Cityscape Issue 06 February 2018 by SOMO Creative

YOUR MONTHLY FIX

CHRISTCHURCH CURATED ROCK ON TO ELECTRIC AVENUE The epic day-long music fest returns with killer Kiwi songstress Aaradhna

(THE) STRIP TEASE

FEB 2018

The inside word on The Terrace with the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hospitality leaders

SHAPE UP The hot fitness trends making getting in shape super fun and easy

CITYSCAPE MONTHLY February 2018 Issue 06

CONTENTS

February 2018 In this issue

CEO/Director Andrea Rickerby Editor Isaac Wilson Sub Editor Ben Allan Creative Tristan Brehaut Account Manager Derek Thorp Accounts Administrator Claire Ross NEED TO GET IN TOUCH? Editorial and Advertising Enquiries: 03 366 3340 info@somocreative.co.nz www.cityscape.co.nz

PUBLISHED BY

SOMO Creative Ltd PO Box 13 717 Christchurch

07 16 20 24 36 ON THE COVER

Cityscape is a division of SOMO Creative Ltd. Cityscape is subject to copyright in its entirety. Opinions expressed in Cityscape are not necessarily those of Cityscape. Editorial contributions welcome. No responsibility taken for unsolicited submissions. Prizewinners will be notified by phone and email. If Cityscape is unable to contact the winner within 14 days, Cityscape reserves the right to draw another winner. Cityscape reserves the right to use image/ name of competition entrants for publicity purposes.

AARADHNA The Kiwi songstress behind

killer tracks ‘Brown Girl’, ‘I Love You Too’, ‘Lorena Bobbitt’ and ‘Down Time’ is one of the unmissable acts peforming at Electric Avenue this month. See our Q&A on page 19.

04 NEWSFEED Tip-offs, trends and more. 08 TRENDING: REGUS Flexible working spaces. 10 CULTURE CALENDAR February’s highlights. 12 ROCK ON TO ELECTRIC AVENUE The epic day of music cometh. 15 STYLE FILES What’s hot this month. 16 PENCIL IT IN Dr Sketchy’s Anti-Art School. 19 SOUL-TRAINED Aaradhna comes to town. 20 (THE) STRIP TEASE The inside word on The Terrace. 24 SHAPE UP Making fitness fun. 28 FOR THE BIRDS Kiwi carer Bethany Brett. 30 SPIRIT(ED) AWAY Composer John Young. 31 ALL ROUND TO MRS BROWN’S The craic-up Irish comedy queen hits Christchurch. 32 ENTERTAIN ME Film, music and books. 34 ZOOTOPIA US trio Too Many Zooz. 35 FOOD & DRINK Eating and drinking in the city. 38 THE LAST WORD Hermitude’s El Gusto.

Cityscape is so much more than two killer mags, don’t forget to hit up our website and rock our App!

International Standard Serial Number ISSN 2537-933X print, ISSN 2537-9348 online

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TIP-OFFS, TRENDS & MORE

Back In The Day

The Christchurch-grown, day-long boutique festival with a chilled-out vibe, Nostalgia, is back at Ferrymead Heritage Park this month and once again celebrating its signature collaboration of quality products, creativity, sustainability and some damn fine music, including the psychedelic pop stylings of Connan Mockasin, Kiwi music legends The Chills, and more. Nostalgia Festival, Feb 10, nostalgiafestival.co.nz BEER NECESSITIES

Hops on in

You can tap primo suds (and eats!) at the source following the opening of local craft brewing legends Harrington’s Breweries slick new Taproom. It’s housed at Wigram (6 Tenahaun Place) and offers up their full range of bodacious beers and crafty ciders, including both limited releases like their storming Thunder Kiss IPA and their classic faves – hello Rogue Hop NZ Pilsner and Brotherhood Lemon Meringue & Cider! Indulge in a little try-before-you-buy with a tasting tray, or make the most of the moment and share a beer-friendly platter with friends in their sunny courtyard, then lock in your take-home selection from craft beer pioneer John Harrington’s epic library of brews. harringtons.nz MY WORD! Domestic Goddess, food porn star and Whittaker’s frontwoman Nigella Lawson will turn up the heat at the Isaac Theatre Royal on February 8 with WORD Christchurch’s An Evening with Nigella Lawson. Spruiking her new book At My Table, the home cook champion promises an evening of intimate conversation about food and life for those lucky enough to have secured tix to the now sold-out event. Fingers crossed there’s a sneaky reserve released in the days leading up to the event a la Lorde! wordchristchurch.co.nz

THE FRESH PRINCE SummerTime’s wildly popular Anthony Harper Summer Theatre is back for another season of good times on the Botanic Garden’s Murray Aynsley Lawn from February 1 – 18, this year with a production of French fave The Little Prince. Pulling the strings on the beloved tale are Two Productions, the team who previously brought Moby Dick to spectacular life with masks, puppets and large-scale tricks. Don’t miss your spot on the lawn for this intergalactic journey of discovery and whimsy – it’s set to be a magical theatre experience for all ages. ccc.govt.nz/summertimes

Google Us Cityscape’s more than just the sweet print mag you’ve got in your hand; read online at cityscape.co.nz and download the Cityscape App at Google Play or the App Store. 04

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RISE UP

Politically-charged punk four-piece Rise Against hit Horncastle Arena this month to belt out some of their rebel-rousing anthems off the back of their recent eighth studio album, Wolves. Chicagoans Tim McIlrath, Zach Blair, Joe Principe and Brandon Barnes are back in NZ after a previous visit as special guests of Foo Fighters. Wolves has charted highly here, in Australia and the US, and sees the melodic hardcore group continuing their trend for lyrics with plenty of social commentary, with singles ‘The Violence’ and ‘House On Fire’ influenced by the American election. These join big previous hits like ‘I Don’t Want To Be Here Anymore’, ‘Help Is on the Way’ and ‘Savior’, which held the record for the most consecutive weeks spent on both the Hot Rock Songs and Alternative Songs charts. Lead singer McIlrath says “Wolves isn’t about creating a safe space, it’s about creating a space that’s dangerous for injustice.” With their rep for booming, visceral and balls-to-the-wall-entertaining live performances firmly established, this is one that rock fans won’t wanna miss. Rise Against, Horncastle Arena, Feb 17, riseagainst.com

Image: Travis Shinn

EARLY WARNING Diaries out Cityscapers, with two epic events hot on the horizon next month – Alliance Française French Film Festival (Mar 6 – 25) and Selwyn Sounds (Mar 3) – now’s the time to lock in your tix or risk missing out (and you don’t wanna do that!).

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Popular Asian cuisine pop-up concept The Night Noodle Market is back with us, this year for longer than ever! It’s running in North Hagley Park for 10 nights (Feb 9 – 18), slinging a sensational range of Asian street fare from the best local vendors, as well as a few from further afield. A couple of heads-ups for this year before you get to noodling; 1) there’s no car parking on Hagley Park (bus it up!); and 2) it’s moving to a cashless system this year – cards out! nightnoodlemarkets.nz

Music To Munch To

The partially-restored Christchurch Arts Centre’s bounce-back continues with the re-commencement of their much-loved Lunchtime Concert series. Returning to the Great Hall (and its fantastic acoustics) this month, it will be launched by violinist Fiona Pears and continue monthly on the last Monday of each month until November, with well-known names in local music including Cathy Irons, Zara Ballara, Jennine Bailey, Helen Webby, Sacha Vee (pictured) and the Sweet Adelines Chorus performing. Take your programme to Bunsen café on the day of the concert to enjoy sweet specials! Grab tickets (adults $15, students $5) at the Great Hall door from 12:30pm on the day. Lunchtime Concerts: Fiona Pears, Feb 26, artscentre.org.nz

SPARKS FLY Still one of the city’s favourite events after 35(!) years, Sparks is back this month. Conductor Kenneth Young leads us through a programme of popular pieces that range from In the Hall of the Mountain King by Grieg to The Superman March by Williams, with the big occasion culminating with a literal bang(s) as a dazzling fireworks display erupts in time with Tchaikovsky’s immortal 1812 Overture at 9:30pm. Sparks, Hagley Park, Feb 17, FB/summertimeschch

NO COASTING World famous in New Zealand, but also a bit plain world famous, the Coast To Coast is celebrated as one of the world’s great multisport events. Competitors head off at from Kumara Beach on the West Coast in the early morning, running 2.2km inland to find their bikes – the start of a 243 kilometre journey over rugged South Island terrain that will see them traverse the width of the Mainland by foot, bike, and kayak. Cheer exhausted athletes home in the carnival-like atmosphere at the finish line (with market, concert and fireworks) at the pier on Feb 10; the first athletes arrive soon after 5pm. Feb 9/10, coasttocoast.co.nz

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In the Summertimes The magic of musical arvos in leafy surrounds continues through Feb with SummerTimes’ epic Lazy Sundays – catch the likes of Delaney Davidson and Barry Saunders, Fiona Pears, The Swan Sisters and a suitably jazzy finale from The All Girl Big Band.

CONCERTED EFFORTS

USE YOUR NOODLE

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History Repeating

A concert experience and musical tribute like no other, the world-class Michael Jackson HIStory Show moonwalks into Christchurch this month, back in New Zealand again after a successful previous tour in 2016. Showcasing the King of Pop’s greatest hits live on stage, it naturally also features the famous dance moves that fans all know, love and have sneakily practiced in their bedrooms. Multitalented MJ impersonator Dantanio, who performs live, is accompanied by an equally lively six-piece band and spectacularly choreographed backup dancers, while authentic costumes and a phenomenal lighting team also help to faithfully recreate the showmanship of the original himself. The concert travels through Jackson’s vast catalogue of work, from his beginnings as a member of the Jackson 5 through to his showstopping theatrics in the 1980s, and continued evolution as an artist throughout the 90s and into the 21st Century – a fitting tribute to one of music’s biggest-ever stars. We might sadly be no longer able to see MJ strutting his stuff, but this promises to be the next best thing. Michael Jackson HIStory, Isaac Theatre Royal, Feb 19, mjhistoryshow.com

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ORCHESTRAL MANOEUVRES The Christchurch Symphony Orchestra bookends this month with two unmissable performances: the ever popular PwC Opera at Pegasus Bay (Feb 3) featuring a round-up of Australasia’s leading operatic voices, and Eroica (Feb 24) – a thrilling trifecta of Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1 in G Minor, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 ‘Eroica’, and the world premiere of Christchurch composer John Young’s Spirit (see our interview on page 30), commissioned to celebrate the CSO’s 60 year anniversary. If that wasn’t enough, they’ve also enlisted renowned Russian violinist Natalia Lomeiko (pictured) for the Bruch. cso.co.nz

TRENDING

REGUS FLEX APPEAL

Savvy Christchurch businesses can join the worldwide trend towards flexible working spaces with the opening of Regus’ second venue in the city at the end of the month. Located on Durham Street, the new space in the Awly Building joins Hazeldean Road in Addington, which opened in December. The Regus model offers options that include offices, co-working spaces and drop-in lounges with leasing terms that can range from years, months and weeks to just a single day. Office amenities are all set up and ready to go, including business-grade internet and telephony services, WiFi, receptionist, a shared kitchen, and cleaning. The idea takes all the hassle out of finding a great working space, whatever the specific requirements of your business; whether you need a permanent base for your team or just a quiet desk space to work on something by yourself for a day, they’ve got you covered. The flexibility even extends out of town, with Regus members able to

access the network’s business lounge spaces anywhere in the world at over 3,000 business centres in over 100 countries. Pierre Ferrandon, Country Manager for Regus in New Zealand, is excited to have brought Regus’ proven concept to the South Island. “Regus pioneered flexible workplaces almost 30 years ago, and now leads the world in helping businesses make flexibility work for them and their people”, he says. “Christchurch businesses already had to think differently about how and where they worked in the post-quake period. Although that period was difficult and disruptive, it opened people’s eyes to how much workspace they really need, [and] where and how they needed it. The Regus model offers a way to get back into a quality CBD or city-fringe space more cost effectively and flexibly.” “Around the world, the way we work and carry out business is being transformed.

