What's On

MGMT. Photo / Supplied

DANCE MUSIC
The quiet achievers of New Zealand's electronic music scene continue to pump out the beats. Pitch Black have just returned from an Australian tour and a short tour of the United States and are now getting ready for the northern summer where they are set to play one of Europe's biggest dance music festivals - the Amsterdam Dance Event - among other gigs. Catch them in Auckland tonight. Pitch Black - Coherent, 262 K Rd, Auckland, July 16, 9pm

ROCK/POP
Brooklyn band MGMT are one of the bigger breakthrough artists of recent times, with their psychedelic electro-pop winning them fans the world over. If ticket sales for their New Zealand shows are anything to go by, they have plenty of Kiwi fans, with three nights sold out at Auckland's Powerstation. Expect hits like Electric Feel, Kids and Time To Pretend to go off. MGMT - Powerstation, Mt Eden, July 21, 22, 23. Sold out

ROCK/POP
Having finished their album with Bob Frisbee at the controls, Auckland three-piece Frayden will unleash new material at the Bacco Room with a stacked line-up of this city's finest noise-pop bands. Their raw sonic boom has translated seamlessly to vinyl and you can hear it played live at their release show this Friday, with support from Street Chant, 1995, The Randoms and DJ Sitcom. Frayden album release show - Bacco Room, July 17

FILM
Fans of Jamaican music will flock to Galatos this Friday for the Auckland premiere of Dub Echoes. The documentary by Brazilian Bruno Natal traces the origins of Jamaican dub and its influence on hip-hop and electronica. The film features interviews with musical legends including Bunny Lee, King Jammy, Lee "Scratch" Perry (pictured), LTJ Bukem, The Mad Professor, Roots Manuva and Sly and Robbie. Dub Echoes screening - Galatos, Friday July 17, 7pm

POP
Moana Maniapoto is one of New Zealand's most significant Maori musicians, singing in Te Reo over soul, reggae and more. Her live performances utilise taonga puoro (traditional Maori instruments), haka, chants and of course her backing band The Tribe.
Find out why she is in such hot demand overseas at a rare show this weekend in Papakura. Moana and the Tribe - Hawkins Theatre, 13 Ray Small Drive, Papakura, July 17


JAZZ
In his 60-year career, composer Russ Garcia has worked with everyone from Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald, to Judy Garland and Duke Ellington.
Now resident in Northland, the concert, A Charmed Life, celebrates the work of Garcia and will be hosted by singer Tim Beveridge and feature performers accompanied by the Neophonic Jazz Ensemble. A Charmed Life: An Evening With Russ Garcia - The Raye Freedman Arts Centre, cnr Gillies Ave and Silver Rd, Epsom, Saturday, 7.30pm

DANCE MUSIC
Two of Australia's hippest dance music acts play in Auckland city this Saturday night. Nick Thayer, known for his funky, hip-hop influenced take on breaks reminiscent of Krafty Kuts, plays the FTM event at Fu Bar and Zen while Sydney duo Act Yo Age play the "Sweat-a-thon" party at Coherent the same night.
Aussie Aussie Aussie! Act Yo Age - Coherent, FTM with Nick Thayer - Fu and Zen, both July 17

LEARN
Rising Dragons, Soaring Bananas is a conference this weekend, presented by the New Zealand Chinese Association. The two-day gathering aims to challenge perceptions of what it means to be Chinese, and peel open the identities of Chinese business leaders and academics to radio guy Chang Hung (pictured). Rising Dragons, Soaring Bananas - University Of Auckland Business School, July 18/19, www.goingbananas.org.nz for details