Going West Gala Night

Always a sellout, Going West’s traditional centrepiece presents a celebration of ideas, oratory and performance. This year’s Gala Night promises to match the best of the past in an enhanced theatrical setting — the heritage listed Glen Eden Playhouse, a spectacular Edwardian building with great public transport access.

With a new, hard-hitting book traversing his Navy-barracks upbringing, the Fijian-born Daren Kamali will be joined by percussionist Levani Vosasi; the Tongan/Aotearoa poet Karlo Mila will perform her politically charged work; and award–winning journalist Simon Wilson will address the theme of Stranded in Paradise.

Singer-songwriter Charlotte Yates will stage a significant literary/musical performance, traversing her four standout albums of New Zealand poetry-to-song. She will be accompanied by multi-instrumentalist extraordinaire Show Pony and stunning songstress, Julia Deans.

The evening will be MCed by Pīta Turei and linking it all will be the Aotearoa-exclusive beats of DJ Sandy Mill.