Cityscape Issue 12 August 2018

AUG 2018

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CHRISTCHURCH CURATED | YOUR MONTHLY FIX We get all kinds of lit at WORD Christchurch and suss the hottest events you need to catch there, dine in the contemporary surrounds of Miro, chat with iconic chanteuse Julia Deans and yarn with Lukasz Buda of The Phoenix Foundation ahead of their NZSO collab. Plus we get our art on with Dick Frizzell and drop the 411 on everything hot and happening in the city.

CITYSCAPE Issue 12 | August 18

CONTENTS

August 2018 In this issue

Publisher Andrea Rickerby Group Editor Isaac Wilson Editor Elaine Dong Digital Marketing & Content Manager Penny Newton Editorial Assistant Jessica Wells 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 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.

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

05 08 21 26 35 Download the Cityscape App and join our digital community for lovers of style, food, music, lifestyle, travel, beauty and culture!

ON THE COVER

(TRAIN)SPOTTED Irvine Welsh (of cult-classic Trainspotting fame) drops into town for WORD Christchurch this month.

See page 21 for all the deets.

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04 NEWSFEED Tip-offs, trends and more.

08 STYLE FILES What’s hot this month.

10 CULTURE CALENDAR The month in culture.

17 SCREEN BURN New Zealand International Film Festival highlights.

18 ALL FIRED UP Cityscape chats with Kiwi chanteuse Julia Deans.

20 LO AND BEHOLD! Dick Frizzell talks inspiration and exhibitions.

21 WORD UP Things get lit at WORD Christchurch.

26 DUKE OF EARL Legendary comedian Bill Bailey on mining comedy gold.

30 ENTERTAIN ME Film, music, books, games & TV. 33 FOOD & DRINK Eating and drinking in the city.

38 THE LAST WORD The Phoenix Foundation’s Lukasz Buda.

Newsfeed

Image: Headwaters 2018 – Simon Edwards

TIP-OFFS, TRENDS & MORE

THE DEEP END Expect an atmospheric smorgasbord of sea, sky and mountain scapes when local artist Simon Edwards’ solo exhibition opens at The Central Art Gallery on August 30.

Edwards’ constructed landscapes are renowned for their fragments of views and details big and small. thecentral.co.nz

EARLY WARNING

Drop It Like It’s Haute

Fashionistas and style mavens mark this one up in your diaries; Ballantynes is hosting their iconic Fashion Week, strutting into the city for a week long fashion extravaganza, with their Opening Show (Sep 27) kicking off the fashion affair. Expect to see powerhouse collectives Karen Walker and twenty-seven names alongside Dave Richards and Megan McKee lining the panel of judges at the Emerging Designer Competition (Sep 28).

At the time of writing, the weekend events are hush hush, but attendees can expect events – of the free variety, yusss! – and exclusive 1 on 1’s with leading designers (invite only), plus a Successful Women in Business talk from kick-ass leading designers. Tickets drop August 22. ballantynes.co.nz 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. 04

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FIRE IN THE RABBIT HOLE Owing their namesake to the dark tale of blazing bunnies who were said to have spread a fire across the scorched lands of the Selwyn District, The Flaming Rabbit is a slick new bar and eatery in Lincoln. Patrons are torn between sinking their teeth into their perfectly aged South Devon beef (courtesy of an onsite dry aging cabinet), tackling an addictive pork belly with cider braised red cabbage and homemade pear chutney, or keeping it light with their classic bangers and mash. Round it off with their drool-worthy dessert creations, flight of whisky or smash one of their Flaming Rabbit cocktails – it’s all good. Open for brekkie right through to the late eve, you’ll want to get amongst this new eatery that’s cementing itself as a local fave. flamingrabbit.nz

Image: Ross Halfin

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MOVIN’ ON UP

Killer Queens

Forget any concerns about your feet failing you, just hope the ol’ credit card doesn’t let you down when trying to nab tix to one of this month’s hottest events – Queens of the Stone Age ripping up Horncastle Arena on August 25. One of the last remaining outlaws of rock, QOTSA, helmed by the formidable ginger Elvis himself Josh Homme, will be in town hot off the mammoth USA and Japan legs of their Villains world tour. Banging out killer tracks off of their hit 2017 album of the same name, expect fresh jams like ‘The Way We Used To’, ‘Feet Don’t Fail Me’ and spooky number ‘Head like a Haunted House’ crammed alongside their epic back catalogue of crowd faves. Want more? Legendary bluesman C.W. Stoneking, a living embodiment of a bygone era of music, is supporting – ‘nuff said. qotsa.com

We’re lovin’ the swanky new digs of city shoe gurus Issimo, now located up the road from their original store at 174 Papanui Road. Rocking a minimalistic aesthetic and intimate boutique feel, you’ll find all your fave brands like L.K. Bennett, IXOS, Rebecca Balducci, Oxitaly, JB Martin, ivylee, Reebok, Puma, Saben, MOOI and Under The Sun alongside some exciting new brands besides. issimo.co.nz

Awk-word: Salty Not of the seasoning variety, salty takes the place of feeling grumpy, being in a bad mood or seriously hangry. Example; “I forgot my lunch today and I’m feeling super salty.” A fave among millennials.

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UNCOVERED

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MEZZANINE For a night of dynamic showmanship (courtesy of frenetic frontman Aaron Boyce) catch local four-piece Mezzanine, a punchy force of nature whose performances are next-level (yep, went there). With a repertoire that spans rock to modern pop, their 50+ set (think blistering covers of U2’s ‘Pride’ and The Black Key’s ‘Lonely Boy’) ensures a diverse line-up of tunes.

This high-octane band of Boyce, Talon Adams, Dan Chisholm and Jonny Mitchell are sure to crank up your night to a respectable level. FB/mezzaninechch

THE FIRING LINE HOW DID YOU GET YOUR START IN HAIR? I worked in a bank originally… my creativity was completely broken. One day I visited this amazing stylist and decided ‘yep, I want to be like her!’ We are still friends today and I ended up joining the amazing team at a salon in Hamilton working alongside Roseta.

WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION BEHIND TRUE GRIT? After all the carry on with the earthquakes I realised our team and clients needed a salon to go to where you didn’t just get a ‘haircut’, you got an experience. Our clients were so loyal to us during the quake period and put up with being dragged all around the city!

So the new salon had to be a place our clients could feel safe, relaxed, surrounded by beauty and intrigue and just lose themselves in our stunning surroundings whilst our awesome team performed the very best in hair.

WHAT’S THE SECRET TO AN AMAZING SALON EXPERIENCE? I believe you need to listen to your client with a very open mind. Be honest. Don’t over promise and always over deliver. As a stylist you need to do what you love and love what you do with consistency throughout the team, and the biggest smile always on the dial. YOU’RE KNOWN FOR YOUR INIMITABLE STYLE, HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE IT? Are you talking me or my salon? I’m just me! I love life and I love humans. I love travel and I love fashion – I believe we are here for a good time, not a long time, so live every day to the fullest. Shop ’til ya drop, travel far and spend loads of time with family and friends. I love my team and coach a colourful happy life. If I was describing my salon I’d say “Gritty and gutsy!!!” We’ve been through a lot together and we’re hair forever. WHAT’S THE BEST THING ABOUT YOUR JOB? Seeing the smile on your client’s face when you’ve done the best haircut! Giving my team advice and titbits that I received as an apprentice from a very great man that I trained with years ago, and seeing my team have those light bulb moments! WHAT’S YOUR BIGGEST CUSTOMER PET PEEVE? Clients turning up late and expecting me to do a premium job in a budget time. I’m a professional and want what’s best for all my clients. Some ’dos just cannot be rushed! WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE WAY TO UNWIND AFTER A LONG DAY? A date with my husband Shane on the couch watching Netflix… occasionally with a wine in hand. truegrit.co.nz

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Group Therapy

Want to master one of the four elements that Avatar Aang from The Last Airbender possesses? Train up on your fire bending and head down to Cathedral Square where Fire and Flow Christchurch bring the heat with their insane fire twirling skills every Friday evening.

Evolving from a small collective of fire twirlers to a whopping 1,000+ community of fire and flow artists, the group has amounted keen interest from budding fire starters to those with a wealth of experience. The Friday night meet-up allows the group to showcase their work as well as provide guidance and teach newcomers about the art in a safe environment. Having already lit up city events such as the Lyttelton Harbour Festival of Lights, the Matariki Night Markets plus a plethora of other gigs, tap into the art of fire twirling and give the Fire Nation a run for their money. Find the group on Facebook.

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Image: Alan W Moore Photography

Cityscape meets local style maven Jacqui Victor, the colourful force of nature behind industry leading salon True Grit.

MARKET WATCH

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EARLY WARNING

THE GOOD SONS

Got Wood?

It was a utilitarian craft favoured by the ancient Egyptians and now, thanks to master crafters like Noel Graham, you can still own a piece of handcrafted, wood-turned art today for your pad. Noel, who can be found at his stall at the Riccarton Market every Sunday selling his wooden wares and clothing, turned what was a hobby into a living after retiring from teaching. Not that he’s turned his back on teaching altogether, Noel is doing his bit to ensure this age-old craft doesn’t disappear by co-writing a Certificate in Woodturning course for Aoraki Polytechnic in 2005 (now administered by the National Association of Woodworkers) and continues to teach modules for the Christchurch and North Canterbury Woodcraft Club. Collecting and milling the majority of the timbers in his work, Noel also enhances his wares – which range from elegant hollow vessels, finely turned ornaments and multi-axis works – with acrylic paint and patinas. And if you can’t find what you’re looking for, he’ll happily take commissions. riccartonmarket.co.nz

FOLLOW US

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One of New Zealand’s hardest-working and epic live acts, Sons of Zion, are hitting the road and bringing the good vibes to town when they roll into The Foundry (Sep 8) as part of their Vantage Point tour. Legends on the New Zealand music scene, the Kiwi musicians have honed and developed a unique fusion of rock, dub and R’n’B with a strong foundation in reggae and producing some of the slickest beats as well as collaborating with other top Kiwi bands in the likes of Katchafire, Kora and The Black Seeds. sonsofzion.co.nz

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Style Files VIVA LA VIA Tucked among the boutique shops and dining spaces along New Regent Street, Via Sollertia is home to a rare selection of gems and exquisite designer and bespoke jewellery. With a reputation for excellence and helmed by Clare Williams, the unique, family-owned jewellery store is at the forefront of crafting high-end luxury jewellery in the city. Offering a personalised design process, the team at Via Sollertia create jewellery and memories that last a lifetime, as well as specialising in expert in-store valuations, cleaning and rhodium plating. viasollertia.co.nz

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Here comes the Sun

Brighten up your ’robe with these sizzling colour pops.

1 kowtow Escape Crew (RRP $239) and Orange Stage Pant (RRP $269) from The Flock 2 Caroline Sills Angelina Top (RRP $199) and Petra Skirt (RRP $289) 3 Isaac + Lulu Philly Tie Jacket (RRP $349) and Lecture Ruffle Pant (RRP $239)

#SHOEPORN Isabel Marant Etoile Jeyka Studded Heel Sandals (RRP $1,039) from Workshop.

FINE FORME Combining the best in Thai massage performed in the privacy and tranquillity of lux day spa surrounds, Forme Spa & Wellbeing’s latest indulgence/necessity, Thai Fusion Massage is set to become your new go-to holiday-inspired treatment.

Available from August, this unique experience, exclusive to Forme, marries Thai and traditional massage movements for a bliss-inducing escape (brought to life by the talented therapists who have been specifically trained in this technique) and sees your body relieved from pesky aches and built-up tension by delicious relaxing strokes and stretching.

Bless yourself, your bod and your limbs with either a half-hour or one-hour massage. formespa.co.nz

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I sink into the cushioned comfort of a well-upholstered French colonial chair in a Zen-like state of nirvana

REVIEW

Sweet Retreat Cityscape indulges in a blissful escape at the luxurious Champs-Elysées Day Spa with an invigorating deep tissue massage.

“You look like you have a spring in your step,” beams Champs-Elysées Day Spa coordinator Angela Rewha, as I pad down the lavish wooden staircase and into the relaxation lounge.

She’s right, I think, as I sink into the cushioned comfort of a well-upholstered French colonial chair in a Zen-like state of nirvana and sip a tangy lemon water designed to flush the toxins from my invigorated system. When I arrived the spring was more a shuffle, courtesy of the weekend prior’s hard labour in the garden on top of a week of desk-jockeying, with a dull ache in my shoulders and neck the reminder. Now with a new lease of life, super slack and chilled, I’m perfectly primed for the weekend ahead.

