Kurt Wagner

Kurt Wagner is the man behind the innovative Nashville roots collective Lambchop whose lastest album 'Nixon' ended up on the top of many critic's charts. Forsaking the safety of having his ten-piece band behind him, he comes to town as a lone man with a guitar to play his tunes that seamlessly blend melancholy with knee-slapping humour. As a bonus, he's bringing along roots up-and-comer Jim James of My Morning Jacket.

Moon over Marina Bay

Chill Out @ Maxim

While drinking the night away has never been a particularly hazardous enterprise in Vienna, finding somewhere half-way decent in the early hours can be awkward. Now for those who go the distance, the centrally located Maxim, formerly a cheesey 'high class' nightspot, runs chill out sessions starting at 4am Fridays and Saturdays. Two floors supply house and more relaxing sounds to a varied crowd sprawled amid the low lighting and velour. Easy to find just across the Ring from the Opera and ladies get in free.

SFJAZZ Spring Season

SFJAZZ presents its second annual Spring Season, a dynamic series of concerts, films, and educational programmes held in venues throughout the city. Under the dexterous direction of saxophonist Joshua Redman, the series features five weekends of top-notch performance by some of the best-known names in music. Among the many performers are Redman, Terence Blanchard, Nicholas Payton, Paolo Conte, Diane Reeves, Marcus Roberts and Mingus Amungus. Each week's series is categorised accordingly - The Trumpet, The Voice, What's New, Solo Piano, The Bass.

DC3

You could theoretically land your own plane close to this yuppie restaurant as it's right on the Loop at the small Santa Monica airport. This ultra-modern restaurant is really strong on appetisers like crab cakes and wontons but also provides decent entrées. For all its hipness, DC3 actually has a Kids' Night. Dinner and supervision will be provided for your children in another room giving you a chance to ponder that if it wasn't for your little darlings you might be Gucci-clad and climbing aboard that private plane...

Charleston, SC

The Nutcracker

A lavish new production comes to The State Theatre this Christmas season. The ever-popular story of Clara and her adventures on Christmas Eve is based on ETA Hoffman's book and was first performed in 1892 at the famous Maryinsky Theatre in Russia by the Kirov Ballet. The show features stars from the former State Theatre Ballet and Dance Companies, while dancers from The Dance Factory and the Paula Olivier School of Dance perform the roles of Clara and friends.

A Cheery Soul

In an inspired twist Neil Armfield, the Artistic Director of the innovative Company Business, will direct Robyn Nevin, the Artistic Director of the Sydney Theatre Company, in the lead role of Miss Docker in Patrick White's 'A Cheery Soul'. Written in 1962, the play has always been a hit when revived. It's a dark and ironic comic story of a relentlessly cheerful woman who dominates the small town of Sarsaparilla.

Roma Felix

The Eternal City abounds with moggy life, especially in and around the centro storico. Now the city's Archaeological Department has joined up with local cat associations to offer a unique guide to the glory that was Rome. The project's title - 'Discovering the Famous Archaeological Sites Where Emperors Ruled and Now Cats Reign' - says it all. Three famous feline hangouts are open to the public for special tours of both monuments and cats: Trajan's Markets, the Pyramid of Cestius and Largo Argentina. Tours are in Italian and English.

Nitsa

Icelandic house music in a Mediterranean dance hall - DJs Alfred More and Herb Legowitz of the GusGus collective come south with their steadily evolving sound. The Icelandic group began life as a nine-member artistic gathering, who mixing indie and dance on their first album. On the more recent 'Gus Gus Vs T-World' collection their older songs are reworked to extract the dancefloor essence, with overtones of Detroit techno and rich, deep house.

Lee 'Scratch' Perry

While he is renowned for having produced Bob Marley and being one of the great innovators of dub music, Perry is probably more famous for his eccentricities. In the past, this has meant that many of his gigs have been cancelled at the last minute. However rest assured - in the last few years, he has become frighteningly reliable in not only showing up, but also in putting on an unforgettable show of rhythm and spirit. Don't miss seeing this musical legend and eccentric's eccentric.

El Tablao del duende

As part of the 7th anniversary celebrations of tapas and flamenco café Duende, this month-long festival features Spanish meals followed by flamenco performances by both local and international practitioners. Held in the unique setting of an industrial monument, festive chaos will be the order of the day. A vast variety of dance lessons and workshops fill out the programme.