If you want to make a good omelette you have to break a few eggsAiming to please is always my intention, but occasionally one needs to step away from being Mr Nice-Guy and go head first for what you want. I had wanted to meet Dizzee Rascal and Carl Cox for years and last Friday I managed to. I incurred a badly swollen/bruised ankle and a one foot gash on my shin, but it was worth it. Read the full uncensored story on my site!There's another fantastic collection of prizes to win this week - and now that 2008 is really getting cranking, there are a whole lot of events you are not going to want to miss. It’s all laid out for your viewing pleasure below, along with my usual selection of photo highlights from the week (the full set are in The Evidence on my website). |
Winners From The Last GuideJoanna McNeill won the Groove In The Park double pass.Graham Rodgers and Amelia-Jane Hoffman can now see the movie Cloverfield with a buddy. Kelli Sullivan is taking a friend to Aquatica this weekend in The Viaduct. Erica Dorey and her friend Sonya went to The Kingslander’s Dinner and a Movie night last Thursday. |
Cool Things To Win This Week1 x double pass to The Lindauer Garden Party at Ellerslie Racecourse this Sunday to see the feature race The Karaka Million. You get all the royal treatment and can even bring your guest to mine to join the crew prior for pre-drinks. Email me back with “Karaka Million” as the title to be in the running.3 x double passes to Excess – Back In The Day at Met & Code this Friday. Dj’s from all over NZ and the world play for your pleasure. If this sounds good, email me with “Excess” as the header. 1 x bottle of the latest vodka to grace us with its formidable presence. Alchemia is top-of-the-line stuff, Polish, comes in a bottle shaped like an obelisk, is triple distilled and you can choose from 5 exotic flavours. I have a bottle of infused wild cherry to give away. Write “Alchemia Vodka” as the header for your email entry. 2 x double passes to see Tom Neville, one of the UK’s finest producers and remixers, spin one charging set at Asta this Saturday. Put “Tom Neville” as the title of your email when you enter to win. 1 x $100 bar-tab at The Globe Bar. It’s the only place in Auckland that parties 7 days a week. If you want to meet me and the crew there one night next week for copious drinks, write “Globe” in the subject line and email me. 1 x double pass to Coreteaser at Space this Saturday. For those that like hard dance music, the tunes are uplifting and the place has a happy vibe. If you class yourself as a hardcore party animal, don’t miss this. Email me with “Coreteaser” as the title and you’re in the draw. |
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Wednesday January 23rd$4 NightThe Globe, Darby St, Auckland Central No Charge. 8pm – Late Whenever you go to The Globe the majority are backpackers, that and the fact that it has an up-for-it crowd every night of the week are its charms,. There’s a singles pool competition and DJ Ridik remixes the remixes from 10pm. And/Or Openair Cinema: Eagle Vs Shark Matakana Country Park, Matakana Entry $7 - $13. 8.45 – 10.15pm Feel like a drive tonight? Try something else; accept the 1 hour drive and hit Matakana for a meal and a movie. See one of the best movies that I saw last year, and one of the best Kiwi made flicks ever. Hilarious. |
Thursday January 24thDJ Mark PickeringChapel Bar, 147 Ponsonby Rd, Ponsonby No Charge. 8pm – 12am Mark digs out his finest vinyl tit-bits and entertains the crowd with funk, soul, rare groove and a batch of disco for good measure. Requests are available. And/Or Summer Classic Cocktail Competition The Reef Bar, 71 Tamaki Dr, Mission Bay No Charge, 9pm – 1am The tunes rock as beginners though to utter pros compete for prizes, and a spot in the final where the world’s their oyster. The bar is expansive and has a great balcony view over the beach. And/Or Step into the Music Spy Bar, 204 Quay St, Viaduct Harbour No Charge. 10pm – Late Keen for a boogie on a Thursday and like funky house and grinding electro? Come here. |