Rehoused in their seriously swanky forever-home in the surviving slice of Merivale history that is the character-filled Charlotte Jane Building, Champs-Elysées presents a seamless marriage between old

anticipation where I can feel the heat radiating from a hot towel near my feet before they’re enveloped in the soothing warmth in a pre-massage cleanse.

The massage ticks a lot of boxes; it’s specifically designed to release tension in individual muscle groups, increase circulation, instigate relaxation and relieve muscular aches and pains. Misa gets to work correcting several weeks of wrongs and manipulating knotted muscles into submission with hot oil and some next-level massage ninja moves.

Despite the pressure required to unwind my body’s tension, along with some hurts-so-good moments as she expertly irons out some serious kinks, I find myself drifting off during the long, luxuriant bliss-inducing strokes. I’ve also become addicted to the intense embrace of the decadent, aroma-infused hot towel finales as she works her massage mojo around my body and annoying tensions and stresses dissipate with the towels’ steam.

There are few better ways to spend 60 minutes of therapeutic pampering as I take my final sip of lemon water, steeling myself before entering Friday night anew.

world charm and opulence; think stunning leadlight windows and ancient polished wooden surfaces alongside the cuttingedge nous of an iconic, modern, luxurious (and award-winning) spa. It’s an oasis of tranquillity – the hustle and bustle of modern living is instantly left on the other side of the door, along with the hurried traffic buzz on Papanui Road, as soon as you enter the Spa’s refined surrounds.

What’s more, I can already feel myself relaxing just talking about the upcoming deep tissue massage I’m booked in for with my therapist Misa (Misaki) Sugiura – highlighting my neck and shoulders as requiring particular attention – between sips of a calming herbal tea.

Slipping between the covers into the toasty warmth of the heated massage table within the refined lux of the high-ceilinged treatment room and waiting for Misa to return, I couldn’t be more ready for a massage. There’s a delicious moment of

Champs-Elysées Day Spa, 110 Papanui Road, 03 365 3630, champs-elysees.co.nz 09

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THE MONTH IN CULTURE PICKAXES AND SHOVELS EXHIBITION This wealth of

colonial Canterbury works showcases the early forms of paintings and drawings from colonial artists.

Christchurch Art Gallery, until Sun 5 Aug, christchurchartgallery.org.nz

QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE

TIFFANY SINGH: A COLLECTIVE VOICE

DICK FRIZZELL: SOMETHING TO BEHOLD!

UNTITLED #1050

EXHIBITION Auckland-based

EXHIBITION Kiwi art sensation

Zealand’s leading abstract artists come together in this collection.

Christchurch Art Gallery, until Sun 14 Oct, christchurchartgallery.org.nz

artist Tiffany Singh’s most recent large-scale installations take up a winter residence at CoCA. Centre of Contemporary Art, until Sun 5 Aug, coca.org.nz

CLOSER: OLD FAVOURITES, NEW STORIES EXHIBITION The stories behind

10 of the Gallery’s most famous paintings are uncovered and observed through video, audio and photographs.

Christchurch Art Gallery, until Sun 19 Aug, christchurchartgallery.org.nz

Dick Frizzell’s exhibition Something To Behold! offers a critical response to the divide between the art of the avant-garde and the academy.

The Central, until Sun 26 Aug, thecentral.co.nz

TONY DE LAUTOUR: US V THEM EXHIBITION A selection of

paintings from one of New Zealand’s leading painters, Tony de Lautour.

Christchurch Art Gallery, until Sun 16 Sep, christchurchartgallery.org.nz

moving exhibition.

Canterbury Museum, until Sun 11 Nov, canterburymuseum.com EXHIBITION A handful of New

YELLOW MOON: HE MARAMA KŌWHAI EXHIBITION This lively exhibition

sees abstract works from well-known artists such as; Rosalie Gascoigne, Michael Smither and Colin McCahon.

Christchurch Art Gallery, until Sun 28 Oct, christchurchartgallery.org.nz

MID-CENTURY MODERN: THE MORRISON COLLECTION EXHIBITION mr mod’s Ross

Morrison is bringing out the big guns and putting the best in his collection up for display which includes pieces from Charles and Ray Eames, Gio Ponti and Alvar Aalto.

Centre of Contemporary Art, until Sun 17 Nov, coca.org.nz

NEW ZEALAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL FILM/FESTIVAL The city’s

cinephiles will once again be clearing the decks for this annual highlight of the film calendar with the best films from around the world on display.

Isaac Theatre Royal/Hoyts Northlands, Thu 2 Aug – Sun 19 Aug, nziff.co.nz

JON TOOGOOD LIVE MUSIC Taking a break

from Shihad and The Adults duties, Jon Toogood is set to play two solo shows unplugged.

Blue Smoke, Fri 3/Sat 4 Aug, aaaticketing.co.nz

STEPHEN KING’S MISERY THEATRE The Court puts

their own twist on one of Stephen King’s greatest psychological thrillers.

The Court Theatre, Sat 4 Aug – Sat 25 Aug, courttheatre.org.nz

BOTANIC D’LIGHTS FESTIVAL The Botanic Gardens

CANTERBURY AND WORLD WAR ONE: LIVES LOST, LIVES CHANGED EXHIBITION Explore the lives and

experiences of Cantabrians who served in the Great War in photographic form in this

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and the Arts Centre will be lit up in a glorious spectacle at this iconic and innovative city light installation.

Christchurch Botanic Gardens/ the Arts Centre, Wed 8 Aug – Sun 12 Aug, ccc.govt.nz

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BEN HURLEY: THE CLUB TOUR

NO HOLDS BARD

COMEDY One of New Zealand’s

man show sees an aging thespian tackling his inner Shakespearian demons.

Isaac Theatre Royal, Fri 17 Aug, isaactheatreroyal.co.nz

best loved stand-up comedians is set to take the stage alongside Sera Devcich and other guests for a night of laughs.

Boo Radley’s, Thu 9 Aug, eventfinda.co.nz

GAME OF THREE HALVES: ALL BLACKS V CANTABRIANS V OTAGO SPORT Gear up for an epic day

of sport when the All Blacks take on both Canterbury and Otago rugby teams – a first for the South Island – in 40 minute games ahead of the All Blacks Investec Rugby Championship.

AMI Stadium, Fri 10 Aug, ticketdirect.co.nz

HOT DONNAS: MELT YA FACE TOUR LIVE MUSIC Rock ‘n’ Roll band

the Hot Donnas are emerging from the Deep South and are intent on getting your blood pumping and sweat dripping with tunes from their forthcoming album.

New City Hotel, Fri 10 Aug, eventfinda.co.nz

THEATRE Michael Hurst’s one

CSO: MYTHS AND LEGENDS LIVE MUSIC Cellist Ashley Brown

joins the CSO for the New Zealand premiere of a tour de force which will see works from Grieg, Debussy and Gulda being performed.

Charles Luney Auditorium, Sat 18 Aug, cso.co.nz

THE REVAMP VINTAGE MARKET MARKET The best of vintage

goods will be on display for a simply delightful, vintage shopping experience.

Christchurch Girls High School, Sun 19 Aug, Find it on Facebook

LIVE MUSIC The New Zealand String Quartet takes the stage performing energetic, insightful and colourful concertos by Beethoven, Webern and Mozart.

The Piano, Thu 23 Aug, christophersclassics.nz

WORD CHRISTCHURCH

QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE LIVE MUSIC Here’s a biggie: rock

legends Queens of the Stone Age will roll into Horncastle Arena for another monster night in their big Villains tour.

Horncastle Arena, Sat Aug 25, qotsa.com

SONGS FOR NOBODIES brought you Legendary Divas and Bombshell, this criticallyacclaimed one woman play starring Ali Harper is set to entice and delight revellers.

Isaac Theatre Royal, Sat 25 Aug, aliharper.com

on iconic tunes by legend Freddie Mercury for a night of nostalgia and entertainment.

Isaac Theatre Royal, Sun 26 Aug, ultimatequeendownunder.com

Disney in this ice-skating spectacular. All of your fave Disney characters such as; Elsa, Moana, and the Toy Story crew will be in attendance!

Horncastle Arena, Fri 10 Aug – Sun 12 Aug, disneyonice.com

BOB DYLAN LIVE MUSIC Music legend, Bob

Dylan, is heading our way and set to fill Horncastle Arena with songs from his vast back catalogue spanning six decades!

Horncastle Arena, Tue 28 Aug, premier.ticketek.co.nz

CMNZ PRESENTS: ENSEMBLE ZEFIRO LIVE MUSIC With works from

PEACE TRAIN: A TRIBUTE TO CAT STEVENS

JULIA DEANS: WE LIGHT FIRE LIVE MUSIC Julia Deans (of Fur

Patrol fame) will be embarking on a national tour launching her new album We Light Fire.

Blue Smoke, Wed 22 Aug, undertheradar.co.nz

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FESTIVAL Playing host to

international and New Zealand speakers discussing an array of topics, this five-day event will challenge, entertain and knock your socks off!

Various Venues, Wed 29 Aug – Sun 2 Sep, wordchristchurch.co.nz

NZSO AND THE PHOENIX FOUNDATION LIVE MUSIC Celebrating their

20th year, iconic New Zealand musos The Phoenix Foundation join forces with the NZSO for a remarkable concert experience.

Isaac Theatre Royal, Thu 30 Aug, isaactheatreroyal.co.nz

THEATRE From the team who

LIVE MUSIC Marc Martel takes

FAMILY Celebrate the legacy of

FOLLOW US

Isaac Theatre Royal, Wed 29 Aug, premierticketek.co.nz

THE ULTIMATE QUEEN CELEBRATION

DISNEY ON ICE: 100 YEARS OF MAGIC

Handel, Haydn and Mozart on the programme, Ensemble Zefiro will thrill audiences with this light and elegant evening of entertainment.

The Piano, Mon 13 Aug, chambermusic.co.nz

NEW ZEALAND STRING QUARTET WITH SERENITY THURLOW (VIOLA)

LIVE MUSIC Darren Coggan

brings his critically-acclaimed tribute show to Christchurch for a night of music and storytelling dedicated to the one and only Cat Stevens.

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DIARIES OUT

The low-down on some of the hottest upcoming events and international acts near and far.

LOCAL Satire and dismantled jokes are on the cards when UK comedian Bill Bailey brings his new comedy Earl of Whimsy into town (Sep 22). Catch our Q&A with him over on page 26. Celebrate urban creativity in the heart of the city when FESTA: Public Festival of Architecture, Design and Food takes over (Oct 19 – 22), giddy up for one of the city’s biggest weeks at New Zealand Cup and Show Week (Nov 10 – 17), the Buskers Festival is a-go for 2019, this time rocking its new name Bread & Circus World Buskers Festival (Jan 10 – Feb 3) and Live In The Park is touching down early next year at Hagley Park (Jan 12) with a powerhouse collective of Kiwi artists in tow – think Fat Freddy’s Drop, Ladi6 and The Black Seeds!

OUT OF TOWN Goddess of Pop Cher is bringing her Here We Go Again tour to Auckland’s Spark Arena (Sep 21/22), raise a glass (or two) at Toast Martinborough (Nov 18), nothing but good vibes will be on the cards at the One Love Festival cruising into Tauranga next summer (Jan 26/27) and Florence + The Machine have set their sights on Auckland and are dropping in for one show (Jan 30).

Culture SONGS FOR NOBODIES Critically-acclaimed, one-woman play Songs for Nobodies is making its way back to the city with two performances on the cards.

The play, fronted by the talented Ali Harper, centres on five life-changing encounters between five ordinary women whose lives have been impacted by some of the world’s most profound and legendary divas: Judy Garland, Patsy Cline, Edith Piaf, Billie Holiday and Maria Callas. Catch this tour-de-force and witness the exquisite talent of Harper when it hits the Isaac Theatre Royal (Aug 25). aliharper.com

mod appreciation

Fans of mid-century furniture and design are in for a treat when Ross Morrison’s (of mr mod) Mid-century Modern: the Morrison Collection exhibition opens at CoCA (Aug 25 – Nov 17) this month.

