KEY POINTS:
COMEDY
The sound of laughter still reverberates around the city this week with the Auckland International Comedy Festival in full swing. Sadly though, if you're deaf you will not have heard a laugh or a chuckle, but now a new innovation in live comedy is set help those who can't hear the jokes understand what all the fuss is about. Brendhan Lovegrove's show is the first in New Zealand to incorporate sign language. Rachel Noble, CEO for the Deaf Association of NZ says that it is a real bonus that the deaf community will have access to a top NZ comedian.
Brendhan Lovegrove, Comedy Chamber, Auckland Town Hall, May 7-10
COUNTRY
Since beginning his recording career in 1958 with rock'n'roll band The Phantoms, guitarist and promoter Gray Bartlett has carved his own path in Kiwi showbiz. That 50-year career - which involved stints backing Rolf Harris in Britain in the late 60s, touring everywhere from China to Nashville - is being celebrated with a New Zealand tour which begins tonight in Whangarei. His rotating line-up of tour guests includes Jodi Vaughan, Brendan Dugan, Patsy Riggir, Shane Cortese, Annabel Fay and Elizabeth Marvelly.
Gray Bartlett and friends Forum North, Whangarei, tonight; Skycity Theatre, Auckland May 4.
LEARN
In these days where a photo of Paris Hilton walking out of Starbucks in ugg boots is big news, it pays to step back and think occasionally about why exactly that is. Enter Fred Inglis, Emeritus Professor of Cultural Studies at the University of Sheffield, and visitor to Massey University this week, where he will deliver two free public lectures on the concept of celebrity. His first lecture is on this Monday.
The Performance of Celebrity - Lecture theatre NW 100, May 5, 1pm; The Awfulness and Necessity of Cultural Studies - Atrium Building Common Room, May 6, 4pm; Massey University
DANCE/DJ
Every year a selection of DJs, producers, musicians and music people attend the Red Bull Music Academy in a different city around the world. It is registration time at the moment, and to promote this fact a special gig takes place at Auckland's Fu Bar tonight. A live mash-up band going under the name of Milk and Cookies will perform. Look for the likes of Tyra Hammond, Julien Dyne, Isaac Aesili and the Submariner to deliver a genre-spanning night of high-quality music. Also, go to redbullmusicacademy.com for more information about the academy.
Milk and Cookies, Fu Bar, Wolfe St, Auckland, May 1
REGGAE
A bunch of Auckland's finest reggae DJs and a couple of live bands play in Myers Park this Saturday afternoon. J Day is billed as a global protest against the war on drugs and a celebration of local cannabis culture. Assume from that statement what you will about the nature of the day, but even if you're not in favour of a law change on the marijuana front, the music still makes it a pleasant day out. The likes of King Cannons, Silvah and Furyus, Joint Collective, Selecto, Matty Dread, DJ Truent, Sparx, Willi the Kid and Sol'omonics will be performing.
J Day, Myers Park, Auckland, May 3, noon-4.20pm
ROCK
One of the world's biggest bands plays Vector Arena this Monday and Tuesday night. Out of the ashes of Nirvana rose the Dave Grohl-led Foo Fighters, and since their first tour in 1995 they have become a must-see live act. Imagine a show beginning with Big Me, stopping off at Everlong and Learn To Fly and ending with The Pretender and you're looking at a great gig. Not to mention the fact that Dave Grohl is one of those guys who looks like he is constantly having a good time - don't you just want to party with him?
Foo Fighters Vector Arena, May 5/6
NZ MUSIC
A multitude of gigs pop up all over Godzone this month, with New Zealand Music Month officially beginning today. One safe bet is Galatos in Auckland, where almost any night of the week in May you'll find some of Aotearoa's finest musicians performing. From the soul funk of the Opensouls and Recloose, to the punk and rock of the City Newton Bombers and The Have, to the hip-hop of Scribe and P-Money, there is a lot to choose from.
Galatos NZ Music Month Showcase, Galatos, Galatos St, Auckland, May 1-31. See 5am.co.nz for details
ROCK
The Kiwi band described as rock'n'roll in hell by an American music writer are about to leave New Zealand for Berlin. The Have have had a great few years since winning the Smokefree Rockquest in 2002, playing all over the country, and earning a spot at the South by Southwest Festival in Texas three times. Says Blair of The Have: "It would be great to play for all those people out there that we have got to know and love, the bands we have toured/played with and those who get off on a good night out one last time (for a wee while anyway)."
The Have, Kings Arms, May 3; Galatos, May 22; Bar Bodega, Wellington, May 31
