One night with Nelly

Nelly heads here for one night of action.

Yep, it's winter, but it's gettin' hot in here. So hot, I wanna take my clothes off ... that's because Grammy-winning hip-hop star Nelly is heading to New Zealand for one night only. It's five years since Nelly put St Louis on the hip-hop map in 2000 with the bouncy, chart-topping debut album, Country Grammar. In that time he's been busy. There have been multi-platinum-selling Nellyville, remix album Da Derrty Versions and last year's double-whammy, Suit and Sweat. All up, he has sold more than 30 million albums.

He has also founded several charities (including one for his cancer-afflicted sister and one for underprivileged kids from the neighbourhood), launched his Apple Bottom clothing company, started his own label and an energy drink called Pimp Juice. Nelly plays the Supertop on July 28 with the St Lunatics and special guests.

Also on their way: British rock four-piece Athlete, to promote their second album, Tourist. Athlete's first album, Vehicles & Animals was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize but the band took a different direction on Tourist, easing up the Britpop and the decibels for more emotional, melodic tunes. The album was a hit with fans, debuting at number one in Britain, and prompting sell-out tours in Sydney and Melbourne earlier this year. Athlete play the Studio on July 21 with support from OpShop.

The following month it's the return to one of the best live bands on the planet. Philadelphian seven-piece hip-hop crew the Roots play the St James on August 9, on the back of last year's album, The Tipping Point. Fans will already know their sets are groove sessions that go beyond conscious hip-hop and into jazz, soul and funk.

Last but not least, Seattle five-piece Blood Brothers will play the Kings Arms with the Mint Chicks and This Night Creeps on July 19 to support their highly acclaimed fourth album, Crimes, a brutal, scuzz-punk journey full of nasty shrieking. Best not take little sis, then.