Showcasing a rare collection of classic pieces from icons in the design and furniture scene, expect to see the very best from the likes of Charles and Ray Eames, Gio Ponti, George Nelson, Hans Wagner, Alvar Aalto and Arne Jacobson alongside other carefully curated pieces. With more than two decades of sourcing under his belt, as well as a discerning eye, discover why Morrison owns the title as the foremost authority on mid-century furniture and design in New Zealand. coca.org.nz The Big Chill Join the frosty fun of the Art Centre’s Mid-Winter Carnival (Aug 24/25) celebrations with hot eats, craft and performances including a foot parade led by Two Productions.

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LE MISERY Think celebs have it hard nowadays dealing with obsessed fans? They ain’t got nothin’ on Paul Sheldon (Gavin Rutherford), the unfortunate novelist in The Court Theatre’s stage re-work of Stephen King chiller Misery (Aug 4 – 25) who finds himself at the mercy of whack job Annie Wilkes (Lara Macgregor) after a car crash. Macgregor, stepping into the big, sensibly comfortable shoes of Kathy Bates’ iconic Academy and Golden Globe award-winning performance, gets to loosen the screws going from 0-100 on the maniac spectrum and take obsessive tendencies to new heights (think brandishing a sledgehammer and taking to Paul’s ankles like a plate of smashed avo – yeah, she’s that kind of fan girl) in this masterclass of white-knuckle terror. courttheatre.org.nz

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GONE WITH THE WIND

His Royal Highness

Gear up Cityscapers, this one will rock you gaga. Witness a performance like no other when Marc Martel – selected by OG Queen members Brian May and Roger Taylor to accompany them on their 2012 Queen tribute tour – embraces his alter-ego and pays homage to the legendary Freddie Mercury in The Ultimate Queen Celebration (Aug 26) at the Isaac Theatre Royal.

Possessing a natural flair and uncanny vocal likeness to the late rock icon, Martel has perfected the performance art of Mercury’s flamboyant stage persona and four-octave vocal range so much so that he’s lent his pipes to upcoming Mercury bio flick Bohemian Rhapsody. isaactheatreroyal.co.nz

Image: © Disney 2018

BLADES OF GLORY Get ready for an ice-skating spectacular when Disney On Ice glides into Horncastle Arena (Aug 10 – 12) to ring in 100 Years of Magic! Celebrate the legacy of Disney when the Mouse-ter of ceremonies Mickey Mouse leads a parade of your fave Disney characters including Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Donald Duck as well as an ensemble of Disney princesses such as Elsa and Moana.

The Toy Story crew will also be in attendance and expect hit tunes from iconic Disney movies in the likes of ‘You’ve Got A Friend In Me’, ‘Hakuna Matata’ and Frozen classic ‘Let It Go’. disneyonice.co.nz

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Ensemble Zefiro have established themselves as prominent musicians, with their ability to reproduce the extraordinary colours of 17th and 18th Century woodwind instruments, lending them a cult following. Recipients of various awards including the Grand Prix du Disque and Gramophone’s Editor’s Choice, the ensemble will take to The Piano (Aug 13) for compositions from the likes of Mozart, Handel and Haydn.

Light, elegant and unapologetically entertaining, these compositions have dazzled nobility with their easy charms – and Zefiro’s unique timbres and brilliant virtuosity are no less beguiling today. chambermusic.co.nz

Here’s one for the avid rugby fan. In a first for the city, the All Blacks, Canterbury and Otago teams are set to tussle it out in three 40-minute games at AMI Stadium (Aug 10) to prep the AB’s ahead of their Investec Rugby Championship against big dogs Australia, Argentina and South Africa. This is your only chance to catch the AB’s in Christchurch ahead of their 2018 and 2019 test matches around the country and abroad – not.to.be.missed.sportos. ticketdirect.co.nz

Image: Kate Little

Clash of the Titans

HOT TICKET

/ CULTURE

Join The Club

That ‘bearded guy’ from hit satire show 7 Days, Ben Hurley, will be bringing his comedic antics, sharp improvisational mind and original material to Boo Radley’s (Aug 9) as part of his The Club tour. Cutting his comedy chops in Wellington before jetting for the bright lights of London, the comedian has come a long way since the days of cramped gig spaces and rundown flats and can boast a ton of accolades including the Billy T and the Fred Dagg Awards, as well as running the New Zealand comedy festival gamut from the Comedy Gala to AotearoHA. Oh, and he has also lent some of his quick-fire wit to Ed Byrne on his UK and Ireland tour. If you’re after some impressively slick humour, here’s your chance to catch some fine-tuned comedy talent in the flesh. eventfinda.co.nz

DON’T HOLD BACK

EARLY WARNING

Get ready to laugh till your jaws ache as Michael Hurst’s one-man show No Holds Bard saunters into town on August 17 at the Isaac Theatre Royal. Mashing together four of Shakespeare’s greatest – a befuddled Hamlet, an arrogant Othello, a famished King Lear and an obscenitylaced Macbeth – Hurst gives the performance of his life, bursting with the rage and angst of the four titular characters. But his derangement is not without reason – his cheating wife may have a lot to do with it! So the aging actor, played by an aging actor, confronts his demons in a final showdown. isaactheatreroyal.co.nz

TWENTY YEARS OF SCAPE-ISM Twenty years in action is one heck of a milestone, and SCAPE Public Art will hit that when their 2018 season rolls around (Oct 6 – Nov 17). Kick-starting their twentieth season, the city’s foremost authority on everything contemporary public art have announced renowned artist Tony Cragg will drop his Mixed Feelings sculpture – which will take up residence at Christ College’s Quadrangle – as the first of what is typically a primo line-up of next-level artists.

Cragg’s intensely bronzed sculpture (which has found favour in past artsy havens of London, Prague and Amsterdam) will embark on the intrepid journey down under, hitting Kiwi shores in time for the season and staying on long into the summer months. scapepublicart.org.nz

Image: Charles Duprat

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LOCAL TALENT

ABSOLUTE LEGEND

NOMAD

Shirley Boys High alum turned international music sensations, nomad, comprised of Aasha Mallard, Will McGillivray and Cullen Kiesanowski, are amassing an epic fan base with their heady harmonies, killer hooks and collision of alt-pop/folk sound. Bursting onto the scene with their viral hit ‘Oh My My’ (certified gold), the trio have been on the up ever since dropping the single and racking up a whopping 1.7 million streams on Spotify. Latest hit ‘Don’t Trip, My Friend’ has even been shouted out by Apple Music who added it to their viral Best of the Week by Apple Music playlist. Taken under the wing by Lorraine Barry (whose varied roster and impressive resume includes Kiwi icon Dave Dobbyn), the lads have opened for the likes of Marlon Williams, Fly My Pretties and even ol’ Dobbo himself! After a successful string of gigs in their stomping ground, 2018 has seen the band take Europe by storm and play to sell-out crowds at popular German festival Hessentag, as well as winning over audiences in London. FB/officialnomadmusic

GIGS TO CATCH

JULIA DEANS: WE LIGHT FIRE TOUR – Blue Smoke, Wed 22 Aug QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE – Horncastle Arena, Sat 25 Aug ADAM HATTAWAY & THE FLIRTS – Armadillos Bar, Sat 25 Aug BOB DYLAN – Horncastle Arena, Tue 28 Aug NZSO AND THE PHOENIX FOUNDATION – Isaac Theatre Royal, Thu 30 Aug CAMP! DRAG SHOW & DANCE PARTY – A Rolling Stone, Fri 31 Aug

D’LIGHTS(FUL) Things are going to be lit up (literally) at the biannual House Of Travel Botanic D’Lights (Aug 8 – 12) with over 47 hyperbolic displays by New Zealand’s leading lighting artists, designers and creative thinkers taking over the Christchurch Botanic Gardens. This year’s trail will also expand into the heart of the historic Arts Centre which will be transformed into a winter wonderland of retina-dazzling illuminated art with the theme of Escape Your Reality. ccc.govt.nz/events

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Upcoming CSO entry Myths and Legends (Charles Luney Auditorium, Aug 18) offers a line-up of pieces from Debussy, Gulda and Grieg. Each possessing its own unique flair: Debussy’s Sacred and Profane Dances evokes an atmosphere of ancient religiosity with an earthy dance infused with Spanish character; Grieg’s immortal Peer Gynt, Suites 1 and 2 perfectly captures the magic of the fairy tale characters he was inspired by, from ‘In The Hall of the Mountain King’ to ‘Solveig’s Song’; and Gulda’s Concerto for Cello and Wind Orchestra is a knock-out piece of swinging big band riffs, melodious folk tunes, and classical gestures that will see cellist Ashley Brown (pictured) of the NZTrio joining the CSO. cso.co.nz

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STRONG FOUNDATION

TAMBOURINE MAN

Folk rock singer-songwriter and all-round counter culture icon Bob Dylan rolls into Horncastle Arena on August 28 during his world tour for three-disc album Triplicate. No stranger to the music industry, the 77-year-old’s career has spanned a whopping six decades and his socially and politically charged tunes ‘Blowin’ In The Wind’, ‘The Times They Are a-Changin’’ and of course, ‘Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door’ earning him a well-respected rep. Boasting an impressive (and envy-inducing) array of accolades – recipient for the Nobel Prize in Literature, endless Grammys, an Academy Award and even the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Obama – he also holds residence in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Oh, and he has also sold 100 million records worldwide, no big deal.

Expect an epic night of nostalgic hits from this legends’ vast back catalogue! bobdylan.com

COPY CAT

Image: Russell Cherry

Self-proclaimed aficionado of all things Cat Stevens, Darren Coggan, is bringing his critically acclaimed tribute show Peace Train: A Tribute to Cat Stevens to the Isaac Theatre Royal (Aug 29). Arguably one of the most authentic tribute performances, Coggan effortlessly taps the musical genius of Stevens and seamlessly delivers tunes from the prolific musician.

Get on board the Peace Train as Darren Coggan croons the tales of the music icon. isaactheatreroyal.co.nz

Kiwi music legends The Phoenix Foundation have won over the country with their killer indie-rock tracks, and have been lauded both here and abroad after featuring on the soundtrack for Taika Waititi’s box office smash Hunt for the Wilderpeople. Indisputably the world’s best band with a MacGyver reference as a name, they are joining forces with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (in the tradition of Split Enz collab ENZSO) to ring in their 20th year (Isaac Theatre Royal, Aug 30). Drawing from their much loved catalogue, the band and orchestra will perform unique arrangements of fan faves and deep album cuts; it’s a rare opportunity to hear their awesome work in a whole new way, with the orchestra’s twist spicing up the mix. nzso.co.nz

Want cutting-edge web design and development, head-turning creative, game-changing PR & social media strategies, brand-bolstering event partnering, and industry-leading publishing? You’ve come to the right place. Our skilled and dedicated team of attention-grabbing writers, wildly talented designers and creative thinkers also know Christchurch and New Zealand intimately and have all the right connections.

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SCREEN BURN Calling all cinephiles, it’s time to bust out the popcorn and kick back with some Maltesers (and possibly a wine or two) because the annual highlight of the country’s film calendar is back! The New Zealand International Film Festival is once again rocking an epic line up of flicks, 92 in fact, including three world prems and 19 hot tracked from Cannes. Screening over two celluloid-soaked weeks at the Isaac Theatre Royal and Hoyts Northlands, this year's programme has been dubbed ‘a rich feast of films that will enlighten, stun, move and challenge audiences’ and includes locallyinfluenced Oka no roki, a nearly-wordless collage of moving images created from Slovenia-born Christchurch director Martin Sagadin’s video diary; Vanessa Wells’ East to East, which follows a group of Aranui High School students as they train and compete in the Coast to Coast; and Stefen Harris’ iPhone 7-shot noir thriller Blue Moon starring Mark Hadlow. Pro tip: Lock in your faves and work your life around them.

New Zealand International Film Festival, August 2 – 19, nziff.co.nz

01 OUR TOP 5 OF THE FEST. 1 — Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story Alexandra Dean’s doco reveals the startling double life of the celebrated silver screen sex kitten/groundbreaking engineer whose inventions paved the way for Bluetooth and WiFi. 2 — Disobedience Hollywood heavyweight Rachels (Weisz and McAdams) pair up with Gloria and A Fantastic Woman director Sebastián Lelio in this angsty Orthodox lesbian outing.

3 — Lucky The late, great Harry Dean Stanton’s swansong as the 90-year-old atheist protagonist is a heartbreaking, uplifting, hilarious and inspiring masterclass in acting. 4 — Matangi/Maya/M.I.A. Game-changing pop icon, refugee daughter of a Tamil revolutionary and all-round controversy courter, M.I.A’s story, like her music, was never going to be boring.

