KEY POINTS:
Concert
The woman many call the fastest fiddler in the land plays at Orewa's Centrestage Theatre next Tuesday evening. Marvel as Marian Burns gets the crowd clapping and singing along to her high-energy fiddling. Burns was once named New Zealand's Country Music Entertainer of the Year, so will not disappoint. Accompanying her is pianist Ben McDonald with his uplifting honky tonk-style ivory tinkling. What better way to spend a Tuesday evening in Orewa?
Marian Burns & Ben McDonald - Centrestage Orewa, April 15, 8pm, Book at Centrestage Box Office.
Family
Fans of a certain children's TV show will be begging mum and dad for a morning off kindy next week. Meet the characters (well, people dressed up as the characters) from TV2 show Fifi and the Flowertots this Monday and Tuesday at Westfield shopping malls. Kids can expect a fun and interactive live show, with a special appearance by the creator of the show Keith Chapman, who is also the brains behind Bob the Builder.
Fifi and the Flowertots - April 14: Westfield Manukau, 11.30am and Westfield St Lukes, 3.30pm. April 15: Glenfield Mall, 11.30am and West City, 3.30pm
Dance/DJ
The heavy end of the dance music spectrum will be firing up the Logan Campbell Centre tonight. Aussie band Pendulum are known for their big rocky take on drum and bass and breaks, and news of their gig attracted so much attention that the original venue - The Powerstation - sold out, leading to a shift to Greenlane to fit more party people in. Solid support from live Kiwi Breaks outfit Antiform with Tiki, and DJs Riddle and Jason Howson.
Festival
In 1979 on a dairy farm in the Bay of Plenty, a play reading in a shed was to be the beginning of a long series of events at the place they call Littleweed. For four years Littleweed became the scene of dance shows, concerts and a famous winter banquet. In 2005 neighbours decided to recreate the spark of those early events with a festival called A Weekend at Littleweed. This weekend it returns with a great lineup of music, movies, workshops and performances.
A Weekend at Littleweed with Little Bushman, Tropical Downbeat Orchestra, The Mamaku Project, Sam Hunt - April 11-13, littleweedfestival.org.nz
Hip hop
Coming straight out of Lyall Bay, Wellington, hip hop MC Flowz plays an Auckland show this Friday to celebrate the release of his new album, In The Heart Of The City. You may have caught him in February supporting Fat Freddy's Drop at Music Mountain Matakana, or at one of his regular capital city gigs. Flowz will be primed and ready to impress, with the support of his groovy live band, the Usos.
Flowz and the Usos - Zen, 17 Albert St, April 11, $15 door sales, Ticketmaster
Opera
Not so long ago Paul Potts was a car phone salesman from South Wales. Now he travels the world singing opera to crowds of hundreds, all because of one very special performance on a TV talent show. If you haven't seen that particular moment on Britain's Got Talent, just do a simple Youtube search for "Paul Potts". It's worth it, with the judges almost brought to tears. His album One Chance debuted at Number One here and in the UK, and he plays Auckland's Aotea Centre this Sunday.
Paul Potts - ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre, April 13, tickets $107 from Ticketek
Family
The new film from the creators of Ice Age arrives in New Zealand, and the apt site of its premiere is the Auckland Zoo this Friday. Dr Seuss' Horton Hears a Who!, which features the voice of funny man Jim Carrey as Horton the elephant, will play on the 18-metre outdoor screen at the zoo's band rotunda. Ticket price includes regular zoo access, and all proceeds from the premiere will help fund a Wildlife Protection Unit in Bukit Tigapuluh National Park in Sumatra.
Dr Seuss' Horton Hears a Who! New Zealand Premiere - Auckland Zoo, Motions Rd, Western Springs, April 11. Film starts 7pm
Comedy
As we build towards the NZ International Comedy Festival, there are plenty of ways to help you perfect your laughing and/or heckling style. Steady Eddy is a guy who has been around the block and back again; a comedian for nearly 20 years. He still regularly sells out shows all over Australia, and he returns to New Zealand this month for the Highway to Hippyville tour. He's playing all over the country, and slips into Auckland this Tuesday.
Steady Eddy - Pat's Garage, Poenamo, Takapuna, Auckland, April 15, $35 door sales
