-like feel of the place they have just wound up doing the videography for new single Roots, here on our local ground. Seems appropriate for NZ so watch out for the video!&quot;  Read the full review on the Libel Music website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-imagine-dragons/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 08 Sep 2015 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Media Review - A Night Out To Love - 16 July 2015</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;Before Vector Arena opened on Auckland&#39;s waterfront, residents were limited to just two types of show: Massive, stadium-filling rock acts and smaller, more intimate showcases. But the advent of Vector Arena turned Auckland into a bona fide big gig city.&quot;  Read the full article on the NZ Herald website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/media-review-a-night-out-to-love/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">63262B6D-790F-483E-BD18-F5540C8C496C</guid>
			<pubDate>Thu, 16 Jul 2015 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - 5 Seconds of Summer - 18 June 2015</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;During the show, lead singer Luke thanked the packed out Vector for the support and commented on how the last time they played in Auckland it was to a crowd of just 300.&quot;  Read the full review on the Libel Music website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-5-seconds-of-summer/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">F07BA1B7-5B1E-4563-98E4-46275EA683BE</guid>
			<pubDate>Thu, 18 Jun 2015 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Backstreet Boys - 12 May 2015</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;After almost two and a half hours, BSB wrapped things up with Larger Than Life before blowing farewell kisses to their fans and signing random items for those in the front row. The fans were happy and I&#39;d bet they would all buy tickets again if BSB returned.&quot;  Read the full review on the Stuff website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-backstreet-boys/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">66576908-5410-41AD-9034-634322ABC64D</guid>
			<pubDate>Tue, 12 May 2015 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Motley Crue &amp; Alice Cooper - 09 May 2015</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;What a night. Alice Cooper and Motley Crue. You guys sure know how to rock. Seems a shame that the Crue are hanging up their hats at the end of this year. But hey, thanks for coming out to NZ this time so we finally got to see the show. And come back soon Alice. We will be waiting.&quot;  Read the full review on the Libel Music website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-motley-crue-alice-cooper/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">72C60E64-85BC-414C-9BC4-671EA4C9CDF7</guid>
			<pubDate>Sat, 09 May 2015 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - The Script - 05 May 2015</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;What I didn&rsquo;t expect was one of the coolest openings I&rsquo;ve ever seen. 40 Kiwi fans had been chosen to lead the band out through the crowd, holding massive lit-up green flags.&quot;  Read the full review on the Tearaway website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-the-script/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">47E87F39-4F61-4DEA-BD62-747FAF905A49</guid>
			<pubDate>Tue, 05 May 2015 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Demi Lovato - 26 April 2015</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;...the crowd was warmed up and ready for Demi, who was welcomed onto the stage by a traditional Maori performance. You could feel a massive sense of national pride in Vector Arena as fans cheered a humbled looking Demi onto the stage.&quot;  Read the full review on the Coup De Main website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-demi-lovato/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">B37AC33B-05D9-4C80-802D-8C5CD6CB8BD0</guid>
			<pubDate>Sun, 26 Apr 2015 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Sam Smith - 22 April 2015</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;He also told the crowd about how much he had loved his time in New Zealand, including his trip to the Hobbiton movie set in Waikato.&quot;  Read the full review on the Stuff website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-sam-smith/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">40760437-09D5-41B1-8CF4-293D2C5C6B5F</guid>
			<pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2015 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Ricky Martin - 17 April 2015</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;Latin Pop has to be one of the most fun genres of music and with feel good Ricky Martin leading the night it was a blast and probably the most fun I&#39;ve had at a Vector show.&quot;  Read the full review on the Libel Music website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-ricky-martin/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">AB6A2383-4403-4F0D-A5F2-200F81D6723C</guid>
			<pubDate>Fri, 17 Apr 2015 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Rod Stewart - 13 April 2015</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;He dedicated Handbags and Gladrags to Mike Hosking, and wasn&#39;t afraid to break out Do You Think I&#39;m Sexy, even donning a cowboy hat specially.&quot;  Read the full review on the Herald website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-rod-stewart/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">4496B4BB-D536-4D78-ABEF-3055357E759F</guid>
			<pubDate>Mon, 13 Apr 2015 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Ed Sheeran - 11 April 2015</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;Though Ed was alone on stage, it would be wrong to describe it as a solo show. Along with his looped vocals and guitar, the crowd sang almost as much as he did.&quot;  Read the full review on the 13th Floor website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-ed-sheeran/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">E0D8E5A4-939F-4EA6-A5A1-F3FD8BDBF8FF</guid>
			<pubDate>Sat, 11 Apr 2015 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Billy Idol - 01 April 2015</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;There was strutting, a sweaty chest and guitar solos but that&#39;s what Billy Idol&#39;s known for.&quot;  Read the full review on the Stuff website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-billy-idol/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">836AD9A2-86FC-4A74-AFC0-EC617E6FC764</guid>
			<pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2015 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Drake - 19 March 2015</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;You are the greatest crowd I have ever seen,&quot; Drake declared afterwards. &quot;This might be my favourite show I&#39;ve ever played.&quot;  Read the full review on the NZ Herald website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-drake/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">34D69703-14FC-4BAB-99B6-4AF7E40D71F5</guid>
			<pubDate>Thu, 19 Mar 2015 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Andrea Bocelli - 16 October 2014</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;The audience members at an almost-full Vector Arena last night clearly couldn&#39;t wait for Andrea Bocelli to begin his recital of classical opera arias and popular love songs.&quot;  Read the full review at the NZ Herald website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-andrea-bocelli/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Thu, 16 Oct 2014 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - MythBusters - 16 September 2014</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;To sum up, I was very impressed with the event. Vector Arena was an ideal, well-organised venue, and an enthusiastic crowd with plenty of audience participation really added to the experience.&quot;  Read the full review at stuff.co.nz. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-mythbusters/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">5696F2BA-BBB9-4BAA-87E8-9B14358254C4</guid>
			<pubDate>Tue, 16 Sep 2014 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Queen + Adam Lambert - 16 September 2014</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ While witnessing Queen live show without Mercury might never quite feel like the genuine article, seeing May fire off another raygun solo over the heads of a very happy Vector crowd made this feel anything but a group becoming a cover band of itself.&quot;  See the full review at nzherald.co.nz. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-queen-adam-lambert/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">FB095622-25A2-4900-97C4-A0EADAE222C8</guid>
			<pubDate>Tue, 16 Sep 2014 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Ellie Goulding - 09 June 2014</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;Her husky tones and impressive range remained pitch perfect throughout the night, and she&#39;s the type of singer who really throws her lungs behind the emotive phrases, which is surely part of the reason she&#39;s gone from playing intimate venues to stadiums in less than two years...&quot;  Read the full review at the NZ Herald website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-ellie-goulding/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">8A5F34E9-85A8-4291-8B34-0D013F65E3D0</guid>
			<pubDate>Mon, 09 Jun 2014 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Michael Bubl - 23 May 2014</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;While he possesses a fine voice, he never over sings, making his performance seem effortless, almost second-hand. As a result, his lack of showy vocalizing makes him a much more appealing performer over the long run. And his naughty-but-nice sense of humour is the icing on the cake.&quot;  Read the full review at 13thfloor.co.nz here. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-michael-buble/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">44B6CF71-BD46-44B7-9FCE-8ACE2EE1FCA0</guid>
			<pubDate>Fri, 23 May 2014 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Arctic Monkeys - 21 May 2014</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;Celebrating what is arguably the best album of their career&hellip;last year&rsquo;s AM&hellip;the Arctic Monkeys opened their tour of the Southern Hemisphere at Auckland&rsquo;s Vector Arena. And the room was full of fans ready to celebrate with the band.&quot;  Read the full review at the 13th Floor.co.nz website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-arctic-monkeys/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">66274692-57CA-482B-A876-B36FB95787CA</guid>
			<pubDate>Wed, 21 May 2014 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - John Mayer - 27 April 2014</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;Mums, dads, daughters and sons - their genuine enthusiasm throughout the evening took the show to an unexpectedly joyful place.&quot;  Read the full article at the NZHerald website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-john-mayer/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">C2BED011-568A-4A48-A4FA-B31FD3F5953A</guid>
			<pubDate>Sun, 27 Apr 2014 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Joss Stone &amp; India.Arie - 26 April 2014</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;It almost ended in tears. In fact, India.Arie&rsquo;s set began in tears as the inspirational soul singer left the stage&hellip;too distraught to finish her first song. But she returned, triumphant, and the crowd at the Vector Arena were witnesses to a very unusual and very special performance.&quot;  Read the full review at 13thfloor.co.nz. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">0F537442-28E7-4217-8F82-111266C5C942</guid>
			<pubDate>Sat, 26 Apr 2014 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Jason Derulo - 25 April 2014</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;Jason Derulo belted an eclectic mix of soulful ballads, upbeat hip hop raps and even a rendition of Kiwi star Lorde&#39;s Royals during last night&#39;s one-off Tattoo world tour. &quot;  Read the full review at stuff.co.nz. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-jason-derulo/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">47BA9E0A-8674-4C6A-9491-F4E6339688E7</guid>
			<pubDate>Fri, 25 Apr 2014 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Tift Merritt @ The Tuning Fork - 24 April 2014</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;That opening sequence was an indication of what was in store for the audience&hellip;an endearing, if somewhat quirky performer armed with a stunning voice, some wonderful songs and a stage presence that is slightly awkward, but completely charming.&quot;  See the full review at the 13th Floor.co.nz. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-tift-merritt-the-tuning-fork/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">BEBC23CB-CC6A-40F7-BA65-28584EF64C84</guid>
			<pubDate>Thu, 24 Apr 2014 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Don Walker &amp; The Bads - 22 April 2014</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;Cold Chisel&rsquo;s Don Walker made a rare solo appearance at Auckland&rsquo;s Tuning Fork. Auckland alt.country band The Bads provided support, both as opening act and backing band. It was a musical marriage made in heaven.&quot;  Read the full review at the 13th Floor website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-don-walker-the-bads/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">F0EF07E3-D7E4-451A-84DF-0FFEDA4C7030</guid>
			<pubDate>Tue, 22 Apr 2014 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Jason Isbell - 17 April 2014</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;There may be plenty of singer-songwriters out there, but I haven&rsquo;t heard anyone with the emotional depth and passion the Jason Isbell brings to the stage. Truly, one of the best shows I&rsquo;ve seen in a long, long time.&quot;  Read the full review at 13th Floor.co.nz. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-jason-isbell/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">0664B516-E849-4C02-B8AD-8DC5C1C49331</guid>
			<pubDate>Thu, 17 Apr 2014 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - John Farnham &amp; Lionel Richie - 24 March 2014</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;Two pop giants from the 80s combined their hit-making power to fill Auckland&rsquo;s Vector Arena for a night of good ol&rsquo; nostalgia and a bit of dancing on the ceiling.&quot;  See the full review at 13thfloor.co.nz. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-john-farnham-lionel-richie/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">0326DE0B-7EAC-429D-8D6C-97AF3E9B0464</guid>
			<pubDate>Mon, 24 Mar 2014 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Queens of the Stone Age &amp; Nine Inch Nails - 20 March 2014</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;How much rock can you take? That seemed to be the question on offer at Auckland&rsquo;s Vector Arena as Queens Of The Stone Age and Nine Inch Nail put on an aural assault to challenge the most hard-core rocker.&quot;  See the full review at 13thfloor.co.nz. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-qotsa/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">212C89F4-E2C6-4E5F-A94B-E51FBDAE521C</guid>
			<pubDate>Thu, 20 Mar 2014 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Pokey LaFarge@The Tuning Fork - 19 March 2014</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;Pokey and his band play the type of music that rarely gets heard, especially in a live setting, and it was a pleasure to be able to bop along with this great band for 90 minutes or so.&quot;  See the full review at 13thfloor.co.nz. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-pokey-lafargethe-tuning-fork/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">3E7AA308-A2E5-4AD5-A11E-7C4C0FC646A3</guid>
			<pubDate>Wed, 19 Mar 2014 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Bruno Mars - 17 March 2014</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;Mars is a showman. Not only can he write a bloody catchy pop song - and sing it impressively - but he puts on a spectacle.&quot;  See the full review at the NZ Herald. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-bruno-mars/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">7DD01B00-03A8-4B3A-9172-4564F82FADEB</guid>
			<pubDate>Mon, 17 Mar 2014 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Ed Kowalczyk @ The Tuning Fork - 18 February 2014</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;It was appropriate that former Live front man Ed Kowalczyk performed at Auckland&rsquo;s Tuning Fork on Valentine&rsquo;s Day, as it was a virtual love-fest between him and his adoring fans.&quot;  Read the full review at 13thfloor.co.nz here. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-ed-kowalczyk/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">C848B283-0998-487E-86D6-F83A9CD4F25B</guid>
			<pubDate>Tue, 18 Feb 2014 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Dolly Parton - 17 February 2014</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;It was her humour and warmth that were the real entertainment highlight however, and there was plenty of cheek peppered through.&quot;  See the entire review at the New Zealand Herald website here. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-dolly-parton/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">E412B626-7A25-4AEC-95CF-44372E14BCB5</guid>
			<pubDate>Mon, 17 Feb 2014 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - The National - 16 February 2014</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;There was an intensity and exhilaration in the band&#39;s performance that was fed right back to them by the crowd, with 5000 voices often echoing around the stadium in unison with Matt Berninger&#39;s beautiful baritone, only enhanced by the excellent light show and constantly morphing visual backdrop.&quot;  See the entire review at the New Zealand Herald website here. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-the-national/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">9E84F24D-C69C-4D62-A60B-83FEF94C3ADD</guid>
			<pubDate>Sun, 16 Feb 2014 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Paramore - 20 January 2014</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;It has been a while since the band&#39;s last visit to New Zealand and despite all the dramas the group has faced over the past few years, they have managed to come back hitting harder than ever.&quot;  See the entire review at the New Zealand Herald website here, and another reivew at the 13th Floor website here. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-paramore/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">63919F8A-5B5B-4ED6-B194-32C5305B50FA</guid>
			<pubDate>Mon, 20 Jan 2014 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Leonard Cohen - 23 December 2013</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;It was like a reunion of old friends&hellip;Leonard Cohen, his band and his fans&hellip;back together in Auckland&rsquo;s Vector Arena for the third time in five years. But, this show had a special feel about it, a sense of history, as the 79-year-old Cohen announced that, after five years on the road, this was the last show of the tour.&quot;  See the entire review at the 13th Floor website here. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-leonard-cohen/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">B8960B86-1AE2-4A8B-A75D-7D2AFF7567E2</guid>
			<pubDate>Mon, 23 Dec 2013 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Alicia Keys &amp; John Legend - 22 December 2013</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;She may not have the huge production of acts like Beyonce or Taylor Swift, but Alicia Keys makes up for it with her voice, which is as powerful, soulful, and perfectly pitched as ever.&quot;  See the full review at the NZ Herald site here. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-alicia-keys-john-legend/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">8C71BFAC-7DF3-4787-B4D1-65871A2E9058</guid>
			<pubDate>Sun, 22 Dec 2013 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Taylor Swift - 03 December 2013</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;She may portray herself as the goofy oddball, who knows how it feels to be an outcast or a wallflower, but when it comes to performing an arena show for 12,000 people, Taylor Swift is a force to be reckoned with.&quot;  See the full review at the NZ Herald site here. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-taylor-swift/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">A9E54CA7-D41C-47BB-BED0-E2B66D4C823D</guid>
			<pubDate>Tue, 03 Dec 2013 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Justin Bieber - 25 November 2013</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;Last time Justin Bieber was in New Zealand in 2010, he was a much-hyped 16 year old Canadian, who was here for a flying promotional visit, causing riots as he dropped into various schools, much to the delight of many tween and teen girls.     Three years later, the 19 year old&#39;s voice has changed, he&#39;s released a third album, and become great fodder for the international tabloids, but somehow he&#39;s also rather convincingly transformed from ambitious wannabe into a bona-fide pop star.&quot;  Read the full review at the NZ Herald site here. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-justin-bieber/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">85ECCF7A-6C1F-41E1-B300-C7632F06D890</guid>
			<pubDate>Mon, 25 Nov 2013 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>VODAFONE NZ MUSIC AWARDS 2013 - 22 November 2013</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;Performances by Lorde, Aaradhna, and Stan Walker stood out, while Ruby Frost paid great tribute to Shona Laing with a performance of two of Laing&#39;s biggest hits - Soviet Snow and Glad I&#39;m Not A Kennedy - after Jordan Luck presented Laing with the New Zealand Herald Legacy Award.&quot;  Read the full rundown of the night, plus results, at the NZ Herald site here. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/vodafone-nz-music-awards-2013/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">A23A51FE-5551-43AD-8646-4FACD20C241E</guid>
			<pubDate>Fri, 22 Nov 2013 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review: OneRepublic - 18 November 2013</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;It wasn&#39;t just their music that amazed. It was obvious that a lot of thought had been put into the production of their live show, which isn&#39;t always the case for most rock bands.&quot;  Read the full review at the NZ Herald website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-onerepublic/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">02A75B63-131A-4306-821E-2633E7C0D17E</guid>
			<pubDate>Mon, 18 Nov 2013 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review: M. Ward @ The Tuning Fork - 11 November 2013</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;Portland, Oregon is known for its rainy weather, so M Ward was feeling right at home in Auckland where the showers were a constant threat during his stay here. But he received a warm welcome from the sold-out crowd at The Tuning Fork as he and his songs entertained them for the better part of an hour.&quot;  See the full review at 13thFloor.co.nz here. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-m-ward-the-tuning-fork/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">4CF6AA53-107D-400C-88C9-67B202D98EFB</guid>
			<pubDate>Mon, 11 Nov 2013 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review: Cody Chesnutt @ The Tuning Fork - 05 November 2013</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;Cody Chesnutt&rsquo;s performance on Tuesday night at The Tuning Fork proved that a walk down the straight and narrow doesn&rsquo;t have to be boring. In fact, it can be a triumphant, life-affirming experience.&quot;  See the full review at 13thFloor.co.nz here. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-cody-chesnutt-the-tuning-fork/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">0B4D5C26-1ACF-4F2E-A1CE-5C1B4DA0359E</guid>
			<pubDate>Tue, 05 Nov 2013 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Silver Scroll Awards, Tuesday 15th October - 23 October 2013</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;Lorde took home her first official music award last night, as she won coveted songwriters trophy, the APRA Silver Scroll, along with her co-writer and producer Joel Little for their international hit song Royals.  The annual award, which was presented at an impressive ceremony at Vector Arena in Auckland, is voted for by 10,000 New Zealand songwriters ...&quot;  See the full story at the NZ Herald site here. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/silver-scroll-awards-tuesday-15th-october/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">287E741C-0AB3-406C-ACCB-395B707F341B</guid>
			<pubDate>Wed, 23 Oct 2013 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>BEYONCE BREAKS VECTOR ARENA TICKETS SALES RECORD - 23 October 2013</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;As well as claiming the record of being the fastest selling tour of 2013 at Vector Arena, The Mrs Carter Show World Tour starring Beyonce, presented by Live Nation, has set a new record for the highest audience attendance at Vector Arena by a solo artist attracting 44,596 ticket buying fans from around New Zealand across the four nights.&quot;  MONDAY, OCTOBER 21 2013: The Mrs Carter Show World Tour starring Beyonce conquered Auckland last week with four explosive sold-out shows at Vector Arena on October 16, 17,18 and 19.  The most anticipated tour of 2013, Beyonce left no doubt as to her phenomenal stage presence and vocal prowess. The critics raved:  NZ Herald &hellip;.. the moment she strutted on stage through the midst of her all girl band, and parted her sea of 10 dancers, it became abundantly clear why she is crowned the queen of pop.  Stuff &hellip;.It&#39;s in this moment, the complete composure with which she holds herself, that Beyonce separates herself from the amateurs.  Rip It Up &hellip;.She is truly the diva of our generation. Long live Queen Bey.  As well as claiming the record of being the fastest selling tour of 2013 at Vector Arena, The Mrs Carter Show World Tour starring Beyonce, presented by Live Nation, has set a new record for the highest audience attendance at Vector Arena by a solo artist attracting 44,596 ticket buying fans from around New Zealand across the four nights.  The previous venue record is held by Live Nation touring artist, Roger Waters, with 40,348 tickets sold for the &lsquo;The Wall&rsquo; tour in 2012.  &quot;It&rsquo;s a huge thrill to host Beyonce back in New Zealand and to see how warmly she was received by her legion of Kiwi fans. The shows were beyond stunning and our heartfelt appreciation goes out to Queen Bey, her band, dancers and indefatigable crew, and to the fantastic New Zealand audiences that came along all week and kept the city buzzing. Auckland delivered the same level of ticket sales as Melbourne and has surpassed Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth for tour ticket sales.&quot; said Michael Coppel, President and CEO of Live Nation Australasia.  Beyonce is just one of eight international superstar artists Live Nation will present at Vector Arena in 2013, with The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Black Sabbath, Rihanna, and Fleetwood Mac all performing multiple sell-out shows this year. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/press-releases/beyonce-breaks-vector-arena-tickets-sales-record/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 23 Oct 2013 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review - Beyonce - 17 October 2013</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;It&rsquo;s clear Beyonc&eacute; runs the world. From the moment she stepped out on the stage at Vector Arena &ndash; spotlight on, darkness surrounding her &ndash; the crowd was eating out of the palm of her hand.&quot;  See the full review at Ripitup.co.nz, and another review at the NZ Herald site here. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-beyonce/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">E343A265-D3AE-46B2-819E-B34A2BBA2023</guid>