5 — You Were Never Really Here Lynne Ramsay’s nerve-shredding thriller about a contract killer/Gulf War vet hired to save an abducted teen proves Joaquin Phoenix’s career isn’t ready for the scrapheap yet.

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All Fired Up

Cityscape catches up with iconic Kiwi chanteuse and former local Julia Deans about her new album, flipping the balance and getting a mullet ahead of her tour this month.

IT’S BEEN SEVEN LONG YEARS SINCE MODERN FABLES DROPPED, WHY SO LONG BETWEEN LOVINS'? Life. Oh life. Ooh liiiife… Moved back to NZ (from Melbourne), took too long to find somewhere to live, built a studio, started writing, went on tour with The Adults, wrote a bit more, got involved in a series of theatre-based projects, started recording, got involved in some more projects… and so on.

WE LIGHT FIRE IS AN AWESOME FOLLOW UP (AND DEFINITELY WORTH THE WAIT – CONGRATS!), WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION BEHIND IT? It came from wanting to write a little less introspectively, and from just processing what I’d been observing going on in the world around me – both globally and within my own sphere of family and friends.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR FAVE SONG. Well, that changes on a daily basis, so today I’m gonna say ‘All Of Thee Above’. Basically, it’s a call for everyone to stop blaming god(s)/horoscopes/crystals/other people etc for the stupid decisions that we personally make.

‘THE PANIC’ IS SUCH A RIGHTEOUS TRACK, WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU? (AND DID IT REALLY COME TO YOU IN A DREAM?) Yes, it did! I dreamt the main riff and forced myself out of bed at about 4am to go quickly record it into my phone. The song itself is about dealing with anxiety and depression, and how talking about it makes it far more manageable. I’ve had my own stoushes with both, and I know how isolating it is. But by reaching out I found that I wasn’t alone, and that there really are people who understand – a lot more than I thought!

PROPS FOR PUTTING A GENDER DISPARITY FOCUS ON YOUR UPCOMING TOUR, WHAT DOES THIS INVOLVE? Simply upping the oestrogen! I’ve spent most of my career being the only woman in the touring party, so I figure it’ll make a nice change to flip the balance.

HOW HAS THE MUSIC INDUSTRY CHANGED FOR WOMEN SINCE YOU STARTED OUT? There are definitely more women working on all levels of the business now, but we’re still a minority. I don’t know that there will ever be a statistically equal number of men and women in the music industry, but that shouldn’t matter. What matters more is how people are treated while they’re working – in any situation.

We should always regard each other as equals, irrespective of gender.

YOU’VE DONE A FEW COVERS OVER THE YEARS (BOWIE, MITCHELL, HOLIDAY AND BREL), HOW DO YOU APPROACH PERFORMING SOMEONE ELSE’S MUSIC? I try to imagine the words are mine, and sing them as though I wrote them – to relate the story to my own life and tell it from my point of view.

IF YOU COULD DUET WITH ANYONE (LIVING OR DEAD) WHO WOULD IT BE, AND WHAT WOULD YOU SING? David Bowie. And anything. We could sing ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’, it wouldn’t matter, I’d still be singing with Bowie.

WHAT’S ONE THING PEOPLE PROBABLY DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU? Umm… that I can never think of anything interesting to answer this question with.

IF YOU COULD GIVE YOUR YOUNGER SELF SOME ADVICE, WHAT WOULD IT BE? Definitely get that mullet haircut, it’ll grow back.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY DOING MOST WHEN YOU’RE BACK IN CHRISTCHURCH? Catching up with my whānau.

FINISH THIS SENTENCE: WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU LEMONS, YOU… Put them in the fruit bowl.

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR IN YOUR SUPPORT ACTS? To quote RuPaul: Charisma, Uniqueness, Nerve & Talent.

Julia Deans, Blue Smoke, Aug 22, FB/juliadeans

Image: Mareea Vegas

Lo and Behold!

Cityscape sits down with iconic Kiwi artist Dick Frizzell to get the inside word on his latest exhibition Something To Behold!, inspiration, charity work and handling tough critics.

HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THE NAME FOR SOMETHING TO BEHOLD!? It’s just a corny exclamation that people make when they see something arresting… like a sunset or some such… and I was hoping to make a painting, or paintings, that had that instant, unmediated affect.

THE WORKS ARE INSPIRED BY WALTER FOSTER’S HOW TO DRAW AND PAINT BOOKS. WHAT DREW YOU TO THEM? The best of the Walter Foster artists were chosen for their ability to nail those famous archetypes, or clichés, if you will. They were about as far as you could go from ‘Fine Art’ at the time. By taking these ‘forbidden subjects’ and enlarging them to a sort of Pop-Art scale I felt I was saying something new about what ‘art’ in 2018 might be. And there are no copyright issues because Walter’s whole philosophy was: ‘Here you are, give it a go!’

TELL US ABOUT YOUR FAVOURITE PIECE? Well, there’s a few, but I guess the wave image (above) in the advertising would have to be a favourite. It has the lot, the mad sunset/sunrise colours, the light through the waves, the drama of the spray… something to behold, in fact! Mind you, the brand new flower painting How to Paint Roses is pretty rich! And they do take a while to paint, which is half the point in a curious way… half the (hopefully) wow factor is in the production, like watching the latest Jurassic Park.

POP-TINGED, KIWIANA NOSTALGIA IS A RECURRING THEME IN YOUR WORK – WHEN DID YOU REALISE THIS WAS A WINNING COMBINATION? Pretty early on, though the first ‘Kiwiana’ paintings in the early 80s didn’t go down well. It all looks rosy now, but it was rough going for a while there.

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TELL US ABOUT YOUR FAVOURITE COMMISSION? Painting that scooter for Mike King’s I Am Hope rally was a good one! Actually though, I think that the Hundertwasser Tiki I produced as a fundraiser for the Whangarei Hundertwasser Museum is one of my more significant productions. It’s raising thousands! All charity work.

WHAT IS THE TRADEMARK FRIZZELL-ISM THAT MAKES YOUR WORK INSTANTLY RECOGNISABLE? That I don’t know. If I did I wouldn’t do the ones that don’t work.

WHAT INSTIGATES OR INSPIRES HOW YOU APPROACH EACH NEW COLLECTION? Communication, quite deliberately looking for cut-through. It’s an unhealthy obsession.

WHAT PIECE OF ART DO YOU WISH WAS HANGING ON THE WALL IN YOUR LOUNGE? A large rendering of a New Zealand Steamship Company freighter like the ones my father crewed on in the early 1940s – and it is hanging in my lounge – one of the first of the Something To Behold! paintings, a very big oil painting of a small watercolour painting in a book of ships dad gave me when I was a boy.

WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON NOW? A very large landscape of the King Country. All those sheep-tracks are making me blind!

ANY PLANS TO DESIGN MORE TOYS ALONG THE LINES OF THE KIWI KIWI? Yes, and it’s at prototype stage. Looking very exciting, but too early to reveal.

WHAT’S THE WORST THING SOMEONE HAS SAID ABOUT YOUR WORK AND HOW DID YOU RESPOND? A grumpy critic once said my work was 'shallow, populist and too readily understood', I took it as a compliment.

Something To Behold!, The Central Art Gallery, until Aug 26, thecentral.co.nz

CITYSCAPE.CO.NZ August 18

WORD UP

Readers, writers and curious minds – it’s time to set your course for adventure and brace yourself for the outrageous talents of some of the world’s top novelists, thinkers, journalists, poets and storytellers when the WORD Christchurch Writers & Readers Festival kicks off at the end of the month.

Repping the title of the largest festival of its kind in the South Island, the bodacious biennial and jewel in WORD Christchurch’s crown will see this year’s Festival cram 150(!) literary icons (think Trainspotting’s Irvine Welsh, radical self-love proponent and founder of global movement The Body is Not An Apology Sonya Renee Taylor and superstar novelist du jour A.J. Finn among many, many others) into 100 events over 5 glorious days (and nights) of wordy enlightenment.

Rising from the post-quake rubble, the former Christchurch Writers Festival is now one of the country’s fastest growing events and leading highlights on the city’s culture calendar pulling some of the biggest names in the lit world through its collabs with the planet’s leading literary organisations.

This year sees the Festival rocking the message ‘Take A Risk’ with the overarching ‘Adventurous’ theme encouraging attendees to spice up their lives with a little bit of adventure. Prepare to be challenged and inspired as you trek through jungles, scale mountains, traipse through war torn cities, dive to the deepest depths with our cetacean friends and be taken on a mission to spread radical self-love.

The exciting bookstravaganza features international literary icons as well as many exciting new comers sharing ideas and debating hot topics at some of our re-burgeoning city’s most iconic locations including The Piano, Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū, the Isaac Theatre Royal and other venues around town.

Among the many treasures you’ll also find Suffrage 125, a celebration of 125 years of women’s suffrage in New Zealand with the Festival paying its respect to our pioneering forebears through key events 125 Years: Are We There Yet?, The Body Issue, Adventurous Women and The Margaret Mahy Memorial Lecture.

This year also announces the arrival of some new traditions adding a featured country (the bonnie shores of Scotland are first out the gate and is celebrated by six Scottish writers and includes a poetry and whisky masterclass), classic novel (a reading workshop on the great white whale that is Herman Melville’s iconic Moby Dick) and guest programmer (Kiwi poet/performer extraordinaire Tusiata Avia) to the heady mix.

As with every Festival, tickets fly out the door – so to avoid disappointment scout out your favourite events, snap up those tix ASAP and get set to be inspired and all kinds of lit.

Aug 29 – Sep 2, wordchristchurch.co.nz

10 of the Best Can’t decide which of the 100 events you just can’t miss? Cityscape has done the hard yards compiling our list of the 10 events that, if you don’t see them, could see your world stop turning.

SONYA RENEE TAYLOR: THE BODY IS NOT AN APOLOGY Join author, activist, international slam poet champ and all-round badass Sonya Renee Taylor, the body behind global movement The Body is Not An Apology and new book The Body is Not An Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love, exploring the intersections of radical self-love and social justice. Her, now famous, 2011 act of posting a photo of her “105kg big brown queer body in a corset” was the catalyst for what has become an empowering empire that reaches millions. Sep 2, Christchurch Art Gallery

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10 of the Best Continued ...

LET LOVE IN Love is the hot topic of this discussion, which sees novelist Catherine Robertson chatting to Soraya M. Lane, whose Hearts of Resistance and Wives of War have some international best-selling cred to their names, and the naturally hilarious Michele A’Court, whose latest literary venture, How We Met, talks to real-life couples about the origin stories of their relationships, and to experts about the psychology of love. Can the escapism of romance novels compare to real-life romance?

All will be revealed. Sep 1, The Piano

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WHALE WATCHING Here’s one for the cetologist’s (amateur or pro) out there, prep yourselves for a whale of a time and hit the high seas with authors Philip Hoare (his self-professed obsession with whales lead him to putting in motion the Moby Dick Big Read as well as penning Leviathan or, The Whale) and David Neiwert (the brilliant mind behind Of Orcas and Men: What Killer Whales Can Teach Us) for a once-in-a-lifetime chance to encounter the great beasts of the big blue in Kaikōura and listen to some epic tales from the men themselves. Aug 28, Kaikōura

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ADVENTUROUS WOMEN Rounding out the epic line-up of literary events in the 2018 programme is Adventurous Women which ties in the Festival’s theme of adventure and celebrates 125 years of women’s suffrage in New Zealand.