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Friday January 25thInternational Customs DayThe National Maritime Museum, Cnr Quay & Hobson Sts, Viaduct Harbour No Charge. 10am – 4pm I find shows like Airport and Border Patrol very educational and intriguing. Now you can see behind the scenes. Bomb detector and drug dogs are put to the test. The HAWK IV vessel will be berthed in the marina for visitors to climb aboard, and a mobile X-ray unit shows how they check baggage at airports. And/Or Squeeze B2B Sessions Hush Lounge Bar, Cnr Paul Matthews Rd & Omega St, Albany No Charge. 10pm – 2am A bit of a drive but the welcome is friendly, and you’ll get to see 3 sets of house DJ’s go back 2 back. And/Or The Turnaround Montecristo Room, Toto’s Restaurant, 53 Nelson St, Auckland Central $15 on the door. 11pm – Very late If an event runs consistently for over 5 years it must be alright. The last Friday of each month The Turnaround crew attract a vibrant and social party crowd to dance till dawn to RnB, dancehall, soul and reggae beats. |
Saturday January 26thAquatica 08 - Legends of Kiwi Rock! (Th’ Dudes, Op Shop & The Exponents)Te Wero Island, Eastern Viaduct, Downtown Auckland Tickets $49 from www.ticketek.co.nz. 7 – 11pm Aquatica actually goes on for 3 full days (Fri – Sun), with loads of free fun and activities all over the Viaduct Basin. But it’s this gig that I’m hyped about. NZ’s favourite rock sons, Th' Dudes, headline what is set to be an unforgettable night of Kiwi music. Current NZ chart toppers, and NZ Music Award winners, Op Shop, kick off the gig, with classic Kiwi band The Exponents following, delivering the hits they're famous for. And/Or Tom Neville (Dance Party) Asta, 10a Victoria St, Auckland Central Entry $10 before 12am, more after. 10pm – Late He’s an international techno dynamo when it comes to pumping out hits and remixing. With the help of Angela Fisken and Mark Emerson he’s going to blow Asta’s floor apart with firey house and filthy electro. And/Or Coreteaser (Dance Party) Space, 6 Osbourne St, Newmarket Tickets $15 presale from tickets@624.co.nz, or $20 on the door. 10pm – 6am The best Hard Dance DJ’s in NZ come together to celebrate tracks in excess of 150bpm to hundreds of mad rabbit ravers. I went to the last one and stayed right to the end. Blistering fun. |
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Sunday January 27thThe Lindauer Lawn PartyEllerslie Racecourse, 80-100 Ascot Ave, Greenlane Tickets $30 from www.ellerslie.co.nz. Or call (09) 5223824. 4pm – Late There’s no point going unless you are in the Lindauer Lawn Party zone. Gather some friends, get dressed up and come meet some really fun people. If you buy online or by phone, put “Party Marty’s Guide” in the comments column, or tell the operator, and get 2 for the price of one. And/Or Meloneza (Dance Party) The Mataitai (150m along the shore from the wharf), Waiheke Island Entry $10 before 7pm, $15 after. Call Mel for more info. (09) 3722823. 12pm – 12amish The party is split in 2. From 12 – 7pm there’s an all ages outdoors dance party. From 7pm the adults stay and play. Exotic dancers and fire twirlers entertain alongside some of Auckland’s finest House, and Hard-House DJ’s. A tranquil spot for a not so tranquil party. And/Or Lazy Edinburgh Castle, Cnr Newton Rd & Symonds St, Newton No Charge, 2 – 6pm It’s not really a castle but it’s about as old as one. Rain or shine it’s all good (best if sunny of course), chill to soulful beats and wrestle back a few old school jugs. |
Monday January 28thHolden Astra Sounds of SummerCoyle Park, 528 Pt Chevalier Rd, Pt Chevalier No Charge. 3 – 6pm One for the over 35’s I think. Pack an early dinner and some home comforts then head to Point Chev to see Don McGlashan, Tim Guy and The Heavy Jones Trio do their thing. And/Or A Day on the Green. Feat. Joe Cocker Villa Maria Winery, 118 Montgomerie Rd, Mangere Tickets $90 - $158 from www.ticketmaster.co.nz. 4.30 – 10pm This “A Day on the Green” thing is an Aussie idea that comes to us after 108 showings over there. One of the worlds best Soul and RnB singers is helped out by Blues bandit Hammond Gamble first, then NZ Roots legend Midge Marsden. Bring your picnic and something warm and comfy. |
