KEY POINTS:
THEATRE
One of our least favourite places to be is the title of a new play by the same team who brought us Krishnan's Dairy. The Dentist's Chair was a sell-out at the New Zealand Arts Festival and the biting humour will be at Auckland's SkyCity Theatre. Enjoy a band, comedy and exaggerated theatricality on this particular trip to see the dentist. Organisers will be hoping people are keener to sit in the theatre seats than they are the dreaded dentist's chair.
The Dentist's Chair - Skycity Theatre, Sep 10-27
FASHION
Our finest fashion designers are adjusting hemlines, preparing soundtracks, and selecting models in preparation for the one of the biggest weeks of their year. Air New Zealand Fashion Week starts next Wednesday, and while public access is limited for much of the week, the weekend of Sep 20-21 sees the doors open to the public. You can enjoy DJs, designer garage sales and selected shows.
Air New Zealand Fashion Week - Viaduct Harbour, Sep 16-21; Public weekend - Sep 20-21
PUNK
With bands like Supergroove and Led Zeppelin reforming over the last few years, when a band say they are playing their last show they probably just mean until that lucrative reunion tour. Perhaps not in the case of Auckland punk band Missing Teeth though, who have decided to hang up their guitars after nine and a half years. It's been quite a ride, and has included support slots for top-rating international acts such as the Dropkick Murphy's.
Missing Teeth - Kings Arms, 59 France St, Newton, 9pm
COUNTRY/FOLK
British singer-songwriter Newton Faulkner visits our shores for the first time this Friday, so we best put the jug on (Faulkner is know for performing with a cup of tea to sip between tracks). The 23-year-old has had a big year with a performance at Glastonbury and opening slots for John Mayer, James Morrison and John Butler Trio. The Surrey native will deliver a set of unique songs drawing on everything from reggae to funk.
Newton Faulkner: Return of the GingerDread Man - Galatos, 17 Galatos St, Newton, 7:30pm
INDIE
One of the more talked about Auckland bands of 2008, The Naked and Famous, celebrate the release of their new EP No Light with a gig at Rising Sun tonight. The band's heart is Thom Powers and vocalist Alisa Xayalith, but they balloon to a four-piece to play their power-pop live. Also on the indie scene this week you'll find bFM chart-toppers Surf City playing at Coherent on Friday night with The Wilberforces, Lost Rockets and Mr Matt.
The Naked And Famous EP release, Rising Sun, Sep 11; Surf City - Coherent, K Rd, Sep 12
LEARN
We're aware of the need to be "green", and it's nice to hear of environmental success stories. Dr Michael Tobias' documentary, Hotspots, reveals "how ingenious conservation efforts are succeeding throughout the world". Filmed in New Zealand as well as the US, Peru, Brazil, Madagascar and Easter Island, Tobias interviewed hundreds of scientists and conservationists to deliver this film.
Hotspots - screening at the Auckland Museum, Sep 11, 7.30pm
REGGAE/DUB
Fresh from a tour of Europe that included a couple of massive gigs, the Black Seeds have launched their album release tour. Solid Ground is the fourth album by the group, who hit Dunedin tonight before making their way up the country. They pick up different support acts in each town with everyone from Downtown Brown to Auckland's The Tornadoes in support.
The Black Seeds national tour - whole country, see listings for details; Powerstation, Auckland, Sep 19
SHOW
If your better half popped the question during the winter months and you're now faced with the task of organising your nuptials, there's help at hand. The Auckland Spring Wedding Show is on at the Aotea Centre on Sunday and promises "loads of discounts and goodies". The first 100 people through the door can grab goodie bags, and you can swoon over potential dresses at the live fashion shows.
The Auckland Spring Wedding Show - Aotea Centre, Sep 14, 9am-4pm