Listen to four inspiring and powerful stories from Hollie Woodhouse, extreme sports star and editor of Say Yes to Adventure magazine; Lilia Tarawa; who lived and escaped Gloriavale; Michelle Dickinson aka Nanogirl, science communicator and adventurer and Margaret Austin, Palmerston North Sunday school teacher turned Paris showgirl. Sep 2, The Piano

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MORTIFICATION You’re going to need a stiff drink before (and possibly during and after) this event which comes with the handy disclaimer ‘This session will have strong language and is not for the faint of heart or easily offended’. Kiwi writers Paula Morris, Steve Braunias and Megan Dunn relive the lurid and vivdly detailed accounts of their greatest public shame alongside Trainspotting legend Irvine Welsh’s own hilariously horrifying ode from Mortification: Writers’ Stories of their Public Shame. Sep 1, The Piano

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SHAUN BYTHELL: THE DIARY OF A BOOKSELLER Meet the man (and the legend) notorious for riddling a Kindle with bullets, (and stringing it up like a game hunter’s kill in his second-hand bookshop, Scotland’s famed The Bookshop) Shaun Bythell. Bythell, takes to the stage alongside fellow book dealer Brian Phillips and chats about his hilarious diaries detailing the tribulations of the small business book trade, (trying to) manage eccentric staff members and dealing with awkward tourists. Sep 1, The Piano

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MANLY AS? Jarrod Gilbert author behind Patched (which came to fruition after a 10-year stint of researching among gangs), sits down with three iconic writers – Dominic Hoey (Iceland), Omar Musa (Here Come the Dogs) and Chris Tse (He’s So MASC) to discuss heavy-hitting social topics such as masculinity, personal experiences in their work because of their gender and what it means to be ‘manly as’ in 2018. Sep 1, Christchurch Art Gallery

Image: Helmi Okbara

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HOLLIE MCNISH AND HERA LINDSAY BIRD: POETRY STARS Catch this poetry megastar double act whose works and performances have attracted widespread attention in both pop culture and literary circles. Exploding onto the New Zealand poetry scene with her self-titled innuendo-laden debut collection, Hera Lindsay Bird’s work gets Lorde Tweeting, while Hollie McNish’s crazy and sincere poems about babies, sex and politics have attracted millions of views on YouTube, while also winning accolades such as the Ted Hughes Award.

Sep 2, The Piano

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IRVINE WELSH: TRAINSPOTTING TO DEAD MEN’S TROUSERS Former enfant terrible of the British literary scene, Irvine Welsh, brains behind cult classics Trainspotting, and its sequels Porno and Dead Men’s Trousers is coming in hot at this year’s Fest. A frequent commentator on all things politics – Scottish and Brexit to be precise (and Trump) – Welsh is no stranger to kicking things up a notch and chucking in a healthy dose of controversy. Aug 31, Isaac Theatre Royal

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TE AO HOU – WEAVING INDIGENOUS IDENTITY BACK INTO ŌTAUTAHI See the city through fresh eyes and join Joseph Hullen (Ngāi Tūāhuriri/ Ngāti Hinematua) on a 90-minute tour around the central city as he discusses how indigenous identity and historical narratives are being woven into Christchurch’s emerging streetscape through public art, architecture and landscape design.

Aug 31 – Sep 2, The Piano

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WINDOW GAZING

Cityscape caught up with literary superstar A.J. Finn (AKA Daniel Mallory), whose best-selling debut novel The Woman in the Window sparked a bidding war and is being made into a movie, on creating lightning in a jar, pseudonyms, his love of Dame Ngaio Marsh, and Amy Adams making the perfect Anna ahead of WORD Christchurch.

CONGRATS ON THE DESERVED SUCCESS OF THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW, WHERE DID THE STORY COME FROM? I struggled for 15 years with very severe depression. Not until 2015 was my diagnosis corrected; I learned that I had a form of bipolar disorder. After new medication was prescribed, I felt significantly improved – and I wanted to explore what I had been through in print.

A few weeks later, while parked on my sofa watching Rear Window, I noticed a light in my peripheral vision: my neighbour across the street, switching on a living-room lamp. I watched her – a solitary woman in a bathrobe – as she settled herself in her armchair and aimed a remote at the TV. Behind me, on my own television, Thelma Ritter spoke up: “I can smell trouble right here in this apartment,” she chided Jimmy Stewart as he peered into Raymond Burr’s window. “You look outside. You see things you shouldn’t. Trouble.” When I turned back to the window, she was glaring at me.

And just like that, the character of Anna Fox strode into my brain. She closely resembled my neighbour, and her grief, though circumstantially very different from my own, felt to me comparable in intensity.

HOW HAS LIFE CHANGED SINCE THE NOVEL WAS PUBLISHED? In some respects, life isn’t materially different: I still live in the same (tiny) Manhattan flat; I still go to the same gym and swim in the same pool; I still don’t have a dog – although I’ll be getting one in September, upon my return to New York from New Zealand. In other respects, though, life has transformed almost

beyond recognition. I left my day job as an editor; I’ve spent most of 2018 travelling around the world; and I speak regularly to Fox about the forthcoming film adaptation.

So all that’s quite a change of pace.

THERE ARE SO MANY KILLER QUOTES IN TWITW, WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE? That’s a tough one. I quite like ‘F*ck you, Skype!’, which I find myself saying regularly.

I’m also pleased with the paragraph about the Cotard delusion, a psychological phenomenon whereby the sufferer believes that she’s dead. Anna likens herself to a Cotard victim: ‘Dead but not gone, watching life surge forward around me, powerless to intervene.’ I feel this conveys pretty accurately what it’s like to feel depressed.

And that’s key in this novel. The Woman in the Window is a thriller, not a treatise on mental health – but if you can empathise with Anna, you’ll experience the book that much more deeply.

AS A FORMER EDITOR DID YOU KNOW YOU HAD CREATED LIGHTNING IN A JAR? Nope – no idea! I tried to write the sort of book I myself would enjoy reading. Happily, millions of readers around the world also appear to enjoy reading it. I’m very, very, very lucky.

HOW MUCH INVOLVEMENT WILL YOU HAVE IN THE MOVIE AND HOW PERFECT IS THE CASTING OF AMY ADAMS? Amy Adams was my first and only choice for the role. More than any other leading lady in English-language cinema, she is relatably human and sensitive. She’s like Sandra Bullock in that she’s instantly

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appealing; she’s like Meryl Streep in her range and skill. I think she’ll bring to Anna warmth, grit, and vulnerability.

That said, I’m not really involved in the film, although the team at Fox have been exceedingly gracious and accommodating.

My hope is that the filmmakers will engage with the book’s more serious themes of loss and loneliness – and given the talent involved, there’s no reason to suppose otherwise. My one demand was that the studio cast an age-appropriate actress – someone in her late thirties or early forties. (Amy Adams was born in 1974.)

I emphatically did not want a younger actress.

YOU’RE A BIG FAN OF ONE OF OUR LOCAL LITERARY HEAVYWEIGHTS DAME NGAIO MARSH, HOW DID YOU DISCOVER HER? I love Roderick Alleyn, having discovered Dame Ngaio’s books as a kid in my family home in East Hampton, alongside those of the other Golden Age greats (Christie, Tey, Sayers, Allingham).

What I love so much about Alleyn’s adventures is the darkness prowling the margins of the stories; these aren’t mere cosy whodunits, but novels with real depth and edge.

Also, as a theatre buff, I particularly enjoy those books set backstage.

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO DOING WHILE YOU ARE IN HER OLD STOMPING GROUND? Oh, man – I can’t wait to visit her cottage, and I’m excited to see what’s been described to me as the utterly spectacular natural beauty of the Islands… but mostly I want to spend time with the locals. In part because I love the Kiwi accent, and in (greater) part because I don’t know much about New Zealand. Readers there have warmly embraced my scribbles, so I’m that much more grateful to and curious about them.

WHAT’S THE SECRET TO CREATING AN EPIC PAGE-TURNER? If you find out, please let me know. I’ve no idea myself; otherwise every single novel I published would have been a huge bestseller, and that

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definitely wasn’t the case. Luck is a key component in the success of any book, of course, but I think too that stories featuring relatable protagonists – those who engage our sympathy and pique our curiosity – are primed for success. In so much genre fiction, the characters seem to exist solely within the confines of the narrative. They’re pawns, in other words. I also respond to fiction that explores deeper or more resonant themes even as it spins a rattling yarn. Certainly, that’s what I tried to pull off with The Woman in the Window.

ARE THERE ANY UNEXPECTED BONUSES IN HAVING A PSEUDONYM (AND HOW DID YOU PICK YOURS)? Plenty. Until six months ago,

I was a book editor at William Morrow/ HarperCollins in New York. I wrote my novel in secret, and when it came time to submit it to publishers, I opted to do so under a pseudonym because odds were excellent that other editors in New York and London (the two markets in which I had worked) would know me, or at least know of me… and I didn’t wish for them to buy – or more likely not buy! – the book because of its author.

I wanted the novel to stand on its own merits, such as they were. To my delight, the industry got quite excited about the

submission, so much so that I outed myself before anyone could plunk down any cash.

This took the publishers aback, none more so than my own employer, who ultimately won the book.

I don’t know that using my real name would have made a material difference to the book’s publication, but the pseudonym certainly generated media interest, even though my identity was no secret by the time the book was acquired. I intended to remain a book editor (and indeed I stayed in my job for more than a year, until just before the book was published this past January), and I didn’t want to pursue two careers under a single name. Besides, I thought it might be disconcerting for the authors whom I published to see their editor’s name on a book (or indeed on a bestseller list!). More importantly, though, I find that my pen name helps me organise myself psychologically: A.J. Finn is outgoing and responsive in a way that Dan Mallory isn’t. I don’t wish to see my real name everywhere; I feel quite protective of it, even though it’s a matter of public record.

A.J. is the name of a cousin I admire a great deal (her full name is Alice Jane), and Finn is the name of another cousin’s French bulldog, one of my favourite canine breeds.

WHAT IS IT ABOUT THE THRILLER GENRE THAT MAKES IT SO POPULAR? Since its inception in the 19th Century, the detective story has served as a form of moral education. At the beginning of a Ngaio Marsh novel, or a Lee Child thriller, or a Sherlock Holmes story, we know that by the end, we’ll see order restored or upheld, the guilty punished, and the virtuous rewarded or avenged. Justice is meted out in a way that doesn’t always happen in the real world. We find this reassuring, especially in a world where injustice too often seems to triumph. Also, like much fiction, thrillers provide a form of escape, and in times of political upheaval and global unrest, so it makes sense that readers would turn to escapist material.

HOW DO YOU TOP TWITW? Perhaps I ought to quit whilst I’m ahead. I’m working on a psychological thriller set in San Francisco. It’s a more ambitious story than The Woman in the Window – and the characters actually go outside!

A.J. Finn: The Woman in the Window, Sep 2, Christchurch Art Gallery, wordchristchurch.co.nz

EARLY WARNING

Cityscape catches up with legendary British comedian Bill Bailey about mining comedy gold out of British history, comedic censorship and everything wrong with reality TV car crash Love Island ahead of his Earl of Whimsy tour in September.

WE LAST SAW YOU IN THE BRILLIANT LARKS IN TRANSIT, WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN STORE FOR US WITH EARL OF WHIMSY? This is a show which is, as the name suggests, not taking itself very seriously. There’s a lot of silliness and I just thought I’d come up with a name for myself.

I get called lots of things, lots of names over the years and one of the things on this tour I got called was something like ‘Britain’s foremost rock goblin’, right? I just thought ‘OK, perhaps it’s time for me to think up something to call myself’. And the idea there’s a combination of things; the Earl is a slight nod to the aristocratic kind of past Britain and pageantry and nationalism and our history and our culture and sort of sending that up a little bit. Also, what I love to do is juxtapose things to make it an interesting hybrid combination of things.

There’s a lot of that in the show. For example, I do a version of ‘Old MacDonald’ in a Tom Waits crooner voice, which is always good fun. It’s sort of a country western song very much in the mould of those classic songs where somebody sells their soul to the Devil in order to get something. It’s those things that I love and

I’ve loved for years. So it’s really a collection of a lot of my favourite things. One of the descriptions of this particular show was ‘it’s like being in a very messy but rather large and interesting mansion’. That is my mind apparently. So there you go. Things that I like, a collection of curiosities and really spun together with a kind of an overarching examination of what nationalism is and identity and history. So there’s a lot going on.

JUST HOW FUNNY IS BRITISH HISTORY? It’s always been a source of great comedy and fun for me since I was a kid. Really since I was at school. I remember my dad gave me a book when I was a kid called 1066 and All That and it was a sort of a rather irreverent and very funny sort of book on British history, and it did include some genuine British history but it was sort of making fun of it a little bit. Saying here are the good kings, here are the bad ones,

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here’s the stuff you don’t need to remember and here’s some interesting stuff and it was published, I was amazed to discover, in 1930. So there’s a long history of the British making fun of history, so this is very much a continuation of that tradition.

