ARTICLES

WOMAD is a festival that really needs no introduction. The ‘World of Arts, Music and Dance’ was founded in 1980 by the esteemed Peter ‘Sledgehammer’ Gabriel, Thomas Brooman and Bob Hooten. Their aim was to create a festival in which people would share in music from other cultures, if they only they had the opportunity to listen to some of the larger global sounds.

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Local Reggaeton artist, Jinetero MC is about to release his much anticipated first EP. Starting his life as a street kid from Cuba, he believes the only limitations on life are the ones you set yourself. (more…)

If you happen to visit Thailand during Songkran prepare to get wet and covered in clay, for nobody, anywhere is safe. I arrived in Bangkok ignorant to Songkran and what the next three days would bring. (more…)

Wellington artist, muralist and art gallery co-owner, Xoe Hall has a long list of achievements tucked under her belt. The 23 year old has worked her way up from being called low brow, to selling 14 pieces from her solo exhibition Xoe Hall of Fame and the One Hit Wonderfuls on opening night.

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Mount Maunganui just got a whole lot cooler with the opening of your new friendly neighbourhood bar, Major Toms. Despite only opening a week ago, Executive ‘In Charge of Everything’ Hamish Mathieson says Major Toms has seen a bevy of patrons ranging from the cool kids to local wash ups, suits and even a local spoons player. (more…)

Emilie McGlone is a very busy lady indeed. The Tokyo based twenty something spends her days as an International Co-ordinator for Peace Boat, a Japan based international non-governmental and non-profit organisation that works to promote peace, human rights, sustainable development and respect for the environment. As if that’s not enough, she also runs her own production group, Parties 4 Peace. (more…)

The SIDEROOM.COM EXTRAVAGANZA 2009 will combine our proven recipe for banging parties with a cutting edge multimedia art exhibition, to produce a festival of pure creative extravagance that is going to be bigger and better than anything you’ve seen before.

December 19, 2009 will see Aucklands Bacco and Montecristo room nightclubs transform into a mini festival overflowing with sensory delights. Upstairs in the art zone an interactive wonderland of multimedia installations and performance art will provide space for the imagination, while downstairs in the grotto a line up of bands and DJs will fulfil even the most hedonistic urge to party in infamously raucous SIDEROOM.COM style.

Music Downstairs from:

Bionic Pixie
Thunderbox
Pie Warmer
Samurai Makoto
Glowdogs
Yam Jams (DJs)
Mastertones
and more….

Artwork Upstairs from:

Liam Moore
Flox
Jon Baxter 
Cracked Ink 
Amanda Broughton
Elliot Collis
RAA
Jennie Robertson
Keyeele Lawler Dormer
Kim Shen
Tim Webber
Cinzah Merkens
Alexandra Dunn
Cut Collective

It will be an interactive wonderland of music, multimedia installations and performance art unlike anything else in Ak.

Montecristo and Bacco Rooms
December 19, 9pm
$20 on the door

The Gravy is back! The fourth season premieres online, Friday 27 November, 2009.

Every week The Gravy travels up and down the islands profiling the creative heart of Aotearoa. Meeting musicians, photographers, poets, artists, filmmakers, writers, actors, crochet artists, animators, comedians, designers and anyone else with an interesting creative story to tell. (more…)

Spend some time walking the streets of Buenos Aires and you’ll soon see and feel the long, complex, twisted strands of political tension. On any given day you’re likely to encounter a mob of protesters blocking traffic, banging drums and chanting slogans. Strolling by a moment, depicting some revolutionary on horseback, you’ll be approached by a student, handing you a DIY, anti government zine. (more…)

This week Auckland’s Plaything Gallery plays host to some of the USA’s most exciting underground artists. We went along to the opening to check it out and recommend you do so as well.
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