Rezonation Choir of St Cuthberts perform at A Strange Day's Night, Auckland Town Hall Photo: Andre Upston
The Beatles at Wellington Airport during their New Zealand tour Photo: Morrie Hill courtesy ATL
On the June 24th and 25th 1964, four young men – probably the four most famous young men in the world at that time – took to the stage in Auckland Town Hall to perform.
Fifty years to the day and on the exact same stage, the Play It Strange Trust celebrated those appearances by the Beatles by hosting two concerts of music by the Liverpudlians.
For A Strange Days Night the trust invited some established musicians along, including Tim Finn, Mike and Geoff Chunn and Eddie Rayner all ex Split Enz, Jason Kerrison (Op Shop), Rikki Morris (Tex Pistol), Fiona McDonald (Headless Chickens, Straw People), but in accordance with the trust’s main purpose – to encourage the development of song-writing skills in young New Zealanders – they also feature non-established musicians.
RNZ was there to record the two nights with the support of the RNZ Concert Trust, and here are the highlights, including several Beatle favourites, Let It Be, Norwegian Wood, Here Comes the Sun, Come Together, Ticket To Ride, Taxman and While My Guitar Gently Weeps.
A Strange Day's Night: Here Comes The Sun
A Strange Day's Night: Here Comes The Sun Audio
A Strange Day's Night: I Wanna Hold Your Hand Medley
I Wanna Hold Your Hand / Drive My Car/ Norwegian Wood / Across The Universe / All You Need Is Love / Give Peace A Chance.
Rezonation Choir (St Cuthberts). Audio
A Strange Days Night recorded live at the Auckland Town Hall June 2014 by engineer Andre Upston for RNZ Music.
