Entertainment picks: Rare chance to see the real deal

Music
On Thursday there's a rare opportunity to get close to a Marley. It's not Bob of course, but his youngest son plays the St James in Auckland this week. Forget the reggae pop of older brother Ziggy Marley and his Melody Makers because Damian "Jr Gong" Marley is the real deal.

He was only a toddler when his father died on May 11, 1981, but if any of the family are up to carrying on the reggae great's musical legacy then it's him. He's different from his dad, blending reggae, dancehall, hip-hop, soul and R&B into his music. But his three albums are excellent and last year's Welcome To Jamrock was one of my top 10 albums of the year. Plus he supported U2 recently on part of their American tour.

The gig on Thursday night, while not quite like seeing Bob Marley at Western Springs in 1979, is a must.

Elsewhere there's a great range of stuff, starting with the Mountain Goats at the Kings Arms, also on Thursday. The Mountain Goats, led by the bleating brilliance of singer/songwriter John Darnielle, are the perfect alternative to Mr Marley.

Local punks the Bleeders start their nationwide tour in support of their new album, As Sweet As Sin (which is released today), at the Brownzy in Browns Bay on Friday.

And in brief, star Ninja Tune DJ, Treva Whateva, plays 4:20 on K Rd this Friday; SJD with Luke Buda (from Phoenix Foundation) are at the Kings Arms on Saturday; and dDub play Galatos on Saturday with Unity Pacific (that's Che Fu's dad's band).

TV
It's a big week, and the start of what some might say is a do-or-die year for Prime's news coverage. Tonight the network's new-look news show, First at 5.30, starts, and will be anchored by former TV One presenter Eric Young on weekdays and Suzy Clarkson on the weekend. Kelly Swanson Roe (formerly a TV3 host/presenter) joins the team doing sports news four days a week.

And on Wednesday at 7.30pm it's the return of Paul Holmes, whose Holmes show also has a new look. It sounds like it'll be like a chat show where Holmes talks to people from the film, music, sport, business and political worlds.

Meanwhile, if you haven't seen the movie 28 Days Later (tonight, TV3, 8.30pm) then you don't know what you're missing. It's a virus-spreading action movie-cum-zombie flick with a "it's the end of the world as we know it" vibe to it. A good one to start your week.

Tonight also sees the return of crazy comic commentator John Safran to C4. Last year's John Safran vs God was a huge hit and John Safran's Music Jamboree (tonight at 10) features more of his unique, brave and nutty humour and insight.

In the first episode he goes back to his old school where mixed dancing was banned, just like in Footloose. Go, go, Johnny go, go ... Johnny be good. Yeah, right.

Movies
Here's one for the kids. Diego, Manny and Sid are back in the sequel Ice Age 2, but this time the Ice Age is over and things are starting to melt. Can they save their valley from the elements? Big kids, take the little kids along to find out.

Director Spike Lee has become nearly as big a star as some of the actors in his movies. But he has a little way to go to top Denzel Washington who has the lead role in Inside Man, the story of a cop trying to defuse a hostage situation while a thief attempts to pull off a bank robbery.

For a laugh, and something a little more British, check out Keeping Mum. Set in the English hamlet of Little Wallop, the absent-minded Reverend Walter Goodman (Rowan Atkinson), his dissatisfied wife Gloria (Kristin Scott Thomas), and their two children, Holly and Petey, are a dysfunctional lot. Holly's a nympho, Petey gets bullied and Gloria is having an affair with an American golf pro called Lance (played by Patrick Swayze) because, well, Walter is useless.

Who can save the Goodmans? Their new housekeeper, Grace, might just be the answer. But she has a few secrets of her own.

Kinky Boots is kind of like a Priscilla, Queen of the Desert set in Northampton. Charlie Price faces the impending shut-down of the shoe factory his family has owned for generations. By chance he encounters Lola, a flamboyant tranny and cabaret star, who, along with her many colleagues, has a penchant for kinky boots. There's nothing like finding a gap in the market to offer a glimmer of hope for your business.

Dance
The stage version of Dirty Dancing, which is on now at the Civic in Auckland, is more for the girls I reckon. My wife, as well as female colleagues and friends, are absolutely gaga about seeing the love story of "Baby" and dance instructor Johnny Castle brought to life on stage.

I must admit, it's a great story, so I might see you there. Maybe.