Our guide of where to go, what to see and what to do this weekend.
Mermaidens. Photo: Facebook
Mermaidens: Local trio Mermaidens release their debut album this Friday (though you can listen to it ahead of time over at Noisey) and to celebrate they’re heading out on a four-stop tour of the North Island. While most of the dates take place next month, they begin with a release show at home in Wellington on Friday night. It’s going down at San Fran, with support from Hex and Womb. Entry is $10 on the door.
Auckland City Limits: With a line-up of 40 acts that include Kendrick Lamar, The National, Action Bronson and the Cold War Kids, the inaugural Auckland City Limits festival is finally upon us. Everything goes down this Saturday at Western Springs and tickets are available from their official website. We’ll be live blogging the event on the day so, for more, check back with us on Saturday morning. Otherwise, see you there.
Auckland City Limits Afterparty: If a 12 hour festival isn’t quite enough for you, Noisey are hosting the Auckland City Limits afterparty at Whammy Bar from midnight till 4am. Acts include Eno x Dirty and Cool Runnings (who are said to be playing their last show), plus there’ll also be DJ sets from Scuba Diva, TSR Airlines and LVJ. Entry is free.
D’Angelo: In what should be one of the best shows of the year, D’Angelo is here for a one-off can’t-miss performance as part of NZ Festival this evening. Last here in 2014 as part of the line-up for Soulfest, the singer now has his long-awaited third album, Black Messiah, finally behind him. Yes, tickets are still on sale. Scoop them up here.
Buzzcocks: Still going steady, iconic English punk act the Buzzcocks are back in New Zealand for four dates as part of their 40th anniversary tour. Off the back of their Wellington show last night, the band play Dunedin and Christchurch over the next couple of nights before wrapping up the tour at the Powerstation on Saturday. Tickets are still available here.
Gang of Youths: While they’re here as part of Auckland City Limits, Sydney act Gang of Youths are heading to Wellington for a sideshow ahead of the main event. They band, who are coming off the back of their debut release The Positions, play Bodega on Friday night. Tickets are available through Live Nation.
Chick’s Hotel: With much-loved Chick’s Hotel set to close, the Dunedin venue will be host to two special and final gigs over the weekend (though, as we learned, it turns out there’s the potential the odd show to still happen). The All Seeing Hand – who will be joined by Opposite Sex and Élan Vital – play this Friday night ahead of a show on Sunday featuring The Clean and The Shifting Sands. Find out more right here.