			<pubDate>Thu, 17 Oct 2013 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Shah Rukh Khan in Auckland - 15 October 2013</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;Bollywood megastar Shah Rukh Khan delivered his special brand of showbiz at Vector Arena last night, complete with a cast of 110.&quot;  See the story and photos at the NZ Herald website here. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/shah-rukh-khan-in-auckland/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">079E1D44-C918-4520-B49D-5F2C1EB042CB</guid>
			<pubDate>Tue, 15 Oct 2013 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Show Review - Digital Nationz - 14 October 2013</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;For those who like technology, it was the place to be, whether you wanted robots stealing each other&#39;s balls or a glimpse at the next step in video game technology.&quot;      See the full story at the 3 news website, as well as an article at NZ Gamer here and one at stuff.co.nz here. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/show-review-digital-nationz./</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">7296B66D-ED96-445D-A781-F6CC3034F2FA</guid>
			<pubDate>Mon, 14 Oct 2013 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review - Lorde @ IHeartRadio - 13 October 2013</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;Even with a free ticket giveaway, there are few 16-year-olds with the pulling power to pack 5000 people into Vector Arena.&quot;  Go here to read the full story at the NZ Herald website and here to read a review at stuff.co.nz. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-lorde-iheartradio/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Sun, 13 Oct 2013 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review - Manic Street Preachers - 03 July 2013</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;The Welsh band proved that they still have plenty of rock and roll heart as they treated their long-suffering fans to ninety minutes of power and passion.&quot; from 13th floor.co.nz  &quot;But this long-overdue Manics show was a great redemption, and proof there&#39;s still fire in these here dragons.&quot; NZ Herald  Go here to read the full review at 13thfloor.co.nz and here to read the review at the NZ Herald site. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-manic-street-preachers/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">89BABD73-D897-4D8F-B19E-2250D7960340</guid>
			<pubDate>Wed, 03 Jul 2013 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review - Engelbert Humperdinck - 02 July 2013</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;The crowd of more than 2000 were delighted with his two-hour performance at Vector Arena, which was set up in its more intimate theatre style.&quot;  Go here to read the full review at the NZHerald website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-engelbert-humperdinck/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">56B9BD13-BFF1-4096-AF13-CC27D397765E</guid>
			<pubDate>Tue, 02 Jul 2013 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review - Molly Ringwald - 17 June 2013</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;Tasteful is the word that comes to mind when reflecting on Molly Ringwald&#39;s performance of jazz standards and show tunes, at the newly opened Tuning Fork lounge in Vector Arena.&quot;  Go here to read the full review at the NZHerald website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-molly-ringwald/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">846B9D4E-6B0B-4005-AF63-BDD13051FB0D</guid>
			<pubDate>Mon, 17 Jun 2013 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Tool - 09 May 2013</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;Couple this aural assault with an expansive and trippy laser light show, and Tool&#39;s trademark sick, ghoulish and disturbing visuals, it is one of the best concerts yet at Vector.&quot;  Go here to read the full review at the NZ Herald website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-tool/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">E6BE7D16-01D4-4AB0-A90D-6A382B3B0BB9</guid>
			<pubDate>Thu, 09 May 2013 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Reviews - Black Sabbath - 21 April 2013</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;Before a black-clad audience, inside and away from a pitch-black sky, the founding fathers of heavy metal marched confidently to the stage and showed Auckland how it&#39;s done.&quot;  Go here to read the full review at the NZ Herald website, here to read the review at 13thfloor.co.nz and here to read the Fairfax media review of the show at stuff.co.nz. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-reviews-black-sabbath/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">604E4930-EFB0-428F-ACE8-BFD41000775F</guid>
			<pubDate>Sun, 21 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review - Robert Plant and the Sensational Space Shifters - 12 April 2013</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;Robert Plant did a superb job of walking that fine line between satisfying his own musical curiosity while keeping the fans happy who wanted to revel in the majesty that was Led Zeppelin.&quot;  Go here to read the full review at 13thfloor.co.nz. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-robert-plant-and-the-sensational-space-shifters/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">FEF63B46-17A5-4964-AB08-164B023CFA10</guid>
			<pubDate>Fri, 12 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review - Paul Simon - 09 April 2013</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;At age 70, Paul Simon is still making interesting and challenging new music&hellip;his last two albums are excellent. But, as he proved tonight, he is also capable of putting on a winning show that manages to acknowledge his incredible past without wallowing in sentimentality and nostalgia. Well done.&quot;  View the full review at 13thfloor.co.nz.  Go here to read the full review at 13thfloor.co.nz. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-paul-simon/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">7FA334A5-B82F-4055-AE74-DD10154FD9A9</guid>
			<pubDate>Tue, 09 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review - Neil Young &amp; Crazy Horse - 02 April 2013</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[   &quot;&hellip;this is rock and roll that hits all the senses and lingers long after the final chords have died down. Long Live Neil Young. And long live Crazy Horse. Rock and roll will never die.&quot;  Go here to read the full review at 13thfloor.co.nz ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-neil-young-crazy-horse/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">CE8BB0C9-32BE-43BB-A0E5-ADE58ED72FC4</guid>
			<pubDate>Tue, 02 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review - Santana &amp; Steve Miller Band - 21 March 2013</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;As a double bill this was exceptional, and when Miller joined Santana&#39;s band at the end for some leathery blues (Otis Rush&#39;s All Your Love, a homage to John Lee Hooker) it rounded out a night that had started early but certainly wasn&#39;t conceding an inch to age. Quite extraordinary.&quot;  Go here to read the rest of the review at the NZHerald website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-santana-steve-miller-band/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">E4DEF662-DC15-400F-9C45-E3B90D1FE9F3</guid>
			<pubDate>Thu, 21 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review - Ed Sheeran - 15 March 2013</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;I guess the plan is to strike while the iron is hot&hellip;and Ed Sheeran is very hot right now. Given the quality of his songs and his ability to hold such a large crowd on his own, he should be around for quite a while.&quot;  Go here to read the full review at 13thfloor.co.nz    ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-ed-sheeran/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">296CA337-1CA1-41FE-995E-988CA4029642</guid>
			<pubDate>Fri, 15 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review - Glenn Frey - 15 March 2013</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;With a week of live and loud shows from the likes of Jon Spencer, Dinosaur Jr and Bloc Party, I was looking for a peaceful easy feeling and that&rsquo;s exactly what solo Eagle Glenn Frey served up at the Vector Arena.&quot;  Go here to read the full review at 13thfloor.co.nz ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-glenn-frey/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">E4F90E82-A427-49B4-BFBB-BA4907D6803A</guid>
			<pubDate>Fri, 15 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Back to the Future: Dizzee Rascal, Azealia Banks et al.  - 12 March 2013</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;Oozing with energy, Rascal and co cavorted around every inch of the stage making you wonder how he had enough breath to spit out his rhymes ...&quot;  Go here to read the rest of the review at the NZHerald website. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-back-to-the-future-dizzee-rascal-azealia-banks-et-al/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">E7E08633-0C95-446C-B0F2-558EA1C54768</guid>
			<pubDate>Tue, 12 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review - The Offspring - 28 February 2013</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;The band was good fun, and clearly enjoyed being back in New Zealand.&quot;     Go here to read the rest of the review at 13thFloor.co.nz. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-the-offspring/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">F97A7FBD-A83E-4847-81E2-47D966782852</guid>
			<pubDate>Thu, 28 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review - The Stone Roses - 28 February 2013</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;Sure it was a nostalgia-fest, but it served to remind one what music is all about ... the power to transport the listener back in time, to be able to re-create a time and place that is long gone, to become transcendent. And that&#39;s what The Stone Roses were tonight.&quot;       Go here to read the full review at 13thfloor.co.nz ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-the-stone-roses/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">74EBCBFC-EF91-4BCF-8872-2DC00EFE2A22</guid>
			<pubDate>Thu, 28 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review - Macklemore - 28 February 2013</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;If the screaming from the 5500 strong crowd at Vector Arena on Friday night was anything to go by, Seattle hip hoppers Macklemore &amp; Ryan have reached the big time.&quot;  Go here to read the full review at the NZ Herald. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-macklemore/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">C9F6FD53-4363-47DF-987F-A7175C49CA3F</guid>
			<pubDate>Thu, 28 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review - Deep Purple &amp; Journey - 28 February 2013</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;The thing about Deep Purple is that even after 45 years they still look like they&#39;re having fun up there - even when they still have to play Smoke On the Water for the millionth time.&quot;  Go here to read the full review at the NZ Herald. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-deep-purple-journey/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">6E11DC6C-89AE-4973-ABD6-F7807B3BD991</guid>
			<pubDate>Thu, 28 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review - Ringo Starr - 28 February 2013</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;Ringo was in fine form, joking with the crowd, getting the revved up and generally basking in their applause.&quot;  Go here to read the full review at 13thfloor.co.nz ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-ringo-starr/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">093B0236-3D56-4086-90DF-15C3691E5452</guid>
			<pubDate>Thu, 28 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review - Red Hot Chili Peppers - 28 February 2013</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;From early on in the gig, Kiedis and bassist Flea worked their fans into a frenzy that had the packed venue buzzing.&quot;      Go here to read the full review at Stuff.co.nz. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-red-hot-chili-peppers/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">B145F11E-A70A-49E8-9531-F9ACC092A0C1</guid>
			<pubDate>Thu, 28 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review - Cliff Richard - 28 February 2013</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;Legendary British singer Sir Cliff Richard outdid himself and completely rocked an almost packed Vector Arena in Auckland last night.&quot;  Go here to read the full review at Stuff.co.nz. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-cliff-richard/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">0D5EB6B2-0A32-4732-AD3D-EFAF49892335</guid>
			<pubDate>Thu, 28 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Weezer - 12 February 2013</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;It may have been a nostalgic two-hour trip down memory lane, but Weezer proved their past is a sweater worth unraveling again and again.&quot;  Go here to read the full review at the NZ Herald. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-weezer/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">235A3FC4-6DD6-4E1A-AC66-AC1ED9B90A7A</guid>
			<pubDate>Tue, 12 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Morrissey - 17 December 2012</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;Perhaps it was our current spell of fine weather, or maybe it was good ol&#39; Kiwi hospitality, but characteristically miserable indie singer Morrissey was in a decidedly chipper mood at his Auckland show on Saturday.&quot;  Go here to read the full review at the NZ Herald. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-morrissey/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">C42F1F63-9A3C-42A2-9A64-BF605E7EA3F3</guid>
			<pubDate>Mon, 17 Dec 2012 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>News Item - John Keys eats bug at Bear Grylls show. - 04 December 2012</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ Prime Minister John Key ate a live cricket to applause and cheers from the crowd at adventurer Bear Grylls&#39; show in Auckland last night.  Go here to read the complete article at the NZ Herald site. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/news-item-john-keys-eats-bug-at-bear-grylls-show/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">5FF602F6-4894-4A76-BE0E-B50865C6DDE0</guid>
			<pubDate>Tue, 04 Dec 2012 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review - Nickelback - 01 December 2012</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot; ... there is no denying what they do, they do with precision and passion.&quot;  Go here to read the full review at the NZ Herald. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-nickelback/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">A37A9D91-640E-4128-AC0F-81E4DE5ADF0B</guid>
			<pubDate>Sat, 01 Dec 2012 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review - Russell Brand - 29 November 2012</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;Devilishly saucy comedian Russell Brand may have had only a stool and a water bottle for company on stage last night, but he was one of the most engrossing acts to perform there this year, and the large and enthusiastic crowd were kept laughing for nearly all of his 90-minute set.&quot;  Go here to read the full review at the NZ Herald. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-russell-brand/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">5A5D41D6-634B-4BC0-B3F3-38CBDE977EDA</guid>
			<pubDate>Thu, 29 Nov 2012 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review - Nicki Minaj - 26 November 2012</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;... overall, Minaj delivered an almost perfect pop show, high in theatrics with excellent stage effects - including some alarmingly large fireballs - and dripping with diversity and talent.&quot;  Go here to read the full review at the NZ Herald. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-nicki-minaj/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 26 Nov 2012 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Emmylou Harris in Theatre Mode - 22 November 2012</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;VECTOR ARENA DIRECTOR Stuart Clumpas chose one of his favourite performers, Emmylou Harris, to usher in the new Theatre Mode setting, and he chose well.&quot;  Read the full review at witchdoctor.co.nz ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-emmylou-harris-in-theatre-mode/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Thu, 22 Nov 2012 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Emmylou Harris - 20 November 2012</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[  &quot; .... this was a night when country music of all persuasions was spotlighted. And given the love.&quot;  Click here to read the full review from the NZ Herald. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-emmylou-harris/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 20 Nov 2012 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Radiohead - 07 November 2012</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot; ... for the most part Radiohead were just plain exhilarating, proving they might be a band with nearly 20 years behind them, but one&#39;s whose present is all the more thrilling.&quot;  Go here to read the full review at the NZ Herald. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-radiohead/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">FA8FE718-5D2C-4CDC-92ED-3007C0163118</guid>
			<pubDate>Wed, 07 Nov 2012 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Mumford &amp; Sons - 04 November 2012</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot; ... the London four piece had a diverse, near sellout crowd at Vector Arena eating out their hands as they played through a set of their brand of anthemic folk.&quot;  Go here to read the full review at the NZ Herald site. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-mumford-sons/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">A00178F4-A2D5-4429-A278-21ADDBFB196C</guid>
			<pubDate>Sun, 04 Nov 2012 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - The Black Keys - 04 November 2012</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;Hearing a sold-out Vector Arena crowd scream and stamp their feet for an encore makes you appreciate how far the Black Keys have come since playing Auckland&#39;s little old Kings Arms Tavern in 2005.&quot;  Go here to read the full review at the NZ Herald. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-the-black-keys/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Sun, 04 Nov 2012 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Hot Chelle Rae - 21 October 2012</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;The Nashville four-piece pop-dance-rock band didn&#39;t fail to delight in what was their largest ever headline act.&quot;  Go here to read the full review at Stuff.co.nz. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-hot-chelle-rae/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Sun, 21 Oct 2012 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - R+V Soundcheck - 08 October 2012</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;Friday night&#39;s Rhythm &amp; Vines Soundcheck was a preview for Gisborne&#39;s annual New Year&#39;s music festival, Rhythm &amp; Vines, with the evening&#39;s top hip-hop and DJ line-up a tasty taster of what&#39;s to come.&quot;  Click here to read the full review from the NZ Herald. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-r-v-soundcheck/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">101BF417-74DA-4C8A-BE23-8403C8590ADB</guid>
			<pubDate>Mon, 08 Oct 2012 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - The Wiggles - 02 October 2012</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;It took just one song and my 4-year-old, Mia, was off to jump around in the Wiggles&#39; moshpit in front of the stage.&quot;  Click here to read the full review from the NZ Herald. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-the-wiggles/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">F1B44C66-322D-4A2A-8894-C4FBA01C89E1</guid>
			<pubDate>Tue, 02 Oct 2012 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Slash - 20 August 2012</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;I dare say an argument could be made that Slash is the last Guitar God. He certainly lived up to that title last night at Auckland&rsquo;s Vector Arena.&quot;  Click here to read the full review at 13th Floor.co.nz ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-slash/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">5B68D8AF-4225-42D5-8D1D-4DB9CF4319F0</guid>
			<pubDate>Mon, 20 Aug 2012 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title>Smashing Pumpkins - 06 August 2012</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;Corgan was a polite, humble, engaging and - dare we say it - happy presence as the Chicago-based band worked through their new album Oceania in its entirety for just the fourth time live.&quot;  Click here to read the full NZ Herald review. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/smashing-pumpkins/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">8E1D1D15-7794-4A9D-B8A2-9C3ABEC3549D</guid>
			<pubDate>Mon, 06 Aug 2012 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Kimbra - 01 August 2012</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;It&#39;s a rare performer who can fling herself around with such fervour, and still deliver a convincing vocal performance, but Kimbra conquered the stage in a way that Beyonce or MIA might, all vocal acrobatics and fierce attitude.&quot;  Click here to read the full NZ Herald review. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-kimbra/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">FBFFE705-10AE-4F08-942E-81B90EAFE715</guid>
			<pubDate>Wed, 01 Aug 2012 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Flight of the Conchords - 26 July 2012</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;The fans were out in full force for what was the first of three shows at Auckland&rsquo;s Vector Arena for Flight Of The Conchords.&quot;  Click here to see the full review on 13thfloor.co.nz. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-flight-of-the-conchords/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">D4235434-5100-4FE6-90A0-039CB6F9417A</guid>
			<pubDate>Thu, 26 Jul 2012 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Glen Campbell cancels NZ dates due to health. - 18 July 2012</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[  Pacific Entertainment and Bluehawk Presents regret to advise that Glen Campbell is no longer able to come to New Zealand and Australia to tour in August as the support for fellow Country Superstar, Kenny Rogers.    Wednesday, 18 July, 2012  Pacific Entertainment and Bluehawk Presents regret to advise that Glen Campbell is no longer able to come to New Zealand and Australia to tour in August as the support for fellow Country Superstar, Kenny Rogers.  Glen apologises and is very disappointed that he is unable to perform for his New Zealand and Australian fans one last time on what would have been his farewell visit and last international dates on his The Goodbye Tour. However, due to a decline in his Alzheimers condition his medical specialists have advised that the long international flight from Los Angeles would be detrimental to his health.  Pacific Entertainment and Bluehawk are saddened by the unexpected turn of events after having closely monitored the progress to date of Campbell&#39;s The Goodbye Tour that has been going well and receiving great reviews. All the signs were positive for the New Zealand and Australian dates. No one had anticipated the travel complication or impact on coming to our distant locations. The promoters sincerely apologize for this inconvenience but want to assure ticket buyers that they are still in for a great show.  Kenny&#39;s headline concerts will continue with the help of Kenny&#39;s friend and New Zealand icon, John Rowles. Kenny and John have known each other since the late 1970&#39;s; at one time Kenny suggesting to John that he should record a catchy little number called &quot;Lucille&quot;, which later became the No.1 hit that launched Kenny&#39;s solo career. The same thing happened a year later when John turned down the opportunity to record &quot;She Believes in Me&quot; that also became a No.1 crossover hit for Kenny. It is fitting that John should be the one to step in to help almost a lifetime later as he is completing his own farewell tour.  John also has a connection with Glen Campbell releasing a version of Campbell&#39;s 1974 hit single, Rhinestone Cowboy on one of his own live albums.  Kenny&#39;s last sold out visit to New Zealand was described as magical. One reviewer wrote of his Auckland show &quot;The cool kids may have been on the other side of Auckland at the Big Day Out but the crowd at last night&#39;s sold-out Kenny Roger&#39;s concert were the ones having all the fun&quot;. The evening was a testament to the special relationship between Rogers and his thousands of loyal fans who were treated to a good helping of his well-loved hits, which remains the promise for this upcoming visit.  The Bourbon County Brothers aka, Kevin Greaves, Chet O&#39;Connell, JamesRay, and Brendon Ham, four of New Zealand&#39;s top male country artist&#39;s, will also perform a special farewell tribute to Glen Campbell at both shows.  ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/press-releases/glen-campbell-cancels-nz-dates-due-to-health/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 18 Jul 2012 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Florence + The Machine - 18 June 2012</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;Florence has taken her nightingale voice and built it into a dramatic arena-filling stage show of grand proportions&quot;  Click here to see the full NZ Herald review. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-florence-the-machine/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">DE934571-0374-4752-AB5C-8D9BB8A674FB</guid>
			<pubDate>Mon, 18 Jun 2012 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Lady Gaga - 18 June 2012</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;Gaga rode in on a mechanical horse alongside a huge disembodied head announcing her intention to invade the country and it never relaxed from there.  Click here to see the full NZ Herald review. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-lady-gaga/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">146CC923-BD12-44B3-B3BB-0AA137BAC6E4</guid>
