Get ready for sounds of summer
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THERE'S plenty of music to celebrate in the next few weeks. Warm up in Hamilton with some pre-Christmas gigs, then head for more entertainment in Auckland, Waihi Beach and down south.
HAMILTON progressive-rock originals band Mask play Hamilton's JBC bar on Friday night with acoustic act Jhana as support. Tickets are $5 waged, $3 unwaged, and Jhana will kick the night off around 9pm. Mask assure they've hired a "wicked PA" so the audience will enjoy a great sound.
THE KGB Summer of Music continues at the Hillcrest Tavern with two shows this week. This Friday, catch Subtract and Propeller as their New Zealand tour hits Hamilton, entry $5. Saturday night sees Voom back in Hamilton playing with fellow Aucklanders Thorzine Shuffle and local act Trinket. Entry is $8 waged, $5 others, plus the first 50 people through the door get a free copy of Voom's new album Now I Am Me.
THE LONG-WAITED album from notorious Hamilton band Mobile Stud Unit (MSU) is finally being released just two days before Christmas. The release party is planned for Wednesday, December 23, at the city's old Ward Lane Tavern venue, now called Pulse. Hamilton bands Viagra and Trinket will join MSU on the night with special guest stars the Scandinavian metal act Malestum, who will return to Hamilton especially for the CD release. MSU's limited edition CD sells on the night for $10.
FURTHER AFIELD, pick from some of these events in the next month or two. Auckland's Big Day Out at Ericsson Stadium on January 15 followed a week or so later by the Sweetwaters festival at Puhinui Reserve, Manukau, near Auckland Airport, are the big ones to attend.
But if you can't wait until then, New Year's Eve provides the Vans Warped Tour at Waihi Beach, featuring international acts Pennywise, Cherry Poppin Daddys and Grinspoon.
Further south is The Gathering, the third annual New Year festival of dance and music on top of Takaka Hill near Nelson. The unique alcohol-free event runs for 48 hours from midday December 31. Last year 8000 people attended and a soundtrack CD featuring New Zealand's best dance acts has just been released. Ten thousand people are expected this year, with tickets on sale from 2K Frequency Generator in Hamilton.
THE CREAM of events is Auckland's New Year's Eve party at Ellerslie Racecourse. The racecourse will be transformed by organisers the Lightspeed Crew and features international DJs Les Ryder, Miles Holloway and Dick Johnston.
BLUNT-BEAT dance sensations The Beastie Boys have confirmed their summer tour and will play both Auckland's North Shore Events Centre on February 27, and Wellington's Queens Wharf Events Centre on a date to be announced. Tickets went on sale last Friday through Ticketek.