At the centre of it, it’s about us, the Rotorua community.
“I go back to the joy that I felt as a young boy seeing live entertainment, and it’s just stayed with me that this is part of who we are and what we’re good at - entertainment. “We’ve seen the event as an incredible one for enriching the fabric of Rotorua. Photo / Stephen ParkerĮdward lists some of the networks of local people involved in various tasks - erecting the stage, scaffolding, electricians, people marking the grounds and rubbish collection. The show featured the Auckland Philarmonia Orchestra, the winners of the Lockwood Aria, Sir Howard Morrison, Patricia Payne, Tim Beveridge and Ngāti Rangiwewehi. The formation of Lakeside started, Rotorua Trust - which has funded the concert every year for 25 years - contributed half of the $200,000 funding needed, and additional funders were approached for support.Įxcitement filled the city in March 1997 ahead of what was billed as “Rotorua’s biggest-ever free outdoor concert”. It struck Edward that through relationships formed with the country’s top performers at the aria, they could create an outdoor concert that was based on the types of occasions he experienced as a youngster going to the Soundshell.īetter still, it provided locals with an opportunity to hear top quality national and international acts free of charge - something out of reach for many residents. The idea for Lakeside came about through Edward’s involvement with the annual Lockwood Aria, a prestigious singing competition that continues to this day. Photo / Stephen ParkerĮdward, now aged 73, remembers fondly families going to the famous Soundshell concerts at Rotorua’s Lakefront and being entertained during the Christmas period. The Rotorua Soundshell was abuzz in its heyday but it was demolished in 2019 as part of the new Lakefront development.
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