			<pubDate>Mon, 18 Jun 2012 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - How to Train Your Dragon  - 06 June 2012</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;Hundreds of children - and their parents - laughed, gasped and looked on in wonder as winged beasts and Vikings took to the skies.&quot;  Click here to read the full Fairfax Media review. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-how-to-train-your-dragon/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">D19F9C10-C72E-4A76-9209-4F843A30D814</guid>
			<pubDate>Wed, 06 Jun 2012 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - New Order - 06 June 2012</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;It was Ceremony - the part-Joy Division, part-New Order song - which got the kids jumping. The thing is, most of them would not have been born when the song came out in 1981 as New Order&#39;s first single.&quot;  Click here to see the full NZ Herald review. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-new-order/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">1EEFBB24-8628-4282-AD33-B5D205985703</guid>
			<pubDate>Wed, 06 Jun 2012 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Taylor Swift - 06 June 2012</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;It&#39;s hard to believe that model-esque 22-year-old Taylor Swift was ever ostracised at school, but if it wasn&#39;t for those formative experiences in Pennsylvania, Swift may never have turned to songwriting.&quot;  Go here to read the full NZ Herald review, and here to read the Fairfax NZ News review. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-taylor-swift/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">31C73A35-8DA7-42C4-BB2F-08B32DFA69E0</guid>
			<pubDate>Wed, 06 Jun 2012 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>How to Train Your Dragon Arena Spectacular Auckland Premiere Tonight! Sat. Apr. 21 11.00 am show now SOLD OUT - 18 April 2012</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ The wait is over New Zealand, the How to Train Your Dragon Arena Spectacular Auckland Premiere is being staged tonight!  The cast of magnificent Dragons and actors recently enthralled Australian audiences with an astonishing visual and aural performance in what is being heralded as one of the most adventurous theatrical shows ever to be presented.  The Aussie critics raved;  Herald Sun  &quot;These dragons will knock your socks off&quot;  / &ldquo;Jaw Dropping&rdquo;  The Age  &quot;Visually astonishing&quot;  /  &quot;A dizzying triumph&quot;  / &quot;A unique and entrancing spectacle&quot;  Aussietheatre.co  &ldquo;Nothing less than sensational&rdquo;   /&rdquo;Incredible&rdquo;  theatrepeople.com.au  &ldquo;Seamless, clever and Inspiring&rdquo; /  &ldquo;The most technically impressive I have ever seen&rdquo;  Artshub.com.au  &ldquo;By god the Dragons are breathtaking&rdquo;  The New Zealand season of the How to Train Your Dragon Arena Spectacular runs from April 18-22 at Vector Arena, for 10 performances only.     The How to Train Your Dragon Arena Spectacular features the most technically sophisticated animatronic creatures yet seen. An engineering masterpiece in the form of a world-first, arena size aerial track that allows the Dragons to fly overhead up to 20km&rsquo;s per hour!  The projections on a screen9 times larger than a standard movie screen are unparalleled not to mention a cast of 24 actors who navigate the stage they share with the mammoth sized Dragons, performing stunts, acrobatics and fight scenes, all set to a stunning score featuring compositions by Icelandic singer-songwriter Jonsi from Sigur Ros.  The How to Train Your Dragon Arena Spectacular is an arena event of epic proportions, you&rsquo;d be crazy to miss it!     Performance schedule:  Wednesday 18 April &ndash; 7 pm Thursday 19 April &ndash; 3pm  Thursday 19 April &ndash; 7pm Friday 20 April &ndash; 11am Friday 20 April &ndash; 7pm  Saturday 21 April &ndash; 11am  - SOLD OUT  Saturday 21 April 3pm  Saturday 21 April 7pm Sunday 22 April &ndash; 11am Sunday 22 April &ndash; 3pm     Ticket PricesPremium - $99.90 A-Reserve - $79.90 B-Reserve - $64.90   Concession and Group prices starting from $44.90 available on selected performances.    Bookings through Ticketmaster: Phone 0800-111-999 or www.ticketmaster.co.nz     HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON &ndash; ARENA SPECTACULAR FUN FACTS     Number of Dragons:  24 Dragons  10 Different Species Represented     5 Large Dragons  Nadder &ndash; Height at shoulder 4m x 12m long &amp; wingspan of 9m  Gronckle &ndash; Height at shoulder 3m x 7.5m long &amp; wingspan of 5m  Nightmare - Height at shoulder 3.5m x 15.5m long &amp; wingspan of 14m  Night Fury (Toothless) &ndash; Height at shoulder 2.5m X 8.5m long &amp; wingspan of 10m  Red Death &ndash; Head and neck total length 12m+, head 5m wide and 6m long, tail is 20m long     7 Flying Dragons  3 x additional Night Furys (Toothless) &ndash; at various scales  2 x Gronckle &ndash; 3m long with 2m wing span  1 x Nightmare &ndash; 4m long x 6m wingspan  1 x Skrill - 4m long x 6m wingspan     Suits and Puppets  2 Skrills &ndash; 2.5m tall x 4.3m long+  4 Wrestling Dragons Suits - 2m long  2 Stinger suit puppets &ndash; 2m at hips tall x 4.5m long  1 Kite dragon &ndash; 2m wingspan  Multiple nesting dragons (Zipplebacks)  1 Egg Biter  Multiple shadow puppets  2 wrestling puppets     Each large dragon contains:   132 metres of hydraulic hose  90 square metres of fabric  12.2 cubic metres of foam  200 litres of paint  7 kilowatts of power from 16 truck batteries  1 kilometre of cabling in each body  24 microprocessors control movement along with 15 hydraulic rams and 6 hydraulic motors each     Each large dragon:   Weighs 1.6 tons (standard family car)  Takes 3 people to operate: 1 Driver and 2 Voodoo Puppeteers, one operates head and tail gross motion, one in charge of minor movements: mouth, blinking &amp; roars     Trucks:  40 x 53 foot semis trailers (truck is 22.3m long with cabin) for the World Tour     The touring company is made up of:  80 ++ touring cast and crew        Media Contact: Bridget de Launay / de Launay Enterprises  Email: Bridget@delaunayenterprises.co.nz  / Ph: (09) 361-6600 / Mobile: 021-630-622        www.dragonslive.co.nz                         ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/press-releases/how-to-train-your-dragon-arena-spectacular-auckland-premiere-tonight-sat-apr-21-11-00-am-show-now-sold-out/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">22E4EEE9-07F2-4E33-91C2-0787C768ED45</guid>
			<pubDate>Wed, 18 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Cold Chisel - 21 February 2012</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;In retrospect it&#39;s a pity America never got Cold Chisel, a band which on Saturday once again proved - even after a lengthy hiatus - it could make raucous bar-room rock&#39;n&#39;roll translate into an arena with thrilling emotional impact.&quot;  Click here to read the full NZ Herald review. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-cold-chisel/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">647250DE-0392-4CB8-9CD4-54ED6467752A</guid>
			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Incubus - 21 February 2012</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;Aside from the view, there was plenty to like about the show - Boyd&#39;s voice is as strong as ever, the near two-hour show was well-paced, and there were many Incubus diehards grinning from ear to ear by the end.&quot;  Click here to read the rest of the NZ Herald review. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-incubus/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">9A9C15F9-C49C-448C-835F-952FDFDCB0B8</guid>
			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Def Leppard &amp; Heart - 14 October 2011</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[     &quot;Back so soon chaps? And why not, because although Sheffield&#39;s hair metal heroes last visited New Zealand three years ago for a sell-out show at Vector, before that it had been 16 long years since they had leppardised and adrenalised us.&quot;  Click here to read the full New Zealand Herald review.   ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-def-leppard-heart/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">33EF5A6A-898F-4EC3-B6BD-D429726767CB</guid>
			<pubDate>Fri, 14 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Cirque du Soleil - 01 September 2011</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;Last night the Vector Arena erupted in a kaleidoscope of colour and a host of spectacular performances as Saltimbanco, the fifth of the Cirque du Soleil shows to come to Auckland opened for the first time.&quot;     Read the full review at the National Business Review,  here.     &quot;Cirque du Soleil is made up of 51 performers from 20 different countries. This year it will take its enchanting world to 15 million people around the world.  I am very pleased to have been one of them.&quot;     Read the full review at stuff.co.nz., here.    ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-cirque-du-soleil/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">66125F07-DDDF-4A46-A370-BF2746E9B64A</guid>
			<pubDate>Thu, 01 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Walking with Dinosaurs - 10 August 2011</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[  &quot;These days, children are used to monsters popping out of screens in 3D, but coming face-to-face with a brachiosaurus is something else. It&#39;s as real as you are going to get this side of the Jurassic period and, judging by the size and deafening roar of the things, it&#39;s probably as real as you want them to be, too.&quot;    Click here to read the full article.    ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-walking-with-dinosaurs/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">8D2A0776-6238-4619-9EB0-146F67CADBA6</guid>
			<pubDate>Wed, 10 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>How To Train Your Dragon - 08 August 2011</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[  GLOBAL CREATURES AND DREAMWORKS BRING HIGH-FLYING FIRE-BREATHING DRAGONS TO LIFE  IN THE  &quot;HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON ARENA SPECTACULAR&quot;  WORLD TOUR COMES TO NEW ZEALAND - APRIL 2012  Global Creatures, the technical masterminds behind the phenomenon &ldquo;Walking With Dinosaurs &ndash; The Arena Spectacular&rdquo;, and DreamWorks Theatricals are bringing high-flying, fire-breathing dragons to life in an unparalleled live entertainment event for a worldwide audience. The How to Train Your Dragon Arena Spectacular is an epic arena adventure inspired by the Academy Award nominated DreamWorks Animation film, How to Train Your Dragon.   The World tour of the How to Train Your Dragon Arena Spectacular comes to New Zealand in April 2012, followed by the North American tour in June.  &ldquo;In our film, audiences around the world were transported to the mythical world of Vikings and Dragons&hellip; and now, we are excited to immerse them in a one-of-a-kind live event in the How To Train Your Dragon Arena Spectacular,&rdquo; said Jeffrey Katzenberg, Chief Executive Officer of DreamWorks Animation.  &ldquo;The innovative team at Global Creatures and the creative storytellers at DreamWorks Animation have done an inspired job in every imaginable way to present this story on an unprecedented scale that will take audiences to unforgettable new heights.  Global Creatures CEO, Carmen Pavlovic, explained &ldquo;Working with DreamWorks has brought us into a relationship with one of the world&#39;s leading entertainment companies. The collaboration fuses our own world-class technology with the vision and dedication of a company renowned for its cutting-edge creativity and storytelling skill. We are excited to expand the boundaries of public expectation by creating a show that combines dynamic creatures, world class performers and incredible staging to not only thrill and intrigue, but to engage audiences on an emotional level as well.&quot;  The live production is inspired by the phenomenally successful 2010 DreamWorks Animation film How To Train Your Dragon, which grossed approximately US $500 million at the worldwide box office and was among the best-reviewed movies of 2010.  In the How to Train Your Dragon Arena Spectacular, audiences across the globe will have the unique opportunity to experience the world of How to Train Your Dragon in a one-of-a-kind, live theatrical event that promises to break every rule of traditional arena entertainment. In this state-of-the-art production, fire-breathing dragons will soar overhead, immersing audiences in a magical and mythical world of Vikings and Dragons.   The astonishing cast of characters features 24 Dragons, some with wingspans of up to 14 metres, Viking warriors and villagers as well as world-class circus and acrobatic performers. The arena spectacular will feature unrivalled production values, projections, flying, stunts, circus performers, fire and pyrotechnics. In one of the largest theatrical arena productions ever to go on tour, the How to Train Your Dragon Arena Spectacular will require a phenomenal 40 semi-trailers to transport the production whilst on the road around the world.  The How to Train Your Dragon Arena Spectacular rolls fire-breathing action, epic adventure and laughs into a captivating and original story that is set in the mythical world of burly Vikings and wild dragons, and is based on the book by Cressida Cowell. It centres on Hiccup, a Viking teenager who doesn&rsquo;t fit in with his tribe&rsquo;s longstanding tradition of heroic dragon slayers. Hiccup&rsquo;s world is turned upside down when he encounters a dragon that challenges him and his fellow Vikings to see the world from an entirely different point of view.  The Dragons in the How To Train Your Dragon Arena Spectacular have been created by Sonny Tilders and his team at The Creature Technology Company (Melbourne, Australia), whose previous work brought to life the stunning, lifelike dinosaurs in Walking With Dinosaurs &ndash; The Arena Spectacular. Included in the cast of 24 Dragons are reincarnations of all of the favourites from the DreamWorks Animation film: Nadder, Gronckle, Nightmare, Toothless - the Night Fury and Red Death, which is the single largest animatronic creature ever made by The Creature Technology Company.   Creature Designer Tilders said &ldquo;The How To Train Your Dragon Arena Spectacular will incorporate everything we learned from &quot;Walking With Dinosaurs &ndash; The Arena Spectacular&quot; whilst taking the technology to a brand new level.  Using state-of-the-art computer software, we are able to make these creatures perform in ways that we previously thought unimaginable.  Utilising computer controlled flying systems we have created a show that inhabits the air above as well as the arena floor below.&rdquo;  The creative team features the World&rsquo;s best and includes: highly acclaimed theatre director andwriter Nigel Jamieson, multiple award-winning Australian production designer Peter England, and leading theatre, film and opera designer Dan Potra amongst others.  The stunning score features compositions from Icelandic singer-songwriter Jonsi from Sigur Ros and  Oscar-nominated British film composer John Powell who created the original score for the Academy Award nominated feature film How to Train Your Dragon.  The How to Train Your Dragon Arena Spectacular is proudly presented in New Zealand by NZ Entertainment &amp; Events Corporation Limited. NZEEC is New Zealand&rsquo;s leading live entertainment company who recently brought &ldquo;Walking With Dinosaurs &ndash; The Arena Spectacular&rdquo; to unprecedented acclaim at Vector Arena. Bruce Mactaggart &ndash; the man who conceived the concept of &ldquo;Walking With Dinosaurs &ndash; The Arena Spectacular&rdquo; &ndash; the first global arena spectacular, is the Executive Chairman of NZEEC.  To be the first to know all the latest How to Train Your Dragon Arena Spectacular news and to register for tickets as soon as they become available, go to http://www.ticketmaster.co.nz/promo/rti8o1/     HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON &ndash; ARENA SPECTACULAR CAST OF CHARACTERS     THE DRAGONS:  NIGHT FURY The rarest and most intelligent of the dragon species, the Night Fury is distinguished by its dark colour and piercing eyes, as well as its smaller size, heavy chest and short neck. Possessing the largest wing-to-body ratio of all dragons, it can fly higher, faster and longer than any dragon.  GRONCKLE The Gronkle is distinguished by its robust body and relatively tiny wings that can flap with tremendous velocity, endowing it with the ability to fly backwards or sideways. While attacking, the Gronkle smashes and crushes enemies with its extendable tail, or by using its head as a battering ram.  NADDER Don&rsquo;t be fooled, because the beautifully coloured Nadder is also extremely dangerous.  It is flighty, aggressive, and has a quick and explosive temper, which is made all the worse by its preening vanity.  NIGHTMARE The flagship of the dragon species, the Nightmare is the most visually terrifying and iconic of known dragon species. Its greatest weapon is a kerosene gel fire.   THE VIKINGS:  HICCUP It&rsquo;s not easy being the brainy son of a brawny Viking Chief, but Hiccup is too smart to waste time feeling sorry for himself &ndash; he&rsquo;s going to become a Viking warrior his own way. Unfortunately, in the crude world of Vikings, Hiccup&rsquo;s sophisticated observations and wry sense of humour only serve to make him even more of an outsider. When Hiccup befriends his vicious enemy, an injured wild dragon, he begins an exhilarating and complicated double life.  ASTRID Striking, energetic and tough, Astrid embodies the Viking way. Her competitive, determined persona makes her hard to impress, but Hiccup can&rsquo;t help but be smitten. When Hiccup begins to show the strain of leading his secret double life, Astrid is the first to become suspicious.  STOICK Stoick is the old-school chieftain of the brawny Viking tribe. A reluctant and confused parent at best, he doesn&rsquo;t understand his clever son. Hoping to bring out the man in his boy, Stoick sends Hiccup into Dragon training, a dangerous test of battle strength.  GOBBER Gruff, grump, and crass, Gobber is the seasoned warrior appointed to drill the new recruits.  Gobber means well, but he&rsquo;s full of bad advice, which he dispenses freely and comically.      HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON &ndash; ARENA SPECTACULAR FUN FACTS  Number of Dragons: 24 Dragons 10 Different Species Represented  5 Large Dragons Nadder &ndash; Height at shoulder 4m x 12m long &amp; wingspan of 9m Gronckle &ndash; Height at shoulder 3m x 7.5m long &amp; wingspan of 5m Nightmare - Height at shoulder 3.5m x 15.5m long &amp; wingspan of 14m Night Fury (Toothless) &ndash; Height at shoulder 2.5m X 8.5m long &amp; wingspan of 10m Red Death &ndash; Head and neck total length 12m+, head 5m wide and 6m long, tail is 20m long  7 Flying Dragons 3 x additional Night Furys (Toothless) &ndash; at various scales 2 x Gronckle &ndash; 3m long with 2m wing span 1 x Nightmare &ndash; 4m long x 6m wingspan 1 x Skrill - 4m long x 6m wingspan  Suits and Puppets 2 Skrills &ndash; 2.5m tall x 4.3m long+ 4 Wrestling Dragons Suits - 2m long 2 Stinger suit puppets &ndash; 2m at hips tall x 4.5m long 1 Kite dragon &ndash; 2m wingspan Multiple nesting dragons (Zipplebacks) 1 Egg Biter Multiple shadow puppets 2 wrestling puppets  Each large dragon contains:  132 metres of hydraulic hose 90 square metres of fabric 12.2 cubic metres of foam 200 litres of paint 7 kilowatts of power from 16 truck batteries 1 kilometre of cabling in each body 24 microprocessors control movement along with 15 hydraulic rams and 6 hydraulic motors each  Each large dragon:  Weighs 1.6 tons (standard family car) Takes 3 people to operate: 1 Driver and 2 Voodoo Puppeteers, one operates head and tail gross motion, one in charge of minor movements: mouth, blinking &amp; roars  Trucks: 40 x 53 foot semis trailers (truck is 22.3m long with cabin) for the World Tour  The touring company is made up of: 80 touring cast and crew      THE PRODUCERS   DreamWorks Theatricals &ndash; Producer                 DreamWorks Theatricals, a division of DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc., was established in 2007 to develop and produce live stage and arena show productions inspired by the Company&rsquo;s franchise properties of How to Train Your Dragon, Kung Fu Panda, Madagascar and Shrek. Current productions &ndash; including &quot;How to Train Your Dragon Arena Spectacular&quot; and &quot;Kung Fu Panda Arena Spectacular&quot; &ndash; are one-of-a-kind, global tours and immersive entertainment experiences for the whole family.  DreamWorks Theatricals productions are guided by much of the creative leadership team that develops the studio&rsquo;s award-winning feature films. DreamWorks Animation creates high-quality entertainment, including CG animated feature films, television specials and series and live entertainment properties, meant for audiences around the world. The Company has theatrically released a total of 22 animated feature films and currently ranks #10 on the &ldquo;100 Best Companies to Work For&rdquo; by FORTUNE' Magazine.  Global Creatures &ndash; Producer                            Global Creatures is an international entertainment group that develops new and exciting theatrical productions to take to audiences around the world. The animatronics arm, The Creature Technology Company, invents and deploys the latest in animatronic design.   The hugely successful production &quot;Walking with Dinosaurs - The Arena Spectacular&quot;, based on the award winning BBC TV series, represents a new entertainment genre all on its own. The production is a spectacle of unprecedented size and quality, which captivates young and old alike. The &quot;Walking with Dinosaurs&quot; tour was the number one tour worldwide in 2010.  Global Creatures has announced &quot;King Kong - Live on Stage&quot;, which will be produced in co-operation with the estate of &quot;Kong&quot; creator Merian C. Cooper.  Global Creatures and Bazmark (the multi-media company founded and owned by Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin) have announced a partnership to produce a stage musical adaptation of the first movie of Baz Luhrmann&#39;s ground-breaking Red Curtain Trilogy, Strictly Ballroom.     THE CREATIVE TEAM  Nigel Jamieson &ndash; Director/Adaption for the Stage  Nigel began his career in London, where he founded Trickster Theatre, whose work toured the world for eight years. He was an associate director at the Royal National Theatre, founded the London Festival of New Circus and the London International Workshop Festival, receiving a Greater London Arts Award for outstanding contribution to London&rsquo;s Arts.   Moving to Australia in the 90&rsquo;s, he directed Tin Symphony for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Opening Ceremony and created eight segments for the worldwide 24 hour Millennium Broadcast. The following year he co-directed The Yeperenye Federation Festival, a historic gathering in central Australia involving some 2000 indigenous performers from 40 different language groups. In 2002 he directed the Closing Ceremony of Commonwealth Games in Manchester, then created a performance and land mine benefit at Ankor Wat in Cambodia with Jose Carreras, 400 Buddist monks and the Royal National Cambodian Dance Troupe. From 2003 to 2005 he was Artistic Director of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Melbourne Commonwealth Games, doing the development phase of the event. More recently he directed the opening of the European City of Culture celebrations in Liverpool, creating an outdoor &lsquo;Peoples Opening&rsquo; involving the people of Liverpool and iconic Liverpool artists, and the inaugural show for the new Liverpool Arena.  In addition to such large scale projects, Nigel&rsquo;s theatre work tours the world.  It includes multi-award winning shows such as the Indonesian collaboration The Theft of Sita, All Of Me, and Wake Baby which have all toured extensively throughout Australia, Asia and the US, including major festivals and seasons in London, New York, Berlin, Vienna, Zurich, Shanghai and Singapore. Honour Bound, his 1997 production about Guantanamo Bay, was named Best Mainstage Production and Best New Australian Work at the 2006 Sydney Theatre Awards and has toured to festivals in Vienna, Amsterdam and the Barbican Centre London. Later that year, his production of the Opera Dead Man Walking at the State Theatre in Sydney received seven Helpmann nominations and three awards.  More recent projects include Minutes of Separation for the IWC Switzerland, which featured Cate Blanchett, Joseph Fiennes and combined film, aerialists, live performance and animation; Gallipoli for the Sydney Theatre Company; and direction of The Sydney Festival First Night, which involved closing the CBD to traffic and transforming the city into an epic performance space, attended by over 350,000 people. His production of As The World Tipped, about the effects of climate change, premiered at Norwich&amp; Norfolk Festival and is currently touring the UK.  Nigel&rsquo;s contributions to Australian cultural life have been recognised with the award of an Australian Federation Medal in 2002 and the 2007 Sydney Myer Individual Performing Arts Award. He won a 2011 Helpmann Awardas Best Director for his production of Opera Australia&rsquo;s La Fanciulla del West     Sonny Tilders &ndash; Creature Designer  Sonny Tilders has spent the last 21 years designing and building animatronics creatures for film and theatrical industries. With formal training in graphic design, he graduated from Swinburne University, Melbourne in 1988.   Sonny worked the following 10 years at Australia&rsquo;s foremost models and effects company, Mothers Art Productions, based in Melbourne. He left his Senior Project Management role in 1998 to pursue his interests in the specialized field of &ldquo;animatronics&rdquo;, the world of high-tech puppet making for film, television and theatre.  Sonny&rsquo;s work can be seen in US feature films such as Peter Pan, Ghostrider, The Chronicles of Narnia and Star Wars -The Revenge of the Sith. His television credits include the US science fiction series Farscape as Lead Animatronics Engineer. Working with the resources of the Jim Henson&rsquo;s Creature Shop was an opportunity to develop his animatronics skills further and fuelled his passion for this niche industry. Although focusing on film and television, Sonny has also built puppets for Australian theatrical touring productions of The Hobbit and The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe.   In late 2005 Sonny was approached to lead a workshop whose main focus was to design, engineer and build the animatronics dinosaurs for &quot;Walking with Dinosaurs &ndash; The Arena Spectacular&quot;.   The success of this venture lead to the formation of The Creature Technology Company (CTC) and the Global Creatures group.  Sonny is Creative Director of CTC and sits on the Global Creatures board.     Peter England &ndash; Production Designer  Peter England received a Bachelor of Performing Arts in Design, National Institute of Dramatic Art, 1994, and a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (Hons.), University of New South Wales, 1986.  He has won multiple awards including: Helpmann Award for Best Set Design in 2001, 2002 and 2004, Green Room Award for Best Opera Design in 1998 and 2002, Green Room Award for best Dance Design, 2005.  In 1997 he won a Mike Walsh Fellowship and he was a finalist in the Pentagon Memorial Design Competition (with Room 4.1.3) in 2002.  