Your favourite record store: Vinyl junkies will need to be out the door bright and early on Saturday morning if they hope to snaffle up a rare treasure. That's because it's Record Store Day, the annual celebration of the enduring (and best) musical format, that comes with a deluge of extremely limited, highly desirable vinyl releases. No matter what style you dig — from the cutting edge to the classics — there's bound to be more than a few you'll find desirable out of the 300 special RSD releases. All good record stores are participating and most are making a party out of it with bands playing, refreshments served and sales on second-hand stock. Our advice: leave the frenzied collectors to it in the morning and head down after lunch to take in the vibes and have a dig through the bins.
Record Store Day, Saturday
Grey Lynn: More specifically, 38 Pollen St which is the venue for a South Indian-style two-course breakfast prepared by Plant Magic's Gemma Walsh and Satya Chai Bar's Samrudh Akuthota. You'll feast on upma and chai served street-style plus enjoy a contemporary take on dosa and mango lassi. Tickets, $35, are essential and go towards supporting a free breakfast at the Metro Theatre in Mangere East - so it's nourishment for body and soul. The breakfast is part of Satellites, a series of public events showcasing contemporary Asian artists in Auckland. Watch out for future activities like a K-pop class for kids, a giant claw machine and a fortune cookie cart.
Plant Magic X Satya, Saturday with sittings at 9, 10 and 11am, 38 Pollen St, Grey Lynn. Tickets from satellites.co.nz
Spark Arena: It's been nearly 10 years since Brandon Flowers and his merry band have graced our shores. There have been a few changes since then, for starters, several new albums, including last year's acclaimed Wonderful Wonderful, which saw the band make a powerful return to their synth-rock roots. There have also been changes to their touring line-up with guitarist Dave Keuning and bassist Mark Stoermer sitting this tour out. That hasn't stopped them from slaying — theIndependent recently gave their London show a five-star review, calling it, well, killer.
The Killers, Saturday, Spark Arena
Q Theatre: MC Meta is the face of the first generation of Korean hip-hop . A legendary artist and activist, he started his career in '96 and released his first compilation album, Blex Vol.1, the following year. Since then he's formed Garion, releasing countless records and creating his own musical and cultural phenomenon across Korea. Now he's sharing his world with New Zealand audiences, teaming up with local acts Pax Assadi and DJ Seymore to introduce himself to a new audience and uncharted territory.
MC Meta Meets New Zealand, Saturday, Loft at Q Theatre
Mangere Arts Centre: It's the school holidays; you've done a movie (or two), Butterfly Creek or the zoo and a trip to Motat. Now take the kids to the theatre and for something completely fun and outrageous, try the very South Auckland themed Wizard of Otahuhu. Dorothy and her dog Koko face a long journey home after Cyclone Tita's fury lands them in Mangere. Dorothy discovers their only way home is to ask for help from the Wizard of Otahuhu but danger lies ahead in the form of not one, not two but four wicked witches.
The Wizard of Otahuhu, Mangere Arts Centre, until Saturday, April 28