KEY POINTS:
REGGAE/HIP-HOP
With rates of Maori participation in voting comparatively low, a group have organised the Maori Side Tour to encourage young people to have their say on November 8. Organiser Kimo Winiata says: "Maori are naturally into music and what better vehicle for encouraging youth participation in politics than sounds with a Maori flavour." Bands and DJs include House of Shem, Unity Pacific, Ms Black and Crew and DJ Poroufessor.
Maori Side Tour - Carlton Tavern, Auckland, Sep 19. Information at www.maorisidetour.bebo.com
ADVERTISING/POP
It's not every day one of New Zealand's most popular bands plays free in your lunch break. But, it's happening today in Aotea Square as part of Air New Zealand's advertising project that encourages members of the public to put airline ads on the backs of their heads. If you don't want to be part of the cranial advertising cast you can still hear Elemeno P and MC Brooke Howard Smith.
Air New Zealand Casting Calls with Elemeno P - Aotea Square, Auckland CBD, Sep 18, 12pm
SEA SHANTY
Imagine if everyone embraced International Talk Like A Pirate Day tomorrow. Simon Dallow, with eye-patch: "Ahoy me hearties, leading tonight's news." Or your waiter: "Aaarrrrggghhhh, ready to order sir?" Celebrate at a pirate-themed gig with blues-rockers The Defendants, energetic rock trio The Twitch and DJ Tina Turntables. Friday is also Loud Shirt Day (www.loudshirtday.co.nz)
International Talk Like A Pirate Day: The Gig - Dog's Bollix, 2 Newton Rd, Newton, Sep 19, 8pm
CLASSICAL
Few know their way around a trombone as well as Swedish virtuoso Christian Lindberg. He has premiered more than 200 works for the instrument, including 30 of his own compositions, and he even has a Spanish international solo competition named after him. The programme for his New Zealand tour with the NZSO includes the exhilarating Roman Carnival Overture and the more modern Motorbike Odyssey by Sandstrom.
NZSO, Christian Lindberg - Auckland Town Hall, Sep 19-20
OPERA
New Zealand Opera's Jenufa comes home from the Glyndebourne Festival. This ground-breaking and widely acclaimed production is deeply moving and as relevant today as it was 100 years ago when it was written. Jenufa is both a love story and a tragedy, with its origins in a primal story of sex, lies, love and forgiveness. Expect an unforgettable experience.
The Genesis Energy Spring Season of Jenufa - Aotea Centre, 50 Mayoral Drive, Auckland CBD, 7:30pm, Sep 20, 23, 25, 27
COMEDY
Australians David Collins and Shane Dundas, known as the Umbilical Brothers, are touring New Zealand this month and play Auckland on Tuesday. Their comedy has taken them around the world many times since they formed 17 years ago. Their energetic blend of mime, wacky vocals, puppetry and general leaping about has sold out countless shows.
The Umbilical Brothers: Don't Explain - Bruce Mason Centre, Auckland North, Sep 23; Baycourt Centre, Tauranga, Sep 24
COMEDY
Home-grown comedy duo Eteuati Ete and Tofiga Fepuleai - aka the Laughing Samoans - play two shows this week before heading overseas. Catch them before they go on tour to Honolulu, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Seattle. Both men have been creative and constructive members of New Zealand's Samoan community for many years, through comedy, theatre, TV and radio, so expect a big crowd in support.
Laughing Samoans: Crack Me Off - TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre, South Auckland, Sep 18-19
DJ/DANCE
Potty-mouthed indie-electro superstar Peaches returns next week for Auckland and Wellington shows. Billed as the artist who puts the "fun back into funk, the X into sex, and the lay into lady", this show is not for the timid. The Canadian earned many fans on her three previous visits here, and with a fourth album soon to be released those fans will want to hear some new material from the woman who brought us Two Guys (For Every Girl).
Peaches - Powerstation, Auckland, Sep 24; San Francisco Bath House, Wellington, Sep 25
