Whanganui's La Fiesta 2018 is almost here with a stunning array of activities ranging from the practical to the fanciful on the programme.
Next Saturday sees the official launch of the festival and the opening of WO:MAN - an exhibition of male artists' portrayals of women at Space Studio and Gallery.
The opening will be followed with a performance by Wellington Indie pop duo Broken Lexicon.
Singer and songwriter Brook Davies and Russian born guitar virtuoso Alexey Medvedev will present two hours of their music which they describe as "part folk-funk, part gypsy-jazz, part pop rock and entirely enthralling".
Though instrumentally trained , Davies says her passion has always been for singing and the poetry of lyrics.
She realised that to be able to perform the songs that she wanted to write, she needed highly skilled instrumentalists to collaborate with.
She first formed a trio called Brooklyn Sea and the Wayward Fleet with Joe Rickit and Carlos Espinoza, then later met Medvedev when he moved from Dunedin to Wellington in 2014 and the pair formed Broken Lexicon.
Medvedev came to New Zealand from Moscow more than 15 years ago.
He has degrees in jazz piano and guitar from the Jazz Improvisation Studio, Moscow, and in orchestral conducting from the Moscow State University of Culture.
In Russia Medvedev worked as a session musician at recording studios in Moscow, toured the former Soviet countries with Russian pop and rock stars, published a beginner's book on guitar and played for Mikhail Gorbachev's 70th birthday.
Popular New Plymouth Band Juliet McLean and the Navigators are back to play at this year's La Fiesta and will perform at the Grand Hotel on February 23.
The full La Fiesta programme is available from the Whanganui Women's Network at 75 St Hill St and other Whanganui outlets or online at lafiestanz.com
WO:MAN - Women as seen by men, opening 5.30pm to 7pm, followed by Broken Lexicon 8pm to 10pm, Space Studio and Gallery, 64 Taupo Quay. Tickets for Broken Lexicon $15 from Space Gallery.