Auckland's stadium spectacular: Coldplay, Guns N' Roses, Bruce Springsteen and Justin Bieber

Chris Martin and Coldplay will bring every available party trick with them when they perform at Mt Smart Stadium in December. Photo/Getty

The cancellation of Auckland City Limits shows this summer is all about big name stadium spectacles. Here are four of the best.

Coldplay

South Auckland will be lit with more colours than a Wiggles party under a rainbow, judging by reviews of Coldplay's most recent stadium spectacles. The UK soft-rockers' gigs this year include every stadium cliche possible, from fireworks and flame-throwers to confetti cannons, balloons, lasers, mini stages and those LED wristbands everyone will be wearing. Is it to distract you from their music? Put your wristband on and stop being a hater.

Where:

Mt Smart Stadium

When:

Saturday, December 3

Guns N' Roses

Axl Rose and Slash will reunite for Guns N' Roses' upcoming stadium show in New Zealand. Photo/Getty

Last time Guns N' Roses performed here at Vector Arena in 2007, Axl Rose arrived hours late, then screeched his way through the set like he'd swallowed a bottle of Ajax. By all accounts, bringing Slash back into the Gunners' mix has calmed the former wild child down, and the hard rockers are in the form of their careers. This one will be worth attending for Slash's November Rain solos alone.
Where: Western Springs
When: Saturday, February 4

Bruce Springsteen

Bruce Springsteen's recent shows have been running up to - and sometimes over - four hours. Photo/Getty

You might want to bring a pillow for Springsteen's upcoming Auckland show. He's been performing marathon events that, in one recent case, ran for more than four hours. Yes, the 67-year-old is performing 34 songs over a four-hour period. If that's not enough Springsteen for you, you probably need medical attention.

Where:

Mt Smart Stadium

When:

Saturday, February 25

Justin Bieber

Last time around, Bieber had one Auckland show cancelled and only half-filled another. But the bad boy of pop has had an image change since then, as well as a number of crossover hits, all of which have seen his March show sell out months in advance. Among them is

Sorry,

the video for which included choreography by our very own Parris Goebel. If she makes it on stage to recreate that famous video, it should be a showstopper.

Where:

Mt Smart Stadium

When:

Saturday, March 18