What's On This Week

The Pasifika Festival is on at Western Springs park on March 14. Photo / Michael Craig

FESTIVAL

Every year Auckland holds an exciting event in Western Springs Park to celebrate being the largest Polynesian city in the world. The park is transformed with 10 different temporary cultural villages representing Pacific nations. Sample a huge array of traditional food and drink, and enjoy music on three stages all afternoon.

Pasifika Festival - Western Springs Park, Great North Rd, March 14, 10am-5pm

WORLD

With six stages and more than 200 artists from 20 countries, this weekend's Womad festival will see Kiwi fans of world music congregate in Taranaki. From the Gyuto Monks of Tibet to our own Fat Freddy's Drop playing their only festival show this summer, there's real music variety at this three-day festival.

Womad - TSB Bowl of Brooklands, Pukekura Park, New Plymouth, March 13-15, 5pm

COUNTRY/ROCK

Flash new inner city Auckland bar Sale St Brewery is letting some grit on its floor with the "Sale St Sessions", a regular free Tuesday night for acts of the alt-country persuasion. This Tuesday it's the return of Ted Brown (back from LA helping offsider Greg Johnson in AK09's Spielgeltent) with the Darlings and Calico Brothers. Upcoming acts include Lauren Thomson, the DeSotos, The Bads, Tami Neilson, and Johnny Barker with Reb Fountain

Sale St, Freemans Bay, Tuesday nights, free

FESTIVAL

The New Zealand Beer Festival once again sees the spirit of Oktoberfest come alive at the Ellerslie Racecourse. More than 70 beers, from boutique to big, will be available. Once you've had a few, hit the dancefloor with musical entertainment from Autozamm, The Jordan Luck Band, SJD, The Naked and Famous, Sarah Brown and some funky Auckland DJs.

Auckland 2009: The New Zealand Beer Festival - Ellerslie Racecourse, 80-100 Ascot Ave, Ellerslie, March 14, noon to 9pm

DANCE

A new work by the Atamira Dance Collective starts tonight at SkyCity as part of the Auckland Festival. Taonga: Dust, Water, Wind will feature Maori contemporary dance at its best. Choreographer Louise Potiki-Bryant was inspired by her Aunty Rona's 80 years on the east coast of the South Island. Listen for the score by Pitch Black's Paddy Free, and live music by Richard Nunns using taonga puoro (traditional instruments).

Taonga: Dust, Water, Wind - SkyCity Theatre, March 12-15, ph 0800 TICKETEK

THEATRE

Auckland's Silo Theatre begin their season with a batch of fresh young thespians. The Ensemble Project: Back Story is the result of an arduous series of auditions by the Silo of hundreds of young hopefuls. The eight actors have been guided and directed by Michael Hurst and Oliver Driver, and have created two works now ready for performance. Original, Auckland-oriented theatre by the new school.

The Ensemble Project: Back Story - Silo, Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre, March 18-April 18

COMEDY

The Basement in Lower Grey's Ave is the hub of the inaugural Auckland Fringe Festival with 20 theatre and comedy shows. The starting point is at the venue, but the audience then moves through Myers Park on The Official Perceiving Murder Tour - a wandering show that delivers a satirical comedy on the Sensing Murder TV show. Medium Claire Voyeur will unlock the mysteries of the park - or will she?

The Official Perceiving Murder Tour - The Basement, March 10-22, ph (09) 357 335

ROCK/SOUL

The Festival Club and Spiegeltent host some great musical talent during the Auckland Festival, and this Saturday sees two relatively new acts on the scene take to the Festival Club stage. Singer Iva Lankum's saucy, soulful vocals have recently graced her own EP, and the new album by Sola Rosa. Afterwards the psychedelic seven-piece Dr Colosuss will blow minds and break hearts.

Iva Lamkum, 9.30pm, Dr Colosuss, 11.30pm - The Festival Club, Red Square, Aotea Square, March 14