ACCORDING TO THE GUARDIAN GUIDE YOU’RE APPROACHING THE STATUS OF NATIONAL TREASURE – WHAT APPEARS TO BE THE HOLD UP? I don’t know about that! National treasure could also be you know, like some rock, some statue, or the Lake District, or something. Obviously I’m very flattered if that’s the case but I think that it’s almost seen as a kind of veneration, that’s what you’ve done and you’re considered a national treasure. I still consider that no, I haven’t earned that place yet. I still think there’s work to be done. And I continue to write and perform new shows because I don’t think you can ever stand still. We’re always changing. And I feel the

/ DUKE OF EARL

compulsion to write and perform. I think if you stop moving and moss starts to grow on you, then you’re a national treasure.

WHAT’S THE SECRET TO GREAT COMEDY? The simple things, isn’t it? You make the world laugh and maybe make them think. That’s a good start. I never forget that it’s a great gift, it’s a great thing to do, it’s a great way to make a living. But also as you write more and more comedy, you think it can be about something. You can try and make the subjects more interesting. Without letting go of the fact that you’re there to entertain, to amuse and to maybe provoke a bit of thought. For me, now, it gets more and more about what do I really want to talk about? What do I want to do? What are the things that interest me?

And I just put them in the show. The trick of it is trying to get it all to fit together. I think maybe great comedy is where you and the audience are all going on this old boat of comedy and you don’t quite know where it’s gonna go and there have been moments like that when I’ve done shows where everyone is in this old giddy state and I think that’s what I aim for every night, is that we all sort of waltz out of there slightly giddy and silly. That’s my aim.

WHAT’S YOUR VIEW ON CENSORSHIP IN COMEDY AND HAVE YOU BEEN WARNED OFF CERTAIN TOPICS? Yeah, sure, it happens from time to time. I have to say, comedians don’t take it very well. I remember going on stage for a gig and somebody said to me “Oh, don’t mention Nazi gold,” and I went “What do you mean, don’t mention Nazi gold? I’m not doing any material on Nazi gold, but I will now!” It turns out that one of the sponsors of the whole event was a Swiss bank, and they had some murky past in dealings with Nazi gold.

By telling me that, I went to research the whole thing and turned it into 20 minutes of my act! So these things can backfire badly.

Sometimes you have to take a rather more reflective view on it. Recently I was performing in Shanghai and the Government (there) is quite strict about public performance criticising the Government, criticising policy, criticising China. In fact, the promoters said could you not mention the hot buttons – Tibet, Tiananmen Square and Taiwan. The three T’s. To be honest, I wasn’t doing material about these subjects anyway. So it wasn’t like I had to curtail the show. But of course, your mischievous instinct as a comedian is to deliberately say all these things and to talk about them. But the reality of it was I wouldn’t be censored, the show would go ahead. I would get some laughs and I’d move on to the next city. But the promoters would

suffer. They might try to apply for their licence in a month’s time and oops sorry. It would have been irresponsible of me to do that. Other people would have suffered for it while I wouldn’t have done. Sometimes you have to take those sort of deals.

WHAT’S THE SECRET TO SLAYING A KIWI AUDIENCE? Well, in my experience of playing in New Zealand, they love irreverent comedy that pokes fun at authority, which is a very British thing. There’s a lot of affinity with British audiences that way. And dark surreal British humour, which is quite in tune with Kiwi audiences, I figured that out over the years, but there are a lot of similarities between us.

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WHEN YOU’RE HERE? Paddle boarding. We did some of that the last time we were there. Go out in the ocean and have an encounter with some wildlife. Just get out to the mountains, do some walking. You don’t have to go far.

You stand anywhere in New Zealand and look around and there’s countryside beckoning. I look forward to that.

IF YOU COULD CHOP BACK A BEER WITH ANYONE, WHO WOULD IT BE? Obama.

Only because you know, he’s not president anymore, he could be more relaxed. And he just seems like a sane and fun person to have a beer with, you know.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR WORST DAY JOB? That would have been when I had a job very briefly delivering cakes. It doesn’t sound that bad, but it was really hard. We’d

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brought the cake to be delivered to an office. And you get there and they go “Oh no, they left last week”. “So what are we gonna do with this bloody cake?” “You can have it,” they said. We had a lot of cake! It doesn’t sound that bad, does it? If that’s the worst job, that’s not too bad.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON REALITY TV? The one I’m watching now is Love Island. I’ve never seen it before. I had just finished touring in the UK, I was just at home, and I read a headline about it and I heard an extraordinary statistic, I don’t know whether this is true or not, but the statistic was more people would apply to be on Love Island than to go to Oxford and Cambridge Universities, which seems a pretty depressing statistic. With that in mind, I thought I gotta watch this! I was intrigued! It’s fascinating. These people, all

they do all day is just talk about other people and whether they like them or not.

I mean, do they do any washing up or cleaning or laundry? Or take out the bins, or like a job, earning money, I mean, what kind of world is that? I’m still fascinated by it. I watch it and I think, well, come on, the language they use is so brutal about each other, it’s so harsh. And I realise that times have changed. What hasn’t changed is people’s attitude towards love generally and when the producers try to sort of engineer some breakup or some big bust up, and they’re all sobbing, oh my God, and the public get real annoyed about it and say “No, no, you’re messing with people’s lives” and it’s true. It’s a great emptiness at the heart of it. isn’t it? Maybe that’s the sign of the times, Bill, just get over it!

Cityscape limbers up with Restore Prehabilitation & Recovery’s Barry Adams and Liv Bates, the South Island’s only Institute-trained and certified Fascial Stretch Therapy practitioners behind the city’s go-to treatment for everyone from elite and professional athletes through to tightly-wound corporates and those suffering mobility issues ahead of their expansion into pre- and postnatal therapy this month.

HOW DID YOU GET INTO FST? Initially, we were researching different techniques that would benefit Barry. At the time, he was awaiting neck surgery, which was negatively influencing his fibromyalgia, traditional medical approaches were not working and I would do my absolute best to keep him moving through traditional massage techniques but it just wasn’t lasting. We found an article on Fascial Stretch Therapy (FST) on social media (believe it or not) and researched more into it, threw caution to the wind and booked tickets to Canada to become qualified!

DESCRIBE WHAT IT IS IN A SENTENCE. The easiest way to describe it is to come and try it! Fascial Stretch Therapy is the gentle unwinding of your body’s tissues, from the joint capsules out to the skin, aided by down regulation of the central nervous system, which allows us to influence long-lasting enhancements to your mobility.

WHERE HAS YOUR JOB TAKEN YOU? So far we have had some amazing opportunities come our way. With all of our FST training only available in Canada and the US, we have been able to go over there multiple times and train with some absolute industry game changers. Further FST training in April next year will bring us to become the second and third Level 3 Medical-Certified practitioners in NZ. We missed out the best month of summer this year, spending it in Paris and Bulgaria with some of NZ’s top Judo reps while they were in training camps and competing in the Paris Grand Slam and European Championships and in July we were in the UK, where we underwent further specialist soft tissue techniques which enables us to

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re-integrate scar tissue (like, burns, surgical and C-sections) back into fascia, thus reducing its negative influence across movement patterns.

WHO WOULD YOU LOVE TO TREAT? BA: Derek Weida, US Military amputee turned Cross Fit athlete. Why? 1) He is blunt as a rock, albeit a little odd from time to time, so good yarns would be had, and 2) It will be really intriguing to see how his tissues feel due to the missing limb and the changes we make to his performance.

LB: This is a tough question, because no one really jumps out at me, but I would like an individual who is para or tetraplegic or quadraplegic because I would love to be able to see how it could influence their quality of life.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE THING TO DO AFTER A STRETCH? BA: Continue the nap I started whilst on the table, as I am fit for sweet nothing. LB: First attempt to wake Barry up from his FST-induced nap, so I can hopefully get stretched... otherwise eat and enjoy a nice carb-induced nap in a sunny spot!

/ STRETCH MARKS THE SPOT

Fascial Stretch Therapy is the gentle unwinding of your body’s tissues, from the joint capsules out to the skin, aided by down regulation of the central nervous system

TELL US ABOUT THE VENUE YOU ARE CURRENTLY HAUNTING At the moment, we are smashing Little Pom’s on a Sunday. It’s our one day off, it’s within walking distance from home and Liv is currently mildly obsessed with their chilli scrambled eggs.

SPIELBERG WANTS TO MAKE A MOVIE OF YOUR LIVES, WHO PLAYS YOU BOTH? LB: Sandra Bullock. As in Miss Congenialitystyle pre-beauty pageant makeover. I relate too well to her as that character. Terrible jokes, clumsy as hell and not overly good at being feminine... but with a team of experts in charge of me, I scrub up OK (and who wouldn't want to age that well? So here's hoping for my future hahaaa!) BA: A young Tom Selleck, we could start a mo-brance movement, he hasn't aged too bad either, so there is hope for me on a vicarious level...

THIS MONTH YOU’RE EXTENDING YOUR PRACTICE INTO PRE- AND POSTNATAL CARE, WHAT WAS THE CATALYST BEHIND THIS? We have had the pleasure of assisting a couple of new mums throughout their recent pregnancies with the use of our toolbox including FST. However, it was the number of current mothers, whose children range in age from 6 to 16+ coming to see us, presenting similar challenges which got our attention. When reviewing their history on a collective basis, we realised that there is a huge lack of information given to mothers around rehabbing their bodies correctly once given the all clear to exercise, and you do not know what you do not know. So for us it has been important, over time, to be able to develop an approach which assists women with positive results, which not only facilitates their pre-hab pre- and post-birth, but also provides the necessary education so they can self-manage going forward.

HOW DOES THIS TREATMENT DIFFER FROM REGULAR FST? Pregnancy FST differs quite a lot from 'regular' FST. We have to take into account relaxin, which triggers tendons and ligaments to become lax during pregnancy, allowing the body to alter as baby develops. There is a lot more side-lying based work, to counter the position of the fetus around vital organs and cardiopulmonary considerations.

You still get the same level of stretch and relaxation, however it is less about gaining

mobility. It is more about keeping the muscle structure balanced as the body adapts and keeping areas of new tension eased, whilst assisting the lymphatic system and reducing fluid retention in the extremities.

When combined with our wider system, the levels of stability and mobility of which the body returns to pre-baby are far greater than standard approaches. In some cases we have been able to facilitate to a more advanced state than they held prior to becoming pregnant.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS DURING PREGNANCY? FST can be tremendously helpful to pregnant women to help manage the litany of stresses placed on the body while growing a tiny human. The main items FST assists with are: Ligamentous laxity: As this process occurs, the body's structural integrity weakens and muscles grab 'on' to retain stability in the pelvis and retain good alignment throughout the body, creating various pain points. FST will seek to ease those muscles 'grabbing' in a manner no other soft tissue modality can, whilst assisting the body maintaining its alignment and integrity; Fluid retention, blood flow and lymphatic drainage: Depending on how and where the baby lies, fluid and lymphatic drainage can become obscured, same with blood flow. Gently manipulating the limbs can assist the body in moving any retain or restricted fluids; Hand/arm numbness: This can happen due to varying fluid volume changes. Again gently moving the limbs in specific ways will assist in the drainage and minimise these symptoms; and Relaxation: By facilitating the mother into their parasympathetic nervous system, reducing discomfort and relaxing, the endorphins are naturally passed on to baby.

Application of RockTape in specific ways provides ongoing support to ligamentous laxity and fluid retention, whilst minimising the negative postural outcomes which can accompany these experiences.

AND AFTER? Post-partum, the benefits are similar. Ligamentous laxity can be present for months post-birth, add to that the ever-changing positional bias of weight from picking baby up, feeding and nestling them down, it can send multiple mixed neurological messages to muscles, whilst the

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body searches for new ways to stabilise and retain its integrity. By keeping muscle tone balanced and alignment in check via specific neurological re-patterning drills, it can keep postural related discomfort minimised.

The process will provide new mothers with some much deserved relaxation and 'you' time, allowing the body to be better optimised for the new environment it’s now being exposed to. Baby benefits indirectly as mother will be in less discomfort, less susceptible to sleepdeprived stress.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE INDICATORS THAT FST CAN ASSIST DURING PREGNANCY? We would be wrong to point out the indicators purely from a FST basis.

