KEY POINTS:
REGGAE
It is the season for festivals and with so many happening in February it's hard to avoid ending up at one. This weekend the pick of the bunch is the Soundsplash Eco Reggae Festival, held each year at Wainui Reserve, Raglan. Running over three days, there really is a lot to see. From Little Bushman, Opensouls and Salmonella Dub on Friday night, to Katchafire, Cornerstone Roots and Ladi 6 on Saturday, there's a lot to keep the dreads swinging and feet shuffling.
* Soundsplash Eco Reggae Festival Wainui Reserve, Raglan, Feb 15-17, soundsplash.motherland.co.nz for details
WINE & FOOD
It isn't all about Devonport this weekend, with the annual Mission Bay Jazz and Blues Streetfest happening this Saturday. There's nothing like wandering the Tamaki Drive footpath and Selwyn Reserve opposite and enjoying the various bands on offer, before settling into a meal or a few drinks in one of the many bars and restaurants nearby. Entertainment includes Frank Gibson Jazz, Katy Soljak, the Edwina Thorne Quintet and the 1962-formed Bridge City Jazzmen.
* Mission Bay Jazz and Blues Streetfest Tamaki Drive and Selwyn Reserve, Feb 16, 6-11pm, $5, kids free
ROCK
The perfect Valentine's Day gift for fans of Interpol presents itself this week. The New York indie rockers return to Auckland for a show this Thursday, which just so happens to be Valentine's Day. Maybe you could impress your partner even more and not only get her a ticket, but also a copy of their romantically titled album Our Love To Admire - that's if they don't already have it.
* Interpol Auckland Town Hall, 303 Queen St, Feb 14, Ticketek
JAZZ
It's that time of year again, as Windsor Reserve becomes home to the Devonport Food, Wine and Music Festival. The excellent musical lineup this year includes Hello Sailor, The Electric Confectionaires, Hollie Smith, Nesian Mystik, and DJ Peter Urlich. For slightly younger Shoresiders, the annual Sounds of Summer dance party takes over the Masonic Tavern and environs on Saturday. Mr Urlich plays this one too, with other entertainment from DJs Dick Johnson, Manuel Bundy, Grant Marshall, Jolyon Petch and Karn Hall.
* Devonport Wine and Food Festival Windsor Reserve, Devonport, Feb 16/17, iTicket; Sounds Of Summer Masonic Tavern, Feb 16, iTicket.
BALLET
The Royal New Zealand Ballet pirouettes into 2008 with the nationwide tour of Red. The show begins with an Auckland season at the Aotea Centre on Valentine's Day (fellas - hint, hint). Red is a series of three works; the classic Paquita by Russian choreographer Marius Petipa, Abhiseka by Adrian Burnett, and the contemporary work Plan To A by Finnish choreographer Jorma Elo. It's worth the price of admission for Petipas work alone. He also choreographed Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker.
* The Royal New Zealand Ballet season of Red Aotea Centre, Auckland, Feb 14-17, nzballet.org for tickets and future dates
SPORT/ROCK
A two-pronged afternoon of entertainment beckons at Te Pai Park in West Auckland this Saturday. From 11am at Summer Slamz (yes, Slamz with a z - don't hold it against them) you can enjoy skate and BMX tournaments ranging from the under 13 age group through to adult competition. Then there's the musical element with star Christchurch band Atlas playing, as well as Die! Die! Die!, Motocade, The Checks, and The Exiles.
* Summer Slamz Te Tai Park, Feb 16
METAL/PUNK
If you love rock, metal or punk you probably already know about Killlerfest 2 this weekend at Auckland's Transmission Room. Guests from the US and Australia, Bleeding Through and Carpathian, lead a local cast of heaviness. Kiwi bands playing include The Bleeders, The Rabble, The Larry Normans, Subtract, Antagonist, Take the Willing, The Chase, False Start, Saving Grace, Second Theory, In Dread Response and Our Fallen. This is a big one, so get some mosh practice in before Friday.
* Killerfest 2 Transmission Room, Mayoral Drive, Auckland, Feb 15/16, $30 per day, $50 weekend pass
ROCK/POP
After trialling for a football club and allegedly working as a grave digger, thank goodness Rod Stewart decided to pick up the guitar. Whatever the reason you feel compelled to go to the Vector Arena to see Rod next week - maybe you think he's sexy, want to go sailing with him, perhaps help him out with that old heart of his, or maybe your name is actually Maggie May - you'll have a great time. Raspy Rod will no doubt drop all the hits alluded to above and more this Monday and Tuesday in Auckland.
* Rod Stewart Vector Arena, Auckland, Feb 18/19. At the time of print there were still tickets from Ticketmaster
