Brilliant Things to Do in Auckland this September

It's the first month of Spring, a time for rebirth, renewal, warm sideways rain and getting gains at the gym. To help you along the path of rejuvenation, we've collated a list of brilliant things to do this month. There's plenty going on, including: a Shakespearian classic, a street-wide music festival, a celebration of the country's most enthusiastic do-gooders, a marriage of food and fashion, a pop-up inflatable alien-like structure, and one of the longest running feline musicals in history.

A Midsummer Night's Dream

To round off their touring season, the Royal New Zealand Ballet are hitting the road with a new production of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. Lauded choreographer Liam Scarlett has been enlisted to produce the event, a feat that will be his first ever main stage production. The RNZB will also be accompanied by the Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra.

For those unfamiliar, the work follows four lovers and a troupe of amateur actors against the backdrop of a royal wedding in the woodlands outside of Athens. Unwittingly they wander into an enchanted domain ruled by a meddling Fairy Kingdom; manipulation ensues.

When: Wednesday, September 2 - Sunday, September 6
Where: ASB Theatre
How much: $35 - 145

Going Global Music Summit

Taking place across two days in September, the Going Global Music Summit is an opportunity for musicians, producers, composers, labels and promoters to gain insight into the workings of the international music industry.

Giving their two cents via a schedule of presentations, workshops and discussions will be an esteemed panel of industry professionals who are all currently working on the global stage. Come nightfall, a series of live music events will showcase some of our local talent, including: multi-instrumentalist and composer Eden Mulholland, singer/songwriter Anthonie Tonnon, Cambridge rapper Diaz Grimm, Dunedin psychedelic-pop musician Kane Strang, melancholic folk act Nadia Reid, dream pop band Fazerdaze, alt-rock band New Gum Sarn, electro-pop songwriter SJD and Auckland beatmaker Suren Unka.

When: Thursday, September 3 - Friday, September 4
Where: Studio One, Backbeat Bar, Bar 101
How much: free - $75

The Others Way Festival

Taking its lead from wide-spread festival experiences like CMJ and SXSW, the day-long Others Way Festival will be spread across seven venues along K'Road. 27 local indie acts make up the line-up, include iconic New Zealand rock band Garageland, who will take the stage for the first time since 2007. Other additions include enigmatic songwriter Kody Nielson with his latest moniker Silicon, dream-pop band Yumi Zouma, haunting folk singer Aldous Harding, indie pop act Princess Chelsea, influential Auckland band Solid Gold Hell, and Christchurch electro-psych seven-piece Doprah.

When: Friday, September 4
Where: The Studio, Galatos Main Room, Galatos Basement, Whammy Bar, Wine Cellar, Neck of the Woods and the Flying Out Stock Room.
How much: $34.50 - 44.50

Festival for the Future

Labelled New Zealand's most inspiring event, Festival for the Future is a weekend-long celebration of the country's most enthusiastic do-gooders, all striving to make the world a better place. Set to enlighten the expected crowd of 400 will be a line-up of remarkable young innovators, including: a doctor who managed to fight blindness with $20 and a smartphone, the founder of a vegan cosmetics company, a thespian that tackles social issues with humour, the leader of an initiative for intersex youths, the youngest person to be named in Australia's Most Influential Women list, and a gentleman adept in making awesome decisions.

A schedule of live entertainment will follow the daily programme including a solo set from indie-folk artist Tiny Ruins and pop musician Jamie McDell.

When: Friday, September 4 - Sunday, September 6
Where: Sir Paul Reeves Building
How much: $119 - 199

Imagine Dragons

With another album on the cards for later this year, Las Vegas genre-mashers Imagine Dragons are heading out on a worldwide celebration. The New Zealand leg of the tour will include shows in Auckland and Christchurch. As well as performing their latest single 'Shots', the four-piece can be expected to make their way through well known singles: 'Radioactive', 'Demons' and 'On Top Of The World'.

When: Tuesday, September 8
Where: Vector Arena
How much: $95

CATS

One of the longest running musicals in West End and Broadway history will play out in Auckland this September. Written by musical theatre maestro Andrew Lloyd Webber and based on T. S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, CATS tells the story of a tribe of singing and dancing cats as they decide which one will be reborn into a new life.