Peter has designed over 50 event and theatrical productions including: For Bangarra Dance Theatre:  Fire, Mathinna, Boomerang (Green Room Award 2005), Unaipon (Helpmann Award 2004), Bush, Walkabout, Skin and Fish. For Opera Australia: Sweeney Todd (Helpmann Award 2002, Green Room Award 2003), Simon Boccanegra, La Boh&egrave;me and Madama Butterfly (Green Room Award 1998). For The Australian Ballet: Amalgamate, Aesthetic Arrest and The Rite of Spring. For the Shakespeare Theatre (Washington DC): Titus Andronicus, Richard III and Hamlet. For Sydney Theatre Company: Victory, The Virgin Mim, The School for Scandal and Betrayal, and Tot Mom. For the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Closing Ceremony: Sydney Handover. For the 2004 Adelaide Festival of Arts: Universal Playground. For the Sydney 2000 Olympic Opening Ceremony: Awakenings (Helpmann Award 2001). For the Victorian Opera: Orpheus and Eurydice. For Global Creatures: Walking With Dinosaurs The Arena Spectacular. And for the City of Sydney: Millennium NYE Celebrations on and around Sydney Harbour. Peter is currently designing sets for the Global Creatures stage production of King Kong, and Bloodland, a new Australian work for the Sydney Theatre Company.  Dan Potra &ndash; Costume Designer and Projection Designer   Dan works across theatre, opera, dance, film, television and events. Dan&rsquo;s career highlights in the different mediums are:  Opera productions; Idomeneo with Graeme Vicks at Coruna Festival in Spain, The Barber of Seville for Houston Grand Opera, A Streetcar Named Desire and Norma at St Gallen,  Carmen, Batavia, Jenufa and The Love of the Nightingale at Opera Australia, Love in the Age of Therapy and Orlando at OzOpera, La Boheme at Berlin Staatsopera and Idomeneo with Pinchgut Opera.  Theatre productions: The Bourgeois Gentleman, Fred, Volpone and The Miser for Sydney Theatre Company; Les Liaisons Dangereuses for Melbourne Theatre Company; Twelfth Night for Bell Shakespeare Company; The Lieutenant of Inishmore, Hamlet and King Ubu for Company B Belvoir; The Love of the Nightingale, The Importance of Being Earnest, Merrily We Roll Along and Moon Landing all for Derby Playhouse in England; Dead Man Walking for Andrew MacManus Presents; Seven for Leigh Warren Dancers; Bubble for Legs on the Wall; The Gathering, an arena show, for 2009 Edinburgh Festival and Cyrano de Bergerac for National Theatre of Greece.  Event work includes the Opening Ceremony of the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, the opening ceremony of the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games and the 2008 opening and closing ceremonies of the Liverpool European Capital of Culture directed by Nigel Jamieson. This ceremony involved the creation of hand drawn one-off animations projected over huge spaces in Liverpool and 13 regional centres in the UK.  Dan was nominated for an Australian Film Institute (AFI) Award for Best Production Design in 2004 for feature film Tom White directed by Alkinos Tsilimidos.  Dan has been nominated for a total of five Helpmann Awards for his design work in opera and theatre in Australia and has won three including Best Scenic Design (2008), Best Opera (2002) and Best Costume (2000).  Dan also designed the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games and worked with the creative team for the opening of the 2010 World Cup.  Gavin Robins - Associate Director/Aerialist Devisor  Gavin draws inspiration from a broad spectrum of theatre and performance experience. His work focuses on the biomechanics of the actor and the animation of the actor for both stage and screen.  He has toured internationally as a physical performer with Legs on the Wall and has created large-scale visual and aerial performances in many theatre festivals throughout the world.  He was instrumental in the training and choreography of the Tin Symphony in the Opening Ceremony of the  2000 Olympics.  Currently Gavin is working as the aerial/circus director of the Global Creatures production of King Kong scheduled to open in Australia in 2013.  As director, his credits include High Flyers for the Sydney Festival , The Opening of Ferrari World, At First Sight for the National Institute of Circus Arts and Wicked Bodies , La Boite Theatre Co .  As Movement Director and Choreographer, he has worked for The Sydney Theatre Company , Opera Australia, The Queensland Theatre Company,  Company B , and The Bell Shakespeare Company amongst others.  For Television  and Film, his credits  as movement director include Farscape Series 2, the 2001, 2002 and 2004 ARIA Awards, The AFI Awards, and Australian Idol (Series 1, 2 and 3); Australian feature film Prime Mover and the TV series Spirited.  Gavin is a teacher of movement and acting at a host of Australia&rsquo;s leading performance training institutions.     Jonsi &ndash; Composer  J&oacute;n &thorn;or Birgisson is the lead singer with the Icelandic rock group Sigur R&oacute;s, a band he started back in 1994, naming them for his then-new kid sister, Sigurr&oacute;s.  J&oacute;nsi has released and toured the world in support of five studio albums with Sigur R&oacute;s, as well as a raft of side projects, including the Icelandic documentary film &#39;Heima&#39;, the Merce Cunningham dance collaboration &#39;Babatikidido&#39; and the ambient work &#39;Riceboy Sleeps&#39;.  In 2010 he released and toured his first solo album &#39;Go&#39;.  J&oacute;nsi is now working on a sixth Sigur R&oacute;s studio album at home in Reykjavik.   John Powell &ndash; Composer  British-born composer John Powell&rsquo;s list of film credits exemplifies his ability to transcend genre. Since moving to the United States 13 years ago, he has demonstrated his unique talent by scoring over 46 feature films, including Chicken Run, Shrek, Mr and Mrs Smith, United 93, X-Men: The Last Stand, P.S. I Love You, and Alfie with Dave Stewart and Mick Jagger.  Powell&rsquo;s ability to compose in a variety of genres stems from the wide array of styles present in his early musical studies. By the time he reached his late teens, he had already been exposed to soul, jazz, rock and world music as well as having a deep classical music background from the age of seven courtesy of his  father, a musician in Sir Thomas Beecham&rsquo;s Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London.  In 1986, he began studies in Composition at London&rsquo;s Trinity College of Music. During his time there, his skill was recognized with both the John Halford and the Boosey and Hawkes Bursary Music College Prizes.  While at Trinity, Powell studied composition, percussion, electronic music, and experimented within the new medium of performance art. He joined the group Media Arts, and with longtime collaborator Gavin Greenaway, composed music and sound for the group&rsquo;s performances. Although the group disbanded, Powell and Greenaway continued to create many mixed-media installation pieces with artist Michael Petry in the following years.  Powell&rsquo;s first foray into professional composing came soon thereafter, when he landed a job writing music for commercials and television at London&#39;s Air-Edel Music. There, he met other composers including other Air-Edel alumni, Hans Zimmer and Patrick Doyle.  Later, with Greenaway, the two co-founded London-based commercial music house Independently Thinking Music (ITM), where they collaborated on more than 100 scores for commercials and independent films.  Powell shifted his focus away from commercials to longer form composition with the opera &ldquo;An Englishman, Irishman and Frenchman,&rdquo; also co-created with Greenaway and Petry.  Arriving in the States in 1997, he immediately scored two DreamWorks TV projects: the second season of Steven Spielberg&#39;s High Incident and the pilot For the People. He also arranged songs composed by Stephen Schwartz for DreamWorks&#39; animated feature Prince of Egypt (1998).   But it was Powell&#39;s hair-raising score for John Woo&rsquo;s Nicolas Cage/John Travolta blockbuster Face/Off that garnered critical acclaim and catapulted him into the realm of A-list composers.  Error! Reference source not found.is the recipient of the Ivor Novello Award from the British Academy of Composers and Songwriters for Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs.  He was nominated for an Academy Award in 2011 for his score for How To Train Your Dragon.  Peter Hylenski - Sound Designer  Grammy, Tony and Olivier Award nominated. Selected Broadway designs include: Shrek the Musical (New York, London, US Tour), Rock of Ages (New York, London, Toronto, Australia, US Tour), The Scottsboro Boys, Lend Me A Tenor, Elf, Wonderland, Cry Baby, The Times They Are A-Changin&rsquo;, The Wedding Singer, Sweet Charity, Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me, Little Women, Brooklyn.  Other credits: Le Reve at Wynn Las Vegas, Ragtime (London), Walking with Dinosaurs, Mame, Opening Doors, Annie.  He&rsquo;s designed for Carnegie Hall, Radio City Music Hall, Madison Square Garden and The Kennedy Center.  Architectural projects include the Plaza Hotel (New York City), Wynn (Las Vegas), Chicago Auditorium Theater and the American Museum of Natural History.  Peter is also a producer and engineer for film, album and television projects.  He&rsquo;s engineered television commercials for Levi&rsquo;s, General Mills, Kia and Mercedes Benz, to name a few.  Peter co-produced the cast album of Shrek The Musical and was the re-record mixer on his fourth film for the American Museum of Natural History titled Journey to the Stars.  He holds a BFA from Carnegie Mellon University.  Phil Lethlean - Lighting Designer  Philip is the principal designer for Melbourne-based  &#39;Light Designs Australia&#39;. His 20+ years of experience is founded in theatre and extends to designing lighting for all art forms and genres, and his works have consistently enjoyed Australian and International touring.  Philip&#39;s work has encompassed lighting designs for everything from launches and conferences for such major corporate entities as BHP, Holden, BMW, Glaxo Wellcome and ACER, to high profile events like the 2006 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony in Melbourne and the Australian Pavilions at World Expo 2005 and 201]]>
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			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/press-releases/how-to-train-your-dragon/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 08 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>RECORD BREAKING ATTENDANCE - 08 August 2011</title>
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				<![CDATA[ WALKING WITH DINOSAURS &amp; ROGER WATERS  RECORD BREAKING ATTENDANCES  New Zealand&rsquo;s largest city, Auckland is considered the most progressive city in the South Pacific, with a diverse multicultural society Auckland is attracting the attention of the global entertainment industry.  Auckland&rsquo;s premiere entertainment venue, Vector Arena has dramatically enhanced the entertainment market in New Zealand since opening its doors in 2007. Now in its fifth year of operation, with New Zealand based entrepreneurs Bruce Mactaggart and Stuart Clumpas at the helm, Vector Arena is firmly established as a major destination on the international concert and event circuit.  Following sell-out concerts by Katy Perry and Bruno Mars this year, Roger Waters &ldquo;The Wall Live&rdquo; continues the trend of setting sales records and yesterday trounced the current record for a multi-night run at Vector Arena by a music artist (previously held by Justin Timberlake), now into an extraordinary 4th sold out night, the speed of ticket sales in Auckland has surpassed every other city on the Australasian tour.  &ldquo;Walking With Dinosaurs - The Arena Spectacular&rdquo;, which Vector Arena hosted earlier this month, also broke all international box office and attendance records during the phenomenally successful four and a half year world tour.  Auckland had an unprecedented attendance of well over 90,000 plus patrons, surpassing even New York&rsquo;s Madison Square Garden sales of 84,000 tickets.  This incredible achievement not only sets a new attendance record for the venue, but also surpasses the venue&rsquo;s box office record (previously held by Simon and Garfunkel).  &ldquo;Vector Arena is called the &ldquo;Entertainment Hub&rdquo; of the South Pacific for good reason.  Our facility is world-class; we have a motivated and experienced team of people who understand the New Zealand entertainment landscape and are extremely effective in assisting promoters and producers by ensuring they are offered every advantage with marketing and promotion as well as ensuring the artists&rsquo; have a memorable experience on tour &ndash; Brendan Hines, General Manager, Vector Arena     ]]>
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			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/press-releases/record-breaking-attendance/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 08 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>3D Live - RWC in 3D Screenings CANCELLED - 01 August 2011</title>
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				<![CDATA[ RWCL confirms Rugby World Cup 2011 will not be broadcast in 3D  Rugby World Cup Limited (RWCL) has reluctantly taken the decision that Rugby World Cup 2011 in New Zealand will not be broadcast in 3D technology.   The decision follows confirmation that 3D Live, the New Zealand-based production company contracted to produce the feed for the semi-finals, Bronze Final and Final, is no longer able to meet production costs due to slow ticket sales.  3D Livehad been granted the New Zealand 3D big screen and cinematic rights for the New Zealand and Australia markets while meeting all production costs for an eight camera 3D broadcast feed.  RWCL Chairman Bernard Lapasset said: &ldquo;On confirmation of 3D Live&rsquo;s position, we explored every option to try and make production viable.  However, the 3D market in sport is in its infancy and, at this late stage, all agreed that cancelling the 3D programme was the most appropriate decision for the Tournament.&rdquo;  &ldquo;We have kept our broadcast partners informed and they fully understand the rationale behind this difficult decision.&rdquo;  &ldquo;All Tournament stakeholders are committed to the delivery of an exceptional experience for fans attending Rugby World Cup 2011. The best RWC experience remains in the venues sharing the Tournament with supporters from around the world and in New Zealand this will be added to with the dedicated Fanzones and the REAL New Zealand festival.&rdquo;    &ldquo;The decision does not affect the delivery of a quality and innovative host broadcast feed and fans watching Rugby World Cup 2011 on TV will be able to enjoy every try, tackle and pass from all 48 matches in High Definition.&rdquo;     ALL TICKET HOLDERS, PLEASE REFER TO YOUR POINT OF PURCHASE FOR A REFUND OR CONTACT TICKETMASTER ON +64 9 970 9700.    ]]>
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			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/press-releases/3d-live-rwc-in-3d-screenings-cancelled/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 01 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review - Lionel Richie - 28 March 2011</title>
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				<![CDATA[ Audiences were never going to be disappointed with a night of hits that took them through all the heaving nightclub numbers to the sweet serenades.   Richie&#39;s voice matched the fabric of his shirts - satin and velvet - and his moves rivalled his frenetic back-up musicians.  Click here to read full article   ]]>
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			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-lionel-richie/</link>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 28 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review: Santana - 28 March 2011</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ Carlos Santana is in love with a black magic woman. Really, he is, and she&#39;s got a wild afro, saucy style, and plays drums.  Her name is Cindy Blackman - you might remember her from the video to Lenny Kravitz&#39;s Are You Gonna Go My Way - and she got up and did an off-the-hook cameo on the kit for Corizon Espinado.  Click here for full article    ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-santana/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 28 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review: Stone Temple Pilots - 28 March 2011</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ Scott Weiland&#39;s descent into drug hell has been well documented, but the throaty Stone Temple Pilots singer was a picture of rock star health as he emerged onto Vector Arena&#39;s main stage  &quot;We have been waiting a long time to come to your country,&quot; Weiland, clad in leather and sunnies, told the venue&#39;s enthusiastic fans after screaming down a megaphone during scorching opener Crackerman. &quot;Welcome to your party.&quot;  Click here for full article    ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-stone-temple-pilots/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 28 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Walking with Dinosaurs - Additional Show Announced - 25 March 2011</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ Everyone&rsquo;s talking about the international hit show WALKING WITH DINOSAURS &ndash; The Arena Spectacular as the &lsquo;must see&rsquo; theatrical event this winter.   Click here to read full article    ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/press-releases/walking-with-dinosaurs-additional-show-announced/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 25 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Walking With Dinosaurs - CSI: Cold Blooded Episode - 10 March 2011</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ Now is your chance to get up close and personal with the life size creatures of the hit stage show Walking With Dinosaurs &ndash; The Arena Spectacular.   TV3 screens a very special episode of CSI (Crime Scene Investigation) on Monday 14, March.  (Click here to read full media release)    ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/press-releases/walking-with-dinosaurs-csi-cold-blooded-episode/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Thu, 10 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title>Gig Review: Neil Diamond - 02 March 2011</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ Given the events in Christchurch I felt rather guilty going along to a Neil Diamond concert in Auckland on Saturday night; there was a nagging feeling that I, along with the 12,000 others, was doing something wrong.   But from the moment Neil Diamond rose from the centre of the stage at the Vector Arena, resplendent in black, to a huge cheer, it was as if the man himself had given the audience permission to take some time out and enjoy what would happen over the next two hours. Click here for full article    ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-neil-diamond/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 02 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Walking with Dinosaurs - The Arena Spectacular - 15 February 2011</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ For 200 million years the Dinosaurs ruled the Earth. Now they&#39;re back, roaming the arenas of the world in an extraordinary theatrical production.    Click here to read full artice    ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/press-releases/walking-with-dinosaurs-the-arena-spectacular/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 15 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title>Gig Review: Joe Cocker - 01 February 2011</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ Is that Kim Basinger up on stage? I swear it is. It looks like the seductive and leggy blonde. Oh no, it&#39;s just the backing singer singing along to Joe Cocker&#39;s sex-pot song You Can Leave Your Hat On?, a track made famous by the 1986 film 9 Weeks, starring Basinger and Mickey Rourke.    And last night, after a subdued start, it was the song that got the girls - and some of their guys - off their feet to dance.   Click here to read full article       ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-joe-cocker/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 01 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Usher Auckland Show Rescheduled - 25 January 2011</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ The Frontier Touring Company regret to advise that Usher&#39;s upcoming Auckland concert has been rescheduled to Tuesday 5th April from its original date of Tuesday 29 March for logistical reasons.   Click here for for full media release       ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/press-releases/usher-auckland-show-rescheduled/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 25 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review: Kenny Rogers - 24 January 2011</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ The cool kids may have been on the other side of Auckland at the Big Day Out but the crowd at last night&#39;s sold-out Kenny Rogers concert were the ones having all the fun. Click here to read full article ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-kenny-rogers/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 24 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review: Gorillaz - 22 December 2010</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ How does a band, which essentially turned its back on the conventional music-making model, and is represented by cartoon characters go on tour?     The answer: Get a lot of your mates together and persuade them to head out on the road with you.  This was the final stop on the Gorillaz global tour. Click here to read full article       ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-gorillaz/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">3BC4847A-3AB5-43B2-9193-62C8F69B1712</guid>
			<pubDate>Wed, 22 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review: Blondie &amp; The Pretenders - 17 December 2010</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ Deborah Harry (as she prefers to be known these days) may be 65, but she is still the greatest pop act in the world ...  according to Pretenders frontwoman Chrissie Hynde who&#39;s 59. (click here for full review)     ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-blondie-the-pretenders/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 17 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review: Bon Jovi - 06 December 2010</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ Let&#39;s face it, if you&#39;re not singing along to Livin&#39; On a Prayer when it&#39;s playing at a party you&#39;re letting the side down - go home.  And tonight it&#39;s another song off that late-80s hair metal-cum-hard rockin&#39; gem that incites a loud, throat wrenching sing-a-long. (click here for full review)    ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-bon-jovi/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 06 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review: Jack Johnson - 06 December 2010</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ Being a surfer from Hawaii and all, it&#39;s no wonder Jack Johnson has a strong affinity with New Zealand.  He looks like he belongs here - as he stands in his Jandals and squints through the lights at the sea of happy fans, he could be emerging from a coastal bach and checking out the waves. (click here for full review)    ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-jack-johnson/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 06 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
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			<title>Comedy Review: Robin Williams - 24 November 2010</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ Save for some solid dramatic roles, Robin Williams&#39; screen career has largely gone from Mork to mawkish    But anyone expecting Mrs Doubtfire: Live from the comedy superstar&#39;s madly entertaining stand-up show at Vector (only the second comedian to fill the place, after Bill Connolly) was going to be in for a shock  (click here for full review)    ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/comedy-review-robin-williams/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 24 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
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			<title>Gig Review: Leonard Cohen - 29 October 2010</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[It used to be, that if life was such that ending it all was an option, pouring a big glass of red wine, climbing into a warm bath and drifting away to Leonard Cohen's music was the ideal way of doing it all. Now Cohen has become that warm bath itself; poetic lyrics and impeccable music...(click here to read full article)  ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-leonard-cohen/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">DE8B74F2-C340-4F66-AA5F-AB859BB54C99</guid>
			<pubDate>Fri, 29 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review: Paramore at Vector Arena - 20 October 2010</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[It's hard to tell who loves the other more: New Zealand or Paramore.And from the affectionate display at Auckland's Vector Arena last night, it's a competition that is probably too close to call...(click here to read full article)  ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-paramore-at-vector-arena/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">9242534E-ABA1-4220-9BE6-8BF3029D5198</guid>
			<pubDate>Wed, 20 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review: Metallica at Vector Arena - 20 October 2010</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[You've seen moshing, but you haven't seen moshing like this.You've heard guitar riffs, but you haven't heard them fly as thick and as fast as these. And you've probably had your hair singed by pyrotechnic displays at Vector Arena before, but you haven't been close enough to toast marshmallows on giant fireballs blasting out of the stage...(click here to read full article)    ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-metallica-at-vector-arena/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 20 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review - Simply Red - 20 October 2010</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[This is the final hurrah for music's most famous - and proud - redhead, Mick Hucknall.It's the end of an era for Simply Red, a band Hucknall has been the driving force behind since they started out in Manchester in the mid 80s...(click here to read full article)]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-simply-red/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 20 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
