RICHIE

If you want to keep the party going after New Years you've no shortage of options over the coming months especially if you happen to live in Auckland. This weekend alone has back-to-back events; Anno Domini, Jamie XX (one of my faves) and Kurt Vile (I've never listened to him). The jewel in the crown of all this musical awesomeness is of course going to be Laneway Festival out in February, on the 1st.

I'm obv late getting this post up, but the cleverly named series Anno Domini (It's Latin for advancing of old age) kicks it all off on Sunday, January 10th, right about now actually, the time of writing being 2:35pm on said date. Described by co-promoter Mark Kneebone as an event that's 'not a fucking munt fest', Anno Domini brings to Auckland what's been going on in other cities for years, civilised roof top parties. Hosted at The Auckland Art Gallery, the series is using public space in an innovative way. Food for the series, which fall on the January 10th and 24th and February 14th, Valentines day, is taken care of by my dear friends and wonderful team at Coco's Cantina. For those who like to imbibe, drinks are provided by Mea Culpa . I'm feeling the Roman vibe that's going on with all the Latin being bandied about and with Coco's delicious Italian cuisine. Well played fam.

Amazing food and drinks and clever use of Latin aside, what's a party without music? The series highlights some of the best in left of centre electronic music. January 10th is headlined by Ninja Tune's signed, Seven Davis Jr. His house influenced experimental electronic productions are perfect for a lazy Sunday party. On the Jan, 24th, Californian Dam Funk shall be laying down the modern funk sounds, and the soundtrack to Valentine's Day is bought to us by Sydney's super dreamy Seekae and Roland Tings playing respective DJ Sets, along with Wellington lad Race Banyon. If you're looking for way to impress an exisiting or potential lover on Valentine's day, I'm backing tickets to this as a gift. If all this wasn't enough to have a mild level of interest about (no one seems to get that excited this day and age of hipster indifference), there is a fourth date yet to be confirmed, and no doubt the line up shall be similarly great.

On Monday the 11th, Jamie XX, of The XX fame plays at Auckland' Vector Arena. His solo album, In Colour, was a favourite release of mine in 2015. It's an intricate album full of beautiful melancholy you can dance to, offset by party jams with features from Young Thug. Mr XX will no doubt be bringing an amazing set to perform, so if you want to party on a school night, this will be a trill time.

I won't bullshit you and say I'm a huge fan of Kurt Vile, but if you're into chilled out alternative rock stuff in the vein of Pavement or Beck, then he's great at what he does. Since the Echo Festival he was scheduled to be a part of fell to pieces, he's playing Auckland at the Saint James on Tuesday and Wellington at the San Fran on Wednesday. Tickets to Wellington are sold out but still available for Auckland at the time of writing.

Laneway is going to be such an amazing time, I think I'll give it a write up all of it's own, so stay posted. If you do go and check out any of these shows, let us know what you thought of them!