Stories

Devin Abrams is an Ōtautahi boy, a founding member of Shapeshifter, successful music producer, and mastermind behind the solo project Pacific Heights. Cityscape Zooms him from his home studio in Hawkes Bay to talk about new music and good old times. Tell us about your new album, The Waters Between. It’s definitely a departure from previous Pacific Heights records but I have quite a history of doing that. My back catalogue has been some pretty sharp turns. The last one I did, Borne Together, was very much a conceptual record based on a dream I had, and then I scripted the whole thing when I woke up. And every decision, lyrically, sonically, stylistically, the visuals, was all based on this dream. Whereas this record is a lot freer in that sense. The only anchor that I’ve had, loosely, is that The Waters Between is about the distance that ironically we’ve faced...

Polish street and fine artist Bartek Świątecki, AKA Pener, is in Ōtautahi for an exhibition of his works at Fiksate Studio & Gallery. Cityscape catches up with him on a cold, rainy morning as he stretches the last of his canvases in preparation. Welcome to Christchurch, how are you finding the weather? It’s the only one time gap that I have this summer. We’ve got, in Poland, 34 or 36 degrees right now. We apologise on behalf of our city. Tell us a little about your show at Fiksate, Vacation From Reality. Vacation From Reality is a key phrase that can be read in various ways. For me, my paintings are an escape from the reality that surrounds me. They are such a dive into emotions, shapes, a different world where you can feel safe, where you can relax. On the other hand, there is also the context of the times...

As we gear up to welcome Guns N' Roses back to New Zealand this December, we're stoked with the great news that local legends Alien Weaponry are going to be bringing the noise as special guests for the gig.They'll be joined by Australian punk rockers The Chats, and the main event Guns N' Roses will feature the classic band lineup of Axl Rose, Slash, and Duff McKagan. Safe to say the Auckland and Wellington gigs are going to be big nights. Recently hailed as the "future of metal” by esteemed music bibleMetal Hammer, and “one of the best young metal bands in the world right now” byRevolver Magazine, Alien Weaponry have taken their raw energy and unique sound on the road around the world. Combining thrash and metal with lyrics in te reo Māori has gained the band huge fan and media acclaim around the world. Since the release of their...

As if the beautiful bright lights of New Regent Street aren’t enough to draw you in, then come with us as Cityscape takes you Downstairs. Emma Mettrick and Paul Howells are at it again with this swanky new bar, and sister to their highly acclaimed restaurant Twenty Seven Steps . It launched in the space directly downstairs from the restaurant, in the centre of New Regent Street, and it’s a wine-focussed bar to add to the street’s growing number of speciality establishments. Ōtautahi’s newest offering features a slick bar and intimate seating across divided spaces. The moody atmosphere is lit up with cracked glass globe pendant lights throughout, which define the inside and beam out onto the street. We sit at a street-side table offering the privacy of frosted glass windows, and we still feel like we were a part of the vibe. The maître d’ is one of Christchurch’s best...

Known for its wicked scones, this grab-and-go eatery nestled in the city is one of the best on the block. As I make my order, Grain owner Belinda just has time to utter the words “They come for the scones and we have daily call-ins to put one aside,” before another customer comes in search of one. This customer announces that she has a constant craving for Grain scones, and... she isn’t wrong. They are delicious. Sliced, toasted and served with a side of butter. Heaven. The vibe in this cool spot is set by the eclectic interior. A massive red gantry and an oversized hook in the ceiling are reminiscent of the café's previous life as The Wasp Factory, which many will remember as Christchurch's Vespa and scooter repair specialist and, before that, an old rubber moulding factory. The energy is good – a modestly modern space, clean lines, minimalist art,...

Cityscape wants you to avoid the blues, and our Winter Wellness series is just the cure. We’re featuring a range of diverse ways to embrace exercise and wellness around Ōtautahi Christchurch, in a way that is so brand new to you. First up: 9Round Papanui. I have lived my life by a few tenets, and one of those is that exercise is essential. The problem is that I get bored quickly and need change to refocus my fitness regime. 9Round’s 30-minute full-body workout, incorporating boxing and kickboxing, is brand new to me and was just the awakening I needed after a bit of sports stagnation. Stagnant sport not to be named. Easy parking is the first real win, without even throwing a punch. Good start. I know from my brief that my certified personal trainer will be the award-winning Manager of the Year JJ Naude, which is obviously quite intimidating. But...