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			<title>International entertainment identities take over helm at Vector Arena - 14 September 2010</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[New Zealand&rsquo;s premier entertainment venue, Vector Arena, has new owner operators. The venue&rsquo;s management has been taken over by two New Zealand-based international entertainment industry identities. Vector Arena is a public/private partnership with Auckland City Council.  Bruce Mactaggart and Stuart Clumpas believe the Arena, which has transformed New Zealand&rsquo;s entertainment industry over the last three years, has even more potential as the lynchpin of the New Zealand concert and event industry. Click here for full Press release.  ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/press-releases/international-entertainment-identities-take-over-helm-at-vector-arena/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 14 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Dancing With The Stars Live Show Cancelled - 15 July 2010</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Musictank regrets to announce that the Dancing with the Stars Live stage show at Vector Arena, Auckland on Friday 27 August 2010 is cancelledThe cancellation of the show, under licence from BBC Worldwide, is due to disappointing ticket sales. Musictank apologises to all fans that have purchased tickets and for any inconvenience caused. &lsquo;Dancing with the Stars&rsquo; refunds&rsquo; are available from the original point of purchase. Tickets purchased via phone or online will be automatically refunded to the original credit card. Further enquires from www.ticketmaster.co.nz or phone +64 9 970 9700 For further enquiries. Please contact MusicTank- info@musictank.co.nz  ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/press-releases/dancing-with-the-stars-live-show-cancelled/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Thu, 15 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title>Gig Review - Disney on Ice Presents a Disneyland Adventure 20 - 23 May 2010 - 24 May 2010</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ &quot;Fantastic.&quot; There you go, all you really need to know about the latest Disney on Ice show, Disneyland Adventure, which started its seven-show Auckland season this week. This pithy summation is courtesy of my expert reviewer of the night, one five year old girl in the middle of the Disney demographic. (Click here to read full article)]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-disney-on-ice-presents-a-disneyland-adventure-20-23-may-2010/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 24 May 2010 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review: Tears for Fears &amp; Spandau Ballet 29 April 2010 - 03 May 2010</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Tears for Fears and Spandau Ballet took Auckland on a trip down memory lane at Vector Arena.From the moment Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith opened with the classic 80s hit Mad World, they had the crowd out of their seats and in the palm of their hand. (Click here to read full article)]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-tears-for-fears-spandau-ballet-29-april-2010/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">84662030-5FE7-4B3C-8103-01DCBFBDB2B3</guid>
			<pubDate>Mon, 03 May 2010 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review: John Mayer at Vector Arena - 28 April 2010 - 29 April 2010</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[It's been just over three years since we were last visited by John Mayer.For many fans it was difficult to contain the excitement - though because he attracts that much more mature an audience than another visiting pop star, I did not see any hyperventilations. (Click here to read full article)]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-john-mayer-at-vector-arena-28-april-2010/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Thu, 29 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Greatest living composer forced to cancel tour  - 23 April 2010</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The greatest living composer, Burt Bacharach - who underwent back surgery over Christmas causing his March concert dates to be rescheduled to November - has now sadly announced he is still not able to travel to New Zealand in November to perform in his two planned concerts.The ultra cool, Grammy award winner was rushed in to hospital to have emergency back surgery over Christmas after injuring himself while working in Italy on a new musical. It had been hoped that he would be able to resume his touring commitments after a six month postponement. However, doctors have now declared that his back has not fully healed and that he is unable to travel for an indefinite period. This has forced the music icon to cancel all touring engagements until further notice. Dates will be rescheduled as soon as his doctors give the all clear. In the meantime, his New Zealand promoters, Pacific Entertainment have cancelled the November tour rather than inconveniencing ticket purchasers any further. Fans who purchased tickets to his concerts should contact their ticketing agents ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/press-releases/greatest-living-composer-forced-to-cancel-tour/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 23 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review: Kelly Clarkson at Vector Arena - 11 April 2010 - 13 April 2010</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Kelly Clarkson's string of record deals and packed stadium concerts are why people continue to want to watch and audition for Idol shows.She's proof that an ordinary girl from Texas with a big personality and an even bigger voice can be as successful as any other idolised angsty girl pop star. (click here to read full article)]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-kelly-clarkson-at-vector-arena-11-april-2010/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">86806AE4-7855-4F71-852E-96C50F0D0D02</guid>
			<pubDate>Tue, 13 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review: Carole King &amp; James Taylor at Vector Arena - 11 April 2010</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Carole King and James Taylor played Auckland's Vector Arena in their first set of global gigs together in nearly 40 years.Reviewer William Mace was there. Being a child of the 1980s, it was a tad surprising that a rousing rendition of The Locomotion ended an evening with two of musical history's biggest songwriters (click here to read full article)]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-carole-king-james-taylor-at-vector-arena/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Sun, 11 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>GIG REVIEW: MASSIVE ATTACK AT VECTOR ARENA - 25 MARCH 2010 - 26 March 2010</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Like all the best attacks, they start off static and still, intensify, then spiral spookily into a probing onslaught.That's what Massive Attack's songs do, and they come with heart-pummelling bass, strobing and clever visuals, and a sense of soulful grace thanks to the long string of vocalists involved. (click here to read full article)]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-massive-attack-at-vector-arena-25-march-2010/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">157CDBB4-4283-414F-8E57-FF377A4A7DAD</guid>
			<pubDate>Fri, 26 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
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			<title>GIG REVIEW: LADY GAGA AT VECTOR ARENA - 13 MARCH 2010 - 17 March 2010</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Burning pianos, latex nun outfits and a fountain of blood - the Lady Gaga show had it all.There were plenty of sequins, sky high heels and brightly coloured wigs as Vector Arena prepared to party with the first lady of pop, Lady Gaga (Click here to read more..)]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-lady-gaga-at-vector-arena-13-march-2010/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>Gig Review: PIXIES at Vector Arena - 12 March 2010 - 16 March 2010</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[GONE TO HEAVEN: The Pixies' perform at Vector Arena in AucklandJust before 9pm there was a logjam by the doors to the floor area of Vector Arena. Everyone was determined not to miss a single chord of the four piece indie-rock band from Boston. (Click here to read more...) ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-pixies-at-vector-arena-12-march-2010/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">2EE71901-F2EA-4F27-9704-DB188BECE09E</guid>
			<pubDate>Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>THEM CROOKED VULTURES - First NZ TV interview tomorrow night on Campbell Live! Friday 29 January 2010 - 26 January 2010</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[THEM CROOKED VULTURES THIS IS A SHOW NOT TO BE MISSED! Only two cities into their Australasian tour and Them Crooked Vultures are already knocking the socks off a rock-loving public.Comprising band members from some of the most influential rock bands in the past forty years, audiences are right to expect one heck of a show. And that&rsquo;s exactly what they get, all that and much more. &ldquo;As one of the best shows I&rsquo;ve seen, Them Crooked Vultures brought their studio album to life, delivered far more than what fans were expecting, and proved that they deserve nothing less than the 'supergroup' title&rdquo; &ndash; Nova 100.3FM &ldquo;When you go to see Them Crooked Vultures you expect to see Rock Gods and they deliver&rdquo; &ndash; Undercover.com.au &ldquo;There was something special about the bonding of these three very successful musicians who, financially at least, didn't need to start another band, and witnessing them duel and push each other while having the time of their lives.&rdquo; &ndash; The Age http://www.theage.com.au/news/entertainment/music/gig-previews--reviews/them-crooked-vultures/2010/01/24/1264267939084.html &ldquo;They do stoner rock better than any other band; Superbly. Supremely&hellip;Every head was oriented stageward, mouths slightly agape as they soaked up the experience&rdquo; &ndash; FasterLouder.com.au The collision of these legendary performers is certainly a rarity. Who knows when else, if ever again, you will have the privilege of witnessing Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones, Josh Homme from Queens Of The Stone Age and Foo Fighter&rsquo;s frontman Dave Grohl jam together on stage once the band finish touring? BE WATCHING CAMPBELL LIVE ON TV3 TOMORROW NIGHT AT 7PM! When John Campbell talks to all three rock stars in their very first NZ television interview. Including live footage of their recent Melbourne concert at Festival Hall so fans can get a taste of THEM CROOKED VULTURES live before their NZ concerts. SATURDAY 30th JANUARY Vector Arena Auckland Tickets still available.]]>
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			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/press-releases/them-crooked-vultures-first-nz-tv-interview-tomorrow-night-on-campbell-live-friday-29-january-2010/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 26 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Vector Arena one of busiest venues of its size in world  - 23 November 2009</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ Fifty-nine headline events since the beginning of the year have drawn a combined audience of close to 280,000 to Auckland&rsquo;s Vector Arena, with an additional 30,000 expected to pass through its doors before Christmas.  Coming up in December is a public address by the Dalai Lama titled A Peaceful Mind, and two Green Day shows. Already this year audiences at Vector Arena have been entertained by top international acts including Eric Clapton, Cold Play, Simon and Garfunkel, The Killers, Andre Rieu and Black-Eyed Peas. Along with our international acts has been the return of major local activity such as the Silver Ferns, Vodafone NZ Music Awards and Westfield Style Pasifika.  &ldquo;It&rsquo;s been a very busy year and there is no let up in sight in 2010, with plenty of world-class artist already booked. That was before the recent announcements that Lady Gaga, Carole King and James Taylor, and Michael McDonald, Boz Scaggs and the Mick Fleetwood Blues Band will play here in March and April,&rdquo; says Vector Arena Chief Executive Guy Ngata.  Those concerts have been slotted into an already busy schedule that includes Cliff Richard and the Shadows, Faith No More, The Pixies and Kelly Clarkson.  Confirmation that Vector Arena as one of the busiest venues of its size in the world is recent international industry magazine Venues Today statistics. It is the number two &ldquo;Top Stop&rdquo; in the 10,000 &ndash; 15,000-seat category, based on the number of tickets sold over the past year to the end of October.  &ldquo;New Zealanders are definitely getting the cream of the touring crop, which is what Vector Arena is attracting here, There are still significant artists about to announce shows in 2010 so stay tuned&rdquo;, says Mr Ngata.  -ends-    ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/press-releases/vector-arena-one-of-busiest-venues-of-its-size-in-world/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>The National Business Review: Vector Arena continues to pull in punters - 21 July 2009</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[International music stars such as Simon and Garfunkel and The Killers have kept the ticket sales moving briskly at Auckland&rsquo;s Vector Arena, with a combined audience of almost 185,000 walking through the doors in the first six months of the year.]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/the-national-business-review-vector-arena-continues-to-pull-in-punters/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Vector Arena helps revive live music scene - 13 July 2009</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ Thirty headline events since the beginning of the year have drawn a combined audience of close to 185,000 to Auckland&rsquo;s Vector Arena, underlining the important role it has played in reviving the country&rsquo;s live music scene, and bringing more visitors to Auckland.  Highlights of the first six months of 2009 include performances by Leonard Cohen, Eric Clapton, Coldplay, Kings of Leon, The Killers, Duffy, The Pussycat Dolls and Simon and Garfunkel.  Vector Arena Chief Executive Guy Ngata says that without Vector Arena these world class acts would not have come to New Zealand.  &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve provided promoters and artists with a great venue that they want to play at, and made it worthwhile for them to add us to their tour list. That means people get to enjoy entertainers they would not otherwise see, and as concerts are increasingly coming exclusively to Auckland, it is drawing more visitors to the city too,&rdquo; he says.  &ldquo;For example, more than 20,000 people enjoyed the two fantastic sell-out Simon and Garfunkel shows recently, with about 40 per cent of those people purchasing their tickets from outside Auckland.&rdquo;  Mr Ngata says these numbers show just how keen people are to see the &lsquo;once in a lifetime&rsquo; shows that are coming to Vector Arena, and how they are driving the positive economic impact the venue is having on Auckland.  &ldquo;People who travel to Auckland are not just coming to Vector Arena, they are staying overnight and having dinner, shopping and visiting our other attractions while they are here,&rdquo; he says.  Tourism Auckland&rsquo;s Domestic Tourism Survey shows that more than 2.2 million people visited Auckland last year from other parts of the country. On average, each domestic tourist who stays the night spends $236 dollars on other activities such as shopping and dining.  &ldquo;That means that the Simon and Garfunkel concerts at Vector Arena injected an estimated $1.8m into Auckland&rsquo;s economy, in a single weekend,&rdquo; says Mr Ngata.  In just over two years since Vector Arena opened, it is not just concerts that have been held there. In the first half of this year other audiences have also enjoyed Crusty Demons, Billy Connolly, The Wiggles and Disney on Ice: Princess Wishes.  &ldquo;Kiwis are very lucky they&rsquo;ve been able to see many artists at their peak - for example Coldplay, Kings of Leon and The Killers &ndash; along with the recently announced Black Eyed Peas, who sit at number one and number three on the New Zealand singles chart.  -ends-  Tel: 09 358 1250 ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/press-releases/vector-arena-helps-revive-live-music-scene/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 13 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title> Vector Arena transformed into world of wishes - 05 May 2009</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ Within weeks of pop princesses the Pussycat Dolls performing one of the hottest shows in town, Vector Arena will be transformed into an ice rink to cater for princesses of a completely different kind.  The third family show since Vector Arena opened a little over two years ago is Disney&rsquo;s Princess Wishes. Tinker Bell will whisk the audience through seven magical princess stories during this enchanting ice show.  Ariel, Snow White, Jasmine, Cinderella, Belle, Aurora and Mulan all have their dreams come true during the show, which includes artistic skating, graceful acrobatics, and an incredible set with special effects.  Vector Arena Chief Executive Guy Ngata is looking forward to once again welcoming families through the doors.  &ldquo;It will be wonderful to see the delight on the kids faces at this fantastic show, and amazing to once again see the arena transformed into an ice rink for a few days,&rdquo; he says.  &ldquo;It shows how versatile Vector Arena is &ndash; over the last year it&rsquo;s been used for world class concerts including Eric Clapton and Coldplay, as well as the Axis, Westpac Trust Halberg and Vodafone Music Awards, the Silver Ferns vs England netball test and the Supercross and Gravity Games.&rdquo;  Two days before Disney on Ice presents Princess Wishes, which is produced by Feld Entertainment, layer upon layer of water will be poured onto steel-framed boards that act as a giant freezer tray to create the surface for the ice show.  It will only take one day to dismantle the ice rink after the show finishes on June 1, returning it to normal for other acts following hard on its heels.  &ldquo;Coming up we&rsquo;ve got Simon and Garfunkel, RAW Live 2009, the spectacular stage show Starlight Express, Westfield Style Pasifika, Il Divo and Andre Rieu, among others still to be announced,&rdquo; says Mr Ngata.  For more details and tickets, please visit www.vectorarena.co.nz.  -ends-    ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/press-releases/vector-arena-transformed-into-world-of-wishes/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 05 May 2009 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Artists at their peaks playing at Vector Arena - 20 February 2009</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ The BRIT Awards may have been held 18,000km away in London this week, but that doesn&rsquo;t mean some of the top artists honoured are not winging their way to Auckland.  Kings of Leon, who picked up the Best International Group and Best International Album awards, are playing at Vector Arena March 25 to support their number one selling album Only by the Night.  The following week, on March 31, Welsh soul singer Duffy will perform - she received the coveted Best Album Award, Best British Female Solo Artist and Best British Breakthrough Act.  The award for the Best International Male went to Kanye West, who played to an audience of more than 10,000 people at Vector Arena in December. Kylie Minogue, who also played in Auckland in December, presented the show.  Vector Arena chief executive, Guy Ngata, says the BRIT Awards go to show that the country&rsquo;s largest indoor arena is drawing world class artists here when they are at the peak of their careers and popularity.  &ldquo;It&rsquo;s great to see so many artists getting awards and nominations who are either on their way here, or have recently been here. With Eric Clapton and Coldplay also at Vector Arena in March, it&rsquo;s shaping up to be a record month,&rdquo; he says.  To find out more about what&rsquo;s coming up at Vector Arena, please visit the website, www.vectorarena.co.nz, or call the arena on (09) 358-1250.  -ends-  For more information please contact:    ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/press-releases/artists-at-their-peaks-playing-at-vector-arena/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 20 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Vector Arena transformed into Aucklands largest dining room for Halberg Awards - 03 February 2009</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ Vector Arena is tonight holding the biggest event of the year&rsquo;s national sporting calendar &ndash; but this time it&rsquo;s not netball, motorsport or wrestling.  It is the first time the awards have been held at Vector Arena, and chief executive Guy Ngata is delighted.  &ldquo;We&rsquo;re very proud that the country&rsquo;s top sportspeople are coming together under our roof to be honoured for their amazing achievements,&rdquo; he says.  &ldquo;I would personally like to congratulate all the finalists, who are sporting heroes for all New Zealanders.&rdquo;  Vector Arena is increasingly being used for large, banquet-style events, and experienced caterers Delaware North are on-site.  So what will the country&rsquo;s top athletes and their guests are eating on the night?  They can choose from a menu that for example includes:   Chicken breast of shallot and basil cream with roast garlic pepper mash and lime peanut vinaigrette, or;  Salmon fillet with ebly wheat salad or coriander pesto and cucumber, bok choi and krachai butter sauce     ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/press-releases/vector-arena-transformed-into-auckland-s-largest-dining-room-for-halberg-awards/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 03 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>NZ Herald: Auckland&amp;#39;s never had it so good for live rock, pop - 12 January 2009</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Vector Arena now has a reputation as a venue capable of hosting the world's biggest stars, including Kylie Minogue.]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/nz-herald-aucklands-never-had-it-so-good-for-live-rock-pop/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 12 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review: Kylie Minogue at Vector Arena - 9 Dec, 2008 - 15 December 2008</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Kylie plays to a sold out crowd at Vector Arena in her first ever NZ concert!Would we be, could we be, should we be so lucky? That was question on everyone's lips as they filed into Vector Arena last night for Kylie Minogue's first New Zealand concert...(click here for full review)]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-kylie-minogue-at-vector-arena-9-dec-2008/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 15 Dec 2008 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review: Billy Joel at Vector Arena - 15 Dec, 2008 - 15 December 2008</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Billy Joel was back for the first time in 10 years for an engaging trip down memory lane.In a two hour-plus show before a sold-out Vector Arena, Joel proved he's still got the chops, the voice and the good humour to deliver a show that was something more than a predictable nostalgia bash...(click here for full article)]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-billy-joel-at-vector-arena-15-dec-2008/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 15 Dec 2008 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review: John Mellencamp and Sheryl Crowe - 4 Dec, 2009 - 04 December 2008</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Two of classic rock's biggest names - John Mellencamp and Sheryl Crow - joined forces for a night at Vector Arena.Two of classic rock's biggest names - John Mellencamp and Sheryl Crow - joined forces for a night at Vector Arena. It was a moment near the end that seemed to sum it up best...(click here for full review)]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-john-mellencamp-and-sheryl-crowe-4-dec-2009/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Action-packed year for Vector Arena  - 22 November 2008</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ With more than 40 events and record attendance well over 300,000 it&rsquo;s been a big year so far for Vector Arena - and there is no let up in sight.  In December six stand-out shows are expected to attract more than 60,000 people to the arena, which has been open for a little over 18 months.  This year alone world-class artists such as the Foo Fighters, Andrea Bocelli, Rod Stewart, Def Leppard and Matchbox 20 have played at Vector Arena.  In May the arena&rsquo;s floor was iced over for its first family show, High School Musical The Ice Tour, which more than 40,000 people attended.  Arena Chief Executive, Guy Ngata, is delighted with the number and calibre of acts there this year.  &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve definitely cemented Vector Arena&rsquo;s growing reputation as a venue that is capable of hosting the world&rsquo;s biggest stars,&rdquo; he says.  &ldquo;December will be a very busy month, with Kayne West, John Mellencamp/Sheryl Crowe, Alicia Keys, Billy Joel, and the first ever Kylie Minogue show in Auckland.&rdquo;  This is hard on the heels of a busy October, which included two Rihanna and Chris Brown shows with a total audience of 22,000, and the legendary Stevie Wonder.  &ldquo;There is no doubt that we&rsquo;ve been flat out this year, and it is a testament to the work that goes on behind the scenes that it&rsquo;s been such a great success,&rdquo; says Mr Ngata.  Promoters, who are increasingly supportive of New Zealand&rsquo;s largest multi-purpose indoor entertainment and sports complex, have also been a key.  &ldquo;Ours is a market that has always supported live entertainment but there has not been a venue consistent with other international cities. It&rsquo;s great to be working with promoters to give Aucklanders and New Zealanders in general the opportunity to enjoy even more live entertainment,&rdquo; says Mr Ngata.  Playing the Vector Arena stage in December is Kayne West (Michael Coppel Presents), and John Mellencamp/Sheryl Crowe, Alicia Keys, Kylie Minogue and Billy Joel (The Frontier Touring Company).  &ldquo;So far both Kylie shows and Billy Joel have sold out, with the other shows going well. Auckland is buzzing with the prospect of an action-packed December,&rdquo; says Mr Ngata.  2009 at Vector Arena is also off to a busy start with Leonard Cohen, Fall Out Boy, Eric Clapton and Duffy earlier in the year, and Andrew Lloyd Webber&rsquo;s Starlight Express in July.  Other international acts will be announced once they are confirmed.  -ends-    ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/press-releases/action-packed-year-for-vector-arena/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Sat, 22 Nov 2008 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review: Def Leppard in Auckland - 15 November, 2008 - 17 November 2008</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[It was a sit-down concert but Def Leppard got fans out of their seats in no time...Def Leppard front man Joe Elliott ended the band's Auckland show with the words, &quot;Don't forget us, and we won't forget you&quot;. On that basis his band will not be forgetting the fans who packed out Vector Arena in a hurry...(click here for full review)]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-def-leppard-in-auckland-15-november-2008/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 17 Nov 2008 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review: Stevie Wonder in Auckland - 31 October, 2008 - 05 November 2008</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[When you have so many hits, it can be hard to cram them all into one show. But American soul, funk and R'n'B legend Stevie Wonder did his level best to do that last night at Vector Arena!When you have so many hits, it can be hard to cram them all into one show. But American soul, funk and R'n'B legend Stevie Wonder did his level best to do that last night at Vector Arena...(for full article click here)]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-stevie-wonder-in-auckland-31-october-2008/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 05 Nov 2008 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Review: Chris Brown and Rihanna at Vector Arena - October 28, 2008 - 05 November 2008</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Two young performers give a new generation of concert-goers a taste of just what a great concert should be. Two of the hottest young stars on the international music scene at present, Chris Brown and Rihanna, aged just 19 and 20 respectively, showed they already have their performing wing...(for full article click here)]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/review-chris-brown-and-rihanna-at-vector-arena-october-28-2008/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 05 Nov 2008 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Rihanna &amp; Chris Brown - Second Auckland concert announced! 15 September, 2008 - 15 September 2008</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Due to popular demand a second Auckland concert has today been announced for superstars Rihanna and Chris Brown!The first show for world R&amp;B talents Rihanna and Chris Brown sold out in a record twenty minutes! Due to popular demand a second Auckland concert has been announced for Tuesday 28 October.RIHANNA! The 20-year-old multi-platinum, MTV and Grammy Award winning artist who&rsquo;s taken the world by storm will descend on New Zealand this October for the first time to continue her quest for world domination! In 2006, Chris Brown visited New Zealand for a promotional tour, his private performance leaving none in doubt he was a star on the rise. Don&rsquo;t miss RIHANNA &amp; CHRIS BROWN live in concert: AUCKLAND VECTOR ARENA MONDAY OCTOBER 27 (SOLD OUT) AUCKLAND VECTOR ARENA TUESDAY OCTOBER 28 TICKETS ON SALE NOW through Ticketmaster. View the EVENT PAGE for more details.]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/press-releases/rihanna-chris-brown-second-auckland-concert-announced-15-september-2008/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 15 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Kylie sells out first show - second and final show on sale! 9 September, 2008 - 09 September 2008</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[KYLIE TICKETS FLY OUT THE DOOR IN MINUTES - SECOND &amp; FINAL SHOW ADDED TO MEET DEMAND!!Kylie fans have shown just how excited they are about her first ever Auckland concert, snapping up all of the Vector Arena tickets in just 19 minutes this morning. Promoter Michael Gudinski said that fans were in for a treat. &ldquo;Kylie&rsquo;s X2008 tour is her biggest production yet. She continues to lift the bar for artists everywhere with the size and quality of her shows. &ldquo;She&rsquo;s very excited about touring New Zealand for the first time, and I know she&rsquo;ll be thrilled to hear how fast the concert sold out. The second and final Auckland show goes on sale now and will take place at Vector Arena on Tuesday 9 December. The Auckland sell out follows on the heels of similar success across the Tasman yesterday, where Kylie sold out her first Sydney and Melbourne concerts in a matter of minutes. Second concerts were added in both cities immediately. Tickets on sale from Ticketmaster 09 970 9700 or www.ticketmaster.co.nz  View the event page for Kylie's X2008 Tour here. Monday 8 December AUCKLAND &ndash; Vector Arena SOLD OUT Tuesday 9 December AUCKLAND &ndash; Vector Arena ON SALE ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/press-releases/kylie-sells-out-first-show-second-and-final-show-on-sale-9-september-2008/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">7B4C8ACD-8FDF-4631-8B5A-F6B4C690B7D6</guid>
