By RUSSELL BAILLIE and STEPHEN JEWELL
Let the entertainment begin. Summer holidays and end-of-year celebrations mean it's the high season for live music of every kind. Here's a guide to what's on offer in the way of tours, dance events, festivals and those all-important New Year's Eve shindigs. Our writers give
you the lowdown on what's hot this summer.
SUMMER TOURS
Who: the feelers
What: Hot on the heels of the release of their chart-topping second album Communicate the feelers head out on a national pre- and post-Christmas national jaunt of pubs and clubs. The band - a trio in the studio but guitarist Tim Skedden is supplementing the live line-up - has just finished a few weeks of touring Australia.
When: Starts this week in the northern region and the band will be playing hometown Christchurch on New Year's Eve.
Info: www.thefeelers.com
Who: Zed
What: Having supported everyone from Coldplay to Robbie Williams on both sides of Tasman and started their mission to conquer America, the pop-rock quartet cap off a busy, frequent-flier sort of year with a national tour which seems to spend a lot of its time in venues named The Grumpy Mole Saloon. They're just everywhere, apparently.
When: Starting this Thursday in Lower Hutt.
Info: www.zedquarters.com
Who: Tim Finn, Don McGlashan
What: For a man whose Split Enz roots lie in theatre and concert halls, the 21st-century Tim Finn is sure taking to the pub circuit with enthusiasm. Having spent October on the nation's highways - and displaying good live form - Finn and his band head to the coasts on an 11-date Hits the Beaches tour which features a solo Don McGlashan (the chap from the The Mutton Birds) as support on all shows. The tour bumps into Stellar (at Whangamata on New Year's Eve) Dave Dobbyn (at Taupo on Jan 2), Stellar and American singer-songwriter Ken Stringfellow (ex-The Posies, at the Kings Arms on Jan 6) along the way. The trip, which also acts as a preview of sorts to Finn's forthcoming solo album Feeding the Gods, includes his long-awaited return to Mt Maunganui - the last time he played the Mount was at a talent quest in the Soundshell in the early-70s during a family holiday.
When: Starting Boxing Day at the Anchor Inn, Mt Maunganui.
Info: ticketek.co.nz
Who: King Kapisi, Dimmer
What: Revitalised Dunedin rocker meets Pasifikan hip-hop star and the result is? Well, possibly the freshest and most unpredictable summer tour of the lot. Shayne Carter's Dimmer and King Kapisi will be sharing the stage of nine North Island venues - a much more tasteful rap-rock collision than we've come to expect when the genres get together. Still, we recommended shouting out requests for Walk This Way and see what happens.
When: Starting at the Masonic, Devonport on January 3.
Info: summerfun2002@dimmer.co.nz
Who: Tadpole, goodshirt
Tadpole are arguably one of our hardest-working bands, having earned their sizeable fan base with much live slog since the release of debut album The Buddhafinger last year. And now with a new single, worryingly titled Nothing New, off their in-the-works second album, they're heading out to meet their public once more and taking along for the ride nifty Auckland art-pop outfit goodshirt, who come armed with the strangely wonderful tunes off their debut album good.
When: The tour started this week in Auckland but next stop is the Golden Cross, Waihi on Boxing Day.
NEW YEAR'S EVE
First Night Auckland 2002
Where: Aotea Centre and Square
What: Anika Moa - the "It Girl" of New Zealand pop for 2001 - will be up for Auld Lang Syne duties come midnight at this free, alcohol-free, multicultural and family-oriented event. Starting at pm, the seven-hour festival will stretch across six stages, inside and out, with a diverse range of music and cultural groups, art displays, and enough food stalls to keep you happy to the wee small hours. Your main stage MC for the night is the usually R-rated comedienne Jan Maree who we are sure will be on her best behaviour.
Info: firstnight.org.nz
2002 The Party
Where: Haruru Falls, Paihia
What: The country's biggest rock, rap and pop gig boasts a mini, Big Day Out-sized local line-up of Fur Patrol, Zed, Che Fu, Dimmer, Splitter, the D4 with the man they call "Slave" (now on the telly's Mo' Show) doing the in-between talkie bits. Up to 15,000 people attended last year's bash, and some of them have a vague memory of having a really good time
Info: 2002theparty.co.nz
Lightspeed New Yeah!
Where: St James complex, Auckland
What: House, trance and jazz from Nathan Haines, Dick Johnson, Ian Pooley, Nice'n'Urlich, Subware, Sample Gee, General Lee, Sam Hill, OB1, Ajax, Dan C, Black Attack. Lightspeed New Yeah! not only sees the return of local legend Nathan Haines but also German DJ Ian Pooley and Blackpool's Dick Johnson. Haines will see in the New Year on the main St James stage before giving way to Subware and Nice'n'Urlich. Taking centre stage in the Regent will be Pooley, whose Since Then album has sold more copies a head in New Zealand than anywhere else. Also gracing the decks in the Regent will be paperecordings and Shaboom producer Dick Johnson, who will base himself in this country for the next year and starts a residency at the Grand Circle in mid-January. An outdoor arena will be based in closed-off Lorne St. Attractions include break dancing from Black Attack and the not-to-be-missed Dunk The DJ. Cost: $75-85.
Info: lightspeed.co.nz
Slinky
Where: Auckland Town Hall
What: Trance from Pete Wardman, Dave Lea, Leighton, Jolyon, Rob Warner, Andy Vann. If trance is your bag, head to the Town Hall where super-club Slinky returns to our shores after September's controversial Alexandra Park event, where half the international headline acts failed to show. Headlining at the Town Hall is hard house veteran Pete Wardman, who will be supported by Slinky resident Dave Lea, last seen in New Zealand at Two Tribes in March.