As with all our clients and our whole model, it is about the big picture. FST is a unique and powerful modality we are fortunate enough to utilise as part of this. So if any individuals out there are planning to become a parent, currently in a trimester or already have children notice they have pelvic girdle pain, flat aching feet, tension in their jaws, uncomfortable upper or lower backs, then it is likely the body is unhappy somewhere. Pain and discomfort is the body’s only way of talking to us, to let us know something is not quite right and it shouldn't really be ignored until the point the pain is too much to cope with or, worse still, an injury occurs. The difference with our approach being we won’t look at the symptoms directly, we will use these as our cues to work with you to identify the potential root cause(s). restoreprehab.co.nz

/ ENTERTAIN ME

Watching

Our picks of the best flicks, music, books, games, and TV to get into this month.

THE MEG If you’re afraid of open water and mammoth creatures that lurk in the depths of the big blue, then sit this one out. Jon Turteltaub’s (Cool Runnings and Last Vegas), latest filmic venture pits Jason Statham (Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels) against a 75-foot-long prehistoric megalodon shark which is out for blood (literally) in this upcoming sci-fi/horror mash up, hitting our screens this month (Aug 16). Labelled as the modern day Jaws, early reviews have hinted at intense action sequences, lots of peril and bloody violence.

HOT PICK

CRAZY RICH ASIANS

THE WIFE Björn Runge’s latest flick sees Glenn Close effortlessly take on the dutiful role of Joan Castleman – devoted wife to esteemed writer Joe Castleman portrayed by Jonathan Pryce (Pirates of the Caribbean). Forty years of sacrificing her own ambitions and talents in order to fan the flames of her charismatic husband’s indiscretions results in Joan pursuing her own interests, but when the pushy Nathaniel Bone (Christian Slater) snakes his way into the mix, further secrets are unveiled. The Wife is a must – even if for Close’s acting performance alone – catch this drama when it drops in cinemas on August 2.

WIN! WE HAVE 5 PASSES TO THE WIFE TO GIVEAWAY. CHECK OUT FB/CITYSCAPE.CHRISTCHURCH TO ENTER.

Kevin Kwan’s best-selling novel is brought to life on the big screen

by Step Up 2: The Streets alum Jon M. Chu in this hilarious rom-com from Warner Bros. which sees Constance Wu’s Rachel, accompany long-time boyfriend Nick (Henry Golding) to his best friend’s wedding. As smooth as that synopsis sounds, things go awry with Rachel learning that her boyfriend’s family is actually one of the wealthiest families in Singapore (cue jealous socialites, quirky relatives, and the worst of all – a disapproving mother). Comical antics and lavish lifestyles with a side of drama are on the cards when the film hits cinemas August 30.

WIN! WE’VE GOT 5 PASSES TO CRAZY RICH ASIANS TO GIVEAWAY. TO ENTER, EMAIL INFO@SOMOCREATIVE.CO.NZ WITH “CRAZY” IN THE SUBJECT LINE AND TELL US YOUR CRAZIEST EXPERIENCE. ENTRIES CLOSE AUG 20.

DVD: RODIN This biopic centres around 19th Century sculptor Auguste Rodin and his illustrious life. Examining the inter-personal relationships that he shares with lifelong partner Rose and his mistress Camille Claudel and how these subsequent relationships affect his art work, this film is one of intrigue and tumultuous passion.

WIN! WE HAVE A COPY OF RODIN TO GIVEAWAY. TO ENTER, SEND AN EMAIL TO INFO@SOMOCREATIVE.CO.NZ WITH “RODIN” IN THE SUBJECT LINE AND TELL US YOUR FAVOURITE SCULPTURE CREATED BY AUGUSTE RODIN. ENTRIES CLOSE AUG 31.

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/ ENTERTAIN ME

PLAYLIST

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

SIR SLY ‘&Run’ Don’t You Worry Honey

Listening ‘KNOW.’ – JASON MRAZ

It’s been four years since multi-Grammy Award winner Jason Mraz released his last LP Yes! and now fans can rejoice, because his highlyanticipated studio album Know. is set to drop on all giant music streaming services on August 10. Known for his hit tunes ‘I’m Yours’ and ‘I Won’t Give Up’, Mraz’s newest singles off his upcoming album, ‘Unlonely’ and ‘Have It All’, have gained popularity and have already become instant faves on the music scene. If his most recent tunes are anything to go by, you can expect the same melodic goodness Mraz has come to be known for.

‘THANK YOU FOR TODAY’ – DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE

Reading

Indie-rock veterans Death Cab For Cutie had been teasing fans for quite some time about their upcoming album throwing out hints on social media, but have finally confirmed their ninth studio album Thank You For Today will

drop August 17. The 10-track affair rounds out their latest music venture with lead single ‘Gold Rush’, a reflection on the ever-changing society we live in. Moody tunes layered with heavy lyrics and frontman Ben Gibbard’s gritty and solemn vocals show the promise of another stellar album from the American band.

JULIA DEANS ‘The Panic’ We Light Fire

WEEZER ‘Rosanna’ Single

‘TREAT MYSELF’ – MEGHAN TRAINOR Sassy songstress Meghan Trainor is set to release her third studio album Treat Myself, arriving August 31. Making the announcement via Instagram (seems to be the go-to method for celebs to announce new albums nowadays), Trainor’s latest release sees her family accompanying her on every song, with dad Gary chiming in on the organs and piano. An ode to embracing inner happiness and putting yourself first, the upbeat tracks will follow in the footsteps of past hits with catchy riffs and cheeky track names.

LESS: A VISUAL GUIDE TO MINIMALISM – RACHEL AUST In a world overwhelmed with the need and desire to obtain materialistic items, Aust’s debut Less: A Visual Guide to Minimalism hones in on the simplistic approach of minimalism and offers top tips to amplify your living and embrace a minimalist lifestyle throughout all aspects of your life.

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JACK WHITE ‘Over and Over and Over’ Boarding House Reach

THE ADULTS ‘Boomtown’ Haja

CLOCK DANCE – ANNE TYLER This bittersweet novel from the Sunday Times bestselling, awardwinning author Anne Tyler sees Willa Drake dropping everything and making for the opposite side of the country to help her son’s ex-girlfriend who has been shot. The spur-of-themoment decision puts Willa in unchartered territory, where self-discovery and unexpected encounters alter her perception of life.

/ ENTERTAIN ME

PLAYING

TELLTALE’S THE WALKING DEAD: THE FINAL SEASON WE HAPPY FEW

ARCADIA RETRO ARCADE & PINBALL EMPORIA Head for the retro-cool of Arcadia Retro Arcade & Pinball Emporia and jam out on one of their many pinball and arcade machines or kick back and tuck into their epic selection of burgers, fries, shakes and more! 204 Barbadoes Street, 020 4128 0157 arcadia.net.nz

Upon first glance, this quirky, dystopian game may seem all fun and games… that is until you actually start playing. A game of paranoia and survival, the player is tasked with navigating the drugged-out, retrofuturistic English city of Wellington Wells, and avoiding the “plucky bunch of moderately terrible people trying to escape from a lifetime of cheerful denial”. Weave your way through the intertwined narratives of three, rebellious citizens and take on, or blend in with, the drug-addled inhabitants in this spooky and weird game which hits consoles August 10. wehappyfewgame.com

BINGEWATCHING

01 Image: Netflix

After more than six years of episodic storytelling, Telltale’s The Walking Dead has been a hit the world over with fans of the game at a loss for words when it was announced that the game, inspired by AMC’s The Walking Dead, will be coming to an end with the final season dropping on all major consoles August 14. It’s been one heck of a journey for the game’s lead Clementine who has ridden the apocalypse train since she was a child, but after battling her way through enemies (both human and in zombie form) it’s time for the chapter to close on her story – with some intense, fear-for-your-life gameplay of course. telltale.com

02 Image: Netflix

03

What we’re hoovering up on the small screen.

01 — BLOODLINE If you’re after a series that throws family drama, conspiracies, paranoia and secrets at you like there’s no tomorrow, Bloodline should be at the top of your bingewatching list. The drama follows the dysfunctional Rayburn family, whose dark past is brought to light by Danny, the black sheep of the family.

Filled to the brim with intense stand-offs and shocking revelations, this series is sure to keep you on edge.

02 — THE ALIENIST Caleb Carr’s novel serves as the basis in this scandalous period drama. Set amongst the gritty streets of 1896 New York, the series follows the dark and mysterious circumstances surrounding the deaths of various boy prostitutes. Dr. Laszlo Kreizler, a brilliant criminal psychologist is tasked with investigating the crimes in secret alongside his sidekicks John Moore and the headstrong Sara Howard.

Image: Netflix

03 — THE GOOD PLACE Making waves on the Netflix scene since it first aired, Eleanor Shellstrop (Kristen Bell) wakes up in the afterlife in The Good Place. Lauded for her seemingly flawless and righteous life, Eleanor realises that in fact she doesn’t belong in this realm and was placed there by mistake. Wandering through the idyllic paradise, she aims to better and improve herself, but she’s in for a pearl-clutching shocker.

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EARLY WARNING

Food &Drink IN BLOOM Experts on the dining scene, Pescatore are partnering with Zenkuro Sake – the geniuses taking Central Otago sake to new international heights – with their Cherry Blossom & Sake Dinner (Oct 3). The five-course culinary affair will see Chef de Cuisine Ryan Henley’s finest matched to a flight of premium sakes by Zenkuro’s Chief Sake Brewer David Joll who’ll also lend a sake appreciation element to the evening. pescatore.co.nz

SHARED DINING

Curried Away

Mid-winter catch up on the cards? Make for Coriander’s Ethnic Indian Restaurant’s St Asaph Street mothership and indulge in some of the city’s finest Indian cuisine.

Housed in a colonial-style building and resplendent in white, ornate decor and fancy murals join a movie-poster clad Bollywood room and sunny, undercover outdoor area that’s perfect for lazy weekend lunches and early evening dining (FYI you’ll want to make a booking for the latter). For those who love butter chicken (India’s most popular/famous dish), Coriander’s reigns supreme, while a well-placed kitchen window allows diners to not only check out the techniques of the skilled chefs running the kitchen, but also pick up a few professional tips on the sly. corianders.co.nz

@CHRISTCHURCHGOURMAND

The ultimate foodie community for lovers of great restaurants, bars and cafes.

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ANNIE’S COMEBACK

BONE IDOL

Another ripper vintage from The Bone Line’s flagship red, Iridium 2015 is a supple stunner marrying whispers of smoky chocolate, roast almond and olive tapenade. theboneline.co.nz

CITYSCAPE.CO.NZ August 18

We’re super excited to learn that the venue formerly known as Annie’s Wine Bar & Restaurant in the Arts Centre is looking to make a comeback with a new owner. Founded by Annie Edmond back in 1992, the hospo hotspot overlooking the South Quad was a guaranteed go-to good time destination rocking rustic charm, inspired eats and, of course, that killer wine list profiling Canterbury’s (and further afield) finest. The beloved space is being touted by the Arts Centre as requiring a ‘hospitality superstar’ to pick up the reigns – cue nostalgic memories of long arvos in the sun and the start of many an epic night out in the city!

#INSTA-EATS ‘Grammable dining experiences for your foodie bucket list.

Recipe: Buddha Bowls

#uncommoncafe

Besides being loaded with nutrition, Buddha Bowls are easy to make and super flexible. Combine any mix of cooked grains, organic produce, good quality pickles and a dressing and you have a winning dish on your hands, says Untouched World Kitchen’s Executive Chef Mark McCracken.

He dresses them up with additional texture from seeds, Koji rice and crispy tofu. But you can also add in some protein like fresh smoked salmon or soft boiled free range eggs, or serve it like they do at Untouched World with Karaage Chicken and Bone Broth. Serves 4.

MAKING IT HAPPEN Bring 300ml of water to boil in a pot while you peel and finely grate the turmeric. Rinse the quinoa and add to the pot with the turmeric. Lower heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Drain and leave to stand for 5 minutes.

Rinse the brown rice, combine with kombu stick and cook the rice via your preferred method. Toss the mixed nuts and seeds with the berbere spice mix and 1 tablespoon of oil, and toast in a pan or the oven until golden brown. Rinse and peel the beetroot, put in a pot covered with water and bring to the boil. Cook until tender, then drain and leave to cool. Once cooled, finely slice one beetroot on a mandolin, then puree the remaining three beetroot with the miso paste, sherry vinegar and 2 tablespoons of oil to make a beetroot dressing. Combine the flours and sesame seeds in a bowl, dice the tofu and toss in the flour to coat. Shallow fry tofu until golden, then set aside on paper towel. Chop broccoli into small florets, then coat in a splash of The Good Oil and char in a hot cast iron skillet or on a BBQ. Combine the warm rice, quinoa, herbs and vinaigrette in a bowl. To serve: Spoon the beetroot dressing around the edge of the bowl, add the rice and quinoa mix to the centre, arrange the charred broccoli and pickles around the rice and sprinkle with toasted nuts and seeds, Koji rice with crispy tofu on top.