			<pubDate>Tue, 09 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Bigger. Better. Louder. Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards invades Vector Arena - July 31, 2008  - 28 August 2008</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Listen up: The Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards are coming to Vector Arena. Now there's room for thousands more music fans, a designated mosh pit, a bigger stage for bigger bands and the best of the best in New Zealand music. So scribble down October 8 right now to be part of the biggest night on the Kiwi music calendar. RIANZ chief executive Campbell Smith says it&rsquo;s time to turn it up a notch. &quot;We've been celebrating the finest Kiwi music for the past 43 years - but this year will be the biggest and best production by a mile. I can promise it&rsquo;s going to be an electrifying experience. &quot;In recent years the awards have evolved from an industry-only event to one that attracts thousands of people star-watching on the red carpet, and a massive audience for a live TV broadcast on C4. &quot;Now, with a premium venue like Vector, and the support of naming rights sponsor Vodafone, we have the space to throw open the doors and more music fans than ever can be part of the action.&quot; Vodafone New Zealand head of sponsorship Richard Howarth says the company is thrilled to be naming rights sponsor again of what is set to be the music event of the year. &quot;This year we are taking music lovers even closer to New Zealand music by enabling them to not only decide who will win the Vodafone People's Choice Award but also decide which five acts are nominated in the first place. And one lucky fan will also win the chance to present the hotly contested award live on stage,&quot; says Howarth. In addition to the focus on finalists and the prestige of taking home a Tui, Smith says the evening promises a line up of celebrity presenters and special performances and collaborations by the cr&egrave;me of Kiwi music. &quot;Our producers have some great fresh ideas for the new venue to support the set and make this event the talk of the town. People need to grab these public tickets while they're available to make sure they don&rsquo;t miss out!&quot; Smith says there have been more than 400 entries for this year's awards, 40 of them in the breakthrough artist category. &quot;Put simply, that reflects the extremely healthy state of New Zealand music and the large group of new artists coming through the ranks.&quot; Tickets to the awards go on sale September 3 through Ticketmaster at $47 plus booking fee each. Finalists for the awards will be announced in Auckland on Wednesday 3 September, with the awards night on October 8. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/press-releases/bigger-better-louder-vodafone-new-zealand-music-awards-invades-vector-arena-july-31-2008/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Judas Priest concert cancelled - July 31, 2008 - 04 August 2008</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Dainty Consolidated Entertainment announced that metal band Judas Priest will not be playing New Zealand on 7th September 2008.The cancellation is due to logistic and freight issues and Dainty Consolidated Entertainment and Judas Priest apologise to all their fans who have purchased tickets for any inconvenience caused. All ticket holders should contact Ticketmaster on (09) 970 9700 or online www.ticketmaster.co.nz to arrange a full refund. Media Enquiries; Angela Mace, Beat Communications (09) 361 2327 or angela.mace@beat.net.nz]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/press-releases/judas-priest-concert-cancelled-july-31-2008/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 04 Aug 2008 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>VECTOR ARENA TRANSFORMED FOR FIRST FAMILY SHOW - May 29, 2008 - 29 May 2008</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[It has taken just 48 hours to transform Vector Arena into an ice rink...It has taken just 48 hours for Vector Arena to be transformed into an ice rink in preparation for its first family show, Disney&rsquo;s High School Musical &ldquo;The Ice Tour&rdquo;. Close to 40,000 people will enjoy the first ever show of its kind at the venue, which has now been open for a little over a year. Vector Arena general manager Guy Ngata is looking forward to welcoming a different crowd through the doors over the next five days. &ldquo;It will be great to see families and young people here, and this promises to be a fantastic show with dancing, music and non-stop fun,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve had such a range of acts this year already and with more being announced all the time it&rsquo;s clear that Vector Arena is a versatile venue.&rdquo; Disney&rsquo;s High School Musical &ldquo;The Ice Tour&rdquo; features hit songs from the movies High School Musical and High School Musical 2 &ndash; a pop culture sensation. Earlier this week layer upon layer of water was poured onto steel-framed boards that act as a giant freezer tray to create the surface for the ice show. It will only take a day to dismantle the ice rink after the show finishes on Monday, returning it to normal for other acts following hard on its heels. &ldquo;Already this year we&rsquo;ve sold more than 170,000 ticket to some huge shows including Rod Stewart, Foo Fighters, Westlife and Elton John, and there&rsquo;s plenty more to come,&rdquo; says Mr Ngata. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve got R&amp;B royalty Mary J Blige and World Wrestling Entertainment Smackdown next month, The Demon Energy Supercross and Gravity Games in July, and world-renowned tenor Andrea Bocelli in August.&rdquo; &ldquo;It&rsquo;s shaping up to be a year jam-packed with top acts at Vector Arena, and the increasing variety means many more people will have the opportunity to come and experience it.&rdquo; For those going to High School Musical &ldquo;The Ice Tour&rdquo; &ndash; remember to wrap up warm! For more details about what&rsquo;s coming up, please visit our COMING EVENTS page.-ends-]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/press-releases/vector-arena-transformed-for-first-family-show-may-29-2008/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Thu, 29 May 2008 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Review: Elton John at Vector Arena - May 15, 2008 - 15 May 2008</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Elton John played to a mesmerised crowd for a full three hours at Vector Arena - everything from party hits to huge ballards captivating his fans.Everyone has a favourite Elton John song. It's a track intrinsically tied to a certain memory that transports you to back to that time and place, evoking the thoughts and feelings of that moment. Looking around Vector Arena last night as Sir Elton performed his first Auckland show in 10 years...(click here for full review).]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/review-elton-john-at-vector-arena-may-15-2008/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>WINNERS STRIKE GOLD WITH VECTOR ARENA - May 13, 2008 - 13 May 2008</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Two lucky winners strike gold with Vector Arena!Two lucky Auckland ladies are getting ready to rock the whole year round after scooping Vector Arena&rsquo;s gold tickets. To mark the venue&rsquo;s first birthday last month, two sets of 10 double passes &ndash; the gold tickets &ndash; were up for grabs for anyone buying a ticket in April to a Vector Arena show. And the lucky winners are &ndash; Michelle McGowan- Dragicevich from Onehunga and Natalie Lloyd from Mt Eden. Michelle, an accounts administrator, entered the draw when she bought tickets to take her niece and nephew to High School Musical: The Ice Show. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s really exciting. I don&rsquo;t win competitions very often at all, that&rsquo;s why I was especially surprised,&rdquo; says Michelle. Mum-of-two Natalie went into the draw when she bought tickets to see James Blunt for her son James&rsquo; thirteenth birthday, and she has no shortage of people keen to share the fantastic prize with her. Having been to Vector Arena a few times already, to see Split Enz, James Blunt and War of the Worlds, Natalie can&rsquo;t wait to start using her gold ticket. With a whole year in which to use their prizes, both winners are keeping an eye on what events are coming up, and with two huge acts - Andrea Bocelli (August 20) and Mary J Blige (June 16) &ndash; announced last week it looks like they will be spoilt for choice. &ldquo;Andrea Bocelli sounds fantastic, that&rsquo;s very exciting,&rdquo; says Natalie. Guy Ngata, Vector Arena&rsquo;s General Manager, says: &ldquo;It&rsquo;s great to be able to celebrate the end of our first year in this way and I&rsquo;m sure the winners will both have a fantastic time with their tickets, whichever shows they choose to come to.&rdquo; Tickets to all upcoming shows at Vector Arena are available from Ticketmaster, www.ticketmaster.co.nz -ends-  ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/press-releases/winners-strike-gold-with-vector-arena-may-13-2008/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 13 May 2008 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review: Foo Fighters in Auckland - May 5, 2008 - 06 May 2008</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The Foo Fighters worked the sold out crowd into a frenzy with an unbelievable two hour set at Auckland's Vector Arena.Dave Grohl is getting a standing ovation. The sold out crowd at Auckland's Vector Arena is on its feet, saluting the Foo Fighters front man with the kind of ear-piercing, foot-stomping applause usually reserved for Gods....(click here for full review).]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-foo-fighters-in-auckland-may-5-2008/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 06 May 2008 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review: James Blunt at Vector Arena - 30 April, 2008 - 05 May 2008</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Hyped up fans filled Vector Arena for an impressive sing a long with James Blunt.Casting a quick eye over the four-deep crush of fans standing in front of the stage at Vector Arena before last night's concert even began, the men appeared to outnumber the women. That's not to say the female fans weren't out in force. Many of them started singing before Blunt had even played a note...(click here for full review).]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-james-blunt-at-vector-arena-30-april-2008/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 05 May 2008 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig review: 50 Cent &amp; G-Unit IN AUCKLAND - 26 April, 2008 - 30 April 2008</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Vector Arena was turned into a virtual rifle range by gun-loving rapper 50 Cent and his sidekicks G-Unit.Vector Arena was turned into a virtual rifle range by gun-loving rapper 50 Cent and his sidekicks G-Unit.....(click here for full review)]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-50-cent-g-unit-in-auckland-26-april-2008/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 30 Apr 2008 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review: MATCHBOX TWENTY IN AUCKLAND - 9 April, 2008 - 09 April 2008</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Matchbox Twenty were back in Auckland for a rousing crowd pleasing performance!It's been a while since Orlando pop-rockers Matchbox Twenty have played for their Kiwi fans. They were clearly keen to make amends for their absence at Auckland's Vector Arena - starting with a few familiar, folky chords...(click here for full review)]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-matchbox-twenty-in-auckland-9-april-2008/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 09 Apr 2008 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review: SPLIT ENZ AT VECTOR ARENA - Saturday 29 March, 2008 - 31 March 2008</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Split Enz were at their crazy best over the weekend, bringing the whole Arena was to their feet during two energetic shows!The first time I saw Split Enz was at the Bowl of Brooklands in New Plymouth in the early 80s. It was the Enz of an Era tour, I was 10 or thereabouts, and I remember Tim Finn rowing across the lake in front of the stage during Six Months In A Leaky Boat. At least I think that's what happened... (for full review click here).]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-split-enz-at-vector-arena-saturday-29-march-2008/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 31 Mar 2008 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig review: KORN IN AUCKLAND - 25 April, 2008 - 30 March 2008</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Moshers tested Vector Arena's floorboards like never before as heavy metal act Korn hit the stage in Auckland.Moshers tested Vector Arena's floorboards like never before as heavy metal act Korn hit the stage in Auckland....(click here for full review)]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-korn-in-auckland-25-april-2008/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Sun, 30 Mar 2008 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig review: DURAN DURAN IN AUCKLAND - 27 March, 2008 - 28 March 2008</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The 80s were alive and kicking as Duran Duran kicked off their world tour in Auckland!Every babysitter in Auckland must have been on duty when Duran Duran took to the Vector Arena stage on Wednesday night for their first ever headlining gig in New Zealand. You could say most of the audience remembered the 80s really well - evidenced by their enthusiasm for the hits that propelled the English 'yacht rockers' to 85 million album sales....(click here for full review).]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-duran-duran-in-auckland-27-march-2008/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>ONE WEEK, THREE WORLD CLASS ACTS - IT MUST BE VECTOR ARENA! Friday 7 March, 2008 - 07 March 2008</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Vector Arena looks set to continue at full-throttle with a host of international acts booked to play in the coming months.Following a busy start to the year, Vector Arena looks set to continue at full-throttle with a host of international acts set to play in the coming months. Rod Stewart, The Chemical Brothers and Kings of Leon set the bar high for upcoming acts after gaining huge plaudits for their recent shows. But with international stars lined up throughout March and April the five-star entertainment looks set to continue. In the space of just eight days this month the Smashing Pumpkins, Duran Duran and Split Enz will bring a mix of rock, pop and crazy outfits to Auckland. On March 22, Smashing Pumpkins are likely to rock the very foundations of Vector Arena as they play a huge double bill with Queens of the Stone Age. Just four days later 80s icons Duran Duran will be performing a one-off New Zealand show. Remembered by many as the most successful band of the New Romantics era, this show will appeal to a broad spectrum of music lovers given the groups recent success collaborating with some of the music industry&rsquo;s top names, including Justin Timberlake and producer Timbaland. Hot on the heels of Duran Duran, and bringing March to a grand close, will be two highly anticipated shows from New Zealand icons Split Enz who are performing on March 28 and 29. American band Matchbox Twenty, who are promoting their first new album in five years, will kick April off in style. Meanwhile, also playing next month are Californian new metal band Korn &ndash; a group known for having a few surprises up their sleeves at concerts &ndash; and British singing sensation James Blunt, who attained near world domination with his hit &lsquo;You&rsquo;re Beautiful&rsquo;. With plenty more acts in the pipeline, keep an eye on the website as more shows are announced in the coming months. Tickets for all Vector Arena&rsquo;s shows can be purchased through Ticketmaster online or by phone 09 970 9700.]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/press-releases/one-week-three-world-class-acts-it-must-be-vector-arena-friday-7-march-2008/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 07 Mar 2008 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS - Gig Review: Friday 29 Feb, 2008 - 03 March 2008</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The Chemical Brothers rocked an energetic crowd at Vector Arena with a mind melting audio-visual show and quickfire dance beats.Unless you're at an I.T. convention, two guys standing behind laptops repeatedly clicking mouse buttons and twiddling knobs should not be this entertaining...but The Chemical Brothers proved to be just as thrilling as any of the major rock bands that have graced Auckland's Vector Arena...(click here for full article)]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/the-chemical-brothers-gig-review-friday-29-feb-2008/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">94574DC3-7183-44FA-8103-9A54F2DAD37D</guid>
			<pubDate>Mon, 03 Mar 2008 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>REVIEW: ROD STEWART - you bet he&amp;#39;s still sexy at 63! 19 February, 2008 - 20 February 2008</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Rod Stewart proved he's still got it as he charmed two sold out crowds with his charasmatic performance at Vector Arena.Starting his month-long Australasian tour at the Vector Arena last night in the first of two Auckland shows, the raspy-throated Brit took the audience on an aural tour of the musical history of the late 20th century...click here for full review.]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/review-rod-stewart-you-bet-hes-still-sexy-at-63-19-february-2008/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">CF47EAB6-677A-4758-A179-A16C4D08D9BC</guid>
			<pubDate>Wed, 20 Feb 2008 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>VECTOR ARENA&amp;#39;S CHART TOPPING PERFORMANCE - Jan 25, 2008 - 25 January 2008</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ Recent industry poll shows Vector Arena sitting on top of the world!  Auckland&rsquo;s Vector Arena is sitting on top of the world in a recent industry poll.  Stars like Justin Timberlake, Lionel Richie and My Chemical Romance provided a dream end to 2007 for music lovers in Auckland.  And just how big a month it was for Vector Arena is shown in the latest concert and event tables in Venues Today, a leading international entertainment industry publication.  For the month from November 16 to December 15, Vector Arena topped those venues in the 10,001 to 15,000 seat category which report to the magazine.  Over its six shows that month, Vector Arena pulled in 50,506 people. The total grossed was $US4,310,907, which was more than double the figure for the next venue in the table, the Credit Union Centre in Canada which grossed $US1,862,491.  &ldquo;These figures are really great to see,&rdquo; says Guy Ngata, Vector Arena&rsquo;s General Manager.  &ldquo;They show just what a big month it was for Vector Arena in November, and demonstrate that Auckland is now more than capable of hosting the world&rsquo;s biggest stars.&rdquo;  Vector Arena also proved to have the hottest ticket in town, with Justin Timberlake&rsquo;s shows proving the highest grossing concerts in the 10,001 to 15,000 seat venues.  The three Auckland shows were seen by 34,343 people, taking in $US2,987,138.  Lionel Richie&rsquo;s appearance at Vector Arena ranked seventh in the chart, grossing $US814,813 with an audience of 10,347.  Other venues in Vector Arena&rsquo;s group included the Brisbane (Australia) Entertainment Centre, the San Diego Sports Arena, and the Rabobank Arena in California.  &ldquo;The top ranking demonstrates why Vector Arena was recently nominated for International Arena of the Year at next month&rsquo;s CIC Pollstar Awards,&rdquo; says Mr Ngata.  &ldquo;Results like this really provide a boost for everyone at Vector Arena. A lot of hard work goes on behind the scenes, but it is all worthwhile when you see thousands of people having such a great time.  &ldquo;With more international acts already lined up for the first half of the year, and our first ice show scheduled for May, it looks like 2008 is going to be a very busy year.&rdquo;  The CIC Pollstar Awards are due to be announced in Los Angeles on February 7.  Vector Arena is nominated for the International Arena of the Year, alongside venues including London&rsquo;s O2 Arena and the iconic Wembley Arena.  -end-    ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/press-releases/vector-arenas-chart-topping-performance-jan-25-2008/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 25 Jan 2008 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>KINGS OF LEON: Gig Review - January 14, 2008 - 14 January 2008</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Kings of Leon captivated audiences in the weekend with a high intensity crowd-pleasing rock show.It was all in the family as rock act Kings of Leon performed the final date of a world tour in Auckland...for full article click here.]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/kings-of-leon-gig-review-january-14-2008/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">6BBC7858-A5FA-47A9-96A9-550D35E0D496</guid>
