Pretties wow Tail of the Fish

'Fly My Pretties' kicked off their Homeland Tour 2013 with an awesome concert at Kaitaia's Te Ahu on Thursday night. An audience of around 400 young and old, from all walks of life, enjoyed a slick, professional performance from Anika Moa, Mel Parsons, Ria Hall, Barnaby Weir, Jarney Murphy, Kara Gordon, Louis McDonald, Mark Vanilau, Mike Fabulous, Nigel Patterson, Ryan Prebble and Shaun Blackwell.

Local teenager Paris Nelesini opened the biggest performance Te Ahu (or what was once the Far North Community Centre) has ever seen, to a rousing reception. She delivered three songs (a cover and two of her own), performing the last with Black Seeds musicians Jarney Murphy, Mike Fabulous and Nigel Patterson.

The two-hour concert comprised two acts with an intermission, each song being accompanied with a backdrop of video images projected on to a screen, enhancing the songs and giving the performance an ethereal quality. The images included photographs from the Far North's gumdigging and kauri felling days, as well as beautiful nature scenes and star-lit skies.

Anika Moa was on fire, embracing her Maori side, speaking te reo and chatting with the audience, which included some of her 'cuzzie bros' (she has whanau in Kaitaia). She also debuted unreleased singles, so the audience in Kaitaia were the first to hear them.

Ria Hall displayed her magnificent voice and dance skills. Mark Vinalau delivered an awesome number that was very reminiscent of black soul music, with Hall and Moa back-up singing and dancing.

Barnaby Weir couldn't stop praising how welcoming and helpful Kaitaia had been to the band during their week-long stay, and how they were "so honoured" to be opening their national tour in Kaitaia.

"It's so cool to start our tour at the Tail of the Fish," he said.

It only took a few songs to get most of the audience dancing in the aisles, the majority clearly being thoroughly impressed judging by the social media images and comments:

Helen Cossey - "Was an awesome show - so fab to have had you all up here in Kaitaia to start the tour!!"

Juicee Brown - "We LOVED it was the best concert we've had in Kaitaia in ages. Make sure at yr other concerts you leave room to boogie. It's too hard to sit and watch but of course we created our own dance floor. Thanks for including us in your tour it rocked."

Leanne Grigg - "Such an awesome show last night!! Thanks so much for coming to K town! LOVED IT!!!"

Carolyn Taueki Stott - "The best night! Couldn't stop dancing!"

Ashlee Grigg - "Had such an awesome night! Thanks for coming to Kaitaia!!"