KEY POINTS:
DANCE/DJ
Auckland's Vector Arena has brought you everyone from Justin Timberlake to Bob Dylan, and now the venue stages its first all-night dance party, Summadayze. Australian dance sensations Sneaky Sound System play live as a six-piece, while other headliners include the acclaimed Sebastian Ingrosso and Steve Angello of Sweden, Sister Bliss of British band Faithless, French DJ/Producer David Guetta and several other internationals, plus some of Auckland's favourite club DJs.
Summadayze Festival - Vector Arena, Auckland, Friday, 7pm-5am, tickets $90.80 at Ticketmaster
JAZZ/ROOTS
The new band of former TrinityRoots frontman Warren Maxwell has released their sophomore album, Pendulum, and tour this month with Don McGlashan and his band the Seven Sisters. Little Bushman draw influence from the world of jazz and enduring rockers like Led Zeppelin and Jimi Hendrix. The shows have been dubbed the Sunset Sessions as they occur in the twilight. If you're looking for moving musical moments, find the Little Bushman this week.
Little Bushman with Don McGlashan - Trinity Hill Vineyard, Hastings, Saturday; Poverty Bay Club, Gisborne, Sunday; Wharepai Domain, Tauranga, Monday; Leigh Sawmill Cafe, Tuesday and Wednesday
FESTIVAL
One of the most colourful festivals on New Zealand's summer calendar returns to Rotorua at a new time of year this weekend. Jambalaya Festival of Rhythm, Dance and Carnival lights up the Rotorua Events Centre from Friday to Sunday. Experience the famous street parade, workshops, and music from Brazil's Monobloco, Australia's Blue King Brown and Son Veneno, and our own Katchafire, Ladi6, and Batucada Sound Machine.
Jambalaya Festival Katchafire, Batucada Sound Machine, Monobloco, Son Veneno and more - Rotorua Energy Events Centre, Friday-Sunday, www.jambalaya.co.nz
FAMILY
The Auckland Museum takes us back to a time when dinosaurs ruled the earth with the stage show Gondwana: Land of the Giants. The performance tells the story of New Zealand's natural pre-history, a time when Africa, South America, Australia, New Zealand, Antarctica and India were all part of a single super-continent known as Gondwana. Enjoy the full-body puppets in a giant inflatable garden with huge projections, dramatic lighting and soundscapes.
Gondwana: Land of the Giants - Auckland Museum, from Wednesday until Jan 27, tickets $15 adults, $10 children
HIP-HOP
Australian Latin-influenced hip-hop group Son Veneno are in the country to play the Jambalaya Festival, but also pass through Auckland for two shows this week. Described by www.ukmusicsearch.co.uk as a "cross between the Buena Vista Social Club, Gorillaz, Ozomatli and Eminem" you can expect a dancefloor with a twist. Joining the band is conscious underground British MC Mystro.
Son Veneno feat. Mystro - Safari Lounge, Ponsonby Road, tonight; Kings Arms, Newton, Monday
DANCE/DJ
Wow. Even if you put Summadayze aside, Friday is a big night for dance music in Auckland. San Francisco tech-house producer Claude Von Stroke returns to Code nightclub bringing his distinctive sound. Meanwhile up at Auckland's two newest clubs it's a drum'n'bass and breaks dream double billing. Fu hosts the dancefloor d'n'b style of DJs TC and Logistics, while next door Zen will bounce until dawn with the booty bass breaks style of Deekline and Wizard.
Claude Von Stroke - Code, 13 Shortland St, Friday; TC and Logistics - Fu, 4 Wolfe St, Friday; Deekline and Wizard - Zen, 17 Albert St, Friday
ROCK/POP
Since his rapid rise to international stardom following the release of his debut album Veneer, Swedish singer/songwriter Jose Gonzalez has visited New Zealand a couple of times, and now returns with his new album In Our Nature. Listen for his poignant covers of the likes of the Knife and Massive Attack. Jose fact of the day: you wouldn't believe it from his tender and gentle music today, but he used to play in punk and hardcore bands in the late 1990s.
Jose Gonzalez - Bruce Mason Centre, Takapuna, Tuesday, tickets $61.30 at Ticketmaster
ROOTS/REGGAE
Wellington's dDub meld ska, dub and reggae into a barbecue soundtrack that happily translates to good times on the dancefloor. If you're cruising the North Island's upper East Coast, be sure to catch up with Derek and the boys on tonight at the Whangamata Hall, and on Saturday at Coromandel's Star and Garter. It will be good for your soul - and your tailfeather.
dDub - Whangamata Hall, tonight; Star and Garter, Coromandel, Saturday, more info at www.ddub.co.nz
FAMILY
The Parnell Trust is once again entertaining thumb-twiddling children this summer with an action-packed holiday programme beginning Monday. Kids aged 5 to 14 can choose from Five Up, Rock On, Business for Kids, Science, Engineering and Technology. There is everything from physical games to week-long courses, such as the Digital Musical Explorer, the first week-long module which involves making a variety of real musical instruments and using computers to create music.
Parnell Trust Holiday Programme - Parnell District School, from Monday to Feb 1, 8am-6pm
