Southside Arts Festival Launches 2013 Programme

The city's annual dose of Maori and Pacific urban culture is back. Southside Arts Festival 2013 includes a line up of more than 20 events encompassing theatre, music, dance, fashion, street and visual arts, and the written word.

Maori and Pacific artists and musicians will show us what they've got across the three weeks from October 17 to November 3. There are lots of famliar names, including Ladi-6, Oscar Kightley, Okareka Dance Company, Iva Lamkum and members of the three-time World Hip-Hop Dance Champions The Royal Family.

Here are a few of the stand out events in the programme this year.

Fashionistas need to attend Cult Couture, a large-scale avant-garde fashion showcase with a Pacific twist. The event is judged by a panel of industry experts including fashion designer Adrian Hailwood, fashion museum curator Doris de Pont and fashion editor Dan Ahwa, with designers competing for a piece of the not to be sneezed at $12,000 prize pool.

The Southside Gig is an all-day event bringing together the best of the urban arts. There’ll be hip hop and Bboy workshops as well as a graf art battle. Your hosts for the day are the internationally acclaimed Palace Dance Crew, featuring members of The Royal Family. These guys are seriously amazing. Check them out on YouTube if you haven't already.

The Mixer is a one-night-only gig by some top Polynesian musical talent. This year the theme is Old Skool, with all musicians, including R&B songstress Ria, contemporary rapper/composer Anonymouz, Three Houses Down and Sons of Zion performing their own version of a classic track – from floor-filling disco to 90s hip-hop anthems.

A sell-out at previous festivals, the Southern Gallery Express Art Tour is a free cultural jaunt taking place every Saturday during the festival. Ticket holders board the bus on K’ Rd and venture out to explore South Auckland’s creative hotspots. Each tour will be hosted by artist-performers, including the supremely talented South Auckland Poets’ Collective.

No excuses for not getting amongst the action at this festival. Over half the events are free and they are spread throughout a number of venues including some central spots. These include Auckland Art Gallery, Auckland Museum and Pah Homestead. The South Auckland venues are Mangere Arts Centre – Nga Tohu o Uenuku, Fresh Gallery Otara, Otara Music Arts Centre, Vodafone Events Centre, Te Tuhi and Otahuhu College.