Rotorua Lakeside Concert's annual concert at the end of the month will go ahead – but there are concerns where it will be the cracker of previous years.

For the present arid conditions, with no immediate rain relief in sight, is casting doubt whether the fireworks display will go ahead on the February 29 date.

Organisers say with overnight conditions cooling, however, the weather is likely to abate to allow the programme to reach its conclusion.

But the fears at present are genuine, amid a Grapes of Wrath like heat with swirling winds and temperatures regularly at 30 degrees Celsius plus.

If curtailed, the suggested ban on the regulation fireworks display will not detract from a potentially successful concert, organised again this year by Ian Edward.

Organisers has cobbled together many celebrated stars over the years and, indeed, has proved the real maestro in arranging the annual merging of leading NZ entertainers.

Each year, a charity has benefitted from the concerts on the Village Green which draw thousands of locals to a concert originally for the benefit of locals.

The concerts began over 20 years ago principally at the behest of a local charitable trust awash with money and not quite knowing what to do with it.

A map of the Lakeside area.

The concerts gained momentum from the time organisers managed to combined the talents of the Dame Kiri Te Kanawa with the late Sir Howard Morrison. A Knight with a Dame, as the first concert was labelled, proved immensely popular.

They also helped sustain Sir Howard's illustrious career for towards the end of his life he was able to perform alongside Dame Malvina Major (who thought Sir Howard had the voice of an opera singer) and notable NZ entertainers, two concerts around the country.

His legacy – the aptly named Sir Howard Morrison Performing Arts Centre, formerly the Civic Centre on which stage he had performed homerically in his later years.

Years on, his son Howard (Howie) Morrison Junior is among the headliners of local and national talent for the February 29 concert.

This year the organisers have chosen KidsCan Charitable Trust as the recipient of the charity funds from Lakeside 2020, which provides food, clothing and basic healthcare to help them learn and reach their full potential.

A breakdown on some of the artists as follows:

■ Born and raised in Wellington, soprano Amelia Berry has returned home to New Zealand after making a name for herself in New York. After graduating with a masters degree from the prestigious Manhattan School of Music, she received an AMP Scholarship in 2015 to pursue an opera career. Amelia now frequently performs with New Zealand Opera, and we can't wait to have her performing at Lakeside 2020!

■ Howie Morrison Jnr has been performing professionally since 1985. Initially performing with his dad as rhythm guitarist and backing vocalist, Howie launched his solo career in 1990. More recently, Howie has performed with his own trio alongside Russell Harrison and Chris Powley. During his career he has worked with many greats in the entertainment industry, including the likes of John Rowles, Tui Teka, Billy T James, Frankie Stevens, Dalvanius, Eddie Lowe, Toni Williams, Dame Malvina Major, Annie Crummer, Tina Cross and original members of his dad's quartet.

■ With a passion for entertaining that goes back to when he first took the stage at age nine, Russell Harrison truly is a ‘Big Man' of the New Zealand entertainment scene. With credits that include film, television, recording and radio, he has spent his whole career bringing joy to people through his love of music and performance. Still recognised as a Lotto Presenter and ‘Singer of Songs' he now travels the world sharing his talents on cruise ships. Recently returning back to television as a host on Kai Safari, he is now busier than ever with his various musical groups. These include Russell Harrison & the Brown Brothers, The Howard Morrison Trio, and the Rat Pack styled Hit Men.

■ Hailing from a background in Maori Cultural performance, Rewa Ututaonga was performing nightly in concert parties at many of Rotorua's top hotels from a very young age. In 1983, Rewa branched out as a solo songstress and won a singing competition judged by the late Prince Tui Teka, who then invited her to perform on both of his upcoming television specials. Rewa then honed her singing and entertaining skills on the cabaret circuit, both in Rotorua and Wellington, as well as joining well-established band Cairo. Performing with Sir Howard Morrison in 1999, she then became an essential member of his touring band over the next 10 years, performing at shows both throughout New Zealand and overseas.

■ Dennis Marsh is one of the biggest stars on New Zealand's country music scene, and has been for many years. Originally from Te Kuiti, his warm, emotionally powerful voice and easy-going performing style have helped him earn six platinum and four gold albums in his homeland. In 2011, Marsh celebrated his Maori heritage with the album The Maori Songbook, which gave him a New Zealand number one album for the first time from 30 album releases.

■ Maori singer/songwriter Maisey Rika has one of Aotearoa's most impressive lead vocal styles, fused with her honest and thought-provoking messages. Her musical palette is nothing short of vibrant, a mix of Māori, folk, acoustic, soul and easy listening, with elements of roots and deep culture. Maisey has been singing at a professional level since her teenage years, and at age 15 was nominated for Best Female Vocalist at the NZ Music Awards. Maisey has released four original albums since, all of which received accolades in the NZ charts. Her 2012 album Whiira is the highest charting original Te Reo Māori album to ever be released in Aotearoa.