Violent Femmes head south

If you live in Auckland and still love hollering Blister In the Sun by the Violent Femmes after a few beers, you're out of luck.

The Femmes - that American skiffle-punk group whose debut album came out in 1982, before most of today's students were born - are the headlining act for this year's university orientation celebrations. But they only play Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington and Palmerston North.

Orientation dates vary, but most back-to-school shenanigans kick-off around the end of February.

Tour co-ordinator Dylan Keating says the main reason the Femmes aren't playing Auckland is because there is so much on in the city at that time, including American punk band Green Day and the festival AK05.

"We felt, especially because of Green Day, which will attract a lot of students, there was just too much of a risk to put it on.

"But the band are keen to get back into the student crowd. Students still sing-a-long to Blister In the Sun but they might not know who the Violent Femmes are."

Keating says the band may play an Auckland show in April.

Other orientation acts confirmed include Melbourne six-piece the Cat Empire, quirky American guitar pop outfit the Shins, local hip-hop stars Dei Hamo, Misfits of Science and Fast Crew, American hip-hop DJ T-Rock, plus, among others, Fat Freddy's Drop, Cornerstone Roots, the WBC, OpShop, the Have, the Mint Chicks, the Checks, D4, 48 May, Goodnight Nurse, the Bleeders, and Katchafire.

Auckland University orientation runs from February 28 to March 4, AUT from February 28 to March 11, Massey University in Albany from February 23 to March 4, and Waikato University runs from March 5 to March 13.

Waikato celebrates its 40th anniversary with a free concert on March 5 at the university featuring Dimmer, Adeaze, Goldenhorse and the Cat Empire.

Go to the Orientation website for nationwide concert details.

Meanwhile, 95bFM's Summer Series returns to Albert Park on January 30 and February 20.

The first Sunday afternoon concert features Tha Feelstyle, SJD, Jakob, the Fanatics, Batucada Sound Machine, the Unusuals and Fang.

The second features Concord Dawn, the Phoenix Foundation, Pine, RES, Savage and Alphrisk, the Checks, the Boxcar Guitars and Farmer Pimp.

Both events are free and run from 12pm - 7pm.