			<pubDate>Mon, 14 Jan 2008 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Vector Arena up for World&amp;#39;s Best - December 4, 2007 - 09 January 2008</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ Vector Arena up for World&#39;s Best in Pollstar Awards!  Auckland&rsquo;s Vector Arena could be crowned the world&rsquo;s best Arena after being nominated in the concert industry&rsquo;s flagship awards.  The CIC Pollstar Awards, in their 19th year, honour touring artists and those who keep the shows on the road.  Vector Arena has been shortlisted for the International Arena of the Year, alongside competition including London&rsquo;s O2 Arena and the iconic Wembley Arena, which scooped this award last time around.  &ldquo;This is a huge honour for everyone at Vector Arena and is a tribute to all the hard work that goes on behind the scenes,&rdquo; says Guy Ngata, Vector Arena&rsquo;s General Manager.  &ldquo;To be nominated alongside such established venues, when we have only been open for eight months, is testament to the great acts and great shows which have performed here,&rdquo; he adds.  &ldquo;And to be the only venue in the southern hemisphere to be nominated is fantastic.&rdquo;  Award nominees are selected by a group of concert industry professionals, and voted on by subscribers to Pollstar magazine, the world&rsquo;s largest resource of international concert tour information.  The Awards are due to be announced on February 7, 2008, at a glittering ceremony at the Nokia Theatre, Los Angeles.  In addition to International Arena of the Year, categories include Best New Touring Artist, Most Creative Tour Package and Theatre of the Year.  Justin Timberlake, who recently wowed the crowds at Vector Arena, is nominated in three categories &ndash; Major Tour of the Year, Most Creative Stage Production and Most Creative Tour Package (in association with Pink).  Another Vector Arena visitor, Gwen Stefani, is also nominated for Most Creative Stage Production.  The six venues Vector Arena is in competition with are: Arena Monterrey (Monterrey, Mexico); Color Line Arena (Hamburg, Germany); Manchester Evening News Arena (Manchester, UK); O2 Arena (London, UK); Odyssey Arena (Belfast, UK); Wembley Arena (London, UK).  Vector Arena, New Zealand&rsquo;s largest multi-purpose indoor entertainment and sports complex, hosted its first show in March.  &ldquo;Thanks must go to those who had the original vision and ambition to build a world-class venue here, including Auckland City Council, Jacobsen Venue Management and to our naming rights sponsor Vector Ltd for their continued support.  &ldquo;With such influential stakeholders on board, along with the promoters who have really embraced Vector Arena, Auckland can now punch well above its weight in the global entertainment industry,&rdquo; says Mr Ngata, adding that the support from the land owner, local Maori Iwi, Ngati Whatua o Orakei has also been crucial to the success of the venue.  Meanwhile the big names keep rolling in, with numerous top acts already lined up for next year, including Vector Arena&rsquo;s first family show, High School Musical &ldquo;The Ice Tour&rdquo;.  Tickets go on sale this month for Maroon 5, Matchbox 20, the Foo Fighters and High School Musical &ldquo;The Ice Tour&rdquo;, all due to take place from April to June 2008.  For more information on the Pollstar Awards, visit www.pollstarpro.com/awards   -ends-    ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/vector-arena-up-for-worlds-best-december-4-2007/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 09 Jan 2008 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>ROD STEWART - ROCKING HIS GREATEST HITS - October 29, 2007 - 08 January 2008</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Rod Stewart will return to NZ in 2008 to play EXCLUSIVELY at Auckland's Vector Arena.&quot;Bar none, he's the best singer I've heard in rock 'n' roll. He's also the greatest white soul singer.&quot; - Elton John With over 250 million record sales and a career spanning almost 40 years, Rod Stewart is the consummate performer. So it is with no small amount of pleasure that The Frontier Touring Company and Roundhouse Entertainment announce Rod Stewart&rsquo;s return to Australia and New Zealand in February/ March 2008 for his first tour here in over three years. Over the course of Rod&rsquo;s career the accolades haven&rsquo;t slowed down. A Grammy Award winner, a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, and most recently a UK Music Hall of Fame inductee &ndash; each achievement attests to Rod&rsquo;s considerable skill as a performer and his unflagging popularity. One of rock music&rsquo;s most enduring artists, Rod Stewart has produced hit after hit over the years; Maggie May, Every Picture Tells A Story, Da Ya Think I&rsquo;m Sexy?, You Wear It Well, Stay With Me - the list is endless! Rod Stewart&rsquo;s 2005 tour drew rave reviews from the critics; The Sydney Morning Herald declared he still had the &ldquo;skill and cheek to keep an audience entertained.&rdquo; The Australian were equally smitten, gushing: &ldquo;Stewart&rsquo;s delivery was gift-wrapped with enough heart and soul to make it a Valentine&rsquo;s Day to remember.&rdquo; And The West Australian bowed before their leader, dubbing Rod &ldquo;God Stewart&rdquo;. Time after time Rod Stewart sells out shows in Australia and New Zealand, and no doubt this will not be an exception. Don&rsquo;t miss your chance to see Rod Stewart live in concert this February! ROD STEWART ROCKS HIS GREATEST HITS!! TICKETS ON SALE: THURSDAY 8 NOVEMBER AT 9AM Book through Ticketmaster or ph 09 970 9700 VECTOR ARENA TOUR DATE: Monday 18 February, 2008 For further MEDIA information: NZ: Maria Robinson on 09 377 4454 or maria@mgpromotions.co.nz  ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/rod-stewart-rocking-his-greatest-hits-october-29-2007/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 08 Jan 2008 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>MORE CROWDS SET FOR VECTOR ARENA - December 3, 2007 - 03 January 2008</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[With more top acts heading to Vector Arena in 2008, thousands of tickets have been released for public sale.Following the recent announcements of yet more top acts heading to Vector Arena, thousands of tickets will be going on sale over the next week. In the space of just a few days, international stars Matchbox 20, Maroon 5 and the Foo Fighters have all announced dates at Vector Arena next year. And the younger generation will not be disappointed either, as the smash hit Disney High School Musical &ldquo;The Ice Tour&rdquo;, skates its way into town in May. The ice spectacular, which will be Vector Arena&rsquo;s first family show, features hit songs from the movies High School Musical and High School Musical 2, which have proved a worldwide pop culture sensation. &ldquo;The last few weeks have been extremely busy, with acts like Justin Timberlake, The Beach Boys and Lionel Richie pulling in great crowds,&rdquo; says Guy Ngata, Vector Arena&rsquo;s General Manager. &ldquo;And with more acts being announced all the time we are hoping more and more people will come down to experience Vector Arena for themselves.&rdquo; Guy adds: &ldquo;The range of acts heading to Vector Arena in 2008 should mean there is something for everyone. We are particularly excited about the High School Musical ice show, as it will be our first family event and will bring in a whole new crowd.&rdquo; Tickets for High School Musical &ldquo;The Ice Tour&rdquo;, showing at Vector Arena from May 29 to June 2, go on sale today (December 3). Tickets for the Foo Fighters, playing on May 5, went on pre sale last week with the allocation selling our in a matter of hours. General on sale tickets are available from Wednesday (December 5). The band, touted as the &ldquo;last great American rock band&rdquo;, were last in New Zealand in 2005 when they played to sell out crowds in Wellington and Auckland. Maroon 5 are due to play a one-off show in New Zealand at Vector Arena on April 6. Tickets to see the Los Angeles based band go on general sale on Friday (December 7), and will be available presale from tomorrow (December 4). Lastly, tickets to see Grammy award-winning pop rockers Matchbox 20, who are promoting their first album in five years, go on general sale next Monday (December 10) and on presale from Wednesday (December 7). Tickets for all the shows are available through Ticketmaster or ph 09 970 9700. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/press-releases/more-crowds-set-for-vector-arena-december-3-2007/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">4FED1A62-809A-46E1-8847-72A0114EC99A</guid>
			<pubDate>Thu, 03 Jan 2008 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>SECOND ROD STEWART CONCERT ANNOUNCED! - Monday 11 November, 2007 - 01 January 2008</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Rod Stewart will rock Vector Arena with a second show on 19 February, 2008.After selling out his first Auckland concert in a matter of hours, Rod Stewart has agreed to rock Vector Arena for a second night on Tuesday 19th February! Over the course of Rod&rsquo;s career the accolades haven&rsquo;t slowed down. A Grammy Award winner, a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, and most recently a UK Music Hall of Fame inductee &ndash; each achievement attests to Rod&rsquo;s considerable skill as a performer and his unflagging popularity. One of rock music&rsquo;s most enduring artists, Rod Stewart has produced hit after hit over the years; Maggie May, Every Picture Tells A Story, Da Ya Think I&rsquo;m Sexy?, You Wear It Well, Stay With Me - the list is endless!  SECOND CONCERT ON SALE WEDNESDAY 14 NOVEMBER at 9AM To book contact Ticketmaster or ph 09 970 9700 ROD STEWART ROCKS HIS GREATEST HITS: NEW ZEALAND 2008 TOUR DATES Monday 18 February, Vector Arena, Auckland      SOLD OUT Tuesday 19 February, Vector Arena, Auckland    NEW SHOW For further MEDIA information please contact: Maria Robinson on 09 377 4454 or maria@mgpromotions.co.nz  ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/second-rod-stewart-concert-announced-monday-11-november-2007/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>RECORD BREAKING WEEKEND FOR VECTOR ARENA - November 21, 2007 - 01 January 2008</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ Record breaking weekend for Vector Arena with Justin Timberlake in town for three huge shows!  Pop superstar Justin Timberlake is set to wow music lovers in Auckland this week as he brings his show-stopping world tour to Vector Arena.  And as well as setting fans&rsquo; pulses racing, the Prince of Pop&rsquo;s shows will set some records for Auckland&rsquo;s showcase entertainment venue.  The US star will be blazing through his hits on Friday, Saturday and Monday night, and is the first performer to play three shows at Vector Arena.  More than 33,500 tickets have been sold to date, making Justin Timberlake Vector Arena&rsquo;s highest grossing act to date, with ticket sales totalling $4 million.  &ldquo;This will be the first time fans in New Zealand will get to see Justin Timberlake perform here and the excitement has been building from the moment the shows were announced.  &ldquo;The tour has received rave reviews in Australia and I think everyone is expecting something really special. It&rsquo;s going to be a busy few days for everyone at Vector Arena, but we&rsquo;re all looking forward to it,&rdquo; says Guy Ngata, General Manager of Vector Arena.  Timberlake&rsquo;s Auckland shows, which have been brought to New Zealand by The Frontier Touring Company, form part of his critically acclaimed Future Sex/Love Show World Tour which kicked off in January.  &ldquo;Justin Timberlake is really a star at the peak of his career right now. To have him playing three shows in New Zealand is a real coup, and I think it would be fair to say it wouldn&rsquo;t have happened had Vector Arena not been here.  &ldquo;We hope everyone enjoys the shows and has a great time at Vector Arena,&rdquo; says Mr Ngata.  A very limited number of tickets are still available for the Justin Timberlake shows from Ticketmaster.  Meanwhile, following hot on the heels of the Future Sex/Love Show tour, Vector Arena will be playing host to Lionel Richie on Wednesday, November 28.  -ends-    ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/press-releases/record-breaking-weekend-for-vector-arena-november-21-2007/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Gig Review: Crowded House and Supergroove in Auckland - October 29, 2007 - 29 October 2007</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Crowded House and Supergroove joined forces with Pluto for an outstanding nostalgic show on Sunday night.When it comes to trips down memory lane, for New Zealanders they don't get much more nostalgic than Crowded House and Supergroove. That's two generations of Kiwi anthems right there...(click here for full article).]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/gig-review-crowded-house-and-supergroove-in-auckland-october-29-2007/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 29 Oct 2007 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>PUTTING NEW ZEALAND ON THE WORLD ENTERTAINMENT MAP - 25 October, 2007 - 25 October 2007</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ Vector Arena celebrates 6 months open and 275 000 tickets sold to date!  It&#39;s been six months since the ground beneath Auckland shook to the sounds of Vector Arena&#39;s first rock &#39;n&#39; roll sell-out.  And since the Red Hot Chili Peppers sold out back to back concerts in April, the world class acts, and the crowds, have kept coming.  In its first six months 216,811people have passed through the Arena&rsquo;s doors, with a total of 275,000 tickets sold to date.  And the next six months look set to be even bigger, with Justin Timberlake&rsquo;s trio of sell-out performances just one of the highlights.  While the rock acts have drawn much of the attention, Vector Arena&rsquo;s position as a multi-purpose venue has been showcased by the sheer variety of entertainment on offer.  Whether it be to hear inspirational words from the Dalai Lama, to cheer on the Silver Ferns, or to experience the visual feast of War of the Worlds, Vector Arena&rsquo;s flexibility has provided something for everyone.  &ldquo;Patrons have really enjoyed and embraced the venue and the type of artists and performances we have put on.  &ldquo;Vector Arena is attracting performers like Justin Timberlake, Linkin Park and Gwen Stefani, who are world class acts at the peak of their careers&rdquo; says Guy Ngata, Vector Arena&rsquo;s General Manager.  &ldquo;And what&rsquo;s been really pleasing is that we&rsquo;ve been achieving this consistently throughout the winter months, when, without such an indoor arena we wouldn&rsquo;t usually see New Zealand on a lot of these touring itineraries.&rdquo;  Vector Arena&rsquo;s first six months will be marked, quite fittingly, with a performance from a band with a particular New Zealand flavour, Crowded House, on Sunday (Oct 28).  For a relatively short period of time the Arena has already made its mark in the record books, hosting the biggest indoor sporting event in New Zealand&rsquo;s history, when the Silver Ferns took on Australia in July.  On the music front, Manolo Echave, NZ representative for Chugg Entertainment, says Vector Arena &ldquo;has guaranteed the inclusion of New Zealand in the suddenly exploding world of the international live concert&rdquo;.  In the past six months Chugg Entertainment has brought Gwen Stefani, Bob Dylan and War of the Worlds to Vector Arena, and Kings of Leon are lined up for next year.  &ldquo;The venue has lived up to all expectations and industry predictions. Auckland has seen more international concerts in the last six months, due to Vector Arena, than over any previous 24 month period.  &ldquo;The building stands confidently alongside any similar capacity venue anywhere in the world,&rdquo; says Mr Echave.  Brent Eccles, who runs Frontier Touring in New Zealand, has so far brought Steely Dan to Vector Arena, and other shows in the pipeline include this weekend&rsquo;s Crowded House concert, Lionel Richie and Justin Timberlake.  &ldquo;The opening of Vector Arena has put Auckland, and New Zealand, on the itinerary of the world&rsquo;s major touring artists,&rdquo; says Mr Eccles.  &ldquo;Judging by the support for events, it&#39;s being well appreciated by the nation&#39;s ticket-buying public,&rdquo; he adds. &ldquo;Six months down the line the success of the Arena is testament to the vision shown, by all those involved in this project from the start,&rdquo; says Mr Ngata.      ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/press-releases/putting-new-zealand-on-the-world-entertainment-map-25-october-2007/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">8EC238E1-C97D-4BA4-B76D-88FF46406D79</guid>
			<pubDate>Thu, 25 Oct 2007 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>REVIEW: Vector Arena, Auckland - 13 October, 2007 - 15 October 2007</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Vector Arena recieves rave review for accessibility.Last night was my first experience with the Auckland City Council&rsquo;s multi-million dollar indoor entertainment venue, the Vector Arena, and I&rsquo;m delighted to report that it was an incredibly positive experience! I was there to see teenagedom idols Linkin Park, who were being supported by Soundgarden and Audioslave frontman Chris Cornell. To be honest, Cornell is a bit before my time, and while the crowd seemed to be enjoying his set, you could tell there was a touch of politeness to it all; they were here to see one band, and one band only. Once the curtains came down and Chester Bennington ripped into the first track off their new album, Minutes to Midnight, it was the beginning of what was to be 90 minutes of earth-shattering, mind-blowing, and any other double-barreled adjective you can think of to describe what was the most intense, most incredible gig of my life. Anyway, onto the more important stuff (hah! I would&rsquo;ve crawled up 100 stairs if I&rsquo;d had to in order to see these guys), the Vector Arena scores a near-perfect 10 when it comes to wheelchair accessibility. For a start, one of the entry doors was clearly marked &ldquo;Disabled Access&rdquo;, which meant we beat the entry queues and got inside literally straight away - fantastic stuff. From there, it&rsquo;s a short walk to the lifts which were manned by a security guard, who calls it down, holds the door for you, and even tells you which button to press (even though there&rsquo;s only two options - Ground and Level 1). You then are presented with another series of easily read, large-print signs with door numbers on them, which match with the one listed on your ticket. Those doors are opened for you, and you enter the - gasp, HUGE - stadium, and guided to your seats. What&rsquo;s neat about the &lsquo;disabled&rsquo; seats is that they seem to operate on a two-wheelchair/one-chair-one-wheelchair pattern, in that you can either go with your buddy who&rsquo;s also in a wheelchair, or an able-bodied friend. I think this is way cool, and gives someone with an impairment the power to choose who they go with, as most venues operate on a chair-gap-chair-gap arrangement. On top of this, the wheelchair area is situated at prime viewing location, to the side of the stage, halfway back, and about halfway up the stands - I couldn&rsquo;t have picked a better spot! The area is bordered by a glass barrier which went up to about my waist - helpful for leaning on and shouldn&rsquo;t restrict viewing ability whatsoever. The toilets - have no doors! Kudos to the people who thought this up. This isn&rsquo;t to say people can see you pee - there are no entry doors, which makes things so much easier - and hygienic! They&rsquo;re well-signposted and plentiful too, and although there was some dickhead in the disabled one so I had to wait a bit, I found them spacious and well set up (gosh listen to me, it sounds like I&rsquo;m describing a hotel room! Sadly there were no complimentary soaps..). Overall, Auckland&rsquo;s Vector Arena well and truly exceeded my expectations in regards to accessibility, and as such, will be awarded my first 5-star rating on this blog so far. I was even able to catch a wheelchair accessible train back to Kingsland at midnight after the gig. Can it get any better?!  Review by Red Nicholson - click here for full article or to comment.]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/review-vector-arena-auckland-13-october-2007/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">64EA6789-8364-4A37-80CB-B5866850315A</guid>
			<pubDate>Mon, 15 Oct 2007 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>LINKIN PARK AND CHRIS CORNELL AT VECTOR ARENA - 12 Oct, 2007 - 12 October 2007</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Linkin Park and Chris Cornell gave a captivating and exhilarating performance on 11 October at Vector Arena.Chris Cornell was selling out stadiums when Linkin Park were still at high school. But it makes sense the two should join forces for their sell-out New Zealand gigs...(for full article click here).]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/linkin-park-and-chris-cornell-at-vector-arena-12-oct-2007/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 12 Oct 2007 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>WAR OF THE WORLDS IN AUCKLAND - 30 Sept, 2007 - 01 October 2007</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The live version of War of the Worlds kept Vector Arena audiences on the edge of their seats.Friday night's performance of the live version of War of the worlds at Vector Arena was sold out...(for the full article click here).]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/war-of-the-worlds-in-auckland-30-sept-2007/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">EF22BD13-DA4D-4D52-B313-741B8320BDE9</guid>
			<pubDate>Mon, 01 Oct 2007 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>STEELY DAN AT VECTOR ARENA - 24 September, 2007 - 24 September 2007</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Steely Dan turned on a wonderful performance on Saturday 22 September with Vector Arena also receiving special praise.It is worthy of mention, after all the controversy that has surrounded the Vector Arena, that the sound was fantastic... (click here for full article)]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/steely-dan-at-vector-arena-24-september-2007/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">36F16ED0-D1FD-407E-BB3A-6A203F3A0246</guid>
			<pubDate>Mon, 24 Sep 2007 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>Frontier Touring announces change of date and THIRD show for Justin Timberlake! - 14 September 2007</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Frontier Touring announces change of date and THIRD show for Justin Timberlake!The Frontier Touring Company wish to advise Justin Timberlake ticket holders of a change of dates to those previously advertised for the Auckland Vector Arena concerts. The New Zealand concerts will now be moved to the end of the FutureSex/ LoveShow Australia and New Zealand Tour for routing reasons. Tickets for Tuesday 23rd October will now be valid for Friday 23rd November. Tickets for Wednesday 24th October will now be valid for Saturday 24th November. Ticket holders do not need to exchange their tickets and their existing seating/ticket type will remain unchanged. Just turn up on the new night! In exciting news, the rerouting of the tour has meant New Zealanders will score one last chance to see Justin Timberlake with a third and final Vector Arena concert now possible on Monday 26 November! Fans have begged for another concert after the first two shows sold out in just minutes. Demand for tickets to the new show is expected to be high! TICKETS TO THE THIRD SHOW ONSALE MONDAY 24 SEPTEMBER at 9am!! Tickets from Ticketmaster online or ph 09 970 9700. NZ audiences really have hit the jackpot this time! Get your tickets straight away &ndash; because this third and final concert will sell out! VECTOR ARENA TOUR DATESMonday 23rd October is NOW Friday 23rd November &ndash; Vector Arena, Auckland Tuesday 24th October is NOW Saturday 24th November &ndash; Vector Arena, Auckland Monday 26 November &ndash; Vector Arena, Auckland &ndash; 3RD &amp; FINAL SHOW For further MEDIA information please contact: Maria Robinson (Publicist) at The Frontier Touring Company (09) 377 4454 or maria@eccles.co.nz  ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/frontier-touring-announces-change-of-date-and-third-show-for-justin-timberlake/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">3A0DA615-7175-4485-8258-8BC045E87793</guid>
			<pubDate>Fri, 14 Sep 2007 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>1 Minute 27 Seconds - Justin Timberlake Sells Out at Vector Arena! August 24, 2007 - 30 August 2007</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[1 Minute 27 Seconds - Justin Timberlake Sells Out at Vector Arena!1 Minute 27 Seconds - Justin Timberlake Sells Out First Show at Vector Arena Vector Arena will be busting at the seams for each of Justin Timberlake&rsquo;s FutureSex/LoveShow concerts. In a blaze of phone lines, flurry of internet purchases and queues of fans at outlets, all tickets for the first show were sold in just over 1 minute! Due to public demand, a second show on the October 24 was put on sale immediately which consequently sold out in just 33 minutes.Accompanied by an 11 piece band and a crack team of dancers, Justin Timberlake will take to the stage with his critically acclaimed show on October 23 and 24.]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/1-minute-27-seconds-justin-timberlake-sells-out-at-vector-arena-august-24-2007/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">C2CA8506-BC46-46CD-90B7-D13EAB63D805</guid>
			<pubDate>Thu, 30 Aug 2007 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>KINGS OF LEON ANNOUNCE SHOW DATE AT VECTOR ARENA - 27 August 2007</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Kings of Leon announce a show date at Vector Arena - 12 January 2008. Tickets go on sale on Monday 17 September.Chugg Entertainment with C4 and ZM are proud to announce the return to New Zealand of Kings of Leon for their first major headline tour. They are the best band to come out of Americain years. They've got the tunes, man. It was the gig of the year. - Noel Gallagher (NME - London Astoria &ndash; 26/2/07)I thought it was beautiful, there's a quality to it that other people don't have. Some people know what to do with music.- Brandon Flowers (NME - London Astoria &ndash; 26/2/07) The Kings of Leon will play at the  Vector Arena in Auckland on Saturday 12th January. Tickets for this show go on-sale to the public on Monday 17th September. The Kings of Leon&rsquo;s highly anticipated major headline tour comes on the back of the huge success of their latest studio album, Because of the Times, and the first single from the record, On Call. All three Kings of Leon albums have now gone Gold in Australia. The second single from the new album, Fans, is already at making an impact after going to radio just last weekend. &quot;I think people tend to expect a certain sound from us,&quot; says Kings of Leon's drummer Nathan Followill, &quot;but on this record, we tried to throw them for a loop.&quot;  Indeed, it's not business as usual on the Nashville-based quartet's ambitious, eclectic new album Because of the Times. Their last release, 2005's Aha Shake Heartbreak, was &quot;a fuzz-encrusted rocket of controlled violence,&quot; as Rolling Stone put it, packed with emphatic two-minute bursts of raunchy guitars, brawny drums, and growled vocals. Because of the Times finds the Followills (brothers Nathan, Caleb, and Jared, and their first cousin Matthew) opening up, relaxing the rules, and revelling in the joys of their newfound musical freedom.&quot;We took the limitations off of ourselves,&quot; says front man/rhythm guitarist Caleb. &quot;We went into the studio with an open mind, thinking let's do whatever it takes to get these songs to the next level. Because we really have a lot of music inside of us and a lot of different places we can go.&quot;Fans include the likes of music icon Bob Dylan, Bono, with both of whom the Kings have toured with in the USA, along with Eddie Vedder, Noel Gallagher &amp; Brandon Flowers. We'll leave the last word with Noel Gallagher - &quot;No one will beat that here, nobody. Who's going to beat that? They've got the tunes, Caleb's got one of the best voices ever &amp; they are a family. You can't f*cking buy that shit man.&quot;Well actually you can&hellip;. tickets are on sale Monday 17th September. For more information check www.chuggentertainment.com  For tour enquiries please contact manolo@xtra.co.nz / 0274436033]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/kings-of-leon-announce-show-date-at-vector-arena/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">8FEC0375-F46C-4D72-BCB0-C17EC137EA57</guid>
			<pubDate>Mon, 27 Aug 2007 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>WAR OF THE WORLDS LIVE ON STAGE IN SEPTEMBER! - 29 June 2007</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[War of the Worlds Live on Stage! in Auckland at the end of September.Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of The Worlds, Live on Stage! is set to land in Auckland&rsquo;s fabulous new arena around the end of September 2007. This staged musical and multimedia production of the classic HG Wells 1898 science fiction story is a once-in-a-lifetime epic extravaganza, out of this world entertainment, unlike anything ever to have hit these shores before. After selling out arenas in the UK in 2006, playing to 100,000 people across England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, New Zealanders will now have the opportunity to witness one of the world&rsquo;s most famous and best-selling recordings of all time, Jeff Wayne&rsquo;s Musical Version of The War of The Worlds, live in a thrilling theatrical and multimedia spectacle, with a brilliant cast, including, 23 years after his death, one of the world&rsquo;s greatest actors, Richard Burton, at the helm &ldquo;in sight and sound&rdquo; as George Herbert, The Journalist. This acclaimed musical event will feature Jeff Wayne conducting the 10-member Black Smoke Band, plus a 40-piece String Orchestra. Set in HG Wells Victorian England, Jeff Wayne&rsquo;s Musical Version of The War of The Worlds brilliantly embodies the tale of Martians invading Earth and their terrifying trail of destruction. Pink Floyd&rsquo;s legendary set designer, Jonathan Park, brings the Martian invasion to life on stage. Included in the massive production are ground-breaking special effects including a 30 foot Martian Fighting Machine firing Heat Rays at the audience, 100 foot wide screens showing cutting-edge CGI-animation and especially created filmed sequences. To top things off the music is mixed live in true surround to heighten the audience&rsquo;s aural experience. Tickets go on sale Monday 9 July at midday Book at Ticketmaster or ph (09) 970 9700 For more information: www.thewaroftheworlds.com.au  www.liveinconcert.co.nz  ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/war-of-the-worlds-live-on-stage-in-september/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 29 Jun 2007 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
