Matariki month
On patrol again
It’s not too late to catch Fur Patrol on the band’s 20th anniversary tour with UK band Swervedriver. The iconic New Zealand group, fronted by Julia Deans, is re-uniting for three shows with the British shoegazing innovators. ‘‘I am really looking forward to playing with Julia and Simon again,’’ says guitarist and founding member Andrew Bain. ‘‘I can’t believe it’s been 20 years and we’re still best mates, let alone still playing music together. Then to be playing with Swervedriver, who were hugely influential on me when we were starting out, I can’t wait.’’ The shows are June 17 (Christchurch), June 18 (Wellington), and June 29 (Auckland).
Dance the night away
A new festival of Pacific contemporary dance at Mangere Arts Centre, from June 13-18, brings to fruition an idea years in development by Pacific Dance New Zealand. ‘‘The festival is New Zealand’s first contemporary Pacific dance festival of its type and showcases some of the country’s most exciting contemporary Pacific dance choreographers,’’ says festival director Iosefa Enari. Bringing together an array of choreographers who have previously taken part in the Pacific Dance Choreographic Laboratory (2009-2015), the festival provides an opportunity for the artists involved to take previously devised works from ‘‘the lab’’ and represent them in developed form. ‘‘It is also a wonderful opportunity for audiences to familiarise themselves with the incredible diversity of performance out there,’’ Enari says. Auckland Council and Ngati Paoa have put together a comprehensive programme of events to celebrate Matariki 2016. The festival runs from June 18 to July 17, and is a mix of visual arts and theatre through to whanau and community activities such as kite flying and poi making. There are five key events – Dawn Karakia on Waiheke Island (June 18), Kapa Haka Super 12s, Matariki on the Move (a concert series by He Huinga Whetu, which is made up of musicians who are part of the Pao Pao Pao mentor programme founded by Hirini Melbourne, and a theatre production called SolOthello, a oneman