Seven elements to attract you to the City of Sails this winter
From orchestral raves to cooking tutorials, Mina Kerr-Lazenby finds her top picks for Auckland’s Elemental Festival.
If you’re looking to get out and about in Auckland over the winter, then the city’s annual Elemental Festival continues to grow and offers some unique and exciting options.
This year’s offerings including a jam-packed lineup of food, arts and music.
The festival, which runs from July until early August, transforms ahost of eateries, bars, hotel lobbies, theatres, stadiums and public spaces into venues for memorable events.
From orchestral raves to cooking tutorials, lofty ticketed events to free adventures, there is plenty to see.
Art in the park
Sports-stadium-turned-concertvenue Eden Park can now add ‘gallery’ to its ever-expanding bow. Contemporary art show Art In The Park will debut this July as part of Elemental Festival, and will fill the hallowed grounds with works from a wide range of painters, printmakers, sculptors and photographers.
Throughout the weekend the artists themselves will be onhand to connect with the community and discuss their works, showcase their talents, and help guests decide which pieces they want to take home to add to their own, carefully curated art collections.
■ Eden Park, July 23–25.
Interesting Places: The Subterranean Sessions
Sure, you’ve been to festivals around the country, and frequented gigs in obscure bars – but have you ever experienced live music inside a 1.2km tunnel system that was built during World War Two?
Elemental’s Interesting Places will see Fortress Stony Batter, on the eastern side of Waiheke Island, play host to a series of stripped-back, intimate performances. Auckland musical ensemble Tiny Ruins, Finn Andrews from The Veils, R&B songstress Deva Mahal and one-man-band Delaney Davidson will be a few of the first to showcase the space’s impressive acoustics.
■ Waiheke, July 17–18.
Kai by kayak
Adventurous types should look no further than Kai By Kayak, a day-long event that invites festival goers to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and truly sing for their supper.
Ran by Auckland Sea Kayaks, Kai By Kayak entails a waterborne sojourn to Devonport, where Corelli’s Cafe´ awaits for a refuelling pitstop. Following the hearty home-style dinner, paddlers will make their way home lit by the stars.
■ Mission Bay, July 17–31.
Morning People’s 5th birthday
The growing rise of wellness has resulted in ravers yearning for more fresh, inventive and – most importantly – sober avenues to experience dance music. Five years ago Morning People stepped up to the plate, creating 5am parties that left ravers with a pre-work endorphin rush rather than the emergence of a nightmarish hangover.
July sees the movement celebrate five years of existence with the mother of all morning parties at the Auckland Town Hall, brought to life by the big band sound of Weird Together and drum and bass tracks from Shapeshifter’s Sam Trevethick, aka Sambora. Complimentary coffee from Cafe L’affare, bananas from All Good, and invigorising mate´ drinks courtesy of Club Mate will be on hand to keep ravers energised.
■ Auckland Town Hall, July 24.
Synthony
On the other end of the spectrum is an offering brought by Synthony, one that caters to those who prefer their raves loud, late and liquor-friendly. Bearing those three factors in mind, you should probably forget everything you think you know about orchestral music:
Synthony is about to blow any preconceived notions out of the water.
Worlds will collide for its Elemental appearance, as Spark Arena comes alive with a fusion of pumping electronic dance music, a full live orchestra, and a magnificent light and laser show.
■ Spark Arena, September 17.
Josh Emett Oyster Inn masterclass
If the thought of being presented with a glistening tray of oysters incites nervousness more than it does excitement, it is likely you’re letting ‘oyster etiquette’ fear get the better of you. To slurp or not to slurp? Which dressing should be chosen? What really is the purpose of that tiny fork? Questions are all too common with the oyster experience but Josh Emett, Michelin-starred chef and owner of The Oyster Inn on Waiheke, is adamant that shouldn’t be the case.
Emett’s oyster masterclass is designed to make the oystereating experience a breezy one. During the event no question will be left unanswered. Emett will show guests how to shuck and prepare the ocean delicacy, and will demonstrate how to make three classic dressings, alongside a basic batter, so next time you can do the hosting.
■ The Oyster Inn, July 31.
East Auckland Art Trail
The East Auckland Art Trail covers aesthetics from all angles, giving guests the opportunity to peruse fine artworks against even finer backdrops.
From scenic landscapes to the bones of tucked away galleries, no two locations are the same. At each of the checkpoints festival goers are invited to get creative, or simply watch the artists in action.
The trail culminates in a retro disco on ice event, where art aficionados are encouraged to don skates and demonstrate their moves. Because what says ‘cultured’ more than flailing around on ice after a long day poring over art?
■ Various locations, July 14 – August 1.