The 2015 revival was the recipient of critical success upon its run in London, all thanks to the introduction of rapping and breakdancing.

When: Friday, September 11 - Sunday, October 4
Where: The Civic
How much: $99.90 - 129.90

Dinner and a Show: Peter Ulrich and The Swingin' Duet

Peter Urlich will pair up with sax/flute player Lewis McCallum to form The Swingin' Duet for Ostro's final installation of 'Dinner and a Show'. The matter-of-factly named event combines intimate table side concerts and a three-course menu whipped up by MasterChef judge and Michelin-starred chef Josh Emett.

The event will be split into two halves, with the waterfront perched Ostro Brasserie setting the scene for dinner and the first set, before the second round takes place across the other side of the building in the more relaxed City Terrace.

When: Sunday, September 13
Where: Ostro Bar & Brasserie
How much: $25 - 150

LATE at the Museum: City of Shadows

With the first edition of Auckland Museum's LATE evening series shedding light on music inspired and created in Auckland, number two will delve into the city's darker side through stories of sex, drugs, crime and politics.

Radio New Zealand broadcaster Noelle McCarthy will lead a panel discussion about Auckland's hidden world with a 21-year-old ex-stripper, a sociologist, consultant and a student of gay culture in Auckland, and a former drug addict turned AUT senior lecturer. The event will conclude with a live performance from Okareka Dance Company with K'Rd Strip, a provocative and humorous performance centred around the colourful Auckland neighbourhood, while intertwining Maori mythology, haka, drag queens, music and dance.

When: Monday, September 14
Where: Auckland Museum
How much: $20

'A Taste of Fashion' Progressive Lunch

Britomart's 'A Taste of Fashion' Progressive Lunch will welcome the marriage of food and fashion this September with five of the country's top fashion designers sharing their new Spring/Summer collections at some of downtown Auckland's swankiest dining destinations.

The three-hour, four-course long-lunch begins at 12pm with champagne, canapés and a show by boutique label Taylor in the members only Seafarers Club. From there, guests will be led down to celebrity chef Josh Emett's Ostro City Terrace, where they will also be welcomed by models strutting in the latest collection from Kathryn Wilson. The group will then be split and across the Britomart precinct for three more courses, matched wine and designer shows from: WORLD at Ostro, Trelise Cooper at Ortolana and Zambesi at Ebisu.

Touted as something of a "live-action catalogue," all showcased looks will be available to purchase on the day. Tickets are limited to 90 and include a luxury goodie bag.

When: Friday, September 18
Where: Britomart Precinct
How much: $250

ARBORIA

The pop-up inflatable structure described as "somewhere between a womb and a cathedral," is coming to Aotea Square. Created by Alan Parkinson of the world-renowned Architects of Air, the 'luminarium' is a colourful maze of winding paths and soaring domes. It celebrates the patterns and forms of trees and the forest, bearing luminous trunks, leaves and branches, naturally lit through the coloured, translucent PVC. Fitting the theme, a sound-experience originating from the Ecuadorian Cloud Forest will play in the space.

When: Thursday 24 September - Sunday 11 October.
Where: Aotea Square
How much: $10 - $12.00

Odesza

They may have only been on our shores in January but Seattle electronic duo Odesza are coming back to further support the release of their second album In Return. This time they're moving to a larger venue and upsizing the production to show off their brand of eclectic instrumental hip-hop.

When: Friday, September 25
Where: Studio K'Rd
How much: $60

Wiz Khalifa

Having previously performed here at both Laneway and Rhythm and Vines festivals, Wiz Khalifa's forthcoming show at Vector Arena will be his first headline outing. The Pennsylvania rapper's visit comes in support of the breakthrough hit 'See You Again', a heart-clenching collab with Charlie Puth that was created as a tribute to the late Paul Walker for the film Furious 7. In addition to the record breaking track, concert-goers can expect material from Khalifa's five studio albums, umpteen mixtapes, and countless weed references.

When: Friday, September 25
Where: Vector Arena
How much: $84.90