Spark Arena: Two years ago, Jimmy Barnes released his first memoir which revealed the untold details of an extremely troubled childhood. The book shot to the top of best-seller lists and won Australia's "Working Class Man" a Best Biography award; now he's back with a new book and tour which tells the story of his adult life — and rise to fame with Cold Chisel — through stripped back versions of songs that have shaped his life. It's billed as a "spellbinding and searingly honest" reflection on fame, success, addiction and family. As long as he sings Flame Trees, we'll be happy. Jimmy Barnes — Working Class Man: An Evening of Stories & Songs, Spark Arena, Friday
Viaduct Harbour: Auckland's waterfront — or at least Viaduct Harbour — becomes a full-scale canvas this weekend as it gets lit for Bright Nights. The "light experience" has been designed by Angus Muir and features over 14 light installations by a selection of artists. The event includes a giant wishing well installation in Market Square, projections onto America's Cup boat KZ1 as well as a silent disco.
Downtown Auckland has never looked prettier.
Bright Lights, Bright Nights, Viaduct Harbour, Thursday & Friday
For a laugh: The momentum never lets up in the New Zealand International Comedy Festival, with its third weekend about to roll around. We recommend Chris Parker's Camp Binch, which won best comedy at Dunedin Fringe (10pm Thursday-Saturday, Basement Theatre); Frickin Dangerous Bro, which unites James Roque, Pax Assadi and Jamaine Ross in a brilliant sketch show (Thursday-Saturday 10pm, Q Theatre — Loft); Hayley Sproull, creator and host of the excellent web series Hayley's Kitchen, performs in Just a Phase (Thursday-Saturday 10pm, Basement Theatre — Studio). And if you can't choose one performer, there's always Comedy Allstars (Thursday-Saturday 8pm, Bruce Mason Centre) or the late-night staple Snort With Friends (Friday 11:30pm, Basement Theatre)
Tim Melville Gallery: Hear/say is an occasional contemporary music collective led by composers Alex Taylor and Eve de Castro-Robinson. This weekend, it performs two major 20th century large ensemble works: Dutch composer Louis Andriessen's flamboyant paean to collectivism, Workers Union, for any loud-sounding instruments and American Frederic Rzewski's monumental rhythmic piece Coming Together/Attica for any number of instrumentalists. Musicians include Ben Hoadley, Andrew Uren, Luca Manghi, Michael Jamieson, Eric Scholes, Cam Taylor, Ting-Ting Foster, Callum Passells and Christiaan Swanepoel; actor David Aston puts in an appearance and it's all supplemented with verbal sound bursts from the Soapboxers. The latter include well-known performance artist and activist Mark Harvey, bolshie Belfast punk Colin Woods, and quiet radical sound engineer/composer Charlie Ha.
Hear/Say, presenting Soapbox, Tim Melville Gallery, Sunday (Door sales only)