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Our research shows that 50% of staff now work away from their main office for half the week or more… the average workspace will sit empty for 50% of the time. This offers enormous financial opportunities for businesses, who [with Regus] can have quality, flexible solutions that can scale up and down as their business does.” Both the new Awly Building and Hazeldean Road locations certainly fit the flexibility bill, with scalable space solutions for everyone from a team of 1 up. The features of the spaces hew close to the Regus network’s established Scandi-cool aesthetic. Inside, dedicated onsite assistance teams can help you with the right work spaces, whether it’s hot desks and business lounges, state-of-the-art meeting and board rooms, or contemporary and stylish office space. Office space isn’t the only thing that makes a great workplace, of course; car parking, bike racks, showers, monthly networking events, 24/7 access and kitchen facilities are all provided. Add an excellent hospitality package offering unlimited access to locally-roasted coffee and Harney & Sons teas too, and the flex appeal’s apparent. The new Awly Building site also comes complete with fabulous courtyard, onsite café Curious Palate, famed national chain Hikari Sushi Bar, and good karma – it’s Christchurch’s only 5-star green rated building (as well as one of the safest in New Zealand, with three seismic stabilising factors). Pierre notes the green credentials were important for Regus. “One of the benefits of flexible working is to lower the environmental impact of the workspace, so the 5-star green rating aligns very well with our core values around environmental impact.” regus.co.nz

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THE MONTH IN CULTURE ANTHONY HARPER SUMMER THEATRE: THE LITTLE PRINCE THEATRE Anthony Harper

Summer Theatre is back, this time with an adaptation of the beloved French classic from Two Productions that promises an intergalactic journey of wildness and whimsy. Botanic Gardens, Thu 1 – Sun 18 Feb, ccc.govt.nz

LYTTELTON SUMMER FEST FESTIVAL Lyttelton’s own

summer festival this year includes a brand new outdoor film series – with music, entertainment, a suitcase market, and food – and more. See the website for full details. Various locations, Fri 2 Feb – Sun 11 Mar, lyttelton.net.nz

FRIDAY NIGHT FRIGHTS PERFORMANCE New Zealand’s

newest horror experience aims to scare brave punters by converting Ferrymead to the spooky abandoned set of a reality TV show. Ferrymead Heritage Park, Fri 2/9/16 Feb, eventfinda.co.nz

ELECTRIC AVENUE MUSIC FESTIVAL

NYO SUMMER CONCERT of the National Youth Orchestra turn out Beethoven, Elgar and Dvorak. Isaac Theatre Royal, Fri 2 Feb, nzso.co.nz

with February’s 10km courses ‘Park’ and ‘Trail’ hitting the Hagley and Christchurch Adventure Parks respectively. Hagley Park, Sun 4 Feb/ Christchurch Adventure Park, Sun 18 Feb, chch10km.co.nz

PWC OPERA AT PEGASUS BAY

SOUTH ISLAND XCO MOUNTAIN BIKE CHAMPS

LIVE MUSIC The up-and-comers

LIVE MUSIC Opera stars join

forces with the CSO for this special sunny afternoon of the classics at Pegasus Bay. Pegasus Bay Winery, Sat 3 Feb, cso.co.nz

CHRISTCHURCH 10KM WALK/RUN SERIES FITNESS This series of summer

fun fitness events continues,

SPORT Watch the best riders

from Australasia compete in this cross country event or get in the saddle yourself, with a range of race options for the elite through to the wee ones. Crocodile XC Park, Halswell Quarry, Sun 4 Feb, singletrack. org.nz/si-xco-champs

SHABBY CHIC MARKET DAY MARKET The popular monthly

EARLY WARNING

Aussie rocker Jimmy Barnes is headlining Selwyn Sounds on March 3, alongside locals The Feelers and The Narcs.

market at Rochester Villa lands once again with its quirky and eclectic mix of retro, clothes, antiques, furniture, upcycled and recycled items, and Devonshire teas. Rochester Villa, Sun 4 Feb, Find it on Facebook

AN EVENING WITH NIGELLA LAWSON FOOD/TALK Culinary star and

TV personality Nigella drops in to chat food, life, and her new book At My Table, which celebrates the food she loves to

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SUMMER THEATRE

cook for friends and family. Isaac Theatre Royal, Thu 8 Feb, isaactheatreroyal.co.nz

NIGHT NOODLE MARKETS FOOD The popular celebration

of Asian street food is back for another big flavour hit – now over 10 nights due to popular demand – in North Hagley Park. North Hagley Park, Fri 9 – Sun 18 Feb, nightnoodlemarkets.nz

LEIGH’S CONSTRUCTION OUTDOOR CINEMA FAMILY/FILM Outdoor evening

movie screenings continue at the Arts Centre, with Despicable Me (6pm) and Casino Royale (8pm) on offer at the February sesh. Your gold coin entry goes towards restoration funds! The Arts Centre, Fri 9 Feb, artscentre.org.nz

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COAST TO COAST SPORT The justifiably world-

famous multisport event is back for another journey of west to east, the hard way. Kumara Beach to New Brighton Beach, Fri 9/Sat 10 Feb, coasttocoast.co.nz

NOSTALGIA FESTIVAL FESTIVAL The increasingly

popular Nostalgia Festival returns with that ideal summer combo of top food, top drink and top tunes, all set within the old-skool surrounds of Ferrymead Heritage Park. Ferrymead Heritage Park, Sat 10 Feb, nostalgiafestival.co.nz

REDZONE 6 SPORT/FITNESS One of the first

events staged in the Red Zone will see six hours of mountain bike riding around the Burwood subdivision, taking in the footpaths, tracks and roads. A chance to ride your bike fast on the footpath! Donnell Sports Park, Brooker Avenue, Sun 11 Feb, redzone6.co.nz

KEVIN BLOODY WILSON: THE ALMOST AWESOME TOUR COMEDY The distinctly non-PC

Australian musical comedian is still trucking; he’s back for another one of his very R18 shows at the Isaac Theatre Royal. Isaac Theatre Royal, Tue 13 Feb, kevinbloodywilson.com

OPEN AIR SUMMER SHAKESPEARE: A WINTER’S TALE THEATRE Top Dog’s 14th

summer Shakespeare production gets counterintuitive this year with A Winter’s Tale, once again in the glorious surroundings of Mona Vale. Mona Vale, Wed 14 – Sat 24 Feb, Find it on Facebook

RISE AGAINST LIVE MUSIC The politically-

charged 4-piece storm into town to rark us up with hits like ‘I Don’t Want To Be Here Anymore’, ‘Help Is on the Way’, and more. Horncastle Arena, Sat 17 Feb, eventfinda.co.nz

SPARKS 2018

CRUSADERS VS. CHIEFS SPORT The 2018 Super Rugby

MRS BROWN

for local music fans. Hagley Park, Sat 24 Feb, electricavenuefestival.co.nz

SPORT CANTERBURY MITRE 10 MEGA A RUN TO REMEMBER FITNESS The 10km charity fun

LIVE MUSIC/FAMILY The winning

combination of orchestral music and pyrotechnics returns for its 35th edition, concluding this year with – nice – Tchaikovsky’s literally booming 1812 Overture. North Hagley Park, Sat 17 Feb, Find it on Facebook

run/walk to remember those who lost their lives in the February earthquake returns for another year of reflection. Victoria Park, Sat 24 Feb, sportcanterbury.org.nz

CSO: EROICA LIVE MUSIC Christchurch–born

MICHAEL JACKSON HISTORY SHOW LIVE MUSIC A musical tribute

and live concert experience that takes us through the King of Pop’s legendary career. Isaac Theatre Royal, Mon 19 Feb, mjhistoryshow.com

ELECTRIC AVENUE MUSIC FESTIVAL 2018 FESTIVAL/LIVE MUSIC

Christchurch’s own big-dayand-evening out returns with another massive summer music line-up; as always, it’ll be a must

composer John Young’s new work (commissioned to mark the orchestra’s 60th anniversary) is premiered alongside Bruch’s Concerto No. 1 and Beethoven’s Third Symphony. Air Force Museum, Sat 24 Feb, cso.co.nz

competition kicks off locally in round 2, with reigning champs the Crusaders in action at home against the boys from Waikato. AMI Stadium, Sat 24 Feb, crusaders.co.nz

CHRISTCHURCH CHINESE NEW YEAR PARADE 2018 FESTIVAL/FAMILY Usher in the

Year of the Dog with this Chinese cultural parade starting at 3pm from the Bridge of Remembrance. Central City, Sun 25 Feb, Find it on Facebook

FOR THE LOVE OF MRS BROWN COMEDY/THEATRE Brendan

O’Carroll’s hilarious Mrs Brown invades the stage in this high-energy live version of the smash hit TV show. Horncastle Arena, Wed 28 Feb, Thu 1/Fri 2 Mar, mrsbrownsboys.com

Like us like we like you Keep up with Christchurch’s latest and greatest events on our Facebook page, Instagram and website! cityscape.christchurch

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ROCK ON TO ELECTRIC AVENUE Looking to knock your Electric Avenue Music Festival experience out of the (Hagley) park? Then read on Cityscapers for our lowdown on the epic 12-hour bonanaza and our top tips on rocking this mother right!

Christchurch’s very own version of that late, lamented music festival experience the Big Day Out, Electric Avenue Music Festival is back this month, with the homegrown Hagley Park hootenanny serving up sweet-as sounds in the sun with a side of suds and some seriously good eats. It boasts a huge international line-up that includes headliners the acclaimed UK rapper and producer Dizzee Rascal, UK drum and bass stars Chase & Status + MC Rage, dance/rock crossover legends Primal Scream, and acclaimed Australian electronica champs Hermitude (see p38 for more). They’re just part of a huge roster of artists that also extends to Jamaican reggae star Chronixx, the New York buskers-whowent-big Too Many Zooz (see p34 for more)

as well as Katchafire (NZ), State of Mind (NZ), Black Milk (US), Confidence Man (Aus), L.A.B (NZ), The D4 (NZ), My Baby (Amsterdam), Aaradhna (NZ, see p19 for more), Sneaky Sound System (Aus) and Theia (NZ) among others – some 26 acts in all over 12 hours and 3 stages. Each band/performer is specifically selected by the festival team to be a perfect fit for Electric Avenue’s now-signature upbeat, freewheeling mix of music and cruisy festival vibe, whether you’re up and thrashing it out, or chilling out in the (fingers crossed) sun. With the good times powering on all afternoon and into the evening, you’re going to need to refuel; enter some of the region’s best food and drink providers, who are on site to keep you fed, watered, and ready for more. More than 10 gourmet food trucks and 5 of the city’s yummiest little restaurants will be serving delicious food for the length of the fest, while local craft beer faves Cassels & Sons will be poured in both the main bar and the new Cassels & Sons Beer Garden, Red

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Bull will be on-site with the Red Bull Bar, and a wide range of other alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks will be available. Plenty of punters are lucky enough to be elevating their EA experience into the stratosphere with the now sold-out $280 VIP option. It may sound pricey, but it’s money well spent, offering access to the festival’s reserved VIP area, which features indoor and outdoor seating options including tables and couches, an all-daylong complimentary bar service, and a tasty selection of meals and snacks whipped up by Christchurch culinary legend Jonny Schwass and his team. We’re not done there, though; there’s also complimentary massages and a style station, a coat check, priority express entry and access to special reserved VIP Viewing Platforms (right next to the sound desk!) offering primo views of the action at each of the event’s three stages. If that’s you, we’re well jealous; if not, get in earlier next year! Electric Avenue Music Festival, Feb 24, electricavenuefestival.co.nz

MAKING HEADLINES DIZZEE RASCAL Grime genre pioneer and rapper Dizzee has scored 5 number 1 hits in his native UK (including monster hits ‘Bonkers’ and ‘Dance Wiv Me’) and has collaborated with a huge, diverse list of names including Calvin Harris, Arctic Monkeys, Shakira, Robbie Williams, and his fellow EA headliners Chase & Status.

