What's On: February 09

NZSO Starry Nights Concert Series: NZ’s own Tina Cross, diva of pop, rock and soul performs with the NZSO for one night only. In collaboration with music director Carl Doy and singers Grant Sullivan and Bella Kalolo (from Dancing with the Stars), Tina will perform hits including Nothing but Dreams, Night on Disco Mountain and Final Countdown. There will also be a special Phantom of the Opera Medley in tribute to the late great Rob Guest. Head to Frank Kitts Park, Wellington at 8pm for the free musical night under the stars.

Waitangi Day: Celebrate New Zealand’s Day with some of the fun events on offer. Area 09 is a new Kiwi music event set to rock in the heart of Mackenzie Country, South Canterbury. This event will contribute to the preservation of New Zealand's rarest bird, the Black Stilt, as well as promote NZ music and the NZ summer lifestyle. Area 09 runs for 48 hours from Feb 6 to 8. Click here for more info.

The Festival of the Elements is another option if you’re in the Porirua area and best of all, it’s free. It’s held at the Te Rauparaha Arena and will utilise the Aquatic Centre and Pataka. The day starts with an opening ceremony at 11.00am, with a wide range of arts and entertainment programmes continuing through until 7.00pm. The actual Waitangi Treaty Grounds are also open today with a traditional 21-gun salute and free concert. Other events for Waitangi include: Waitangi Day Out West, Auckland Lantern Festival (Feb 6 – 8) and is the first day of the More FM Winery Tour.

Raggamuffin: Raggamuffin played a sold out show to more than 30,000 ecstatic fans in February last year, proving that reggae is alive and well in Aotearoa. This year’s event offers another musical feast of the world's best reggae artists, with a healthy dose of funk, dub, hip hop and soul. Headlining Raggamuffin 2009 is reggae icon, Bob Marley's eldest son Ziggy Marley. The festival also features Shaggy, Eddy Grant, Ali Campbell from UB40, Kora and more. So for nine bands over ten hours of music head to Rotorua and www.raggamuffin.co.nz for tickets.

OMHZ at Sacred Hill Winery: Treat yourself to some soulful sounds from the new collaboration of musicians known as The OMHZ. They’re playing on Saturday 7^th and 8^th February at Sacred Hill winery. OMHZ is made up of familiar names in the music arena from Wellington and Hawkes Bay including Sage who is also the bass player for Rio Hemopos band (formerly Trinity Roots), Mara TK a solo artist also playing with Electric Wire Hustle, solo artist Ryan Prebble and in the rhythm section Iraia Whakamoe and Willie Devine from the Tropics. See www.sacredhill.co.nz for more info.

Telecom Movies in Parks: The free Movies in Parks is on again 2009 with a longer series of midweek classic Kiwi films. While staking your spot in the park, live New Zealand music will set the scene for the feature film, projected after sunset onto a large inflatable screen. Check out: Eagle vs Shark with Artisan Guns on Wednesday, 11 February; The Rain of the Children with Caoimhe Macfehin on Wednesday, 18 February and No. 2 with Paul Ubana Jones on Wednesday, 25 February. It’s held at Tahaki Reserve, Auckland. See www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/events for more info.

Happy Birthday Jennifer Aniston!
 

Top Gear Live: Treat your man to see Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and NZ’s Greg Murphy in person in a live motoring theatre show. Top Gear Live features breath-taking stunts, amazing special effects and blockbusting driving sequences with some of the world’s best precision drivers. Clarkson says it best himself: “We’ve turned your motoring television show into the most spectacular motoring theatre show in the universe. We’ll be taking all the best bits of Top Gear, and ambitiously attempting them live in our action arena.” Shows run on the 12^th, 13^th, 14^th and 15^th of Feb in Auckland. See www.topgearlive.co.nz for more info.

Valentines Day: Take your loved one out or stray from the norm and hang out with your girl mates at them at one of these events on Valentines Day! There’s the Kumeu Beer, Wine and Food Festival, A preview of ‘In Search of a Midnight Kiss’ at Academy Cinemas for the occasion, Rainbows End by Night including Roller Coaster speed dating and Simply Red with Hollie Smith in Napier.
 

Strassman with Ted E’s Farewell Tour: The cute Ted E Bare is unfortunately announcing his show biz retirement and what better way to do it than with David Strassman on tour. The show is a star-studded tribute to Ted E Bare's greatest showbiz moments. Of course, Ted E Bare’s departure leaves a hole to fill and Strassman meets some new and extraordinary characters, desperate to join the show.  Meanwhile, existing characters Chuck Wood, the grumpy and cantankerous Grandpa Fred, attention-seeking A.N.G.E.L. and intergalactic Kevin battle it out to get more of the show to themselves. Strassman: Ted E’s Farewell Tour is at SkyCity Theatre, Auckland from February 17-22. Book at Ticketek on 0800 TICKETEK or www.ticketek.co.nz

 

DocNZ Film Festival: The Auckland round of this year’s New Zealand Documentary Film Festival starts with films from NZ and around the world. There’s a wide range of topics to suit your curiosity, including failed rockers, a beat up Volkswagen Beetle, Islamic homosexuals and culture change in a small town. Previous festivals have screened future Oscar-nominee and winners and the tradition is set to continue. The final programme of more than 50 films will be released in late January and the films will also screen in Wellington (March 12 – 22) and Christchurch/Dunedin (March 26 – April 5). See www.docnz.org.nz/festival/index.html for details.

 

Misdemeanours at The Classic: "Misdemeanours" is a spectacle of live music, comedy, burlesque and circus showing at The Classic comedy bar as part of the Auckland Fringe Festival. Performers include: Heavenly Burlesque's The Magenta Diamond and The Sisters of Strangelove, former Cirque du Soleil Aerialist Ebon Grayman, acclaimed Burlesque sensation Miss La Vida and the show's host, comedian Andre King. It is expected to encapsulate the essence of a fringe festival by encouraging audiences to take risks and partake in a unique experience. See www.aucklandfringe.org.nz.

Billy Connolly: He’s playing 19 shows nationwide and is nearly sold out already! Back after five years Billy Connolly's February tour will be his 12th tour of NZ since 1981. To see the un-politically correct, no-nonsense Scottish comedian you’ll need to be in quick and head to www.ticketdirect.co.nz.