Dance music has a new home in Christchurch. After proving itself with Groove Armada’s gig in November, Queen Elizabeth II Park will host Fatboy Slim this Friday and then Netsky & Friends in February.

Keeping the action out east, Basement Jaxx bring their beats to nearby Rawhiti Domain in March.

The acts are among a slew of big names heading to Christchurch over the next few months, giving fans of everything from psychedelic pop to classic jazz something to get excited about.

This weekend is one of the biggies – Fatboy Slim on Friday, Great Kiwi Beer Fest on Saturday and then Cowboy Junkies on Sunday for a quiet come-down.

There’s even some clashes. Blues legend Zucchero goes up against homegrown heroes Broods on April 22.

Groove Armada’s November gig, which attracted about 5000 punters, was the first major event at Queen Elizabeth II Park since the February 2011 earthquakes caused extensive damage to buildings and infrastructure on the site.

Hagley Park remains the city’s most popular venue for big concerts and festivals but pressure on bookings has promoters looking for alternatives.

QEII Park is a beneficiary of this. There is a limit on the number of concerts that can be held without a resource consent but the park has a higher designated noise level in the District Plan, on par with Hagley Park. Rawhiti Domain is another space that some organisers like to use.

Other notable gigs coming up are jazz artist Madeleine Peyroux at the James Hay Theatre on March 17, psychedelic popster Kurt Vile at the James Hay on March 25, and on April 22 master bluesman Zucchero at the Isaac Theatre Royal and Nelson’s finest, Broods, at the Ngaio Marsh Theatre.