The Wanaka-founded Southern Lakes Festival of Colour is making inroads into Queenstown, with seven acts lined up next week.
The band Fabulous Arabia features Silver Scroll-winning indie artist Lawrence Arabia, also known as James Milne, and Mike Fabulous, of the Black Seeds, with Tom Watson (Head Like a Hole) on guitar and trumpet, Riki Gooch (Trinity Roots) on drums, Toby Laing (Fat Freddy's Drop) on trumpet and synth, and Hayden East (Panther and the Zoo) on percussion and saxophone, all harmonising on the vocals.
They will play tracks from the 2011 album Unlimited Buffet. Playwright and scriptwriter Dave Armstrong turns his satirical comedy lens on schools in his new play Kings of the Gym.
The Wellington scribe behind the hits The Tutor, Rita and Douglas and Le Sud reveals what happens when Laurie, unreconstructed head of PE at struggling Hautapu High, clashes with modern go-getting Maori Christian student teacher Annie (Cian Elyse White), with Laurie's voice-of-reason assistant Pat and the charmingly manipulative principal Viv Cleaver in between.
The sellout Edinburgh and Wellington festival show Tubular Bells for Two stars Australian multi-instrumentalists Daniel Holdsworth and Aidan Roberts performing Mike Oldfield's 1973 smash hit live on multiple keyboards, electric, acoustic, bass and Spanish guitars, mandolin, tuned percussion, drums, glockenspiel, loop pedals and, naturally, tubular bells.
New Zealand dance outfit Black Grace brings Vaka, its mix of Pacific culture and contemporary choreography, to Queenstown after receiving standing ovations during its European tour.
World-touring Wellington band Electric Wire Hustle Family performs its blend of hip-hop, psychedelia and soul - with their parents.
Vocalist and guitarist Mara TK is son of New Zealand blues guitarist Billy TK; drummer Myele Manzanza is son of Congolese percussionist Sam Manzanza; and keyboardist Taay Ninh's mother is traditional Vietnamese vocalist Le Nuong, who play live on stage.
Leading percussion quartet Strike delivers its showcase of light, movement and drumming in Elemental.
Finally, for the festival in Queenstown, Baby O is a different experience, an interactive mini-opera composed for babies.
• The Southern Lakes Festival of Colour runs from April 16 to 21.