CHASE & STATUS + MC RAGE Big-selling dancefloor-fillers and awardwinners Saul Milton (Chase) and Will Kennard (Status) are UK drum and bass heroes who are joined by MC Rage for live sets in their frequent festival performances, and come to us fresh from a summer residency in Ibiza.

Going through stages Like all the best music festivals, Electric Avenue has such an epic line-up that it simply can’t be contained on one stage! In fact, it’ll be rocking three over the afternoon and evening of the fest. While this can sound like an awesome proposition, mutiple stages can mean that you might end up faced with some tough calls – particularly if two or more of your faves are rocking similar timeslots (oh, cruel universe!). But it doesn’t have to be all Sophie’s Choice; you can have it all – or nearly all, anyway. Firstly, check the timetable and pull together your hit list – it’s worth noting that things may well be running on ‘festival time’ and later than anticipated. You’ll also note that timings usually overlap, meaning you can catch the start and end of most gigs – when they’ll be pulling out the big guns. Another way to keep tabs on what’s going down is finding the Hagley Park ‘sweet spot’ – a place where you can see all three stages – and check out what’s happening on each before moving in for the best tracks.

PRIMAL SCREAM British rockers Primal Scream have been tearing up the UK music scene since their formation in Glasgow in the 80s, with their long career seeing them moving through many different styles, inspirations (and band members!) – they’ve collected plenty of fans and critical acclaim along the way.

HERMITUDE The Australian electronic, vocals-free hip hop duo out of the Blue Mountains in New South Wales hit number 1 in their homeland with their 2015 drop Dark Night Sweet Light, and are festival favourites all over the world.

Sideshows, Bob!

The music’s the main attraction at the festival of course, but there’s other stuff to get excited about as well. Retail icons Cosmic will be on site with their Cosmic Zone, which includes the Chill Zone Teepee, a live music stage with band, and the Cosmic General Store. A selection of amusement rides will also be on the grounds to jack up the adrenaline on your festival experience, and you should keep a look out for roving performance artists making their way around the site.

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Mardi Gras Christchurch Style

SOUNDS GOOD

Big summer outing Selwyn Sounds is back in Lincoln for its second crack early next month, with another sweet bill of musical talent plus a top array of the region’s finest food, licensed bar areas, and interesting stalls at the Lincoln Domain. It’s another nostalgia-fuelled line-up this year; Aussie rock legend (and recent author) Jimmy Barnes will headline. Ol’ Barnesy’s joined by an Anzac all-star roll call that includes Christchurch legends The Feelers (pictured) and The Narcs alongside Mental as Anything, The Mockers, Stellar, The Warratahs and The Lady Killers – a slaying Kiwi trifecta of talent in the form of Tina Cross, Jackie Clarke and Suzanne Lynch. It’s looking like another monster afternoon and evening out! Lincoln Domain, Mar 3, selwynsounds.co.nz

Stranges Lane gets festive this month, with the latest of their well-appreciated block parties taking the form of their very own version of Mardi Gras on February 9. Lining up closely date-wise with the annual original in the Big Easy itself, this mini festival will embrace the spirit of the world-famous carnival/party, with Orleans, Strange & Co., Lower 9th Diner and new venue Capa all participating. There will be live music from the Justice Brass Band, DJs with Nacoa and friends, and Mardi Gras food and drink specials to fuel you up all night long. FB.com/strangeslanenz

Port of Cool Lyttelton’s Summer Fest rolls right through this month and into the next with a series of outdoor film screenings and more. See the website for deets! lyttelton.net.nz

BACK IN THE SADDLE

CHASING AWESOME The legendarily rude and crude septuagenarian Kevin “Bloody” Wilson shows no sign of slowing down, with his current Almost Awesome tour (which reaches us on Feb 13 at the Isaac Theatre Royal) already booked through until 2020. It seems audiences can’t get enough of the distinctly un-PC Wilson, who’s joined on tour by daughter Jenny Talia (yes, really). kevinbloodywilson.com

Some of the best mountain bike riders from New Zealand and Australia will rip up Halswell Quarry this month in the South Island XCO Mountain Bike Champs. A range of cross-country races will be taking place with staggered start times across the big day, catering for everyone from pint-sized kids to the elite level. If you don’t want to give it a bit of a go yourself, that’s fine; there’s free entry into the popular purpose-built Crocodile XC Park for spectators. Food vendors will also be on site in the event village to help you make a proper day of it; hit the trail hard, or just stand conveniently next to it and cheer! Feb 4, singletrack.org.nz/si-xco-champs Image: Mathew DeLorme

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Style Files TO WONDER Hot from Sass & Bide’s new Spring/Fall ‘18 collection, the gorgeous The Wonderment Top (RRP $350) and Skirt (RRP $320) from Lynn Woods walk an exquisitely-tailored line between grace and seduction. lynnwoodsonlinestore.co.nz

On the wall

Totally en pointe and hyper trending, Venetian plaster epitomises timeless elegance, and its tactile textures and lustrous finish make the Venetian Plaster Shop NZ a must-stop for renovators or builders looking to make a serious style statement. Offering the largest range of lime-based plasters in New Zealand, their product range is imported entirely from Italy and made from the best raw materials, as well as being ecologically friendly, Class A1 fire-rated, solvent and bacteria free, totally breathable, and free from volatile organic compounds (VOCs). They’re also the country’s sole distributors for the renowned Giorgio Graesan and Friends products, manufactured in Milan, which enables them to offer a massive range of colour and texture, while their own in-house application company ensures you get the top-quality professional finishes the products can provide. If you’re looking for seamless walls and ceilings in textures and colours that add contrast, style and vibrancy to your home, you need to check out how they can help! venetianplastershopnz.com

REFLECTION – HEMINGWAY DESIGN GIFTS, INTERIORS AND DESIGN

Shop at the Reflection store for a great range of gifts, furniture, art, home decor and much more besides. Perfect gifts for any occasion, both in store and online! 181 High Street 03 377 7872 hemingway.design

VIA SOLLERTIA JEWELLERY

Specialists in amazing and custom designed pieces. They aim for joy through jewellery by staying affordable without compromising quality. 11 New Regent Street 03 366 8001 viasollertia.co.nz

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THE MANE EVENT A local outfit with a big rep, Cashel Street’s GM Hair Design is the only hair salon outside of Auckland to have worked on New Zealand Fashion Week (4 times!), a testament to their position at the forefront of New Zealand’s hairdressing industry. Owner-operators Glynis and Mike Hamel each have over 30 years of experience as hairdressers, having styled hair for some of the biggest fashion shows and international fashion weeks, editorial photo shoots, and film and music videos, and have a wide range of celebrity clientele. They’ve even created their own hair product ranges. See them when you want less of a hairdresser and more of a hair artist! gmhair.nz

Pencil it in

Cityscape caught up with tasselled temptresses Tawdry Trainwreck and Rosie Reckless, the gals responsible for bringing the burlesque, booze and art extravaganza of fun, flesh and frills that is Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art School to Christchurch. Photography by Janneth Gil

FOR THE UNINITIATED, WHAT IS DR. SKETCHY’S ANTI-ART SCHOOL? Starting in New York in 2005 and spreading across the globe, Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art School is a life drawing class like no other. It combines life drawing, burlesque and a good drink. Our performers often showcase their burlesque skills and other hidden talents over the course of the evening. Whether you’re an arts expert or specialise in stick-figures, we welcome all abilities! HOW DID IT MAKE ITS WAY TO CHRISTCHURCH? Rosie spotted Dr. Sketchy’s while travelling overseas and Tawdry leapt on the opportunity to bring it to Christchurch. With both of us having a penchant for dress-up parties and strong creative backgrounds, we decided that we were the right ones for the job, and contacted Sketchy HQ to make it happen. We set to work inviting artists and non-artists alike to drink and doodle, while celebrating diverse models with frills, fervour and flair! HOW DID YOU KNOW CHCH WAS READY FOR IT? From the get-go, our events sold out, showing that Christchurch had a big appetite for drinking, drawing and dames!

WHAT ARE THE SCHOOL RULES? • No silence in this classroom! Respect and show your support of the model; we love it when our audiences hoot ‘n’ holler during their burlesque performances! Our performers thrive on energy from an appreciative audience. • This is not a spectator sport; bring your drawing materials and get sketching! It doesn’t matter if you think you’re any good; all drawing techniques are valid and encouraged (we once had someone bring a sandwich press and make edible portraits!). • Dress-ups in theme are encouraged, but not mandatory. • No creeps! • No photography. We have our own official photographer for that; and you get to capture the scenes with drawing! WHAT’S HAPPENING AT DR. SKETCHY’S NEXT? We are easing our way into 2018 and welcoming crowd favourite burlesque performer and producer Mythical Haze aboard the Sketchy production crew. We’re looking forward to putting her weird and wonderful performance talents to good use and coming up with kooky themes and schemes together. We’re also very excited to be part of Pride Week events, with our first official session of the year scheduled for March 21 at Space Academy.

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Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art School is a life drawing class like no other. It combines life drawing, burlesque and a good drink.

/ PENCIL IT IN

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All drawing techniques are valid and encouraged (we once had someone bring a sandwich press and make edible portraits!)

collages, poetry, caricatures, stencils and intricate charcoal drawings throughout the evening. WHAT IS YOUR MODEL SELECTION CRITERIA? The main criteria is being enthusiastic and keen to give it a go. We encourage all body shapes, sizes and genders to our stage, and love working with people with an interest in off-the-wall themes and costumes. The best bet is to come along to our events to get an idea of how it all works and introduce yourself to the crew. Dr. Sketchy’s Christchurch: Pride, Mar 21, FB/drsketchys.chch/

WHAT DO WE NEED TO BRING? BYO art supplies. We recommend bringing pens/ pencils, paper or a sketch pad. Biros, felt tips, post-it notes even – whatever mediums you’re comfortable with! HOW DO YOU COME UP WITH THE THEMES? We are inspired by our friends, our fetishes, art history, current events, colours, costumes and more! Often one of us will have a spark of inspiration and together we’ll build on it to create a set, costumes, performance and playlist all in theme. We’ve drawn inspiration from everything from The Discovery Channel’s Shark Week to Dolly Parton, high fashion and Mills & Boon romance through to Mad Max, horror movies and pony play.

