Poi E hits London

Tu Tangata, Issue 23, 1 April 1985, Page 30

Poi E hits London

John Barr

“I don’t care what hall we’re in, it’s the same if we’re singing in a tent. Once you get on stage the adrenalin does the rest.” The hall that Sid Kahu was talking

about was the prestigious Queen Elizabeth Hall on the banks of the river Thames. Patea Maori Club were in town. Poi E had come to London! Backstage before the show Five Hundred generated more excitment than the audience outside. . . and I still reckon Sam was cheating! Liz Matiaha

put the finishing touches to a costume and out in the corridor Joe and Sean went over the break dance routine. “Where’s a good cheap place to eat after the show?” Big turn was more important than big time and the kids were more worried about the tour manager’s missing dog than they were about first night nerves. “Hey you guys, Queen Elizabeth Hall is an important venue in London. A festival of Hayden’s music was staged here last weekend.” “Yea Yea, great,. . . but did you find your dog?”

Sleeping bags on the floor, Five Hundred around the table, and a search for the missing dog,. . . no first night nerves here. “Appearing on Breakfast Television was OK. Not bad for London. And didn’t we make the front page back home after the Blue Peter Show? A good tour so far and so many Kiwis in London that it’s really difficult to feel homesick.” And the performance that night. .. Well Poi E knocked the audience over, so professional, and we did find a cheap place to eat afterwards!