KEY POINTS:
COMEDY
Every Friday and Saturday The Classic on Queen St runs two shows, the Comedy Showcase and Late and Live. Comedians rotate weekly and this week a very special guest drops in on Saturday. Well-known Kiwi comedian Mike King will be joke-slinging in a rare appearance at The Classic, and one of our most successful comedic exports, Brendhan Lovegrove, is also on the microphone.
Comedy Showcase, 8pm, and Late and Live, 10.30pm, with Mike King - The Classic, 321 Queen St, Aug 23
HIP-HOP
Some of Auckland's finest hip-hop DJing and MCing talent heads west this Friday. Jam Out West at Kelston Boy's High School pulls together DJ P Money, PNC and David Dallas, with support from young gun DJ Truent. Remember though, this one is for teenagers only - just those aged 18 and under will be getting down.
JamOut West: PMoney, PNC, David Dallas, Homebrew, DJ Truent - Kelston Boys High School, Archibald Rd, Kelston, 8pm, Aug 22
OPERA
One of New Zealand's brightest opera stars is touring, with a show at the Auckland Town Hall on Monday. Soprano Anna Leese will perform, among others, arias by Puccini, and four gems from the rarely heard collection of Brentano Lieder by Richard Strauss.
Anna Leese - Regent on Broadway, Palmerston North, 21 Aug; The Theatre Royal, New Plymouth, 22 Aug; WEL Energy Trust Academy of Performing Arts, Hamilton, 24 Aug; Auckland Town Hall, 303 Queen St, Auckland CBD, 8pm, Aug 25
ROCK
Queen city rockers Autozamm return home this weekend as their national tour for latest single Closer to Home - from second album Drama Queen - winds up. The band, which formed in Wellington before moving to Auckland, claims to be "carving a niche as one of this country's best live acts". Says frontman Nick Major about their crazy performances: "I don't think I'll be able to look my mother in the eye again."
Autozamm, Diggers Bar Hamilton Friday August 22; Rising Sun, K' Rd, Auckland Saturday August 23.
DJ/DANCE
Concord Dawn is tearing up and down the country this month on their Twilight tour, on which they have dragged along a few high-calibre guests. DJ/Producer Dkay has released music for most of the top labels in drum-and-bass, and even managed to sneak a tune into the British Top 20. Also on the bill is Bulletproof, a man familiar to many New Zealanders for both his high production output and his prowess behind the turntables.
Twilight with Concord Dawn, Dkay, Bulletproof - Aug 23, Zen, Auckland; see listings for other tour dates
DANCE
Acclaimed New York collective the Mark Morris Dance Group play their first New Zealand shows in their 28-year history. Mozart Dances sees the work of the famous Austrian composer interpreted in dance. Morris' choreography is set against a visual backdrop created by artist Howard Hodgkin and pianists Ursula Oppens and Amy Dissanayake will play the classic scores with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra.
Mark Morris Dance Group - The Civic, Auckland, August 22-29
SPORT/PUNK
The wild night out that is the all-female roller derby is back, with the Pirate City Rollers' 2008 season kicking off on Saturday night. This take on the roller derby concept sees the women donning dynamic uniforms, getting physical and taking no prisoners. On-rink 'suicide seating' and regular live performances by local punk and rock bands feature. The Randoms play at this Saturday's match.
Let Them Eat Skate! - The Pirate City Rollers' 2008 Season, Aug 23, Skateland, Panmure, doors open at 6pm
SOUL/FUNK
One of Ponsonby Rd's newest bars, The Ponsonby Social Club, is humming most nights of the week with DJs spinning soul, funk and hip-hop, but special mention must be made of the regular Wednesday night Social Sessions. The extended jam sessions see Julien Dyne, Jeremy Toy, Ned Ngatae and Ben Turua busting out super fresh, lounging sounds. If you like the Opensouls, you'll be into this.
Social Sessions - Ponsonby Social Club, 152 Ponsonby Rd, every Wednesday, from 8.30pm