WHO ARE YOUR TYPICAL ATTENDEES? Dr. Sketchy’s has a broad audience, but usually they are open-minded, easy-going and ready for a laugh. We have regulars who’ve been coming since we first began nearly 8 years ago. Our audience includes chemists, anthropologists, tattoo artists, IT experts, burlesque performers and accountants! It’s an environment where you can choose to be social or sketch quietly to your heart’s content. DRINKING, DRAWING AND BURLESQUE SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT COMBO; WHAT SORT OF ART RESULTS FROM A CLASS? All sorts of things! The poses are kept short, so that they’re achievable for all levels. We’ve had people create stick figures,

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/ CULTURE

Soul-Trained

Cityscape has a quick catch-up with killer Kiwi songstress Aaradhna, who’s hitting Electric Avenue in the middle of a busy summer that’s had her touring with Katchafire and The Black Seeds and popping into festivals up and down the country. ‘BROWN GIRL’ HAS BECOME SUCH AN EMPOWERING KIWI ANTHEM FOLLOWING THE 2016 TUI AWARDS. HOW PROUD ARE YOU OF IT? Very proud, because it gives an opinion of my experiences in life growing up. It can also speak for others who have been through the same situations, and hopefully make them feel that they are not alone. HOW DID FEEL TO GET A STANDING OVATION FOLLOWING YOUR PERFORMANCE OF IT AT THE TUI AWARDS? Very humbling and rewarding, because all of the hard work I put into ‘Brown Girl’ over the years, and to be at this standpoint, made me feel happy that this was the reaction to my music. WHO HAS BEEN THE BIGGEST INFLUENCE ON YOUR MUSICAL CAREER? Sam Cooke. WHAT SORT OF INFLUENCE HAS YOUR BACKGROUND HAD ON YOUR MUSIC? My father and mother played a huge role in my love for music. My dad use to sing Indian music (Hindi) and my mother Samoan hymns every day at home. So listening to both cultures growing up, I got to soak it all in. ‘LORENA BOBBITT’ IS A KILLER TRACK – WHO OR WHAT WAS THE CATALYST BEHIND THIS? I love crime stories and have been reading them for a long time. When I

came across the Lorena Bobbitt story I thought how cool it would be to make it into a song. A few people mistake it for condoning violence, when it isn’t! But for me it’s for the love of crime stories. YOU FEATURE IN A COUPLE OF TRACKS IN THE KIWI CLASSIC THAT IS SIONE’S WEDDING – WHAT WAS IT LIKE HEARING YOUR MUSIC WHILE YOU WERE WATCHING THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME? It was great for me at that time because it was probably my first feature in a film. WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM YOUR SET AT ELECTRIC AVENUE? A lot of soul, RnB, jazz with some hints of funk. Some classic covers too, which I’m sure the Electric Avenue audience will be familiar with! YOU’RE PERFORMING ALONGSIDE SOME COOL CATS AT THE FESTIVAL – WHO ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO CATCHING? Chronixx! I am a fan of his music and his story also. We are currently listening to his Chronology album while on our summer tour run. WHAT’S ON THE CARDS FOR 2018? Continue to perform and create some new music. Electric Avenue, Feb 24, electricavenuefestival.co.nz

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(The) Strip Tease

There’s no doubting that the Christchurch earthquakes dealt the city’s nightlife a serious blow, with one of the biggest casualties the iconic hot spot affectionately known as ‘The Strip’, which was cruelly wiped from the city’s social scene. While many generations mourned the loss of the much-frequented row of establishments along Oxford Terrace, the clean slate that the prime (and now landscaped) riverside central city spot (complete with afternoon and early evening sun) offers has allowed for a literally bar-raising rebirth of a new hospitality precinct for the city. Re-establishing another city icon from the (equally lamented) Sol Square, Oxford Management Services’ Darryll Park and Max Bremner have already re-gifted swinging jazz palace Fat Eddie’s to the new Strip, also adding swanky Deco-styled bar Kong and stylish restaurant Original Sin to round out a bodacious trifecta. Next door, local developer Antony Gough’s $140 million development The Terrace will be a collection of 17 premium restaurants and watering holes (along with office space). It’s tipped to deliver some next-level haunts and international cred besides, with a slick network of laneways, air-bridges, courtyards and roof terraces which will

eventually connect with the neighbouring BNZ Centre. Unsurprisingly, The Terrace has attracted the attention of some of the city’s (and country’s) leading hospo luminaries. Joining the line-up of killer establishments (many of which are still shrouded in secrecy) will be Stealth Hospitality’s Tony Astle, who’s opening “Christchurch’s craziest Mexican joint” Chiwahwah Mexican Cantina Bar, Dux Central and Dux Dine’s Richard Sinke with his interpretation of a stylish, contemporary tavern the Terrace Tavern, the rebirth of another city fave, Bangalore Polo Club, along with a hot new hush-hush venue from Louis Vieceli and the team at Vieceli Hospitality Ltd, and Auckland’s Cook Brothers’ Bars (locally of Bessie and Engineers fame), who are tipped to be bringing both gourmet burger and beer chain Velvet Burger and a local version of their stylish glasshouse-inspired The Glass Goose to the project. With the first wave of venues expected to open in the following months, we caught up with some of those involved in the development for the inside word on their offerings and what the new-look Strip will mean for Christchurch and the city’s hospo scene.

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/ (THE) STRIP TEASE

beers – Dux Beers on tap as well. You’ll be able to dine at the kitchen and actually sit there with the chefs working with a big grill and a contemporary menu, offering a full spectrum of cuisine. We’re really excited about it and think we have an amazing design; Lisa Sinke Designs is doing it – my wife – so it’s in very good hands! I’m very confident we’re going to have a cool, exciting new venue for Christchurch with the food and drinks to match. Good materials, good fabric, good fit out, good flooring/tiling, leather bankettes and lots of wood. Because it’s a new concrete build we’re looking for ways to soften that and make it feel like a comfortable and nice environment, with a lot of attention to acoustics. Given the space it will more than likely be DJ music.

Richard Sinke

TERRACE TAVERN

WHAT WAS YOUR ATTRACTION TO THE TERRACE? Having been a long time Christchurch hospitality guy, I had seen the evolution of ‘The Strip’. I was always quite impressed by what was happening there, and then it came to full fruition when they terraced it all and the full length of it became hospitality – it was a very dynamic area. I knew most of the operators down there so knew how well it went. WHAT WILL ITS OPENING MEAN FOR CHRISTCHURCH? I think it will be a huge feel-good factor in terms of the rebuild. It’s a whole city block, and it will stretch even longer when Richard Peebles gets his going. So the whole Terrace development will, I think, be huge for Christchurch. In Antony’s block alone there’s 17 places going in; you’ve got Fat Eddie's and then the next block over is going to be hospitality as well. Then you go over to the south side and you’ve got the farmers' market, so when you put the whole thing together, with all that beautiful new terracing and tiling, it’s going to be a very dynamic part of Christchurch. The way it links through to the retail precinct, down to the Convention Centre, across to the Arts Centre and [Botanic] gardens, I think it will become a very focal part of the axis of Christchurch. HOW DO YOU SEE THAT RIVERFRONT AREA IN A FEW YEARS? It’s only going to get better really as the restaurants evolve.

Christchurch, I feel, has lagged behind the international restaurant scene, and Auckland and Wellington, and this is our chance to catch up with food, service, décor and the right location. HOW WILL THIS CHANGE THE HOSPITALITY SCENE? It will put pressure on everyone to lift their game. We all want to continue lifting our game! My whole philosophy is Kizen – it’s a Japanese concept of ‘continual improvement’ – you are always looking to improve. Perfection is a goal you can never achieve, but you are always looking to get there by taking small steps, not big steps. Ultimately that’s what it’s about – making the guest experience better. THE DEVELOPMENT HAS HAD A FEW HICCUPS ALONG THE WAY; WHAT IMPACT HAS THAT HAD ON YOUR BUSINESS? I’m only a latecomer, so it’s been fine for me; I’ve had a chance to have a good run at Dux Central without the increased competition. TELL US ABOUT YOUR VENTURE AT THE TERRACE. It’s called Terrace Tavern and it’s a pretty spectacular fit-out we’re doing, sort of contemporary tavern with big open kitchen, very long bar – when you walk into it you get a feeling of space. There will be different zones for formal dining, and hanging out with a bunch of lads having

I think it will be a huge feel-good factor in terms of the rebuild 21

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WHERE WILL IT BE LOCATED? Right in the middle of The Terrace, so pretty much if you’re going upstairs to the upstairs bars you’ll walk past us, which I think is a good location. It’s on the corner of Oxford Terrace and Oxford Lane, it’s got a curved frontage, and it’s a fabulous site. Because it’s got a curve in the front and it goes right down the laneway we get different aspects to it – we’ve got that chunk of frontage then we roll around the edge and down the lane, so it’s going to be quite a beautiful area at night. At 3 o’clock in the afternoon in the summertime, the sun comes over and it’s fully in sun. We’re having the entrance on the lane so as not to take up the frontage. WHEN ARE YOU LOOKING TO OPEN? We’re aiming for the end of February, that’s our goal. Hopefully as many of us as possible will be opening around the same time to create that impetus of people and marketing opportunities. TELL US ABOUT ITS ‘WOW’ FACTORS. Yeah, a number of – so you’ll have to come and see! WHAT’S THE SECRET TO CREATING A DEN OF COOL? I think it comes with having a certain amount of practicality, seeing what’s going on and understanding restaurant trends, bar trends, a love of good design and a desire to create great venues. WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR THE CHRISTCHURCH HOSPITALITY SCENE? I’m sure it’s going to hold a lot of excitement and tricky times ahead, and until the city really establishes itself properly it’s going to be hard for operators. It’s a pretty cool city – we just need to get things back on track.

/ (THE) STRIP TEASE

WHEN ARE YOU LOOKING TO OPEN? End of March/early April.

Louis Vieceli

BANGALORE POLO CLUB WHAT WAS YOUR ATTRACTION TO THE TERRACE? We have had previous successful facilities on The Terrace site and have always regarded the area as prime hospitality space for our type of operations. WHAT WILL ITS OPENING MEAN TO CHRISTCHURCH? I feel a fully functioning hospitality scene on The Terrace will help with public confidence that at last our city is returning to its former glory. HOW DO YOU SEE THE RIVERFRONT AREA IN A FEW YEARS? It’s an important component to the city’s redevelopment; as close as we will get to having a city waterfront. People and business will be drawn to it, providing it is well-maintained.

