NZ's best summer gigs and festivals   23 Dec 2014

Summer means beaches, barbecues and backyard cricket - but it also means a whole lot of sweet sounds.

Acts from all around the world are set to descend on our shores - from Drake to Paul Simon to the Foo Fighters.

It's not just the international superstars who're hitting the stage - local talent including Broods and Anika Moa are taking their musical stylings around the country. So treat your ear drums to something good and head along to one of our top music picks, whether it's a super stadium gig or a festival set in the New Zealand wilderness.

Best summer gigs and festivals

• Rhythm and Vines - International acts including Bastille, Zane Lowe, Danny Brown and MO descend on the three-day festival. Set in on the Waiohika Estate, the festival's become a rite of passage with young New Year's Eve revellers. December 29-30, Gisborne.

• Winery Tour - Kiwi favourites Dave Dobbyn and Don McGlashan, Supergroove and Anika Moa play at nine wineries around the country, combining two great things: wine and music. January 24-February 28, various wineries.

• Laneway - Angus and Julia Stone, Banks, Belle and Sebastian, FKA Twigs, Mac deMarco and St Vincent are among the alternative music darlings at the one-day festival. Festival-goers can expect good music, delicious food, and some unconventional stages. January 26, Silo Park, Auckland.

• Paul Simon and Sting - Two huge acts, two days only. Longtime friends Sting and Simon of Simon and Garfunkel fame bring their On Stage Together Tour where they perform some of their best-known songs together and apart. January 30, Auckland; January 31, New Plymouth.

• Broods - Brother-sister duo Caleb and Georgia Nott may have had international success this year, but they're coming back to where it all started. The indie pop duo are bringing their Evergreen tour to six locations around the country - including hometown Nelson. February 5-14, Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch, New Plymouth, Auckland, Hamilton.

• Foo Fighters - The rockers led by ex-Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl return to our shores for two gigs. They're expected to play well-known hits as well as songs from their recently released album Sonic Highways. February 18, Christchurch; February 21, Auckland.

• Splore - Combining arts and music, the three-day boutique festival features Roy Ayers, Cat Empire, and Phoenix Foundation performing in a beautiful outdoor setting. February 20-22, Takapakanga Regional Park.

• Drake - The Canadian-born rapper's touring New Zealand for the first time with special guest 2Chainz. Expect hits from his 2013 album Nothing was the Same and previews from his upcoming album Views. February 23, Vector Arena, Auckland.

• Shakey Graves - Austin-based singer-songwriter Alejandro Rose-Garcia brings his bluesy folk to New Zealand for the first time. Expect high energy and raw, haunting singing. February 28, The Tuning Fork, Auckland.

• Womad - Taranaki's relaxed world music festival manages to attract a range of ages, from teenagers to families, who all come to hear great sounds. This year's festival features exciting acts including Rufus Wainwright, Sinead O'Connor, Flip Grater and Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club. March 13-15, New Plymouth.

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