A Huge Lineup Has Been Announced for Auckland Council's Openair Music and Film Series

Auckland Council's much-loved entertainment series returns for 2018 with a bumper program of 50 free openair events. From January 13 to March 31, sibling events Music and Movies in Parks will see 24 gigs and 26 movies play out under the stars of Tamaki Makaurau.

For its 25th year, more than 70 musical acts will assemble on stages across the city's regional parks and reserves. Highlights on the schedule include rock festival Rock in the Park at Grey Lynn Park on March 10. A record number of horn-throwing Aucklanders turned out for the event in 2016 and 2017 and next year will likely be no different with energetic rock 'n' roll band The Datsuns coming out of the shadows to lead the bill alongside Head Like A Hole, Villainy and Dead Favours.

Manukau Sports Bowl will play host to the Summer Jam on Saturday 10 February with performances from Stan Walker, Jessica Mauboy, Smashproof, Swiss, SWIDT and Tomorrow People, while the contemporary chamber orchestra Blackbird Ensemble will take over Pakuranga's Bell Park with special guests including Julia Deans and Bailey Wiley. Further acts performing throughout the series include: Suzy Cato, Miloux, Randa, Jordan Luck Band, Latinaotearoa, Mel Parsons, among plenty of others.

While free movie nights are abundant across the city, the annual Movies in Parks series brings cinema to the leafy suburbs. As per usual the event arrives with a curated selection of big ticket new releases and old favourites. On the bill for 2017 is Taika Waititi's Boy and Hunt for the Wilderpeople, When Harry Met Sally, Back to the Future, La La Land, Wonder Woman, Spider-Man: Homecoming and Moana. The series will conclude on March 30-31 with two top secret screenings at Pt England Reserve and Birkenhead's Harvey Wright Park.

Visit the Movies in Parks and Music in Parks websites for more information.

Image: Auckland Council.