Cost: $67.
Info: onegreenapple.com
NYFU
Where: Fu and Fu Bar, Queen St
What: Drum'n'bass, hip-hop and breakbeat from Bad Company, Concord Dawn, 48 Sonic, Pots, Clete, Phantom, Johno, Manuel Bundy, Sir Vere, Pari, Timmy Schumacher. Not to be confused with the 70s hard rockers, hardcore Scottish drum'n'bassers Bad Company return to headline in the main Fu room, with support from the dons of Kiwi jungle, Concord Dawn. The venue's regular hip-hop night Fu's Your Daddy will play host in the Fu Bar, while the new third room will be graced by the nu-school breaks of Timmy Schumacher and Pari.
Cost: $90.
Info: fu.co.nz
FESTIVALS
Raglan Eco Reggae Festival - Soundsplash 2002
What: An outdoor one-day festival of reggae and related music with a line-up including Che Fu and the Krates, King Kapisi, Fat Freddy's Drop, Trinity Roots, The Black Seeds, Bassteppa Sound System and more.
When: Sat Jan 12 2002
Where: Wainui Reserve, Raglan
Cost: $36.55.
Info: soundsplash.raglan.net.nz
The Big Day Out 2002
What: As always there are last-minute changes and additions to the biggest date on the live rock calendar. This week British dance act Faithless pulled out after member Maxi Jazz was injured in a car crash. But they will be replaced by Basement Jaxx who were to play in Auckland in February with Groove Armada. Late additions include The White Stripes, the much-acclaimed (in Britain, anyway) Detroit rock'n'roll duo of Jack and Meg White. This time last year they played the Kings Arms, now they're famous.
Also newly confirmed are locals Stellar, Garageland, Pitch Black, Pluto, Sommerset, Slim, Steriogram and the D4, as well as a big hip-hop and DJ contingent. And among the new tourists are Bristol drum'n'bass act Kosheen, Texas metallers Drowning Pool, and Japanese dub-nuts Audio Active, who are also playing a night-before show with Regurgitator at Galatos.
They join a programme which already includes The Prodigy, Garbage, Shihad, New Order, System of a Down, Salmonella Dub, Tadpole, Che Fu, Silverchair and the feelers, among others.
Where: Ericsson Stadium, Penrose, Auckland.
When: Friday January 18
Cost: $90.
Info: www.bigdayout.com
Parachute 2002
What: The annual event that claims to be the second biggest Christian music festival in the world, with its regular attendance of 18,000-plus people over the long weekend. This year's programme features British outfit Delirious, American bands OC Supertones, the Katinas, Salvador, Earthsuit, Skillet and Aussies the Paul Colman Trio as headliners of a programme which features more than 60 acts.
Where: Totara Springs, Matamata.
When: Friday January 25 to Monday January 28
Info: parachutemusic.com
Auckland Folk Festival 2002
What: The annual Auckland Anniversary Weekend gathering for the folk, bluegrass, blues and Celtic-minded. The four-day programme includes Pete Coe (England) and local luminaries like Rua as well as workshops in "Ocarina Making" and "Appalachian Flat Footing Dance". The last act on Saturday night is Lew Black with his "Home Brew and Drinking Songs". Wahey!
Where: Kumeu Showgrounds
When: Fri Jan 25 to Monday 28 January
Info: www.aucklandfolkfestival
DANCE EVENTS
The Gathering
When: December 31 2001 to January 2 2002
Where: Cobb Valley, Golden Bay.
What: House, techno, drum 'n' bass, dub, reggae, trance and more from John Digweed, Pitch Black, Salmonella Dub, Austin Leeds, King Kapisi and about 150 other DJs and live acts. Much of the hoopla about this year's Gathering has centred on the appearance of Sasha's former sparring partner, big name progressive house DJ John Digweed. However, Digweed will not be appearing on New Year's Eve, as he'll be playing in Sydney. But that gap will be filled by an impressive line-up that reads like a who's who of NZ dance and hip-hop.
Cost: $160.
Info: thegathering.co.nz
Alpine Unity
Where: Flock Hill Station, Craigieburn Valley, Canterbury
When: December 30 2001 to January 1 2002
What: Drum'n'bass, dub, reggae, house from Shapeshifter, Pylonz, Digital Pimp, The Black Seeds, Kaps, Soane plus more.
The South Island is definitely the place to be if you want to dance the New Year in under the stars with no less than three large-scale parties on the mainland. The inaugural Alpine Unity Festival will be held in the Southern Alps, 100km west of Christchurch and a stone's throw from Lake Pearson. Alpine Unity is organised by Christchurch dance collective Unity. The musical line-up is varied but mostly based around home town dub and drum'n'bass acts like Kog Transmissions' Shapeshifter.
Cost: $100.
Info: alpineunity.com
Visionz
When: December 30 2001 to January 2 2002
Where: Farewell Spit, Pakawau, Golden Bay.
What: Trance from Kode IV, The Alchemist, Storm, Max Maxwell, Minuit and more. Interestingly, the Gathering will face some local competition from Visionz, which is aimed at those who believe that the Gathering has moved too far away from its traditional trance roots.
Cost: $75-$90.
Info: visionz.org.nz
By RUSSELL BAILLIE and STEPHEN JEWELL
Let the entertainment begin. Summer holidays and end-of-year celebrations mean it's the high season for live music of every kind. Here's a guide to what's on offer in the way of tours, dance events, festivals and those all-important New Year's Eve shindigs. Our writers give
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