TELL US ABOUT THEIR WOW FACTORS. We think that is up to the public to decide! But I can certainly tell you we have worked hard on our designs in the hope that our venues will be well received and don’t disappoint. WHAT IS THE SECRET TO CREATING A DEN OF COOL? Not sure I know the answer to that, but we always strive to set and maintain really high hospitality standards, delivered by people who are passionate about what they do in an environment that is unique and well thought out. WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR THE CHRISTCHURCH HOSPITALITY SCENE? There is no doubt there are challenges ahead, and the future is dependent on central and local government working together and making the right choices on the anchor projects, especially the multi-event stadium. One of the key anchor projects which at last is underway is the

HOW WILL THIS CHANGE THE HOSPITALITY SCENE? The opening of The Terrace precinct will hopefully help in getting the Christchurch public coming back into the city centre. THE DEVELOPMENT HAS HAD A FEW HICCUPS ALONG THE WAY; WHAT IMPACT HAS THIS HAD ON YOUR BUSINESS? Obviously we have incurred significant cost in staying loyal to the project; however we view Antony Gough as a good landlord and do feel that whilst at times we have been frustrated by the delays and increase in costs, Christchurch is lucky to have investors like him that have ridden the humps and are developing world-class facilities. TELL US ABOUT YOUR VENTURES AT THE TERRACE. We will be returning our Bangalore Polo Club concept, which resonated well with Cantabrians and tourists alike. We have also taken additional space and will be introducing Christchurch to a new venue that will provide a point of difference, utilising some innovative cooking equipment and techniques in a busy, modern bar environment. WHERE WILL THEY BE LOCATED? We will occupy a large portion of the ground floor of what we know as ‘Building B’, which is adjacent to the Westpac building and overlooks the Avon, with a large terrace frontage along with extensive laneway seating.

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It’s an important component to the city’s redevelopment Convention Centre. It is important to note that prior to the earthquake, Christchurch had 25% of the national convention business – punching well above its weight – and this was a key driver to the hospitality and employment sectors, so I do hope the same energy goes into completing and driving our new Convention Centre. The other two key issues that have the potential to impact heavily on the hospitality sector are the council’s ability to implement a sensible alcohol policy and central government’s attitude to immigration, as the industry is still very reliant on overseas workers.

/ (THE) STRIP TEASE

Darryll Park FAT EDDIE'S

WHAT WAS YOUR ATTRACTION TO THE TERRACE/RIVERFRONT AREA? The memory of the pre-quake Strip, and being able to recreate and improve on all the positives that it stood for. HOW DID THE ORIGINAL FAT EDDIE’S INSPIRE THE NEW VENUE? We wanted to ensure the quirkiness and charm of the old Fat Eddie’s translated to our new larger and purpose-built venue. So we transformed the back section of the new Fat Eddie’s into a vintage lounge, while keeping the exterior modern and spacious with an extensive balcony – truly ‘fit-for-purpose’ in best presenting a retro-fitted 1950s jazz and blues club. FAT EDDIE’S WAS A PRE-QUAKE ICON; HOW HAS V. 2 BEEN RECEIVED? It is bigger and ‘fatter’ than ever! And given that it is purpose-built with amazing vistas from the extensive balcony to the elevated interior, with views for all, we have exceeded all that was the original club. WHAT WILL THE TERRACE’S OPENING MEAN FOR CHRISTCHURCH? As a cluster of varied hospitality experiences never before experienced in the CBD, with our 3 venues of cocktail bar, restaurant bar and live music nightclub we deliver a ‘one stop shop’ – we cater for every taste and age. With this diversity along The Terrace, this section of the iconic Avon River is the place to be. This is something we are seeing now with our opening several months ahead of the remaining venues. HOW DO YOU SEE THAT RIVERFRONT AREA IN A FEW YEARS? Possibly evolving if the council allows the extension of venue footprints towards the river and removes

vehicle access completely. Extensive lighting from the river to the venues could help create a carnival-type experience. HOW WILL THIS CHANGE THE HOSPITALITY SCENE? Greater competition will lift hospitality standards and ensure Christchurch is creating a world-standard experience. THE DEVELOPMENT HAS HAD A FEW HICCUPS ALONG THE WAY; WHAT IMPACT HAS THAT HAD ON YOUR BUSINESS? We didn’t experience any hiccups and were built in a relatively short time on our corner site, with fans of the original Fat Eddie’s endorsing that V. 2 has exceeded their expectations. At this initial stage of The Terrace, people are coming for what Fat Eddie’s represented, and are pleasantly surprised by what its sister venues, Original Sin and Kong, deliver on the ground floor. So the lateness of The Terrace being fully operational has not been a deterrent. WHAT’S THE SECRET TO CREATING A DEN OF COOL? Building a ‘den’ that delivers high-quality sound, easy-to-access food and beverages, and a relaxing environment that is unique, is the secret to being cool. Coupling the unique style of our daily jazz, swing and

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soul musicians – who are the best of the best – with a stunning location and old world décor unique to Fat Eddie's delivers on our ‘cool’ reputation. WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR THE CHRISTCHURCH HOSPITALITY SCENE? Hospitality is the foundation that a prosperous modern city is built on. As council and stakeholders strive to foster sustainable hospitality growth, we must be mindful of what international visitors expect as an experience and of the hours of trading as we attempt to improve our economy in the rebuild of the city we are all committed to. To do so correctly will deliver a prosperous Christchurch.

We wanted to ensure the quirkiness and charm of the old Fat Eddie’s translated to our new venue

Shape Up

Take your fitness regime into a fun, social space as Cityscape checks out the city’s hottest fitness trends and venues, from 24-hour friendly gyms through to balletinspired Bootybarre, boxing, hula-hooping and more. You’ll find good times and epic results going hand-inhand with these fun ways to break a sweat.

BOXING CLEVER

At boxing fitness centre 1 More Round (1MR), their training mantra is ‘Discover your fighting spirit’. Designed to get you fit without getting hit, they offer fun, challenging workouts in over 30 classes a week. There’s something for everyone; options range from the self-explanatory SHEbox and HEbox, to MIX and weekday LUNCHBOX sessions for everyone, youth classes and even COUNTERPUNCH, a specialised Parkinson’s exercise group, as well as the new TURBObox punch tracking class, which brings boxing and fitness tracking tech together to offer a fantastic way to keep track of your improvements. Super rewarding both physically and mentally, a boxing workout can burn a

massive amount of calories, and is a great de-stresser after a long day! You don’t have to jump in the ring to get the benefits of this total-body workout, either; pumping music and your experienced instructor (along with a few subtly-deployed boxing clichés) means you can get the heart rate up without taking a pummelling! You’ll meet people from all walks of life in 1MR’s classes, and coming through a boxing session together builds real camaraderie, which you can develop further at their regular social evenings. 1moreround.co.nz

EN POINTE

Lyndal Woodham (Bootybarre master trainer) and Katrina Buchanan’s (clinical nutritionist and Bootybarre Instructor)

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group sessions on the Pilates reformer apparatus, which kick off very soon. onpointenz.com

HOOP, HERE IT IS

Believe it or not, hula hooping is becoming one of the world’s most popular fitness challenges. The joyful movement burns up to 7 calories a minute, is suitable for people at any fitness level (and ages 3 to 80+!), and is naturally fun – there’s a reason the hula hoop has always been popular with kids! In2Hula (winners of the Community Excellence Award from the Exercise Association of New Zealand) can get you started, with nurturing guidance given in their small classes, which allow for personalised support. You’ll be trimming and toning your abdominals, arms, and legs, engaging in low-impact aerobic exercise, increasing flexibility and strengthening core muscles (among other benefits) as you go, and all in a music-based, fun, and supportive atmosphere. In2Hula’s approach is a combination of ‘body and health with social and self’, with both social and self-time encouraged to provide not only that fun social aspect but also the valuable me-time that is so important to maintaining balance. Sign up to get in some practice before the Super Heart Hoop-Off Heart Foundation fundraiser and hoop-off record attempt in October! hulahoops.co.nz

FAST TRACK

beautiful On Pointe Barre and Wellness Studio in Carlton Corner is the first of its kind in Christchurch. It was started to bring the city Bootybarre, a fun fusion workout technique that combines elements of dance, pilates and yoga (as well as pilates and yoga classes themselves), and is suitable for nearly all ages and fitness levels. Bootybarre tones long lean muscles and increases endurance, as well as perking you up in all the right places – in fact Victoria’s Secret models credit Bootybarre and pliates for their figures. You’ll leave a session happy and feeling great! Small, intimate classes mean you get to know your fellow exercisers, while regular special events like blokes’ barre night (featuring beers, lads!) and barre bingo for the competitive among us keep things fun (as do the funky exercises with crazy names), and you should also look out for their new

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The fastest-growing fitness franchise in the world right now (call it the Hugh Jackman effect), F45 Training takes its name from its Functional 45 minute workouts. Each class-based team training session is an interval style 45-minute full body workout under the supervision of personal trainers who ensure correct technique, as well as keeping you motivated and encouraged. Focusing on innovation, motivation and results, F45 workouts change daily and are never repeated, and feature music mixed by some of the best DJs around the world. Suitable for any fitness level, F45 is proving a hit with hundreds of thousands of people all over the world, and gets its members fit fast, losing body fat, and building lean muscle mass. Its holistic approach includes a free nutritional portal that offers daily meal plans, recipes, shopping lists and more, and a big emphasis on socialising (including regular social events) keeps things fun and makes it easy to stay motivated and challenged. Hit their City, Ferrymead or Wigram locations to take one of their regular F45 Challenges – a free 2-week trial offering unlimited access to all of their classes – to get a taste of the F45 experience. f45training.co.nz

Sick of expensive gym memberships and boring fitness classes, Karry Summers started pole classes in 2007 and went on to become Miss Pole Dance NZ for 4 years running and a World Cup Runner Up. She’s taken pole dancing fitness to new heights with the opening of Altitude Pole & Fitness – New Zealand’s largest and Christchurch’s premier pole dancing and fitness studio. The state-of-the-art studio offers more than 50 classes each week, with members able to chop and change as they please between pole fitness classes, aerial silks and hoop, and others including Stretch & Flex, Acro Gym for gymnastics based acrobatics and tricks, funky ZUU Fitness, and TwerkFit®. You’ll burn up to 300 calories in a typical pole class, sculpting and toning muscles (in particular your arms

and abs), and increase your flexibility and coordination (not to mention dance ability!). With a fun, social environment that encourages you to increase your skills and an emphasis on safety, and a busy social events calendar, Altitude offers a great opportunity to meet like-minded people and increase your fitness levels in every way. altitudepole.co.nz

OPEN ALL HOURS

Snap Fitness Christchurch CBD offers a super convenient location at 205 Madras Street, outstanding quality and a wide variety of equipment, plenty of space to train, excellent professional personal

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trainers, and even free parking! Being open 24/7 to suit your schedule is just part of their approach to making it easy for you to get your sweat on; they also offer lunchtime High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) Classes, monthly challenges, and a flexible membership plan that doesn’t lock you into a contract and gives you access to 2,000 Snap Fitness training centres around the world! Whether you’re looking to make good on that long overdue commitment to get yourself in shape, wanting to stay in fighting trim, or just want to look and feel better, you’ll find a welcoming environment where the knowledgeable, friendly team takes the time to get to know you – the

1 F45 Training Christchurch 2 Altitude Pole & Fitness (Elle Catraz Photography) 3 On Pointe Barre and Wellness Studio 4 1 More Round 5 In2Hula 6 Flow Hot Yoga 7 Snap Fitness Christchurch CBD 8 F45 Training Christchurch 9 Scoop Authentic Pilates

POLE POSITION

/ SHAPE UP

Using the Pilates apparatus, you’ll be able to pull moves you’d never have thought you were capable of. complementary styles of Yin Yang at 30°C, they have a range of additional class options and variations like Shakti Mat Classes, Mindfulness Breathing, and Mastery Vinyasa, as well as regular workshops and special events. You’ll be looked after by their diverse team, who will bring you on board with Flow’s mission: balance, energy, harmony, strength and growth through yoga. flowhotyoga.co.nz

THE REAL DEAL

9 perfect place to train with a friend and keep each other motivated. snapfitness247.co. nz/gyms/christchurch-cbd

