What’s on in O¯tautahi Christchurch
Last Saturday, Lieutenant Guisung Lee, a top bloke and genuine hero who once saved someone’s life, took me on a guided tour of the HMNZS Canterbury. She (ships are she apparently) was in port at Lyttelton 10 years ago when the earthquake struck, and her crew provided immediate support in Lyttelton at the time.
Up and down a dizzying array of stairs we went, traversing the Moorhouse Ave wing to Fitzgerald Ave, I met wonderful people, saw incredible views and learnt interesting things (they spend $9000 a month on sweets and have an ace basketball net). I somehow got a bruise on my knee in the shape of Australia on a fake fire made of cardboard used for drills. A passing man in uniform found it amusing and, lifting his eyebrows, asked if I was OK.
On Monday, at 12.51pm, I randomly saw the stranger in uniform again. He stood a few steps away at Lyttelton’s Albion Square, as we gathered to commemorate those affected by that terrible day 10 years ago. After the minute of silence and a few songs, The Eastern, joined by Marlon Williams, sang a song and dedicated it to me. It was so unexpected I burst into tears and tried to hide it behind my sunnies. But the complete stranger noticed, and lifted his eyebrows in the unspoken universal ‘‘you OK?’’ gesture all Christchurch residents know so well. Lifting my eyebrows at you collectively, Christchurch.
The Christchurch song of the week is Bic Runga’s new song, No One Walks This Night Alone, which reflects on her hometown’s journey. She will perform in the Botanic Gardens at 2pm on Sunday in a free concert, O¯ tautahi Together, the culmination of the 10th anniversary commemorations of the Christchurch earthquake. The MC is Sam Johnson, who founded the Student Volunteer Army.
Electric Avenue
Saturday at Hagley Park North, for 12 beautiful hours.
Christchurch’s biggest outdoor festival is here – prepare to party with 24,999 other people at Electric Avenue in what is a festival attendance record with tickets selling out six weeks in advance.
Relying heavily on local talent, the festival line-up includes more than 35 artists including Benee, Fat Freddy’s Drop, Netsky, Shapeshifter, L.A.B., Kora, Salmonella Dub and Tiki Taane, Scribe and P-Money, Troy Kingi and The Clutch, Ladi6 and so many more artists performing across multiple stages over 12 hours.
‘‘We are pretty stoked – 25,000 is a big jump up from previous years and to sell it out six weeks in advance is pretty unbelievable really,’’’ Team Event chief executive Callam Mitchell said.
(If you’re in town for the festival and looking for something to do tonight, check out Wellington band Dartz at the Darkroom as part of their High at the Beach summer tour and perhaps note their ode to summer 2021 and cautionary tune Bath Salts).
Mini Comedy Festival
Good Times Comedy Club, 224 St Asaph St, today and tomorrow
Good Times Comedy Club The dedicated comedy club first opened in January 2020 only to close temporarily in November 2020. Owner Snap Versus Morality – who sold his name to Game Kings New Zealand in the initial club fundraising – and a small team of investors with interests in the local arts scene have worked to reopen the venue this weekend with a mini festival.
Tonight: 6pm to 7pm, Staff Do. A comedy chat show hosted by Best MC Winner Snap Versus Morality featuring the club’s management team. Headlined by bar manager and award-winning comic, Georgie Sivier and supported by Mike and Pip Taylor. 8pm-10pm, WAP comedy, Women* against the Patriarchy present the debut of the monthly non-male open mic that everyone’s welcome to watch.
Tomorrow: 4pm to 6.30pm, Games! Games! Games! Board games, video games on the big screen, good dogs encouraged, snacks and local beverages. Free entry. 7pm to 8pm, Cardigan Faget – Jadwiga. Cardigan Faget (pronounced fah-jey!) is a comedic exploration of life on the margins of mental health, gender and sexuality. 9pm to 11pm, Drag Karaoke hosted by Fred Ayyy.
An Evening with Marlon Williams
In celebration of new material, Marlon Williams performs three shows at the Christchurch Town Hall (James Hay Theatre) this week, which started last night with final sold out shows tonight and tomorrow
Silver Ferns
Tuesday and Wednesday at Christchurch Arena, 7pm. The Silver Ferns will face their arch rivals the Australian Diamonds in a bid to win the Constellation Cup.
Estuary Fest
Saturday at McCormacks Bay Reserve next to the community centre, 1pm to 5pm.
Estuary Fest celebrates the AvonHeathcote Ihutai estuary and is organised by the Mt Pleasant Memorial Community Centre and Residents’ Association in partnership with the Avon-Heathcote Ihutai Trust. The event aims to celebrate the special nature of the estuary and all that live in, on and around it as well of those that play on it. The festival features stalls and displays about the estuary and wetlands, plus fairground rides, food trucks and live entertainment by local performers. Free entry but some rides cost a gold coin.
Sol3 Mio
Tomorrow at Christchurch Town Hall auditorium. Sol3 Mio, popular operatic pop vocal trio featuring Pene and Amitai Pati – both tenors – and their baritone cousin Moses Mackay, fuses classical, opera, and pop music with a playful wit and frequent nods to their Samoan heritage. Expect fun banter and exquisite harmonies. See Ticketek for tickets.