Nights after the day before

Can't get time off for the Big Day Out? No worries, mate. There's plenty to look forward to in the coming weeks and not all of it involves elbowing your way through rowdy, sweaty music fans as you try to get to the right stage on time.

The fun kicks off next week with Tali, the local drum'n'bass MC who famously blagged her way into the VIP tent at a Roni Size gig and wowed the man so much she went to work with him in Bristol.

Tali has been busy recording her second album in Britain, a follow-up to her stonking debut Lyric on My Lip, so expect to hear some new material when she plays Ministry, Christchurch, January 20, Sandwiches, Wellington, January 21, Fu Bar, Auckland, January 22, and The Mill, New Plymouth, January 23.

Also playing on the night of the BDO is German DJ and New Zealand house music favourite Ian Pooley. It seems the feeling is mutual. Pooley wrote his new third album, Souvenirs while living in Piha and recorded it here and in Sydney. Check him out at Morrisson.

And if the weather's good in early March, get your barbecue ready because Nashville is throwing us one of its best exports. Lambchop returns to New Zealand for a short tour with old friend, New Zealander and sometime Lambchop member David Kilgour and his band the Heavy 8s.

Kilgour has twice toured the US with Lambchop and his last album, Frozen Oranges, was recorded in Nashville with Lambchop as his backers.

They play March 5 at the Studio in Auckland (with guests the Boxcar Guitars) and March 6 at Indigo in Wellington (with guests Ghostplane).