GOING WITH THE FLOW

Offering yoga classes for all levels of students, Flow Hot Yoga Studio’s goal is to help you to realise your full potential. It doesn’t matter if you’re a complete novice at yoga or have been practising it for years; Flow’s mindful group of teachers are knowledgeable, approachable, and passionate, and are trained in a wide variety of yoga ideas and principles. They’re dedicated to the idea of making Flow’s 50 classes a week challenging, constructive and fun! Offering core class Hot Flow at 40°C to optimise the benefits of practising yoga in a heated environment, Power Vinyasa at 36°C to build flexibility, strength and good postural alignment, the therapeutic Yin at 30°C and the

Many exercise routines are put under the umbrella of ‘Pilates’, but at Scoop Authentic Pilates they hew closely to the original teachings of Joseph Pilates himself (and the apparatus he developed as well). They’re the only Authentic Pilates Studio in the South Island (and one of just a handful in NZ) and are dedicated to providing top-quality teaching; expect authentic, professional instruction that offers all the benefits of Joe’s techniques – superior core strength, increased overall strength and flexibility, improved posture, injury prevention, and enhanced sporting performance. Classes include Pilates Fundamentals, Pilates Restore, and Pilates All Levels, which takes participants through the original Pilates mat exercises. The method is adaptable to anyone’s level, and there’s a serious fun factor – using the Pilates apparatus, you’ll be able to pull moves you’d never have thought you were capable of, and are always pushing your limits in a safe environment. It’s a great fitness option for everyone from total beginners to Pilate experts, and their supportive atmosphere will make you feel welcome. scooppilates.co.nz

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F45 TRAINING THREE GREAT LOCATIONS: CITY, FERRYMEAD, & WIGRAM

Functional, interval style 45-minute full body workouts under supervision of Personal Trainers. Workouts change daily and focus on innovation, motivation and results. Check them out! 027 688 8479 f45training.co.nz

IN2HULA FITNESS

Get fit! Have fun! Lose weight! Rediscover joy with hula hooping. Free Hooping for Beginners video, hoops and classes available at www.hulahoops.co.nz 021 246 6779 hulahoops.co.nz

FOR THE BIRDS Cityscape suffers some serious job envy catching up with New Zealand Conservation Trust’s Bethany Brett, Head Kiwi Husbandry Officer at Willowbank Wildlife Reserve, who gets to hang with super cute kiwi chicks and helps to ensure the survival of our national icon.

HEAD KIWI HUSBANDRY OFFICER IS A GREAT TITLE – WHAT SORT OF RESPONSE DO YOU GET WHEN YOU TELL PEOPLE? Generally, people say things like “That’s so cool” or “You’re so lucky!” But when I’m talking to people back home in the US, the response varies a lot more – people either know that a kiwi is a type of bird or they get momentarily confused and think I care for kiwifruit. WHAT DOES YOUR JOB ENTAIL? Quite a bit! During the busiest part of the year there are rowi kiwi chicks being crèched on site, great spotted kiwi eggs are coming in for artificial incubation, and our breeding pairs of brown kiwi are gearing up and those eggs are artificially incubated as well. There are also the advocacy birds in the nocturnal house and two permanent rehab great spotted kiwi living on site. The daily routine includes prepping the food, cleaning enclosures, visually checking each bird to make sure they are healthy, and providing enrichment. The chicks being crèched are weighed twice a week and have faecal samples collected for weekly testing. The eggs in the breeding centre are turned 4 times during the day by hand and are candled and weighed twice a week. Along with the usual stuff, there’s always something else coming up – like having to assist-feed chicks who aren’t quite figuring out the whole eating thing, or taking tours through the park, or talking to school groups. When the breeding and crèching season is over, and we only have our brown kiwi and two great spotted kiwi on site, we start getting ready for the next busy season by thoroughly cleaning the breeding centre and all the enclosures that held chicks. And before we know it, it’s time for chicks to arrive again! HOW HANDS-ON IS IT? It depends – with chicks we end up handling them more because of the weigh days

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throughout the week. We handle the grown-up kiwi a lot less; they are checked by sight every day, but are only weighed and properly health checked once a month unless we are concerned about something. The most ‘hands-on’ part of the job is cleaning! Cleaning enclosures, cleaning dishes, cleaning burrows… the cleaning is endless. WHAT IS AN ASSIST HATCH? An assist hatch is when a chick requires help during hatch. There can be a partial assist hatch or a full assist hatch. It can be required if the chick is malpositioned inside its shell, or there’s been a complication like the membranes have collapsed. WHAT LED YOU TO THIS CAREER PATH? Moving to New Zealand – if I had stayed in the US, I definitely wouldn’t have this job! In the States I did a Bachelor of Science degree at Clemson University (located in South Carolina) focusing on animal and veterinary sciences. I thought about applying to vet school, but decided I ultimately didn’t want to be a vet. Instead I moved to New Zealand (we had lived here when I was a kid – it wasn’t just a random ‘hey let’s move to that place’ idea) and did the Certificate in Animal Management (Captive Wild Animals) at Unitec. I did work experience at Willowbank throughout the course and never left. HOW DO YOU COME UP WITH THE CHICKS’ NAMES? The rowi chicks come with names and usually the Paparoa Wildlife Trust have names in mind for the great spotted chicks, so I just name the brown kiwi that hatch here on site, and there haven’t been too many recently. Our brown kiwi chick from this season is named Anzac – and that’s because his egg was laid on Anzac Day. Any siblings he could possibly have might be given WW1 themed names – but

Back home in the US, the response varies a lot more – people either know that a kiwi is a type of bird or they get momentarily confused and think I care for kiwifruit I’m not completely sold on the idea. Sometimes groups sponsor an egg/chick and then they’ll be given the opportunity to name them. WHEN YOU ‘CANDLE’ (PLACING A BRIGHT LIGHT SOURCE BEHIND THE EGG TO SHOW DETAILS THROUGH THE SHELL) AN EGG, WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? By candling, I can figure out what’s going on inside the shell. We can see if the egg is ‘healthy’ and how developed the embryo and membranes are, and therefore figure out when the egg is due to hatch. We look at things like the veins (if they look strong and clear we know they are healthy, if they are fuzzy and disjointed, we know they are not healthy), the air cell at the wider end of the egg, and the overall colour of the egg. Candling the NACE (non-air cell end of the shell) should result in a good reddish-yellow glow, and that’s the yolk, and if it doesn’t have a nice glow there’s a chance the chick is malpositioned. TELL US ABOUT YOUR FAVE FEATHERED CHARGE. My favourite is a great spotted kiwi named Piki, though I usually call him S#1. That’s because his egg ID was S#1 14/15

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and he was one of my first chicks to hatch when I became full time at Willowbank. He was also my first assist hatch chick, and was supposed to be released back into the Paparoa Ranges. However, he was moved over to the crèche site on the West Coast twice, and twice he came back with health problems. He’s good now, but in the end it was decided that he could stay at Willowbank and be the companion of our older rehab great spotted kiwi girl, who can’t be released due to a bill injury. Every day, we find these two sharing a burrow, and it’s a bit of a funny sight because she’s twice as big as him. WHAT’S ONE THING PEOPLE PROBABLY DON’T KNOW ABOUT KIWI? People may not know that in the Willowbank Nocturnal House, they get the chance to hear the kiwi call – the highpitched call is a male, and the low-pitched call is the female. It’s one of my favourite things to tell visitors when I’m working in the Nocturnal House. At the moment, our birds will generally call around 12:30pm after we’ve given them their afternoon feeds. nzconservationtrust.org.nz willowbank.co.nz

SPIRIT(ED) AWAY Cityscape caught up with former Christchurch composer John Young, whose specially-commissioned piece Spirit both opens and celebrates the CSO’s 60th anniversary season this month as part of Eroica.

TELL US ABOUT SPIRIT. The CSO have been very generous and allowed me to write for quite a large orchestra. I was really pleased to accept the commission because, although a lot of my music has been solely in the electroacoustic area, I want to explore instrumental writing again with the perspectives I’ve gained in the studio. HOW DID YOU APPROACH THE COMPOSITION? I’m interested in exploring what you might think of as the ‘inside’ of sounds. I’m fascinated in the way sounds evolve in time, their textures, richness and the sense of space they can create. As a composer this means for me that working with sound is about allowing time for timbre – or the colour of sound – to naturally evolve and find direction, while giving the material enough impetus for a sense of motion. WHAT CAN WE EXPECT? I’m aiming to create an experience of sound that is very immersive, hopefully giving the audience a sense of following a path through the motion of sound textures and colours. There’s no narrative as such, but movement through a shifting soundscape. The title really reflects some of the emotional

qualities I aim to evoke as a result: the idea of the spirit brings us to contemplation, but also to resolve and compassion. WILL THE CSO HAVE TO GET IN ANY SPECIAL EQUIPMENT TO PULL THIS OFF? The piece includes electroacoustic sounds, which formed the starting point of the work’s harmonic design. Hopefully that part of the piece will feel integral to the sound world and be quite transparent for the audience. HOW TOUGH IS IT COMPOSING FOR A HOME CROWD? Very! WHAT SORT OF INFLUENCE HAS THE CSO HAD ON YOU? A huge influence, really. It was something to aspire to in my mid-teens, but then as a member of the orchestra it was amazing to gain insight into the repertoire through international conductors and soloists: I remember concerts with Erich Bergel, Donald Thulean, Vanco Cavdarski and Carl Pini particularly well, as all of them had wonderful ways to inspire us. The Brahms’ First we did with Thulean was very special for me. There was a wonderful sense of camaraderie in the orchestra. Several of us were also very well supported in the formation of contemporary ensemble ‘Continuum’, and we were able to commission several new pieces for the group. Before that I had a complementary kind of experience in the Skellerup Woolston Band, where we played some very good contemporary pieces.