		</item> 
		<item>
			<title>VECTOR ARENA MEETS ALL EXPECTATIONS - June 12, 2007 - 12 June 2007</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Vector Arena rises to meet high expectations over a busy weekend!The recent weekend (Friday 8th June &ndash; Sunday 10th June) was bound to be busy with the venue booked for three nights straight, but as the pressure came on Vector Arena demonstrated that it truly is a world class venue. With two very different events filling the weekend, the Benny Hinn Miracle Crusade on Friday and Saturday and the last leg of Pink&rsquo;s &ldquo;I&rsquo;m Not Dead&rdquo; Tour on Sunday, a diverse crowd packed out the bowl and flowed seamlessly around the atrium from the moment the doors opened. The Benny Hinn Miracle Crusade drew a huge crowd to Vector Arena for a full house on Friday and Saturday nights, as well as Saturday morning. With a large number of special needs patrons attending, this event was a great opportunity to put the venues&rsquo; capabilities to the test and attendants left happy as wheelchair bays were effortlessly configured and multiple double door entrances acted to minimise congestion. Organisers of the Crusade were delighted with Vector Arena; finding the staff helpful and thought it exciting to have a venue of this calibre in our part of the world! People flooded in on foot from around the city, many having traveled from out of town, creating a charged atmosphere that carried throughout the weekend. After a quick turn around, Vector Arena was transformed for Pink&rsquo;s final concert on Sunday night. On the last Australasian leg of her sell-out &ldquo;I&rsquo;m Not Dead&rdquo; Tour, Pink put on a high energy show, entertaining the crowd with acrobatics from the ceiling, numerous costume changes and a powerful voice that left no doubt as to why she is one of pops greatest stars. Pink&rsquo;s production crew were thoroughly impressed by the facility and excited that the tour could end on such a great note in Auckland. The venue, full of pink glitter-clad girls, performed as magnificently as expected and by all accounts (from back-of-house to show-going patrons) is a venue befitting all the international acts that will continue to grace its stages. The calendar for the remainder of 2007 sees Vector Arena hosting a diverse range of events; from the Dalai Lama next weekend, to the Silver Ferns playing Australia in the first netball game at the venue, and big name artists to entertain the masses. Vector Arena will continue to draw crowds as Auckland now has a venue that has not only proved it will attract a variety of entertainment to the country, but that the delivery of these events will be first class. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/press-releases/vector-arena-meets-all-expectations-june-12-2007/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 12 Jun 2007 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>GUNS N ROSES ANNOUNCE SECOND SHOW! - April 30 2007 - 30 April 2007</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ Guns n Roses sell out in under an hour and announce second show on Saturday 30 June!  AUCKLAND SHOW SOLD OUT IN UNDER AN HOUR! 2ND SHOW ON SALE AT 1PM TODAY    Tickets for the New Zealand leg of the Guns N&rsquo; Roses Chinese Democracy World went on sale this morning. Fans rushed the box office and tickets for the first show in Auckland sold out in UNDER AN HOUR!  Unprecedented demand means a second and final show on Saturday 30 June has been announced and will go on sale at 1pm today.  Australian promoter Paul Dainty said: &ldquo;We knew the demand was strong as we received an unprecedented number of calls from fans in the lead up to going on sale. The band has not been in New Zealand since 1993 so it&rsquo;s been a long wait to see this legendary band; we expect tickets for the final show will sell out fast.&rdquo;  TICKETS for the second New Zealand show of the Chinese Democracy World Tour are on sale at 1pm today (April 30) through TICKETMASTER.   NEW ZEALAND TOUR DATES   Friday 29 June (SOLD OUT) &ndash; VECTOR ARENA AUCKLAND Saturday 30 June &ndash; VECTOR ARENA AUCKLAND   TICKETS ON SALE AT 1PM TODAY THROUGH ALL TICKETMASTER OUTLETS, VECTOR ARENA BOX OFFICE Phone (09) 970 9700 or go to TICKETMASTER           ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/media-and-gig-reviews/guns-n-roses-announce-second-show-april-30-2007/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 30 Apr 2007 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>DANIEL BEDINGFIELD JOINS STELLAR LINE-UP ON APRIL 19! - April 13 2007 - 16 April 2007</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ Daniel Bedingfield joins stellar line-up for Official Opening!  VECTOR ARENA proudly announces that New Zealand-born pop star Daniel Bedingfield will celebrate the opening of the country&#39;s newest asset.  Daniel -- who&#39;s hits include Get Thru This, James Dean, If You&#39;re Not The One, I Can&#39;t Read You, Never Gonna Leave Your Side and Friday -- will join a stellar line-up of iconic New Zealand artists next Thursday, April 19.  Master of ceremonies, New Zealand Idol judge and showbiz veteran Frankie Stevens will be joined on stage by Goldenhorse, Che Fu, Ray Columbus, Dinah Lee, Don McGlashan, Sir Howard Morrison, Hollie Smith, Frankie Stevens, Aaradhna and Yulia.  &quot;It will be the biggest party in New Zealand for just $30,&quot; says Vector Arena Chief Executive Bruce Mactaggart (subs: crct).  &quot;Never before has this level of entertainment been offered in New Zealand under the one roof at such an affordable price. We want everyone to come and party with us, to come and enjoy our wonderful new facility.&quot;   Tickets to Vector Arena&#39;s Official Opening party are on sale with Ticketmaster. Tickets for reserved seating areas are just $30.  A limited number of corporate tables are also being sold to this history-making celebration. Corporates will attend a black tie function, partake in dinner by award-winning chef Warwick Brown (Mikano, Cin Cin), enjoy beverages, receive a souvenir booklet and have their &quot;mind blown&quot; by a 90-minute gala. For more details, contact Jessica Milne 09 3581250 or email jmilne@vectorarena.co.nz.  The dazzling gala, involving more than 280 entertainers and featuring some big-name international and local acts together with the Vector Wellington Orchestra, is being created by Stan Wolfgramm -- artistic director/producer best known for his work on Westfield Style Pasifika. The event&rsquo;s Executive Producer is Barry Newman, Australasia&#39;s foremost events producer who has masterminded some of Australia&#39;s biggest events and worked with some of the world&#39;s hottest acts. The pair will lead a talented team of New Zealand producers to deliver a world-class event.  Money raised during the night will benefit the Salvation Army.  Mr Mactaggart says the celebrations will be world-class -- befitting this world-class facility.  &quot;There will be surprises from around the world,&quot; says Mr Mactaggart. &quot;People will see things that we&#39;ve never seen before in New Zealand. Pyrotechnics and acts that have only ever been seen in cities like New York or London will be staged on opening night.  &quot;Now we have this wonderful new facility, we are able to enjoy entertainment at a new level. These celebrations will be at a remarkably high quality with no expense or energy spared. It will be best in class.&quot;  Mr Mactaggart says that general admission prices have deliberately been kept low, due to the generosity of sponsors, so opening night can be enjoyed by everyone. &quot;This is a people&#39;s building and we want all New Zealanders to embrace it as their own. It is a marvellous new asset not only for Auckland but for all of the country.&quot;  Mr Mactaggart says already the arena is changing the landscape of entertainment in New Zealand.  &quot;We have some more very exciting announcements to make in the next few days about acts that would not have contemplated coming here before Vector Arena. This is a new dawn for New Zealand.&quot;  For more information on Vector Arena, visit www.vectorarena.co.nz     _______________________________________   Daniel Bedingfield bio: Snapshot  Daniel was born in New Zealand and moved to the UK when he was a child. After his song &quot;Gotta Get Thru This&quot; (which he recorded in his bedroom) gathered momentum on white label, surprisingly through the underground garage music scene, it went on to become a #1 hit in the UK Top 40 in December 2001. He has since had 2 more #1 singles (&quot;If You&#39;re Not The One&quot; and &quot;Never Gonna Leave Your Side&quot;), as well as three further top 10 hits. His debut album, also titled Gotta Get Thru This, reached #2 in the UK albums chart and went on to sell more than 3 million copies. In 2003 he appeared on the Delirious? album World Service, singing guest backing vocals on &quot;Every Little Thing&quot;. On New Year&#39;s Day 2004, Beddingfield nearly lost his life in a severe car accident while visiting his parents in New Zealand. As a result, he was left with serious head and neck injuries from which he took six months to recover. He was subsequently signed to Polydor Records and has been one of their most successful artists in recent years. As well as critical acclaim, he won a BRIT Award in 2004 for Best British Male Artist http://www.danielbedingfield.com ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/press-releases/daniel-bedingfield-joins-stellar-line-up-on-april-19-april-13-2007/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 16 Apr 2007 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>HEADLINE ACTS ANNOUNCED - April 12 2007 - 12 April 2007</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ Headline acts announced GOLDENHORSE, CHE FU, YULIA, AARADHNA, DINAH LEE ... AND MORE!  GOLDENHORSE, CHE FU, YULIA, AARADHNA, DINAH LEE ... AND MORE AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE VECTOR ARENA  VECTOR ARENA is proud to announce the first of a dazzling line-up of artists signed to celebrate the opening of New Zealand&#39;s newest asset next week.  Goldenhorse, Che Fu, Ray Columbus, Dinah Lee, Don McGlashen, Sir Howard Morrison, Hollie Smith, Frankie Stevens, Aaradhna and Yulia will be entertain the masses expected to join the party on Thursday, April 19.  &quot;It will be the biggest party in New Zealand for just $30,&quot; says Vector Arena Chief Executive Bruce Mactaggart (subs: crct).  &quot;There&#39;ll be even more surprises as we reveal all the names of artists performing and appearing at this once-in-a-lifetime celebration,&quot; he says. &quot;Never before has this level of entertainment been offered in New Zealand under the one roof at such an affordable price. We want everyone to come and party with us, to come and enjoy our wonderful new facility.&quot;  Tickets to Vector Arena&#39;s Official Opening party on Thursday, April 19 are on sale with Ticketmaster www.ticketmaster.co.nz. Tickets for reserved seating areas are just $30.  A limited number of corporate tables are also being sold to this history-making celebration. Corporates will attend a black tie function, partake in dinner by award-winning chef Warwick Brown (Mikano, Cin Cin), enjoy beverages, receive a souvenir booklet and have their &quot;mind blown&quot; by a 90-minute gala. For more details, contact Jessica Milne 09 3581250 or email jmilne@vectorarena.co.nz.  The dazzling gala, involving more than 280 entertainers and featuring some big-name international and local acts together with the Vector Wellington Orchestra, is being created by Stan Wolfgramm -- artistic director/producer best known for his work on Westfield Style Pasifika. The event&rsquo;s Executive Producer is Barry Newman, Australasia&#39;s foremost events producer who has masterminded some of Australia&#39;s biggest events and worked with some of the world&#39;s hottest acts. The pair will lead a talented team of New Zealand producers to deliver a world-class event.  Money raised during the night will benefit the Salvation Army.  Mr Mactaggart says the celebrations will be world-class -- befitting this world-class facility.  &quot;There will be surprises from around the world,&quot; says Mr Mactaggart. &quot;People will see things that we&#39;ve never seen before in New Zealand. Pyrotechnics and acts that have only ever been seen in cities like New York or London will be staged on opening night.  &quot;Now we have this wonderful new facility, we are able to enjoy entertainment at a new level. These celebrations will be at a remarkably high quality with no expense or energy spared. It will be best in class.&quot;  Mr Mactaggart says that general admission prices have deliberately been kept low, due to the generosity of sponsors, so opening night can be enjoyed by everyone. &quot;This is a people&#39;s building and we want all New Zealanders to embrace it as their own. It is a marvellous new asset not only for Auckland but for all of the country.&quot;  Mr Mactaggart says already the arena is changing the landscape of entertainment in New Zealand.  &quot;We have some more very exciting announcements to make in the next few days about acts that would not have contemplated coming here before Vector Arena. This is a new dawn for New Zealand.&quot;  For more information on Vector Arena, visit www.vectorarena.co.nz      ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/press-releases/headline-acts-announced-april-12-2007/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Thu, 12 Apr 2007 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE VECTOR ARENA - APRIL 3 2007 - 10 April 2007</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ Vector Arena will officially open its doors with a spectacular show on April 19.  &quot;ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME DAZZLING SPECTACULAR&quot;  Join the party on April 19!  A dazzling evening of entertainment and glitz, featuring international and New Zealand artists, together with spectacular pyrotechnics, will welcome the arrival of New Zealand&#39;s newest asset, Vector Arena.  Tickets to Vector Arena&#39;s Official Opening party on Thursday, April 19 will go on sale this Wednesday, April 4, with Ticketmaster www.ticketmaster.co.nz. Tickets for reserved seating areas are just $30.  A limited number of corporate tables are also being sold to this once-in-a-lifetime, history-making celebration. Corporates will attend a black tie function, partake in dinner by award-winning chef Warwick Brown (Mikano, Cin Cin), enjoy beverages, receive a souvenir booklet and have their &quot;mind blown&quot; by a 90-minute gala. For more details, contact Jessica Milne 09 3581250 or email jmilne@vectorarena.co.nz.  The dazzling gala, involving more than 280 entertainers and featuring some big-name international and local acts together with the Vector Wellington Orchestra, is being created by Stan Wolfgramm -- artistic director/producer best known for his work on Westfield Style Pasifika. Consulting for the event is Australasia&#39;s foremost events producer Barry Newman who has masterminded some of Australia&#39;s biggest events and worked with some of the world&#39;s hottest acts. The pair will lead a talented team of New Zealand producers to deliver a world-class event.  Money raised during the night will benefit the Salvation Army.  While guests, celebrities and dignitaries arrive via the red carpet, a feast of entertainment will erupt on the forecourt of this $80 million venue.  Chief Executive Bruce Mactaggart (subs: crct) says the celebrations will be world-class -- befitting this world-class facility.  &quot;There will be surprises from around the world,&quot; says Mr Mactaggart. &quot;People will see things that we&#39;ve never seen before in New Zealand. Pyrotechnics and acts that have only ever been seen in cities like New York or London will be staged on opening night.  &quot;Now we have this wonderful new facility, we are able to enjoy entertainment at a new level. These celebrations will be at a remarkably high quality with no expense or energy spared. It will be best in class.&quot;  Mr Mactaggart says that general admission prices have deliberately been kept low, due to the generosity of sponsors, so opening night can be enjoyed by everyone. &quot;This is a people&#39;s building and we want all New Zealanders to embrace it as their own. It is a marvellous new asset not only for Auckland but for all of the country.&quot;  Mr Mactaggart says already the arena is changing the landscape of entertainment in New Zealand.  &quot;We have some very exciting announcements to make in the near future about acts that would not have contemplated coming here before Vector Arena. This is a new dawn for New Zealand.&quot;  For more information on Vector Arena, visit www.vectorarena.co.nz    ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/press-releases/official-opening-of-the-vector-arena-april-3-2007/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 10 Apr 2007 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>FIRST FOR VECTOR ARENA AS ROCKSTAR SUPERNOVA SIGN OFF - MARCH 28 2007 - 02 April 2007</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[First for Vector Arena as Rockstar Supernova sign off.Rockstar Supernova signed off their recent world tour with a great final concert in Auckland, New Zealand. While it was the end of this tour for the band, it was just the beginning for New Zealand&rsquo;s glittering new entertainment showcase, Vector Arena. The concert was the first public event for the new 12,000 seat arena and was judged by all to be an outstanding success. Vector Arena CEO, Bruce Mactaggart said: &ldquo;It was wonderful to see the Arena open for business and the response from the band, the production team and the public has been just fantastic.&rdquo; Following this initial outing, the Vector Arena will be officially opened with an in-house produced gala spectacular featuring over 250 local and international performers on April 19, immediately followed by two sell out concerts of the Red Hot Chili Peppers on April 21 and 22&hellip;.ENDS ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/press-releases/first-for-vector-arena-as-rockstar-supernova-sign-off-march-28-2007/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 02 Apr 2007 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>VECTOR ARENA ANNOUNCES PUBLIC OPEN DAY SUNDAY MARCH 18 2007 - 09 March 2007</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[For the first time, on Sunday March 18th, Vector Arena, the entertainment hub of the Pacific, will open its doors to the general public. The doors will be open from noon until 4pm.For the first time, on Sunday March 18th, Vector Arena, the entertainment hub of the Pacific, will open its doors to the general public. The doors will be open from noon until 4pm.  This invitation is a unique and free opportunity for the public to visit Vector Arena and experience the extraordinary features of New Zealand&rsquo;s largest, multi-purpose, indoor, all weather arena which will be home to the cream of world sports and entertainment.  An exclusive Vector Arena passport will be distributed to all guests and will be stamped at key locations. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to explore and have access to areas that will normally be off limits to the general public.  The public will be able to tour the Arena&rsquo;s back of house areas and visit a VIP dressing room as well as the Green Room, to see where the top performers relax and unwind.  All areas will feature items or displays that will replicate exactly what it&rsquo;s like when an event is on, from dressing rooms to the load-in areas for production equipment, VIP hospitality rooms, the panoramic and stylish Bistro Arena and the many food &amp; beverage outlets.  There will even be an opportunity for people to go into the arena bowl and perform on the stage - a unique chance to experience 15 seconds of fame!  Throughout the day, visitors will learn of the many design elements and unique, sophisticated construction features that make Vector Arena such a special entertainment venue. The public will also be able to learn about the significance of the Arena&rsquo;s artwork and the connection with the Ngati Whatua iwi and the land on which Vector Arena is situated.  The public open day is a chance for people to personally experience the magnificent Vector Arena - what it will mean to them and how it will benefit Auckland and New Zealand.  There is no public parking located on site at Vector Arena however, more than 7,000 short term car parks are within a 1.5km radius from Vector Arena.  Vector Arena is close enough to Auckland&rsquo;s City centre to allow visitors to walk or catch the Link Bus or free City Circuit bus. Britomart Railway station is an easy 5 minute walk, the downtown ferry terminal is a 10 minute walk and most buses into the CBD come within a 10 minute walk to the Arena. The Link Bus stops virtually at the door of Vector Arena.  As a large number of visitors are expected to attend the public open day, Mahuhu Crescent and Te Taou Crescent will be closed from 11am until 4.30pm. Traffic Control will be on site to assist. This closure applies to all except residents and authorised and emergency vehicles. ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/press-releases/vector-arena-announces-public-open-day-sunday-march-18-2007/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 09 Mar 2007 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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			<title>VECTOR ARENA THE ENTERTAINMENT HUB OF THE PACIFIC TO OPEN MARCH 2007 - February 19th 2007 - 18 February 2007</title>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ Auckland, February 19 2007 - Vector Arena management company, QPAM Ltd, is excited to announce that Vector Arena will open for its initial public events in March 2007.         VECTOR ARENA THE ENTERTAINMENT HUB OF THE PACIFIC TO OPEN MARCH 2007     Media Release 19th Feb 2007      Auckland, February 19th 2007 - Vector Arena management company, QPAM Ltd, is excited to announce that Vector Arena will open for its initial public events in March 2007.  Vector Arena, is New Zealand&rsquo;s largest multi-purpose indoor entertainment and sports complex. The world-class arena will provide event facilities previously unavailable which will attract the cream of world sports and entertainment.  Proudly funded and developed by Auckland City Council in conjunction with QPAM Ltd, the Vector Arena is on course to change the entertainment landscape in New Zealand.  The opening dates were announced by Vector Arena Chief Executive, Bruce Mactaggart, who also confirmed the sensational Rock Star Supernova band is already on sale and confirmed to play Vector Arena, Saturday, March 24th.  Bruce Mactaggart, said this is an exciting time as Vector Arena is, from today, able to confirm bookings for a range of international events.  &ldquo;As the entertainment hub of the Pacific, Vector Arena changes the dynamic of bringing entertainment to Australia and New Zealand. That&rsquo;s an exciting prospect for all New Zealanders,&rdquo; he said.  With a seating capacity of over 12,000, the multi-purpose indoor arena, located in downtown Auckland is a state of the art venue for events ranging from rock concerts to classical performances, international sporting events such as netball, gymnastics, and, ice hockey as well as conferences and exhibitions.  Along with large-scale concerts and events, the arena can also operate as a lyric theatre or intimate concert venue by sectioning off the floor area to maintain intimacy, providing a perfect performance space for smaller audiences.  &ldquo;That capability will set new standards for the type of events staged both in Auckland city and in this country,&rdquo; says Mr Mactaggart. &ldquo;Vector Arena has been designed to offer great depth and diversity of entertainment.&rdquo;  With a state of the art kitchen and a superb grand atrium Vector Arena has 5 star hotel catering and banquet facilities available. From a small elegant cocktail party for 50 in Bistro Arena Balcony Suite to a sit down black tie dinner for 2000, Vector Arena is perfect for any function or corporate event. A full suite of hospitality options are available.  In addition to banquets and formal occasions during events, Bistro Arena will provide exceptional food and a full range of beverages seven days a week. With this capability the food and beverage outlets are able to provide a menu for all tastes - from popcorn and hotdogs, to sushi and champagne.  With stunning design, panoramic city views, and, internationally acclaimed Chef, Warwick Brown, at the helm, Bistro Arena is an enviable place to relax and dine even when events are not being staged in Vector Arena.  As naming rights sponsor, Vector is proud to be associated with this world class entertainment venue.  &quot;This is a key piece of infrastructure - not only for the Auckland region but for New Zealand. This facility will contribute enormously to the arts, sport and business communities nationwide. We are confident it will be a source of great pride for us all,&quot; said Vector CEO Mark Franklin.  Vector owns and manages a range of energy and technology assets which touch more than a million New Zealand homes and businesses.  The development of Vector Arena is a key action from Auckland City&rsquo;s CBD Into the Future strategy - a 10-year action plan to transform Auckland&rsquo;s CBD into one of the world&rsquo;s most vibrant and dynamic business and cultural centres. It also links with Auckland City&rsquo;s events strategy, as a significant venue with the capacity, facilities and operational flexibility to support large community events, international sports and entertainment events.  The land owner, local Maori Iwi, Ngati Whatua o Orakei have worked in close collaboration with QPAM Ltd to ensure all artistic elements and architecture of the building pay tribute to the legacy left by their elders and the people of Ngati Whatua.  The symbolism of Celestial Lines in the entrance area pays homage to the skills of ancient navigators who charted constellation systems, ocean currents, wave trends and island locations while exploring the vastness of the South Pacific. Indoors, the beautiful columns are in essence the heartbeat, life support and soul of the Vector Arena.  Today Ngati Whatua o Orakei are, keen and integral supporters, of Vector Arena.  Located in the heart of Auckland city, alongside the heritage railway station building at Quay Park, Parnell, Vector Arena is within easy walking distance of Auckland&rsquo;s CBD and all major public transport hubs; Britomart railway station &amp; bus terminal and the downtown ferry terminal.  In support of Auckland City Council&rsquo;s policy of encouraging people to come to the city centre by public transport, no general public parking is available on site. However, more than 7,000 car parks are located within 1.5km of Vector Arena and over 4,000 hotel beds within a short 2km radius  The official Vector Arena opening is scheduled for April 19th 2007. Further information on this ceremony and other exciting news, including a public open day, will be announced shortly.  Tickets for all Vector Arena events are available for purchase from Ticketmaster: www.ticketmaster.co.nz  Vector Arena opening March 2007, a world class arena for world class shows and events.  ******************************************************************************************************* www.vectorarena.co.nz    ]]>
			</description>
			<link>https://www.sparkarena.co.nz/press-releases/vector-arena-the-entertainment-hub-of-the-pacific-to-open-march-2007-february-19th-2007/</link>
			<author>info@sparkarena.co.nz(Spark Arena)</author>
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			<pubDate>Sun, 18 Feb 2007 00:00:00 +1200</pubDate>
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