New Zealand singers Dave Dobbyn, Hollie Smith and Hinewehi Mohi will be performing inside New Zealand's giant rugby ball near the Eiffel tower in France during the Rugby World Cup.
At 25m long by 17m high the giant ball is a remarkable engineering feat. The first of its kind, inside is a function centre stacked with multimedia equipment that will showcase New Zealand sights and sounds.
The ball is part of a Tourism New Zealand initiative to promote the 2011 Rugby World Cup being held in New Zealand.
Dave Dobbyn's ballads have become synonymous with Kiwi culture, Hollie Smith is a fast-rising new star in NZ and Hinewehi Mohi is an established artist who will be singing exclusively in Maori.
When New Zealanders were asked to name their top 30 songs of all time, five of Dobbyn's songs made the cut. In 2001 he was presented with a rare lifetime achievement award by the NZ recording industry.
Dobbyn formed his first band "Th'dudes" while still in high school, and their hit "Be Mine Tonight" won single of the year in New Zealand in 1979.
When "Th' dudes" split Dobbyn went on to form DD Smash in the early 80's and the hits kept on coming. After they disbanded in 1985, Dobbyn forged a successful career as a solo artist.
His 1985 hit Slice of Heaven was used in tourism advertisements in the eighties to entice Australians to New Zealand.
Hollie Smith is an emerging artist whose debut album this year, Long Player, went platinum. She has now signed a multi-album deal with Manhattan records - part of the legendary Blue Note Label Group - the label of big names such as Norah Jones and Miles Davis.
Critically acclaimed Long Player showcases Smith's rich and soulful vocals while paying homage to her soul, jazz, reggae & r'n'b influences.
Mohi's songs are a blend of Maori culture and modern music. Traditional Maori dancers accompany her performances. Some of Mohi's songs are inspired by her daughter Hineraukatauri's battle with cerebral palsy.
Mohi is also the lead singer of Oceania, a collaboration with Jaz Coleman of post punk band Killing Jokes. Oceania's music is spiritual, contemporary Maori. Their two albums have gone double platinum in New Zealand, as well as receiving acclaim overseas.
Branded with '100% Pure New Zealand', the ball will stand alongside the French icon for the duration of the tournament as part of a Tourism New Zealand initiative to promote the 2011 Rugby World Cup being held in New Zealand.
Watch this Tourism New Zealand video to see the how the giant rugby ball was made.
Source and Images: Tourism New Zealand