I’m fascinated in the way sounds evolve in time, their textures, richness and the sense of space they can create. 30

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TELL US ABOUT YOUR WORK IN THE ACOUSMATIC MUSIC FIELD. I am Professor of Composition in the Music, Technology and Innovation Research Centre at De Montfort University in Leicester. We work across all areas of music and technology. I have gravitated toward mostly acousmatic music – which is created solely for projection on loudspeakers. My attraction to it? Quite a few things: the potential to draw on sounds from the natural world, approaching all sounds as musically viable and the capacity to tell ‘stories’ in sound. Also the way we can create an immersive experience for the listener and use technologies to transform sound into new, exciting forms. Other recent pieces have been a 24-channel work for the Vienna Acousmonium (an ‘orchestra’ of 32 loudspeakers surrounding the audience) that was performed there last September, and I have just been at the Bludenz Festival in Austria for the first performance of another acousmatic piece. Along with Spirit, next up is a piece for a specially adapted piano called the magnetic resonator piano, written for Xenia Pestova – who is very well known to New Zealand audiences I think! WHAT DO YOU MISS MOST ABOUT CHRISTCHURCH? Family mostly, of course, but many other things – the light, the space, and the wineries... I have not lived in Christchurch for nearly 30 years, so in a way I see mostly what has changed. The effects of the earthquakes have been really saddening, but also unimaginable from a human perspective. But there is something about the sky, sun, and light that always makes me feel very relaxed when I visit. Eroica, Air Force Museum, Feb 24, cso.co.nz

All round to Mrs Brown’s Fans of feisty gran Mrs Brown have the chance to catch the world famous sitcom live this month when brand new show For the Love of Mrs Brown comes to town. The definition of smash-hit television in its native UK, the multi-award winning Mrs Brown’s Boys was voted the Best British Sitcom of the 21st Century by the Radio Times in the UK, and people haven’t been able to get enough of the show’s riotous stage extensions either. That’s not bad for a show that got its start after producers on RTE 2FM called creator (and Mrs Brown herself) Brendan O’Carroll on a bluff that he had written a five-minute Mrs Brown radio soap opera. He hadn’t, and spent the weekend furiously scribbling 10 episodes. More well-known is the fact that the cast is filled with Brendan’s friends and family including his wife, Jennifer Gibney (daughter Cathy), daughter Fiona O’Carroll (daughter-in-law Maria), son Danny O’Carroll (family friend Buster), grandson Jamie O’Carroll (grandson Bono), sister Eilish O’Carroll (best friend Winnie), daughter-in-law Amanda Woods (daughter-in-law Betty) and son-in-law Martin Delaney (son Martin). Mrs Brown’s near decade-spanning theatrical history goes back to 1999, with stage plays Mrs Brown’s Last Wedding, Good Mourning Mrs Brown and Mrs Brown Rides Again extensively touring the UK and further afield. Fourth stage show For the Love of Mrs Brown is a new adventure that

the crew are bringing our way for three big shows at Horncastle Arena from February 28 to March 2. Here’s your chance to catch the uproarious live version of the show that’s been a ratings winner all over the world. For the Love of Mrs Brown, Horncastle Arena, February 28 to March 2, mrsbrownsboyslive.com

Did you know? Mrs Brown was originally meant to be played by a woman, but the actor playing her was sick when they recorded the first radio episode, Brendan stood in, and the producers loved it.

We have 1 x double pass to the opening night (Feb 28) of For the Love of Mrs Brown to giveaway. To enter, send us an email to info@somocreative.co.nz with ‘Mrs Brown’ in the subject line and tell us why you have to see her live. Entries close February 22.

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/ ENTERTAIN ME

Watching

Our picks of the best flicks, music and stuff to read.

Photo: Merie Wallace, A24

LADY BIRD Described as “the kind of modest, miraculous low-budget gem that takes on a life of its own” by Variety, writer-director Greta Gerwig’s coming-of-age dramedy (Feb 13) received a standing ovation at the Toronto International Film Festival, and has been winning plaudits since. Following Christine ‘Lady Bird’ McPherson (Saoirse Ronan, who got the Golden Globe for Best Actress) in her last year at a Catholic high school, it details her strained relationship with her parents (Laurie Metcalf and Tracy Letts) and the turmoil of adolescence with a balance of hilarity and heartbreak. Look for Oscar to come calling!

SUMMER LAUGHS

GAME NIGHT A FANTASTIC WOMAN Chilean director on the rise Sebastián Lelio’s follow up to 2013’s award-snaring Gloria, A Fantastic Woman (Mar 1), seems similarly destined for greatness. It boasts a searing performance (with awards buzz) from transgender actress Daniela Vega as Marina, a young transgender singer/waitress who comes under suspicion for the murder of her older lover Orlando (Francisco Reyes) after moving in with him. What follows paints a harrowing, brutal portrait, as Marina is given the broom by Orlando’s enraged and violent family. It’s a politically-charged and ultimately uplifting drama of a marginalised woman standing her ground amid myriad slings and arrows. WIN! We have 10 double passes to A Fantastic Woman to giveaway. To enter, send us an email to info@somocreative.co.nz with ‘Fantastic’ in the subject line and tell us about a fantastic woman you know. Entries close February 28.

Brought to us by the creative team behind Spiderman: Homecoming and Horrible Bosses, new black comedy Game Night (Feb 22) sees couple Max (Jason Bateman) and Annie (Rachel McAdams) get a lot more than they bargained more when Max’s brother Brooks’ (Kyle Chandler) attempt to enliven their friends group’s regular game night with a murder mystery party (complete with fake thugs and federal agents) somehow segues into – oops – an actual murder mystery. Over the course of a chaotic night, these uber-competitive but clueless suburbanites find themselves increasingly in over their heads as the lines between what’s fake and what’s all-too-real become increasingly, comically blurred; a premise that asks “What if David Fincher’s The Game starred a bunch of bumbling idiots?” WIN! We have 5 double passes to Game Night to giveaway. To enter, send us an email to info@somocreative.co.nz with ‘Game’ in the subject line and tell us your fave game-night game. Entries close February 19.

DVD: ANOTHER MOTHER’S SON Acclaimed WWII drama Another Mother’s Son tells the inspiring true story of Louisa Gould (Jenny Seagrove), who took in a young escaped Russian prisoner of war on the Nazi-occupied island of Jersey, hiding him from the German forces. Also starring John Hannah, Amanda Abbington and Ronan Keating, it highlights the bravery and selflessness ordinary people are capable of in extraordinary circumstances. WIN! We have 3 copies of Another Mother’s Son to giveaway. To enter, send us an email with ‘Mother’ in the subject line to info@somocreative.co.nz and tell us why you have to see this movie. Entries close February 28.

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/ ENTERTAIN ME

PLAYLIST

The killer tracks on high-rotation in the Cityscape office.

Cage the Elephant ‘Whole Wide World’ Unpeeled

Listening NATION OF TWO, VANCE JOY The Melbourne musician that hit it globally big with inescapable single ‘Riptide’ from 2013 debut EP God Loves You When You’re Dancing drops his sophomore album on February 23, and anticipation is high. The singer-songwriter was on the cover of Rolling Stone’s first issue for 2018, the album’s (artist-illustrated!) cover art is out, and the release of first single ‘Lay It On Me’ last year saw platinum level sales in his native Australia, while new single ‘We’re Going Home’ is also getting plenty of air time. The title Nation of Two describes a perfectly selfcontained couple, so expect the new album to offer tales of love and longing bursting with emotion, all anchored by Vance’s masterful instrumentation and compelling vocals.

MAKE WAY FOR LOVE, MARLON WILLIAMS

Reading

The Lyttelton lad who’s making a splash on the international music scene releases his second album this month. If you haven’t looked up this

Kiwi on the rise yet, you should; with a swag of award nominations, critical acclaim, and an ever-expanding touring CV, he’s one to watch. Recorded in Northern California with backing band The Yarra Benders after pre-production in Lyttelton, the new drop’s 11 original songs promise to move him out of ‘country’ territory and into the likes of cinematic strings, reverb, rollicking guitar and quiet piano ballads.

ALWAYS ASCENDING, FRANZ FERDINAND Hey, remember Franz Ferdinand? After their massive self-titled 2004 debut, it can’t help but feel like the Scottish rockers dropped off the radar a bit, although minor hits duly popped up off their album releases in 2005, 2007 and 2013. But it feels like a while between drinks; fortunately, they’re back with a slightly new-look line-up and fifth studio release Always Ascending. The first single and title track is already a high-rotation banger; we’re looking forward to giving the rest of it a spin.

AOTEAROA: THE NEW ZEALAND STORY, GAVIN BISHOP Acclaimed New Zealand children’s book author and illustrator Gavin Bishop explores the defining moments and people of our nation in this sumptuously illustrated volume that runs from the Big Bang through to what might happen tomorrow.

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Gary Clark Jr ‘Come Together’ Justice League Soundtrack

Royal Blood ‘Lights Out’ How Did We Get So Dark?

The Revivalists ‘Wish I Knew You’ Men Amongst Mountains

FRANZ FERDINAND ‘Always Ascending’ Always Ascending

LINCOLN IN THE BARDO, GEORGE SAUNDERS The 2017 Man Booker winner and debut novel of George Saunders takes inspiration from the tragic historical death of Abraham Lincoln’s 11-year-old son at the dawn of the Civil War to spin a story of familial love and loss that enters the realm of the supernatural.

/ CULTURE

ZOOTOPIA Cityscape jams with Too Many Zooz’s trumpeting legend Matt Doe on rocking the New York subway, YouTube fame, brass house and why you have to check out their set at Electric Avenue this month.

TELL US ABOUT HOW TOO MANY ZOOZ GOT TOGETHER. I met Leo at Manhattan School of Music and we became good friends. Years later he met King (of Sludge, a.k.a. David Parks) playing in the subway with a band called The Drumadics. At that time I was crashing at Leo’s place, and one day he was going to play with David, and basically didn’t want me to just hang at his spot, so he asked me to come with. Ha ha! We played and it felt good. Decided to keep doing it. Five years later and now we’re here! YOU GUYS GOT YOUR START BUSKING ON THE NEW YORK SUBWAY – WHAT’S THE CRAZIEST THING THAT WENT DOWN WHILE YOU WERE WORKING? The subway is a busy place with a lot of stuff going on constantly. So yeah, we definitely saw some crazy shit. What was the craziest? I’ll say this – never underestimate crackheads! WHAT WAS IT LIKE MAKING THE TRANSITION FROM BUSKING BAND TO STAGE SHOWS? Well, we had all played individually with other bands in clubs all around NYC, so it wasn’t something that was completely new to us. But yeah, developing a real 1.5 hour ‘show’ is a challenge, and definitely different from the way we performed in the subway. So it took some time to make that transition – practice makes perfect.

IT’S BEEN A BIT OF A WHIRLWIND FOR TOO MANY ZOOZ, FROM BUSKING TO A VIRAL YOUTUBE VID TO STATESIDE AND EUROPEAN TOURS AND NOW MAKING IT ALL THE WAY TO NEW ZEALAND. HOW DO YOU FIND THE TOURING LIFE? Touring is cool. It’s just like anything else in the way that it’s a routine. So for me, it’s really just about making touring as much like home as I can. Keep my routine of reading, writing, practicing, working out, etc. It’s when you turn into a nomad that you know the road has gotten the better of you – ha ha. So many dudes love to get super f**ked-up every night on tour. I have no idea how! YOU’VE DESCRIBED YOUR GENRE OF MUSIC AS ‘BRASS HOUSE’, WHICH IS PRETTY NEW TO US HERE. WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT IT? Brass house is a genre NOW, but back then it’s just what we called our music. For me, brass house, more than being a genre, is a feeling of democracy and a group of individuals relishing in a riveting conversation. Brass house can sound like so much different stuff. Hip hop, jazz, electronic dance music, etc... so for me it symbolises an approach more than it does a sound, per se. I hope that makes sense – ha ha.