Tuesday January 29thSuper 14 - Blues v RedsSuncorp Stadium, Brisbane On Sky, kick-off 9.40pm Seems mad I know but the Super 14 is here. The first game of the season, it’s a pre-season one in preparation for their first official game on Feb 16th. |
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Up And Coming Fun TimesJanuary 31st, Global Circus, The Classic Comedy ClubJanuary 31st – Feb 5th, Auckland International Buskers Festival, Auckland CBD February 1st, Liam Finn, Auckland Zoo February 1st, Salmonella Dub & The NZSO, Aotea Centre February 1st, Hero Launch Party, Auckland CBD February 1st, Wellington Rugby Sevens, The Caketin, Wellington February 2nd, National Anthems Dance Party, Space, Newmarket February 2nd, Groundhog Day February 2nd, Raggamuffin, Rotorua February 2nd, Systematic:Feat Tayo, Zen, Auckland CBD February 2nd, Waiheke Island Wine Festival, Waiheke Island February 2nd, Sundown, Stonyridge Vineyard, Waiheke Island February 3rd, Culturefest 08, Onetangi, Waiheke Island February 3rd, George FM pres. Free Parking, Western Park February 3rd, Fat Tuesday February 4th, Superbowl XLII, America February 5th, Jambalaya Jam, Safari Lounge, Ponsonby February 5th, BlackCaps V England Twenty/20 Cricket, Eden Park, Auckland February 6th, Groove In The Park, Western Springs February 6th, Movies In The Parks, Whale Rider, Tahaki Reserve, Auckland February 8th – 10th, Splore Music Festival, Tapapakanga Regional Park February 9th, The Coast 2 Coast Longest Day, Kumara 2 Sumner Beach February 9th, Zoo Music – Holly Smith, Auckland Zoo February 9th, Freeformation Hard Dance Party, Space, Newmarket February 9th, Diesel Bourbon Cola Bikini Competition – Heat 1, Pats Garage, North Shore February 10th, BFM Summer Series #1, Albert Park February 10th, Big Gay Out, Coyle Park, Point Chevalier February 12th, PJ Harvey, The Civic, Auckland February 13th, Movies In The Parks, Sione’s Wedding, Tahaki Reserve February 13th, Lindauer Twilight Summer Racing, Ellerslie Racecourse February 14th, Valentines Day February 14th, Singles Dance Party feat. Sample Gee, The Kingslander February 15th, Soundsplash ’08 (Starts), Raglan February 15th, Nathan Haines, Montecristo Room, Toto’s Restaurant February 15th, NZ Warriors 1st Preseason Game, North Harbour Stadium February 16th, The Cross St Carnival, Cross St, Newton February 16th, Bacardi B-Live Gig, Union Fish Building, Viaduct Harbour February 16th, Mission Bay Jazz & Blues Festival, Mission Bay February 16th, Whisky Live, The Civic, Auckland February 16th, Auckland Blues v Waikato Chiefs Super 14, Eden Park February 16th, Sounds Of Summer, Masonic Tavern, Devonport February 16th, Devonport Wine & Food Festival, Devonport February 16th, Sonic Youth, Bruce Mason Centre, Takapuna February 16th, Tiger Beer Dragon Boat Festival, Viaduct Harbour February 17th, The Phoenix Foundation, Auckland Zoo February 17th, The Winery Tour, Isola Estate, Waiheke Island February 17th, Auckland International Cultural Festival, Auckland City February 17th, Battle Of The Streets, Paeroa February 18th, Rod Stewart, Vector Arena February 20th, Movies In The Parks, Sleeping Dogs, Tahaki Reserve February 22nd, Auckland Lantern Festival begins, Auckland City February 22nd, Fevah, The Colosseum, Tauranga February 23rd, A Bush Party feat. Fat Freddies Drop, Matakana February 23rd, Hero Dance Party, The Civic, Auckland February 23rd, The Great NZ Beer Festival, Ellerslie Racecourse February 24th, Holden Astra Summer Sounds, Sturges Park, Otahuhu February 24th, 80th Academy Awards, Hollywood February 25th, Ween, Powerstation, Mt Eden February 27th, Movies In The Parks, Goodbye Pork Pie, Tahaki Reserve February 28th, Chemical Brothers, Vector Arena February 29th, Blues At Blockhouse Bay, Blockhouse Bay Reserve February 29th, Katchafire, Auckland Zoo March 1st, Greg Johnson & Anna Coddington, Selwyn Reserve, Mission Bay March 1st, Mercedes Derby Day, Ellerslie Racecourse March 2nd, Toto, The Civic March 2nd, BFM Summer Series #2, Albert Park |