Top Acts Star In NZ Earthquake Benefit

Top New Zealand acts Dave Dobbyn, Bic Runga, Opshop, The Feelers, J Williams, The Exponents, Anika Moa and Dane Rumble will play a benefit for the victims of the Sept. 4 earthquake in Canterbury.

Pulled together by promoter Paul Ellis and Opshop frontman Jason Kerrison, “Band Together” will happen Oct. 23 in the city’s 100,000-capacity Hagley Park, and broadcast live on TV3.

The earthquake, the country’s worst disaster in 70 years, damaged music venues, recording studios and record stores.

Venue operator Vbase CEO Bryan Pearson said that the four venues it operates in the city – AMI Stadium, CBS Canterbury Arena, the Christchurch Convention Centre and the Christchurch Town Hall for Performing Arts – were fully operational a week later.

Metallica promoter Michael Coppel Presents gave away 300 tickets to emergency service and cleanup volunteers for the band’s Sept. 21-22 shows at Canterbury Arena.