What's On This Week

Fat Freddy's Drop play at the Powerstation in Mt Eden. Photo / Hawke's Bay Today

CLASSICAL

The Auckland Philharmonia have invited a very special guest to perform with them tonight. Esteemed French pianist Cedric Tiberghien is in town, and will bring his unique skills to works by Ravel and Shostakovich. Don't just take our word for it, here's what the Daily Telegraph had to say about him: "There was lightness and grandeur, seriousness and fun, powerful momentum and meditative restraint."

APO with Cedric Tiberghien - Auckland Town Hall, April 2, 8pm

WORLD

Those who like their music lively, alternative and Eastern European in origin will be chuffed with the Gypsy Fever party at the King's Arms. The Benka Boradovsky Bordello Band play their last NZ show before moving to Berlin, and they are joined on the night by The Jews Brothers, the Gypsy Strings and DJs Balkanetic and Rasa.

Gypsy Fever 6 with The Benka Boradovsky Bordello Band, The Jews Brothers, Gypsy Strings - King's Arms, April 4

ROCK

Since their 2004 debut album Hot Fuss shot them to international stardom with hits like Somebody Told Me, The Killers have become one of the world's biggest bands. The Las Vegas group released their latest album Day & Age late last year and it's already spawned two catchy hits, with more to come no doubt. They will rock Vector next week.

The Killers - Vector Arena, Auckland Central, April 8

THEATRE

International actors Ethan Hawke, Rebecca Hall, Simon Russell Beale, Josh Hamilton and Sinead Cusack are in Auckland next week for The Bridge Project. Sam Mendes of American Beauty fame directs a double-bill of classics for The Bridge Project's inaugural 2009 season, pairing a new adaptation of The Cherry Orchard by Tom Stoppard with Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale.

The Bridge Project: The Cherry Orchard - ASB Theatre, April 4/5 ; The Winter's Tale, April 8-12

DJ/DANCE

Two of the hippest names in dance music today play Coherent together this week. All the way from the Britain, it's Sinden and Fake Blood. Fake Blood keeps his true identity mysterious, but his eccentric take on electro house (listen to the song Mars for an idea) means he is known the world over. Meanwhile Sinden will no doubt deliver a barnstorming set of fidget-tinged house.

Sinden, Fake Blood, Defcon1, North Shore Pony Club - Coherent, 262 K Rd, 10pm, April 3

FUNK/SOUL

Andrew Spraggon is the puppet-master when it comes to Auckland band Sola Rosa, gathering together guest musicians to create their Kiwi spin on soul, funk and hip-hop. His new album Get It Together topped the iTunes NZ chart, and at the time of print the Auckland leg of their album release tour was getting very close to selling out. Sola Rosa "Get It Together" Album Release Tour - Montecristo Room, 53 Nelson St, 8pm

DUB/REGGAE

It's been more than a year since perennial Kiwi favourites Fat Freddy's Drop played in Auckland, and they're back this weekend. Their dubbed-out take on soul, reggae and electronica will pulse from Mt Eden's Powerstation. It's been several years since their high-selling debut album Based On A True Story stormed the NZ Music Awards, and the boys have been working hard on the follow-up, so expect to hear some fresh material at these gigs.

Fat Freddy's Drop - Powerstation, 33-35 Mt Eden Rd, 9pm, April 3-4

DJ/DANCE

There will be dancing in the streets this Friday, with Beresford Square in Central Auckland hosting a couple of live electronic acts. It's not often dance duo Pitch Black play in Auckland, let alone for free. Saxophonist Lewis McCallum and his orchestra will light things up as well.

Telecom Summer Sounds with Pitch Black and The Lewis McCallum Orchestra - Beresford Square, Off Pitt St, Newton, 8pm April 3