SHOPPING LIST

100g quinoa 1 thumb of turmeric 100g brown rice 1 stick of kombu 50ml basic vinaigrette 50g fresh herbs 100g sauerkraut 100g good quality pickles 100g baby spinach 50g vegetable shoots or micro herbs 4 fresh beetroot 1 tb miso paste 2 tb sherry vinegar 3 tb The Good Oil 1 head of broccoli 50g mixed nuts and seeds 1 tb Ethiopian berbere spice mix 1 tb Koji rice

#jabagrillandbar

CRISPY TOFU

100g tofu 20g cornflour 20g rice flour 20g potato starch 1 tb sesame seeds 1 tb sesame oil

#thecaffeinelaboratory

Let’s Drink To A Better World

A Kiwi favourite, the Scott Base Central Otago Pinot Noir 2017 (RRP $38) has been given a slick new look. This warm red titillates with aromas of ripe cherries, raspberries and wild thyme, and drinks in perfect harmony with a juicy steak or a decadent dark chocolate dessert. Its oaky sweetness results in a divine pairing with pâtés and peppery Italian cured meats, making it a party must-have. The bonus is that every time you raise a glass, the Scott family will donate a portion of sales to the renowned Antarctic Heritage Trust. scottbasevineyards.co.nz

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#protocoloncolombo

/ FOOD & DRINK

REVIEW

Miro

176 Oxford Terrace, 03 925 9909, miro.nz

They had us at Breakfast Cocktails. “We like to say we make the best Bloody Marys in the city,” entices Manager extraordinaire Margaret Williamson flashing a mega-watt smile, before pulling us over the line with the clincher: “We use bacon salt on the rim.”

We immediately order one and, though tempted by the additions of marmalade and Rose Rabbit Liqueur to the Breakfast Martini, pair it with the intriguingly-named Cereal Killer.

Perfectly positioned and perched overlooking the Avon River in the iconic Midland Building, Miro (the latest offering from hospo royalty Francesca Voza and namesake behind Francesca’s Italian Kitchen) pairs a Scandi-cool aesthetic while paying respect to the rich lineage of the historic building. Rocking a casually swanky vibe there’s blond wood-topped tables surrounded by alternating stuffed white and pale blue chairs, dark wood panelled walls, quirky crockery, a botanical bent via dried floral arrangements and funky glass terrains and the heat from two fires, banks of retro radiators and the open kitchen’s piece de resistance – the custom made grill

by Flaxton Iron’s Glen O’Neill.

We’re watching Head Chef Rafael Fernandes taming meat over the flaming old skool-styled grill as our drinks arrive.

Visually they’re a blast: the Bloody Mary garnished with grilled (natch) bacon, pickles and a stalk of celery it’s a lightning in tumbler concoction of chilli-spiked tomato juice, jacked up with a smoky, salty bacon hit and potent bite of vodka while the Coco Pops and Nutri-Grain-topped Cereal Killer comes with a spoon and a boozy bourbon hit of cereal-laced milk, vanilla and bitters and, after a big night, is quite possibly the breakfast of champions.

Scanning the menu of the breakfast, brunch and lunch newbie (there’s plans to open in the evening in summer, until then at nights it operates as a super slick function venue) we pick out our faves from the ‘classics with a twist’. Starting with a fruity feel good healthy option, the Acai Bowl is a chilled, creamy celebration of antioxidantrich goodness topped with crunchy granola and fresh fruit, and a decadent guiltless pleasure. Having been impressed by

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Fernandes’ prowess at the grill we can’t go past the Wagyu Burger (a seriously thick smoky, moreishly meaty moist beef patty tricked up with the sweetness of caramelised onions, a sharp roasted garlic aioli and the nutty charms of molten gouda) and the charred to caramelised perfection, yet meltingly tender, Skirt Steak topped with a feisty chimichurri sauce is so addictive the final slices incite a round of duelling forks. Accompanying sides of hand-cut chips (all crisp golden exterior and fluffy potato) and a precision flavour balanced salad merging the earthy sweetness of beetroot with the peppery rocket, sharp goats cheese and acidic tang of balsamic rounds out the sublime feast.

Saited as we are, we should be stopping here, but noting a deconstructed version of the classic Argentinean Alfajore biscuit we push on and are duly rewarded with the fitting finale of a paired back version of the biscuit atop of a streak of dark chocolate ganache surrounded by glistening quenelles of silken buttery-rich dulce de leche caramel and a palate refreshing vanilla ice cream.

Lifestyle DUSK ADVENTURES

Impeccable Lineage

Opulent features and striking design converge with an impressive pedigree to announce the arrival of Mercedes-Benz’ groundbreaking GLE Edition 20. Based on the blueprint of the M-Class, which pioneered the luxury SUV segment when it was released 20 years ago, this time round lovers of Mercedes-Benz get to choose from new variants of the GLE 250 d 4MATIC (featuring a 2.1-litre, four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine generating 150 kW and 500 Nm) and GLE 350 d 4MATIC (powered by 3.0-litre, six-cylinder turbo diesel engine producing 190 kW and 620 Nm) models. Both pair precision German engineering with a 9G-TRONIC nine-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel drive while encapsulating both driver and passengers alike in the ultimate in luxury and stylish comfort. Up the ante with the AMG line interior package, the night package, featuring black exterior accents, 21” AMG twin-spoke alloy wheels, Airmatic air suspension, sports seats, and a three-spoke AMG multifunction steering wheel finished in black nappa leather while the 350 d includes seats finished in nappa leather upholstery. mbchristchurch.co.nz

FOLLOW US

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PACK YOUR BAGS

Calling all nocturnal enthusiasts, the annual Christchurch 10km Night Series (Aug 17 to Oct 5) is on. There are four events to choose from (sand, park, trail and road), each set on different terrains with various difficulty levels. Do one, two, or all four! It’s time to strap on those head torches and conquer the night! 10kmnightseries.co.nz

FOOD FLIGHT Get ready to party gastronomic-style as the windy city plays host to the iconic foodie extravaganza that is Visa Wellington On a Plate (Aug 10 – 26) as it celebrates it’s 10-year anniversary. Gourmands are spoilt for choice this year with 213 restaurants, 100 menus, 63 cocktails, 148 events and 180 burgers all taking part and celebrating the ‘Party’ theme.

While 17 days are simply not enough to eat your way through (or even make a dent in the Burger Wellington bucket list – you’ll need to eat 10.5 burgers each day!) you’ll sure have fun trying! visawoap.com

cityscapemagazine_chch

EARLY WARNING

/ LIFESTYLE

THE HOT SEAT Spring can’t roll around quick enough now that B&B Italia’s Bay Sofas (POA) have dropped at Matisse. This slick monolithic collection from designers Nipa Doshi and Jonathan Levien channel the sensual elegance and comfort of B&B Italia’s indoor collection while double braiding helps keep things cool and breezy. matisse.co.nz

CUT & DRIED

MARK-ET IN YOUR DIARIES

Deck your digs out with these meticulously crafted, one-of-akind floral arrangements from Mark Antonia. The perfect hybrid of vintage and contemporary design, these masterpieces have found favour in powerhouse brands such as; Ruby, Juliette Hogan, twentyseven names and Citta plus more besides. markantonia.com

Discover treats, trinkets and a convoy of tasty eats (did someone say Kung Fu Dumplings and Black Forrest Waffle Hut?) down at The Tannery’s bi-annual Market Day when it rolls into town (Sep 2). A popular event drawing in crowds, the spring market is a bargain hunter’s dream jam-packed with a smorgasbord of fashion, jewellery, accessories, homewares and other oddities all at deliciously low prices. If you fancy a ripper steal of a deal, this boutique Christchurch market is one for the calendar. thetannery.co.nz

TECH IT OUT

R2-D2 APP-ENABLED DROID If you aren’t impressed by the epicness of this groovy droid who are you? Taking one of the most loveable characters from the galaxy far, far away, you can now bring a slice of Star Wars home. Sphero’s R2-D2 App-Enabled Droid, has an impressive set of features such as; holographic simulation allowing you to explore the Star Wars galaxy and even getting a reaction from R2-D2 when watching your fave Star Wars flick. How rad? sphero.com/starwars/r2d2

LAVA LOVE Add some instant cool and a fiery pop of colour to your pad with this stunning statement Roth Ebernhahn Keramik Lava Vase (RRP $285) from mr mod.

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THE LAST WORD

Orchestral Manoeuvres Cityscape jams with The Phoenix Foundation’s frontman and founding member Lukasz Buda ahead of their 20-year anniversary collab with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra at the end of the month on career highs, creating the Hunt for the Wilderpeople soundtrack and realising lifelong dreams.

TWENTY YEARS – CONGRATS! THAT’S AN EPIC OUTING FOR A BAND THAT STARTED OUT IN HIGH SCHOOL. WHAT WAS THE PLAN BACK THEN? I think the plan has always been to make the best music we can and take it as far as we can!

And to have fun doing it – haha. What a boring answer, but it’s the truth. Sometimes the truth hurts, sometimes it’s quite boring!

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE LAST 20 YEARS? It’s a long time! I am happy with the body of work. There’s lots of it. Six albums, three EPs and loads of solo and side projects and some great soundtracks.

So I guess I’d describe it as: mostly good. It feels quite weird to realise you’ve actually been around for ages. Like we’ve watched other bands begin, release a couple of albums then break up while we’ve just carried on chugging away.

Scoring Hunt for the Wilderpeople is also high up there. Kind of knew it was gonna be well-loved from the first cut I saw. It was enjoyable even then!

AND TO CELEBRATE, NZSO APPROACHED YOU GUYS WITH A NATIONAL TOUR COLLABORATION – HOW GOOD A B’DAY PRESENT IS THAT? Yes, it’s a pretty amazing opportunity. I can’t wait to hear it all together. It has been a very different process to how we’d usually do it. A long slow pre-production build up, kind of new territory for us. Luckily we have a lot of trust in Hamish McKeich and the NZSO crew… hopefully they know what they’re doing!

WHAT WILL THE ORCHESTRAL ACCOMPANIMENT ADD TO THE PERFORMANCE/EXPERIENCE? Well, we have been very conscious that we don’t want to just play the way we usually would with the NZSO playing chords in the background that no one can hear. So we have shaken up what we do and we are leaving space for the power, majesty, glory and beauty of the Symphony Orchestra!

So… it should add a lot.

WHICH TRACK ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO PERFORMING WITH THEM? Actually, we will be debuting a couple of

new songs – which is always quite exciting.

So those, and also the things that will be very different, like ‘Burning Wreck’ which is just going to be me singing with the Orchestral backing. I’ve already started vocal warm-ups.

YOU TEAMED UP WITH TAIKA WAITITI FOR THE THIRD TIME ON CINEMA SMASH HIT HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE, HOW MUCH FUN WAS THAT? Yes, it was great. It was a challenge. Taika has always pushed us to find score that isn’t traditional score as such, as in he doesn’t want all the peaks of the action highlighted necessarily. You have to find a kind of sideways approach, like the music is un-obvious, but still does the stuff score is supposed to. It’s a good learning curve usually, forces us to be nimble.

WHAT HAS THE SUCCESS OF THE MOVIE MEANT FOR THE PHOENIX FOUNDATION? It means my kids’ friends at school think I’m famous. A lifelong dream realised!

WHAT’S THE BEST THING ABOUT WORKING ON SOUNDTRACKS? Just the challenge, basically. Soundtrack work is not really about personal expression so much. Or if it is, it’s within very strict confines. You gotta stretch yourself, you gotta search. You have to not be precious.

WHEN CAN WE EXPECT A NEW ALBUM FROM YOU GUYS? Yes, we are working on a new album. No, we are not sure when it will be finished!

The NZSO and The Phoenix Foundation Celebrate!, Isaac Theatre Royal, Aug 30, nzso.co.nz

Image: Will Moore

BIGGEST HIGHLIGHT? I’d say career highlights would be playing on Later… with Jools Holland around the Buffalo era.

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@cityscapemagazine_chch Christchurch curated. A digital community for lovers of style, food, music, lifestyle, travel, beauty and culture. #CityscapeChristchurch

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