NZPA COMMITTEE
Layton Lillas
President Showcase Entertainment Group Ltd’s Layton Lillas has promoted and worked with entertainment that has ranged from small New Zealand country pubs to London’s Royal Albert Hall. Since 2007 the company has grown to promote shows in over 100 Theatre and Concert Hall venues in both Australia and New Zealand. Artiste tours include US group TOTO in 2008, Gerry & The Pacemakers for three sold out Concert Hall tours of New Zealand in 2009, 2011 and 2013 and one tour of Australia in 2013. Sold out theatres and arenas with Air Supply in 2013 and The Seekers in 2014, Dr Hook for Australian tours in 2014, 2015 and 2017 and New Zealand tours in 2015 and 2017, five sell out tours of Wineries, Concert Halls and Arena’s with the UK’s 60’s Supergroup The Hollies in 2011, 2013, 2014, 2017 and 2019, extensive touring of New Zealand entertainment legend Sir John Rowles for five New Zealand tours, and two Australian concert tours, tours by Village People, The Searchers, Herman’s Hermits, The Manfreds, Bonnie Tyler and many more. In recent years Layton has carved a niche in Family Entertainment where he produces shows for young audiences with Shrek The Musical, Madagascar The Musical and Dr Seuss's The Cat in the Hat. |
Robyn Alexander
Secretary Robyn took control of Pacific Entertainment, one of New Zealand’s oldest concert promotion companies, in November 2007 leaving behind a successful 20+ year corporate banking career specialising in the areas of corporate finance, risk management, international trade finance, foreign exchange, and systems development. This, combined with a sympathetic understanding of the needs of touring artists being a singer/songwriter herself, makes her ideally suited to negotiating the challenges of the concert promotions business. Since 2007 Pacific has continued to successfully tour a wide range of popular international and local artists appealing to all ages, such as Kenny Rogers, Westlife, Glenn Frey, Billy Connolly, Alice Cooper, Elaine Paige, Burt Bacharach, The Hollies, Michael Bolton, The Pointer Sisters, and more. |
Gray Bartlett
NZEA Ltd has been in operation for 32 years with shareholders Gray Bartlett and Patricia Bartlett. NZEA Ltd also had Pacific Region Entertainment Services Ltd which became Pacific Entertainment Ltd in 1995, when Gray merged with Ian Magan and Concert Promotions. Acts that he has presented include Michael Jackson, Pavarotti, AC/DC, Tony Bennett, Billy Connolly, Norah Jones, Diana Krall, RSDG, The Hollies, Michael Barrymore, Tommy Emmanuel, World Series Guitar Festival, plus many more. Domestic artists include Hayley Westenra, Sir Howard Morrison, Dame Malvina Major, ENZSO, Highway of Legends 2005/6/8/9, Yulia, amongst hundreds of other Kiwis. The PEL company was sold to a corporate group in the early 2000’s, but NZEA Ltd continued to bring out major stars and local shows like True Legends, NZ Highwaymen (currently planned for 2020 late now). |
Manolo Echave
Manolo Echave is a well known veteran NZ promoter having started his career in the entertainment industry as a band manager (Diehards 1981). He worked under Hugh Lynn (Raynor Promotions) from the mid 80’s as Herbs TM and Event Manager for Hugh's international concert tours. In 1989 he was appointed as the NZ Representative for the establishment of the Frontier Touring Co NZ Ltd. From 1999 when Michael Chugg left FTC Manolo became the Chugg Entertainment NZ Rep. A position he retains today. In 2007 he was appointed the NZ Rep for the Byron Bay Bluesfest Festival and continues in that role today. He is one of the Founder Promoters of St Jeromes Laneway Festival (Auckland 2010) and continues to promote that Festival. Manolo became a member of New Zealand Entertainment Operators Association (now New Zealand Promoters Association) in 1985. He has been the Treasurer of NZPA since 2014. |
Louise Hunter
Louise Hunter Managing Director of BLP Ltd has been representing Adrian Bohm Presents in New Zealand for over 25 years. In that time we have promoted national and international music, and comedy concert tours, bringing some of the world’s best known musicians, singers, and stand-up comedians to the Southern Hemisphere. Based in Auckland, BLP Ltd has presented many music and comedy acts in venues ranging from 300 to 10,000 capacity. Past tours include - Marianne Faithful, Ozzy Osborne, Clannad, Moody Blues, Elvis Costello, Megadeth and comedians Michael McIntyre, Jack Whitehall, Russell Brand, Bill Bailey, Trevor Noah, Jimmy Carr, Dylan Moran, Eddie Izzard, Sarah Millican, John Cleese and Eric Idle and many more. |
Simone Williams
Liberty Stage promotes concerts with overseas and local touring music acts and also produce concerts and exclusive ‘Evening with’ shows. The boutique company has also produced events with leading international business leaders and spiritual thinkers. Simone has worked with William Shatner, Jane Fonda, (the late) Malcolm McLaren, John Cleese, Sir Bob Geldof, Deepak Chopra, Eckhart Tolle, and music acts including Mavis Staples, the Legendary Count Basie Orchestra, A Bowie Celebration, Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin evening, Ultimate Queen Celebration. Liberty Stage also proudly works with some of NZ's most talented artists and musicians who have contributed greatly to the success of our own produced concerts. They include 40th Anniversary of the Last Waltz, Celebrating Neil Young’s Live Rust, and most recently, The Music from Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo & Juliet. |
Kurt Shanks
Bio Coming
Bio Coming
Mark Kneebone
Mark Kneebone is the Co-Head of Promotions for Live Nation Australasia. As well as leading five music promoters across Australia and New Zealand, Mark also runs the New Zealand office for both Live Nation and Secret Sounds, promoting more than 35 tours in 2019. In addition to Mark’s role with Live Nation, he is one of the founders of Laneway Festival in New Zealand, now in its 12th year. |
Tracy Magan
Tracy Magan is Head of Events at MediaWorks, NZ’s largest multi-platform media company spanning TV, Radio, Outdoor and Events which reaches 94% of kiwis 10+. Her team specialise in event creation and management, concert promotion and event production, plus commercial partnerships between MediaWorks brands and clients where there is an event or activation component involved. Tracy’s background includes over 2 decades of artist management, concert promotion, event production and record label management. She has worked with many local and international artists, including a world tour with U2 as their tour accountant and ticketing manager. Her role at MediaWorks now utilises her breadth of experience by expanding their capability and reach across NZ with a diverse and dynamic portfolio of entertainment properties, events and partnerships. |