The resurgence of live events continues to boom post-Covid with concerts and stand-up comedy sets from international icons, announced daily. Here are express’ recommendations for a great night out on the town.
RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under Tour –
RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under Tour couldn’t happen after Season One due to COVID restrictions, so now you get the chance to see the queens from both Season One and Two in a massive bumper show of drag talent. Express can’t wait to see Kick Ons’ host Art Simone, dancing queen Elektra Shock, Drag Race Canada Vs The World contestant Anita Wigl’it, Season One winner Kita Mean, drag royalty Mini Cooper, drag’s future Yuri Guaii, Pasifika-excellence pioneer Kween Kong, hobbit beauty Hannah Conda and Season Two winner Spankie Jackzon!
The tour kicks off in Auckland at Spark Arena this Thursday, before hitting Wellington’s Michael Fowler Centre this Friday night.
Dua Lipa’s Future Nostalgia Tour –
Dua Lipa plays Auckland’s Spark Arena for two nights at the beginning of November and she’ll be performing the setlist of your dreams! Starting with ‘Physical’, ‘New Rules’ and ‘Love Again’ and finishing with ‘Cold Heart’, ‘Levitating’ and ‘Don’t Start Now’ – seriously, just take my money! Expect 80’s inspired graphics and neon-hues as Dua her dancers perform a seamlessly choreographed set.
Dua Lipa’s Future Nostalgia Tour plays Wednesday 2 and Thursday 3 November at Auckland’s Spark Arena.
Elton John’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour
It’s been a long time coming, but Sir Elton’s final tour is, finally, arriving on our shores. There’s a few tickets left for the recently announced Christchurch show and Auckland dates, where, yes, you can expect to hear all his glorious number one hits that you’d hope for. But in addition, expect to hear deep cuts dedicated to his true fans including ‘Levon’, ‘Have Mercy on the Criminal’, ‘Funeral for a Friend’ and ‘Burn Down the Mission’. Elton’s long yellow brick road will end in Stockholm in July.
Elton John Farewell Hello Brick Road Tour playa Saturday 24 January at Christchurch’s Orangetheory Stadium, and Friday 27 and Saturday 28 January at Auckland’s Mt Smart Stadium.
Alan Carr’s Regional Trinket Tour
How can you not love Alan Carr?! Known to many for his chat show ‘Chatty Man’, judging on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK and hosting of Interior Design Masters, Carr will return to stand up comedy for the first time in six years. ‘Regional Trinket’ is set to be Carr’s most ‘raw’ show to date – in those six years he has gotten married (Adele was the celebrant, and paid for the wedding) and divorced following the breakdown of his marriage during Lockdown – and he’s talking about all of it(!) with his signature camp, self-deprecating style!
Final tickets are on sale for Carr’s Auckland show at the Aotea Centre on Thursday 24 November and Wellington’s Michael Fowler Centre on Saturday 26 November.
Sandi Toksvig Live!
Sandi Toksvig read Law at Cambridge (often considered to be the world’s best university), but would never practice, instead pursuing a career in comedy, leading her to present popular TV shows The Great British Bake Off and QI, as well as author over twenty novels. She returns stand-up comedy for her debut NZ performance, which she told express in a recent interview, had been inspired by the Kiwi fans who contacted her during Lockdown. Expect a show full of gentle audience participation and reasons to be cheerful!
Sandi Toksvig Live! lands at Christchurch Town Hall on Sunday 4, Wellington Opera House, Monday 5 and Auckland’s Aotea Centre on Tuesday 6 December.