Late '90s smash hit band Stellar* are heading our way this month for Go Live Festival at the Christchurch Town Hall. Cityscape caught up with bassist Kurt Shanks to get the low-down. Are you amped for your first Go Live Festival? We heard so many great things from friends in Christchurch about the previous Go Live Festival, so we were delighted to be asked to be part of this year’s event. I’m particularly looking forward to checking out a lot of the new bands playing, and wandering around the various rooms. It’s shaping up to be an indoor all-local Big Day Out type vibe. Lots of fun. We’re also keen to meet some new faces at the seminars during the day. How do the Christchurch crowds treat you? Christchurch crowds have always been great to us. Boh and Andrew are obviously originally from Christchurch, and there’s some fans who remember them...

Featuring mainstays of the Kiwi music industry alongside some of the best up-and-coming talent, the Go Live Festival is set for two huge nights at the Christchurch Town Hall this July. Bringing together a wide range of musical genres, festival-goers can expect everything from drum and bass through to rock, pop and alternative sounds. New Zealand music royalty Jon Toogood (of Shihad fame) and Stellar* are headlining the two-night spectacular, lighting up the Town Hall with their chart-topping hits from the ‘90s to today. The festival also showcases some of the best up-and-coming talent Ōtautahi has to offer. Fresh from touring her debut solo album, Spit, Emma Dilemma is sure to deliver a high energy alt-rock set. Indie darlings Imperial April are releasing a brand new single ‘9.30’ on the eve of the festival and are hitting the Radio Hauraki Stage just before Stellar*. Synth-pop princess PRINS will bring the dance...

Gnocchi – soft pillows of potato pasta – may be one of the most comforting of Italy’s many comfort foods. This recipe incorporates activated charcoal powder for a striking dark colour and detoxifying properties.Serves: 2 | Prep. time: 30 minutes | Cook time: 30 minutes | Dish deets: Vegetarian Ingredients Gnocchi 2 large Agria potatoes2 cups 00 flour (or strong flour)1 egg1 tsp salt3 Tbsp activated charcoal powder Sauce 4 Tbsp olive oil10 cherry tomatoes¼ cup edamame beans1 cup baby spinachSalt and pepper, to taste¼ cup ricotta cheese3 Tbsp macadamia nuts, toasted and crushed Making it happen 1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. 2. Peel potatoes, cut into big cubes and add to pot. Cook until tender but still firm, about 15 minutes. Drain, cool and mash with a fork. 3. Combine mashed potato, flour, egg, salt and activated charcoal powder in a large bowl. Knead...

Homegrown indie folk singer-songwriter Mel Parsons is at it again with a new album and tour dates. She catches up with Cityscape to talk Lyttelton, laughs and lawn mowing. The title track of the new album Slow Burn sounds great. What can we expect from the songs that aren’t released yet? It’s quite a mix I think. It’s still me writing songs, so I don’t think it’s any great departure from what people know of my music already, but there are a a few more upbeat songs on there that head towards a bit of indie-new-wavey kind of a vibe. Tell us about your experience recording this album. We made the record at LOHO Studio in Christchurch, with my band and a few guests. Being local was actually really awesome, getting to head home and regroup at the end of each session made it really relaxed process. We had a lot...

All the entertainment you'll need for the month of July on the small and big screens, plus books to lose yourself in and new albums to rock out to. Viewing on the big screen Thor: Love and Thunder Taika Waititi’s sequel to the greatest Marvel film of all time, the synth-and-technicolour Thor: Ragnarok. We’re in no doubt that the next chapter of Thor’s story will be as witty and action-packed as the last. This instalment sees Thor’s post-Endgame retirement interrupted by a villain who wants to bring about the extinction of the gods. Millie Lies Low It should have been one of the greatest days of Millie’s life, heading from Wellington to New York to start an internship at a prestigious architecture firm. But when a moment of panic causes her to miss her flight, she ends up going into hiding in her own home town, pretending to her family and...

Victoria Street has had a proper revamp with shops and restaurants bringing buzz back to this once bustling thoroughfare. Cityscape drops by to check out the new kid on the block, Man About Town. Store owner Sharon Biddle says nostalgia brought her to establish Man About Town in this sweet location. “As a very young child in Canterbury, I remember that Victoria Street was such a cool street. Everyone used to stroll down and look at all the different shops. I mostly remember the hat shop, and imagined myself in them. "I feel that the street is coming back to that. I would l love to see Victoria Street be what it once was. The place that was close enough to walk to and be just away from the crowds.” Sharon has manifested menswear into a ready-to-shop stop in the city. Opened May last year, Man About Town is filling a...

