The Lady Killers (from left), Tina Cross, Suzanne Lynch and Jackie Clarke, will perform at the Waverley Summer Ja on Sunday. Photo: Supplied/The Lady Killers
Ever wondered what happened to former New Zealand Idol host and Christmas in the Park emcee, Frankie Stevens?
The entertainer now calls South Taranaki home, and has been calling in some industry favours for the Waverley Summer Jam on Sunday which he hosts.
"This year we decided to go for it a bit stronger and so I hit up the Lady Killers - Jackie Clarke, Tina Cross and Suzanne Lynch from the Chicks - so they're coming down to join us.
"Along with Sophie Toyne who's a very, very good country singer guitar player from Whanganui, so she's joining us as well as the Pātea Māori Club who speak for themselves, of course."
Stevens said the idea for the annual fundraising concert was inspired by his time at Christmas in the Park and a desire to rally around his new home during the holiday season.
"It's going to be one hell of a Sunday afternoon with some great performers, great food and beautiful weather."
Stevens would also be taking centre stage.
Pātea Māori Club will also perform. Photo: Te Matatini Society Incorporated
"It's something I've got a little bit of experience with over a lot of years, mainly singing and musical stuff as well, so yeah, it makes sense for me to emcee seeing as I'm a local as well."
Stevens said he was enjoying living in Waverley.
"I have a background in Taranaki. My iwi is Te Atiawa. My grandfather spent a lot of time here and consequently I have a lot of whānau from one end of Taranaki to the other.
"So, it was really a matter of where we parked up. My wife's family is from Whanganui originally and we got tired of the big smoke, let's put it that way, and I didn't want to do more travelling for work, so it was a toss of a coin sort of thing and Waverley came up. We love it here, it's great."
The entertainer said the township was handy to Whanganui and only three hours from his old home town of Wellington if he missed the bright lights.
He said Waverley was usually quiet, but Sunday's Waverley Summer Jam would be an exception.
"We are hoping we get at least a couple of thousand people. I think it depends a lot on the weather like a lot of outdoor events.
"We've got some great performers, some great food stations, games for the kids. It's a family situation, you can bring a picnic, that sort of thing."
Entry to the Dallison Park event will be free with a bucket going around collecting for the Whanganui Air Ambulance.
Stevens promised the vibe at the event - which ran from 4pm to 8pm - would be chill and the entertainment outstanding.
"There'll be a real feel-good factor. It's part and parcel of who we are as people who live in South Taranaki and part and parcel of who I am as being part of Te Atiawa."
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