Don McGlashan, SJD and Nadia Reid to play Silo Acoustic Sessions, February Films and Silo Park Slugger

This just in from the folks at Silo Park…

2017 sees Silo Park’s community of good times continuing, with a stellar Silo Sessions lineup on 28 January, and the launch of the Silo Park Produce Market on Sunday afternoons. An eclectic mix of films will feature in February, as well as the Silo Park Slugger outdoor baseball cages, and more colourful characters lined up to read for Silo Stories.  Live music has always been a large part of the summer calendar at Silo Park, and this season is no exception. Silo Sessions launched Season 6 in December with a heart-warming and crowd-pleasing performance from Patea Māori Club, now continuing into 2017 on Saturday 28 January.

January’s edition combines a mix of solo and acoustic sets from some of New Zealand’s favourite musicians, making for a not-to-be-missed afternoon out. Composer, singer and multi-instrumentalist, Don McGlashan needs no introduction and will play an acoustic set of songs many are familiar with. SJD (Sean James Donnelly) is known for producing elegant and cerebral music, and his eclectic mix of indie/electro/pop in a solo format will have toes tapping. Nadia Reid is a rising talent in the local music scene, and her soulful, folk-tinged sound will add to the relaxing atmosphere at Silo Park. And last but not least, up-and-coming Auckland duo Alae will be making their Silo Park debut, pegged as one to watch.

The Silo Park Produce Market is an exciting addition to Sunday afternoons, with fruit and veg, coffee and baked goods. Commencing on Sunday 22 January, and running from 12pm – 3pm, it’s a market for visitors and inner-city inhabitants that will be easy and accessible. There’s no doubt this afternoon market will prove popular with those who miss the regular Sunday produce markets in favour of a sleep-in.

Fridays at Silo Park continue to be a popular night out for young and old, tourists, visitors and local Aucklanders from all walks of life. Starting at 5pm each week with food trucks, the Silo Park Bar, DJs and the Silo Night Markets, as well as the free Silo Cinema screening each week at 9pm. The February films are a continuation of Season 6’s diverse programming, showcasing feature films, nostalgia, family flicks and world cinema:

• 3 February it’s Taika Waititi’s adventure comedy, Hunt For The Wilderpeople. Defiant city kid Ricky gets a fresh start in the New Zealand countryside, with Aunt Bella, cantankerous Uncle Hec, and dog Tupac. When tragedy strikes, Ricky and Hec go on the run, and as a national manhunt ensues, the outlaws must decide whether to go out in a blaze of glory or overcome their stick together.
• 10 February is another edition of World Cinema, this time curated by the African Film Festival, New Zealand. Silo Park will showcase Mauritanian director Abderrahmane Sissako’s international arthouse favourite Timbuktu. A cattle herder and his family, living peacefully in the dunes of Timbuktu, suddenly find their quiet lives abruptly disturbed.  The regime of terror, imposed by the Jihadists, catches up with Kidane and his family, in this stunningly rendered film from a master of world cinema.
• 14 February is a special midweek screening of The Princess Bride, continuing the Silo Park Valentine’s Day tradition. Robin Wright and Cary Elwes star in this fairytale adventure, about a beautiful princess and the gallant hero who rescues her from an evil villain. Directed by Rob Reiner, this enchanting classic is the perfect Valentine’s Day date.
• 17 February is a baseball flick in celebration of Silo Park Slugger, with the family drama Field Of Dreams. When a corn farmer in Iowa starts hearing voices, he interprets them as a command to build a baseball diamond in his fields. He does, and the Chicago White Sox come. A mix of fairy tale, baseball, and family togetherness, starring Kevin Costner, James Earl Jones and Ray Liotta,
• 24 February is the 1981 box-office hit, The Gods Must Be Crazy. Set in the Kalahari Desert, this is the story of a Bushman and a Coca-Cola bottle. Dropped from a passing plane, the foreign object causes fighting amongst the villagers, until the tribal leader decides it must be returned. His journey to the “end of the world” has him crossing paths with a bumbling scientist, a band of guerrillas and hilarious encounters with modern civilisation.

There will be baseball in the park from next Wednesday 18 January, through till Sunday 19 February, with Silo Park Slugger (Wed, Thu, Fri: 4-8pm and Sat, Sun: 12-8pm). Two outdoor baseball cages will be set up, one for batting and one for pitching, thanks  to Baseball New Zealand, The Fieldhouse and Wynyard Quarter. For $2 anyone will be able to step up to the plate and knock it out of the park, or kick back in the mini-grandstand and root for the home team.

Silo Stories is back, starting again this Sunday from 1 – 2pm, with Spike Milligan’s Badjelly The Witch, read by Captain Festus McBoyle. On Sunday 22nd Jason Fa’afoi will be reading a selection of Kiwi classics and playing his ukulele. And the final Sunday in January, back by popular demand, is Mikey Havoc reading Roald Dahl’s Fantastic Mr Fox. In February Miss Lucy, The Young Ocean Explorers and other special guests will also be joining the Silo Stories cast and crew.
Silo Park is all about community, fostering collaboration and celebrating the culturally rich and diverse city of Auckland  for locals and visitors alike. Brought to you by Panuku Development Auckland and Fresh Concept, Silo Park is Auckland’s biggest backyard this summer – a place where people can come together, contribute and collaborate to the community of good times.