Our guide of where to go, what to see and what to do this weekend.
Conor Oberst is in the country this week for one NZ show. Photo: Unknown
Conor Oberst: Last in New Zealand 10 years ago under his Bright Eyes moniker to support R.E.M., Conor Oberst is back for one show this Monday at Auckland venue The Powerstation. The tour comes after the release of his 2014 album Upside Down Mountain, a record well-received by critics, and a more-refined step away from the work of his 20s. Support comes from New York folk-rock band The Felice Brothers and tickets are still on sale for $79 via Ticketmaster.
NZ Breakers: Despite losing their last match of the regular season against the Cairns Taipans last week, the NZ Breakers head into the semi-finals second in the overall standings and ready to face the Adelaide 36ers for game one this Thursday in Auckland and game two on Saturday in Australia. If necessary, and hopefully it won’t be, a third and determining match will be back in New Zealand on Monday. In the meantime, and ICYMI, watch Cedric Jackson’s recent game winning buzzer beater.
Westfest: Westfest is weirdly set to take place on a Tuesday but it’s worth mentioning here anyway purely for the fact that promoters have impressively distilled a lineup like this into one day. Soundgarden, Faith No More, Fall Out Boy, Judas Priest, and heaps more are part of the festival which has upsized from Vector Arena last year to Mount Smart Stadium for its current incarnation which we hope to see again and again. Tickets are $178 and still available via Ticketmaster. Do it right and you’ll probably have to take Wednesday off work too.
Lantern Festival: Now in its 16th year, the Auckland lantern festival runs from today until March 1 in Albert Park with over 800 handmade lanterns on show. The fireworks, on at 10.30pm Sunday night, are always good too so make plans with your sweetie accordingly.
J Mascis: After playing here back in 2013 with Dinosaur Jr, legendary frontman J Mascis is heading back to New Zealand this week for a string of shows across the country. Expect to hear material from his latest album Tied To A Star, and catch him tonight in Christchurch, with shows in Wellington, Auckland and Dunedin on the days following. Tickets for all shows are $59.50 and available through Under The Radar.
NZ v Australia: In one of the biggest matchups of the Cricket World Cup yet, the Black Caps play Australia in a day/night match this Saturday at Eden Park, beginning at 2pm. Tickets are fully sold out so good on you if you scooped one up already and see you near the telly at the pub if you didn’t.
Peter Hook and The Light: Here to perform New Order’s third and fourth albums, Low Life and Brotherhood, in their entirety, NO/Joy Division icon Peter Hook is in New Zealand as part of a three-date tour with his backing band The Light. We’re keen to hear how the Christchurch show went last night so hit us up in the comments section if you went, and catch him in Wellington tonight and Auckland on Friday.
SJD: After performing at Splore last weekend, 2013 Taite Music Prize winner SJD is playing a set this Friday at Golden Dawn with Leonard Charles. He’s just released the new video for ‘I Wanna Be Foolish’, the first track from his forthcoming album Saint John Divine and you can watch the video for it, directed by Greg Page, below.
Did we miss something? Leave your suggestions in the comments or email us with your events here.