_ Katie Thompson (middle) hangs out with actors Nathan Moore and Sade Jones during a break in the filming of her music video in Oamaru’s Victorian Precinct. The video was shot during three days, with Oamaru chosen as the perfect location for the video by director Logan Mcmillan, of Gorilla Pictures, who said he wanted every location to have an olden day feel.

‘‘I chose Oamaru because I’ve been wanting to film down in the Victorian Precinct for a while now,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s such an amazing location that could double for many European cities. It doesn’t look like anywhere else in New Zealand.’’

It was Thompson’s first time visiting Oamaru, and she said she had a lot of fun looking around.

‘‘We first filmed in a forest just out of Christchurch on Friday. On early Saturday morning we travelled to Oamaru, where we visited the train yard,’’ she said. ‘‘There were also a couple of scenes shot on Harbour St in a beautiful old car and another scene at the airport.

‘‘[Oamaru’s] really cool to get to have a look around, amazing place I can’t wait to see the finished product.’’

A massive thank you was expressed to members of the Oamaru Steam and Rail Society, who were involved in the filming.

‘‘The guys and girls there were awesome,’’ Mr Mcmillan said.

The video could be viewed on Youtube, Facebook, website (www.katiethompson.co.nz) and on New Zealand music channels.

- The Oamaru Mail

_Coast singer opening for Elton John
West Coast singer songwriter Katie Thompson will share the same stage as Sir Elton John tonight.

Thompson's first major concert sees her performing in front of over 30,000 people as the opening act for Elton at the new Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin.

She beat 70 entrants to take out the Open 4 Elton promotion, and will perform for 45 minutes accompanied by her brother Chris on guitar.

''I never imagined I would win the spot as there is an amazing amount of talent here in New Zealand but I always try to put myself forward for these things because if you're not in you can't win. 

"When I was called and told I was in the top four I was completely blown away. The winner out of the four was left to voting,'' Thompson said.

Thompson said she felt confident with the songs she has chosen.

''I'm performing some of my old and new songs including Good as Gold and Monteiths on Tap. That was a special request by the concert promoter, Phil Sprey after he heard me perform it in Wellington.''

She said she was more worried about meeting John than performing to tens of thousands of people.

''Thinking of the massive stage and number of people in the audience is a little daunting so I'm focusing on the amazing sound and lighting and hopefully the new fans I could possibly make. The only thing that is really getting the butterflies biting is the thought of meeting Sir Elton John himself.

''Everyone has been sure to give me advice and jokes to tell him but I hear he's just had a orchid named after him so I might just ask him about that if I get the chance. Seeing him live will be mind-blowing. Tonight will go down in my history book as one of the best nights of my life.''

Thompson released her self-funded debut album, Tall Poppy in 2009 and it was this album that helped her become one of the fastest artists to raise $50,000 on the crowd funding site, Sellaband.com.

She released her fan-funded album, Impossible, in March and was a finalist for the 2011 Female Country Artist of the Year.

- The Press