KEY POINTS:
SHOW
The human body becomes the canvas at Saturday's New Zealand Body Art Awards at the North Shore Events Centre. Around 50 body artists are registered, from professionals to first timers. Judges, including Weta Workshop's Richard Taylor, will score across nine categories such as airbrushing, body painting, prosthetics, masquerade, tribal and fluorescent illusion. Sounds like a feast for the eyes, and the sort of event where audience double-takes will be commonplace.
* New Zealand Body Art Awards - North Shore Events Centre, Glenfield, 7.30pm, Saturday
SOUL/FUNK
Since opening its doors in 1997, Auckland's Khuja Lounge has kept true to the sounds of soul, funk, and hip-hop with the list of bands and DJs to grace the soundsystem too long to list here. Suffice to say, there are many of you out there who have had a night on the tiles at this funky venue on the corner of Queen St and K Rd. The Khuja crew celebrate their 10th birthday this Friday off site at a bigger venue, Sofrana House. There's plenty of room for a big crowd plus the Opensouls full live band supported by DJs Cian, Manuel Bundy, Submarinerand Chris Cox.
* Khuja Lounge 10th Birthday Party - Sofrana House, 14-18 Customs St, $30 on the door
DANCE/DJ
Remember when you used to go out on a Wednesday? There's plenty on around town for those keen to kick the weekend off early, or simply press on strongly from the weekend just gone. For booming hip-hop it's the legendary Escapism at Safari Lounge with DJ Manchoo. For electronica and soulful sounds from New Zealand and beyond, try Dylan C's Loop Sessions at Rakinos, or for pure old-school try Retro Wednesdays at Suite with the North Shore Pony Club. For those still in love with old soul and funk, check Rip It Up magazine founder Murray Cammick's Wednesday residency at C.A.C. in Mt Eden.
* Wednesdays nights in Auckland - See above
ROCK/POP
One band just back from Britain and another about to embark on an overseas sojourn, play gigs about Auckland this weekend. The Checks return from their London base for two shows tonight and tomorrow at 4:20, although if you don't have your ticket now you may have missed out, such is the popularity of the Devonport-born five-piece. Up the road at the Kings Arms the Sneaksfinish off their album release tour with support from the Whipping Cats and one-man sound machine Disasteradio. It will be the last Sneaks show in a while as they are about to leave our shores.
* The Checks - 4:20, K Rd, tonight and Friday; The Sneaks - Kings Arms, Newton, Saturday
CHARITY
Diabetes can cause blindness, heart attacks and strokes. 165,000 New Zealanders have diagnosed diabetes, and it's suspected many of us have it without knowing it yet. Diabetes Auckland works to help those afflicted, and they're having a fundraiser on Saturday at The Hyatt. Viva La Diva will bang out classic hits, the MC is Mike McRoberts, and you get a three-course meal included in the ticket price. All funds raised go to Diabetes Auckland's education, support, awareness and advocacy programmes.
* Diabetes Auckland: Rocking The Boat - The Hyatt, Saturday, tickets $165 from marguerited@diabetesauckland.org.nz
CHARITY
Some of this country's more outspoken familiar faces will be slugging it out, verbally, for a good cause on Friday night. The Great Project K Celebrity Dinner Debate sees the likes of Gary McCormick, Tim Shadbolt, Ginette McDonald, Jeremy Corbett and Kerre Woodhamdebating the gender issue. They will start with the statement "We need more women on top" and see where they end up. All funds raised go to Project K, a free youth development programme for 14-15 year olds.
* The Great Project K Celebrity Dinner Debate - Aotea Centre, Auckland, Friday, tickets $195 from www.projectk.org.nz
EXHIBITION
A photo of a band can't capture the sound but it can seize that perfect moment when they are going for it, the magic theatre of rock in full cry, fluid and raw. Milana Radojcic's image of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs is about as perfect a rock shot as you can get, and it's part of the Afterlife exhibition, which "explores the concept of a next life ... the tell-tale signs of transition and change". The show includes a range of exciting contemporary photographers, and is part of the Auckland Festival of Photography at numerous venues in town until June 24.
* Afterlife: Snowhite Gallery, Unitec Building 1, Carrington Rd, Mt Albert. Monday to July 6
CLASSICAL
The Auckland Town Hall's Concert Chamber plays host to a unique celebration of Matariki, or Maori New Year, on Tuesday. Tuhonohono means to bring together, to weave, to join, to support and that is the name given to this group of musicians. Tuhonohono comprises Richard Nunns (taonga puoro), Ingrid Culliford, (flute) Ashley Brown, (cello) Ben Hoadley, (bassoon) and Emma Sayers (piano) and singer Ramonda Te Maiharoa-Taleni. They will be performing works by renowned New Zealand composer Gillian Karawe Whitehead.
* Tuhonohono - Concert Chamber, Auckland Town Hall, Tuesday, 8pm, tickets $35 at Ticketek
JAZZ, BLUES, ROOTS
The Bohemian Roots Soundsystem involves several bands and DJs uniting for a night of diverse musical entertainment. The Jews Brothers warranted this description in The Argus newspaper in Brighton: "Try to imagine the hilarious whirling gypsy soundtrack to the as yet unmade Muppet Mafia movie." Joining the Brothers is Karekare's Mamaku Project, who bring their soulful Pacific flavoured dub to the party, while Romanian beats and gypsy rhythms will emanate from the turntables of DJ Balkanetic. Should be a colourful night.
* Bohemian Roots Soundsystem - Galatos, Newton, Friday, 9pm, $15 door sales
