Local Vanguard Interviewed on RDU's Breakfast w/ Spanky

Local Vanguard's Creator and Editor was asked to appear on RDU's "Breakfast with Spanky" yesterday morning, to talk about how and why Local Vanguard was started and thoughts about living in Christchurch. Click here to listen to the interview.

Also be sure to check out the Breakfast with Spanky show weekday mornings 7:30-9:30am on RDU 98.5FM. As part of RDU's independent/alternative vibe, they cover some pretty unique and interesting stories. The Breakfast with Spanky blog has audio of past stories/interviews that have appeared on the show.

Sounday 2010 Only One Week Away

Sounday is an all-day, open-air event of music, food, and drinks held in Christchurch's Hagley Park. This year's event will feature 11 musical acts from New Zealand and overseas.

Musicians include those with close ties to Christchurch - keyboardist and Jazz School attendee Taay Ninh of Electric Wire Hustle (a Wellington based band), and Christchurch based band Sleepy Age. Other musical acts include NZ's Module, The Pheonix Foundation, and Delaney Davidson with Tuscson based french born signer Marianne Dissard, as well as other international acts - American The Handsome Family, and Australian electroacoustic Dizz1.

Sounday goes from 10am-8pm (30 January). Tickets are available for purchase at Embassy on High Street, Burgers & Beers, Hunters and Collectors, Real Groovy, and The Dux De Lux, or online from www.rdu.org.nz and www.moshtix.co.nz. $27 for adults, kids under 12 free. Click here for a full list of musical acts and information about the event such as food, parking etc.

Upcoming World Busker's Festival - Not To Be Missed

The World Buskers Festival starts next week (Jan. 21-31). The festival is eleven days of 450 live shows of street, circus, and comedy style performances. Now in its 17th year, the event offers an international line-up of talent that includes 44 of the world’s best acts from the USA, Canada, UK, Ireland, Japan, Israel, Germany, the Netherlands, Australia, and New Zealand.

Many of the shows are free to the public and performed throughout the day in central city public spaces such as Cathedral and Victoria Squares, at the Arts Centre, as well as in locations in New Brighton and Sumner. Late night performances (8:30-10:30pm) ask for a nominal donation of $5-$10 and will be held at The Beford, on the corner of Bedford Row and Madras Street.

For a schedule of events and to learn about participating performers and their acts go to the World Buskers website.
Image Source: World Buskers 2010 website

Speakeasy Found in Undeveloped Laneway

The Christchurch Temperance Society opened its doors a few weeks ago in a small laneway off of Tuam Street, behind NG Cafe. From the exterior at daytime, Christchurch Temperance Society has the same feeling as a popular Melbourne bar - hidden away in a under-trafficked laneway, no glaring signs, only a few markings, and entirely closed up. These are all components that create a sense of frontierism and of satisfaction having once passed through the doors of a "secret society". And in this case, the few markings that do exist resemble, or in fact may be erasable chalk, a nice touch that adds an element of secrecy and exclusivity, and a nod to the era of temperance.

Christchurch Temperance Society
Off Tuam Street, behind Workshop