Spearhead play delayed Auckland gig

The Auckland gig of American hip-hopper Michael Franti and his group Spearhead will go ahead tonight - a day late - despite an illness that threatened to cancel the show.

Franti was admitted to hospital with kidney stones just as he was about to leave for New Zealand, setting his arrival back by a day.

That initially forced organisers to cancel the band's gig last night at Auckland's St James theatre. He was to have played at Wellington's Starlight Ballroom tonight - but the venue lost its liquor licence yesterday so the decision was made for Spearhead to play in Auckland tonight before heading to Australia.

Franti will play the St James tonight, with support from Verse 2 and Katchafire.