It has been announced this morning that the St James Theatre in Auckland will re-open on May 2, eight years since it was shut down in 2007 after a small electrical fire raised concerns about safety.
The beloved theatre has been sorely missed by audiences and musicians alike, so the news that it has now been restored will be met with great delight.
To celebrate the opening, a special night of festivities has been planned. Local world-dance act Weird Together will headline the "Weird Night Out", with P-Money, The Peacekeepers, MC Tali, High Hoops, Kamandi, Race Banyon, Thomston, and Azbo also performing.
They're promising a carnival-like atmosphere to mark the occasion, which will also double as a key event to open NZ Music Month.
Steve Bielby, who is the principal trustee for the Auckland Notable Properties Trust, and has been instrumental in working to get the St James re-opened, is excited to finally have live music back in the venue.