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SHOULD WE ASK WHY DAVID’S NICKNAME IS KING OF SLUDGE? No! What you should be asking is: ‘Why is the King of Sludge’s nickname David?’ WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE BAND? We’re working on a sophomore album right now. Been in the studio and on the road, mostly. Lots of exciting stuff planned for 2018. Still a ton of shows, but some other cool stuff I can’t talk about yet. WHY DO WE HAVE TO SEE YOUR SET AT ELECTRIC AVENUE? Our show really is an experience. I don’t know what else to really say about it. There’s so much time and love that has gone into this music, and we love performing for people. I think it’s one of those things you’re better off seeing, rather than have me try to explain it on paper. ANYTHING YOU’RE HOPING TO GET TO DO OFFSTAGE WHILE YOU’RE HERE? I’m really into The Lord of the Rings and all that stuff, ha, so I wanna go check out where they filmed that stuff. That and just a bunch of stuff outdoors I guess. Oh! And as always, get in the studio and make some more music. Locals holler! Electric Avenue, Feb 24, electricavenuefestival.co.nz

Food & Drink CRAFT BREWS

Andy Teo and the Dux Central tribe spread the word on the good suds. What’s good, y’all? Put your work down and report to the pit, because I have a little somethin’ to show you. I bring you a Gose. Part of a seasonal release by the crew at North End Brewing Co on the Kapiti Coast, Become the Ocean is a Gose which on the nose has a whiff of coriander, a little orange pith, and a trace of apricot. On the palate it’s like a mystery unravelling; starting off like a crisp lager, it Gose into a lemon tartness, followed by a lightly salted dry finish. This is a beer that I’d offer someone if they were wanting an alternative to a Radler; sour, crisp, refreshing, and screaming of summer. Give it a try, but don’t go against the grain if you can’t handle it! duxcentral.co.nz

Sneak on In

Looking for an under the radar haunt? Head to Rogues of Rotherhams and then ask about their appropriately named Sneaky’s (or look for the white door – v. Alice in Wonderland). This decadent speakeasy-style den with swagger is where the primo drops are swilled and moreish morsels nibbled. Killer cocktails with a (serious) kick are the order of the day in this rustic haven, which boasts colourful Turkish lamps and a super chill vibe. roguesbar.co.nz

TO THE MOON Brand new, and with an emphasis on some seriously good brews, Beckenham’s Moon Under Water takes its name from a 1946 essay by George Orwell on what makes the ideal pub. It may be tricky to live up to ol’ George’s standards (he admitted that even the best pub he knew of only had 8 of the 10 qualities he was after), but this local version is giving it a good go. Owner Matt Kamstra is an impassioned craft beer and cider enthusiast who has teed up 12 taps of craft beer, regular colabs with local brewers, a tapas-style sharing menu with an eye on food & beer matching, and regular live music jam sessions – just part of an action-packed events calendar of everything from donut bars to charity keg launches. Craft beer fans and those who love that classic local pub vibe will most definitely want to check it out! moonunderwater.co.nz

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SPOILT FOR CHOICE With 39 pizza flavours to choose from, iconic local pizzeria Spagalimis (or ‘Spags’) have a pizza to match every craving and mood – and a few besides! To test this theory, we’ve got 2 x $50 eGift vouchers to Spagalimis Salisbury Street restaurant to giveaway. To enter, send us an email to info@somocreative.co.nz with ‘Spags’ in the subject line and tell us your fave Spagalimis pizza flavour. Entries close February 28.

game-changing fiesta of huge flavours and textures; the beef joins black beans, red rice, pickled radish and shredded greens, all topped off with a tangy lime and coriander vinaigrette and fresh pico de gallo, and tempered by guacamole, sour cream and smoky blackened corn kernels. We round out the US gastronomic sojourn with Jess’ heavenly (and gluten-free) Kahlua Cheesecake, paired with The Dude – a jacked-up White Russian featuring a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and named after the classic character in the Coen brother’s cult hit The Big Lebowski. Also totally-worth-theminimal wait is The Cookie Monster – a fresh-baked chocolate chip cookie served oven-hot in the pan with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce, whipped cream and a maraschino cherry (natch), which we team up with the gin-based cherry bomb in a tumbler that is the Bat Country. Over the speakers, the Pixies’ Black Francis asks ‘Where Is My Mind’ as dessert goes down; it’s totally blown, Francis. Totally blown.

REVIEW

Sun Dog Diner

7/2 Papanui Road, 03 260 1166, sundogdiner.co.nz

I’m addicted even before I swallow the first forkful – it’s mac-n-cheese, but not as you know it. The thick, rich sauce – a buttery, creamy love child of 4 gourmet cheeses! – is the star of the suitably-titled The Greatest Show On Earth, which comes with a dangerously handy back-up jug should you feel you need more. Enveloping al dente elbow pasta, Sun Dog Diner’s famous sauce (a secret family recipe of owner Jess Lynch, she of Mamacita’s Mexican food truck fame) epitomises comfort food, and comes smothered in crispy fried onion ‘straws’. Perched on the corner of one of the city’s busiest intersections, Sun Dog Diner effortlessly rocks retro Americana diner cool sans the pretension, offering serious home (on the range) cooking with a Mex leaning. It’s all served up in bodacious surrounds that include tile-topped tables, booth seating, funky pop art, an epic bar made from speakers, and an original Space Invaders machine, all set to one of the city’s finest soundtracks (think the Pixies, The Cure and Placebo et al.). We’re immediately led to our

table, where a yellow plastic stegosaurus pings my nostalgia (I had a similar one as a kid) – it’s been keeping guard with a reserved card embedded in its back. Totally nailing the American diner experience, the entire menu is all-day, with everything on it made from scratch in a showcase of local seasonal ingredients and free-range goodness. We start with killer cocktails – a Golden Monkey Margarita (sweet, sour and floral courtesy of honey, lemon and rosemary-infused tequila) and a mind-bending firecracker of a Bloody Mary (the menu warns: ‘Yeah, it’s spicy. Deal with it’), which thoughtfully comes with a selection of olives and pickles on the side for self-garnishing. We find the perfect partners for the mac-n-cheese in both the supersized Elvis Burrito (a serving worthy of ‘The King’ himself) – where tender smoky grilled steak encased in a crispy, bursting-at-theseams tortilla is lashed with tasty, tangy fixin’s – and the El Machete, a feisty flavour explosion pimped up with ‘Sloppy José’ beef mince. Served in a crispy taco bowl, it’s a

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/ FOOD & DRINK

REVIEW

Protocol

2 Colombo Street, 03 964 2880, protocoloncolombo.co.nz

You know you’re onto a good thing when you rock up on a rainy Thursday summer evening and the car park is full. We’re greeted by the megawatt smile of Protocol’s Nichola Clark and the excited buzz and chatter of a well-loved local – it’s obvious new owners Dean and Genaea Calvert (the pair behind Heathcote’s legendary Valley Inn Tavern) have turned the place around, and in record time. As Nichola (on secondment from the Valley Inn Tavern) leads us to our table, we pass through the bustling bar’s polished rustic aesthetic – it’s tinged with an industrial edge courtesy of some heavy metal lighting suspended over the bar – and several intimate dining spaces. It’s a big space to be sure, but its cunningly zoned

layout (including function room and a normally sun-drenched courtyard) ensures there’s plenty of options for those seeking a little privacy. Seated at our table, we can see horizontal wine bottles lining a wall, Scandi-cool light fittings above, and a chain metal curtain that hints at the kitchen’s meaty pedigree. As we peruse the re-imagined menu (gastro pub with a twist) Nichola suggests a cocktail to start. Following a quick chat on our favourite flavours and tastes, she returns with a potent, spot-hitting Whisky Sour and a deliciously tropical French Martini. While the menu is filled with classics, we leap at two of the more left-of-centre offerings you might expect to find on a gastro pub menu, starting with Spiced Cauliflower and Homemade Pork Dumplings. We’re duly rewarded. Gently laced with Indian spices in a crispy coating following a light deep frying, the cauliflower’s an immediate hit. Equally impressive, the dumplings – with their crispy undersides and delicate pork filling – are dangerously delicious when plunged into a chilli-laden dipping sauce. Deliberating over the mains, we seek Nichola’s expertise again, and lock in the

Lamb Salad and the crowd-pleasing 450g Ribeye, also handing over the reins for a professional wine match. Relinquishing the decision-making has never turned out better. Representing serious value for money and a next level flavour combo, the Lamb Salad sees blushing slices of premium lamb atop a salad of earthy roast kumara, salty olives, creamy feta, the crunchy freshness of sweet capsicum, cucumber, and plump cherry tomatoes, all bound in a refreshing mint dressing. A sprinkling of dukkha brings a nutty spiciness that meets its silken match in a Mondillo Pinot Noir’s ripe plum and cherry flavours. Definitely a statement dish, the wellproportioned ribeye arrives on the bone with a supremely buttery mash, crisp green beans and swirls of sweet beetroot relish and fresh basil salsa verde. Giving way effortlessly under the knife, the tender steak is all smoky, caramelised flavours, and is pure magic between sips of the perfectly paired 2011 Angus the Bull Cabernet Sauvignon’s blackberry-rich flavours and ripe tannins. We meet our sticky end with a deliciously dense Sticky Date Pudding doused in a decadent caramel sauce, and a gravitydefying and taste bud-wowing Baileys and Chocolate Cheesecake, with plans to hit the courtyard on a sunny weekend afternoon for beers and to take the pizza menu for a spin.

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/ THE LAST WORD

Cityscape caught up with Australian electronic/hip hop legends Hermitude’s El Gusto (Angus Stuart), who’ll be turning it out on the Electric Avenue stage with the duo’s mad festival skills, to talk number-1 albums, their Blue Mountains roots, and epic gigs. YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN PERFORMING TOGETHER SINCE YOU WERE 16 AND 11 RESPECTIVELY – HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR SOUND BACK THEN? Back then we started in a school band, mostly jamming and playing the odd cover. But as time moved on and we got into things like hip hop and UK dance, we started producing beats together, and that’s when Hermitude came into play.

show after we had launched Dark Night Sweet Light. We had toured around the world and at the end of the year came back and sold out the Hordern Pavilion, which is a big iconic venue that we’d seen a lot of our heroes and favourite bands play in. 5.5k people in the same place giving out energy and receiving it was an amazing vibe. Definitely at the top of the list for our own shows.

YOU’RE NOW AN AWARD-WINNING BAND: WHAT WOULD YOUR YOUNGER SELVES THINK OF THIS SUCCESS? We’d probably think that we were sick as.

HOW GIGANTIC IS YOUR SAMPLING LIBRARY AT THIS POINT? F**king HUGE!

HOW DID GROWING UP IN THE BLUE MOUNTAINS INFLUENCE YOUR MUSIC? It was a great place to grow up, surrounded by nature; it’s a mystical place. Being slightly isolated kind of helped us develop our own sound I think. There weren’t gigs every weekend or a whole lot of other people making similar music to us, so we just did our own thing and kept ourselves busy with that. And weed. TELL US ABOUT YOUR BEST GIG EVER. It was probably our homecoming Sydney

HOW DID IT FEEL WHEN DARK NIGHT SWEET LIGHT HIT NUMBER 1 IN AUSTRALIA? That was a big moment for us; we couldn’t quite believe it. It’s something as an artist and musician that you’d love to have in your life, but it’s also not always in your reach depending on what type of music you make. I guess we never really thought that a group like us would be in the running for a number one record, but it happened and now the award sits in our studio looking at us saying “Hey guys, remember when you did this?”, and then we feel the pressure!

CITYSCAPE.CO.NZ February 18

DO YOU EVER FIND YOURSELF THINKING: HEY, WE SHOULD TRY SOMETHING WITH A SINGER? Yep, every now and then. Why, do you think it’s weird that we don’t have singers on every song? WHO DO YOU THINK’S SLAYING IT IN AUSTRALIAN MUSIC RIGHT NOW? King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard are dope and killing it; I think they released 3 albums last year. Jordan Rakei and Manu Crook$. IF YOU COULD ADD A DREAM THIRD MEMBER TO THE BAND (LIVING OR DEAD), WHO WOULD IT BE? Probably James Brown, ‘cause he’d make us work harder. WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO GET UP TO AWAY FROM MUSIC? BBQing and cooking food in general. It’s good for the soul and if you do it right, your friends and family like you more! Electric Avenue, Feb 24, electricavenuefestival.co.nz