A week of it

AC/DC. Photo / Supplied

Music

Ridiculous. Crazy. Stupid. That's about the only way to sum up the busiest week in music this summer. First up, AC/DC start their three-show New Zealand tour in Wellington tonight; Christian music festival Parachute kicks off tomorrow at Mystery Creek in Hamilton and the Black Seeds play the first Zoo Music concert in Auckland. On Saturday supergroup Them Crooked Vultures, made up of former Nirvana drummer and now Foo Fighter Dave Grohl, Led Zep's John Paul Jones, and Queens of the Stone Age's Josh Homme, play Vector Arena; and the Auckland Folk Festival is on throughout the weekend at the Kumeu showgrounds.

Then, if you're still holding up, celebrate Auckland Anniversary Day at the first ever Laneway Festival at Britomart, with headliners Florence and the Machine and Echo and the Bunnymen must sees, along with quiet rock 'n' roll achievers The xx.

And if you feel like getting away from it all, but still surrounding yourself in music, head to Music Mountain Matakana's stunning bush clad ampitheatre (just out of Matakana village) where Katchafire, Rhombus, the Open Souls, Zoh Zoh and dDub will be playing along with British dub terrorist the Mad Professor. For more information go to musicmountainmatakana.co.nz.

TV

The knives are out this week on new show Masterchef New Zealand (Wed, 7.30pm, TV One). The 24 contestants will be put through their culinary paces and the results judged by chefs Simon Gault and Ross Burden and food writer Ray McVinnie. On the crime and law front, new series The Good Wife (Tues, 9.30pm, TV3) looks to be the pick of the bunch. It stars Julianna Margulies as a defence attorney starting back in the workforce following the public humiliation of her husband's corrupt and philandering ways. Returning crime shows include SVU (Wed, 9.30pm, TV3), guest starring Prison Break's Wentworth Miller, and Tim Roth in Lie To Me (Wed, 8.30pm, TV3).

Movies

It's a busy week at the movies, too. And depending on what you're into, you can sing and dance along with Penelope Cruz, Sophia Loren, and others at Nine; throw the oval ball around with Matt Damon and Morgan Freeman at Invictus; or lose your mind at local thriller I'm Not Harry Jenson. I'll be heading off to Invictus to relive the dread and horror of losing yet another rugby world cup final. Still, you have to look on the bright side, at least the All Blacks loss to South Africa helped galvanise a nation divided by apartheid. But they won't be so lucky next year.

or ...

Say no to being busy and make the most of the long weekend - if you're in Auckland, that is, because there aren't too many other public holidays this year - with a good book, some great food, and a few vinos.