Auckland Festival: Big names need a big budget

David Malacari at the Spiegeltent, a favourite with festival-goers. Photo / Richard Robinson

Flamboyant singer Grace Jones headlined the Sydney Arts Festival in January. Patti Smith led the charge at last year's Melbourne International Arts Festival.

Auckland Festival director David Malacari says his team has talked about "the odd one or two" they would like to get "but it would require a significantly bigger programme budget" than the festival's $2 million grant over two years from the Auckland City Council, plus a grant of $425,000 approved by the council last August.

The Melbourne festival gets nearly $6 million a year from the Victorian state government alone.

Mr Malacari is not interested in talking about the festival he can't have, at this stage anyway.

"Artists like Grace Jones and Patti Smith are very expensive," says Mr Malacari, now in his third term as director of the biennial festival, which started in 2003.

"They would cost more than we currently have, but one day ..."

He says he has put together a programme which caters to a wide range of tastes, from Mahler with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra to family entertainment with Circus Oz, celebrating its 30th birthday - "The point is, it's a popular work that balances the programme."

With five events opening the festival tonight, Mr Malacari - who likes to attend as many shows as he can - is torn for choice, joking that he might dash from lobby to lobby so he looks as if he's at all of them. He will settle on choreographer Lemi Ponifasio's Tempest: Without a Body at the Aotea Centre as it's a one-off.

The festival hub, formerly in the Britomart area, has moved to the Aotea Centre and Square this year, accommodating late-night favourites The Famous Spiegeltent and Red Square.

HIGHLIGHTS FOR FIRST WEEK

Today
* Circus Oz 30th Birthday Bash, Bruce Mason Centre, from tonight to March 15.
* Gathering Clouds: The return of Black Grace (choreographer Neil Ieremia). The Civic, from tonight.
* Hip Hop singer Ladi6, 11.30pm Festival Club, Aotea Centre.

Tomorrow
* Brother and sister Punk duo Die Roten Punkte, the Famous Spiegeltent 11.30pm.

Saturday
* The Queen Street Sing Sing with Wantok Musik Foundation & Guest Artists: An afternoon of free music and a market village in Queen St.

Sunday
* Leila Adu sings solo, Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre 9.30pm.

Monday
* Inia Te Wiata tribute concert, Festival Club, Aotea Centre 7.30pm.

Tuesday
* Paprika Balkanicus, traditional and gypsy music, the Famous Spiegeltent 6.45pm.