This Friday is the first time we will celebrate the rise of Matariki as a nation with a public holiday. If you ask us, it's a perfect time to acquaint yourself with the stars that announce the new year in te ao Māori. You can see the Matariki star cluster in the sky now. Well, perhaps not right now, depending on what time of day you're reading this, but this is the right time of year. To get a good view of this constellation, you'll need to get up before dawn. The good news is that the sun comes up late right now so you don't have to get up at an ungodly hour – between 5:30 and 6:30am is perfect. The even better news is that we have some incredible spots to see these stars in the clear winter sky right here in Christchurch. We recommend getting up early, donning...

The Black Seeds are at it again with a brand new album and a national tour to celebrate. We caught up with founding member Barnaby Weir. Congratulations on the release of Love & Fire! What’s the feeling the band brought to this album? Thank you. It feels great to finally be able to share our little musical treasure, we've been working on it for a while. I think the general feeling the band brought to the album is one of hope. It's been tough times for a lot of people around the world and more so than the pre covid years. We've all had some kind of struggle during this time but having a sense of hope through our music and this album project helped to get us through it and brought us together creatively even though we were separated physically. Love & Fire is dedicated to your manager Matt McLeod...

It’s our first run at a brand new public holiday, celebrating a long tradition in te o Māori. Here area few of the ways Ōtautahi is celebrating. Winter Solstice pre-Matariki Night Light Bike Ride A family-friendly evening ride around North Hagley Park. Bling out your bike, helmet and yourselves with as many lights as you can and join the ride. Mickle Gates entrance, Hagley Park Tuesday 21 Juneccc.govt.nz Matariki Wā Kōrero – Storytimes Just one of the great offerings our libraries are putting on. Each Christchurch City Library will have at least one of these events for pre-schoolers, featuring a variety of Matariki-themed stories, songs and rhymes. Your local libraryUntil Thursday 30 Junechristchurchcitylibraries.com Seeking/Ararapu Matariki in the Zone Head to Avebury House and the Richmond Community Garden to trace the path of the Matariki star cluster in the Red Zone. As night falls, ‘star stations’ will light up creating a 700m...

It's been a fabulous Pride Month so far, with rainbow flags adorning windows, balconies and poles all around the city, and a raft of fantastic events in celebration of our LGBTQIA+ community and culture. Here's Cityscape's round-up of a few of the best events on for Christchurch Pride Week. Friday 17 June Pride Walk of SupportWhat: Start at the Fletcher Building Rainbow Truck at 1:30pm for the starting point, then along Cashel Street to an official Christchurch Pride ribbon cutting event.Where: Cashel Street Mallchchpride.co.nz Fri-YayWhat: Family friendly opening event for rangatahi (youth) featuring drag queens and a lot of funWhere: RiverPride (formerly Riverside Market)chchpride.co.nz Now That's What I Call: Queer ComedyWhat: An evening of quality stand up comedy performed by your favourite Queer icons at Ōtautahi's dedicated comedy club.Where: Good Times Comedy Clubgoodtimescomedyclub.co.nz Saturday 18 June Qtopia Pride BallWhat: All ages and all-inclusive, this ball is for everyone! 'Pay what you...

So many films, so little time! If you're struggling to choose from all the marvellous, funny, romantic and gripping films in this year's French Film festival Aotearoa, we've got a top ten list to help you out. The festival runs from 23 June until 10 July at Academy Gold Cinema, Lumière Cinemas and Deluxe Cinemas in Christchurch. It showcases the boldness, daring originality and poignant excellence of French cinema. Side-splitting comedies to gripping drama, swoon-worthy romance to Hitchcockian thrillers, there's something for all cinematic tastes here, so straighten your beret and peruse our handy list to make booking a breeze. OSS 117: From Africa with Love France's answer to an '80s James Bond is the clueless and arrogant OSS agent 117,Hubert Bonisseur de la Bath. This film, the third instalment in the OSS 117 parody spy series, reached number one at the French box office. The hilarious and staunchly patriotic French secret...

Bianca Bailey AKA Wiri Donna’s new record is out, and she heading to Christchurch on her nationwide tour. The six-track EP Being Alone is written by Wellington muso Bianca Bailey and co-projected by James Goldsmith, featuring singles ‘Dream of Me’ and ‘No Follow Through’ . “The EP is a sort of coming-of-age record, less of things you learn as you’re growing up, more things that you discover when you’re alone,” Bianca says. “The title track ‘Being Alone’ is a point of realisation, that you’re allowed to grieve things that are intangible, like losing your sense of self, that people can simultaneously love you and hurt you and how incredibly difficult it is to hold people accountable for their actions if they don’t see them as wrong.” It’s been two years since Wiri Donna’s first release – a double single featuring ‘Manuka Money’ and ‘Wandering Willies’. Wiri Donna began as a sensitive...