It was a bumper weekend to kick off this year's NZ Music Month, with launch gigs taking place all over the country and lots more besides.

But now that we've all caught up with a bit of sleep it's time to start looking at our diaries and working out what shows to take in over the next few days and into the weekend.

You could draw some inspiration from this week's album charts, with The Phoenix Foundation - who debuted at 4 with Buffalo - hitting the road for much of the month to celebrate. They play Golden Bay's Mussel Inn tonight, The Bedford in Christchurch tomorrow, Sammy's in Dunedin this Friday, Saturday night at Queenstown's Revolver, and then somehow find the stamina for a Sunday gig in Timaru at No8 Wired. Then the rest of the country in coming weeks... Jeez.

Speaking of the album chart, there are half a dozen other Kiwi acts in the Top 20, many of whom you'll get the chance to see live as the month rolls on. Check out the charts over at RIANZ to see who we might be talking about.

One fellow that knows plenty about the charts is Jordan Luck, who's been responsible for far more than his fair share of Kiwi anthems over the years. As you may recall he's on tour throughout the entire month playing shows every single day as part of The Jordan Luck Band's May Daze Tour. And we thought Opshop doing ten gigs in a day was tough (ok, it actually was). Jordan's gigs for the next seven days:

Wednesday May 5 at Roughies, Hawera
Thursday May 6 at Royal Hotel, Palmerston North
Friday May 7 at Wharf Shed 3, Gisborne
Saturday May 8 on the Interislander, Wellington-Picton
Sunday May 9 at LeCafe, Picton
Monday May 10 at Hot Mamas Cafe, Motueka
Tuesday May 11 at Phat Club, Nelson

The Whiskey in Auckland are in marathon mode for the month as well, with a densely packed May that has already seen Jordan do his thing there (along with The Feelers and Kirsten Morrell). Coming up in their Ponsonby Rd joint:

Wednesday May 5 - Peter Urlich Band
Thursday May 6 - Jan Hellriegel & Hanna Grace
Friday May 7 - Autozamm, Earlybirds, and Artisan Guns
Saturday May - Hello Sailor
Sunday May 9 - Nairobi Trio
Monday May 10 - Don McGlashan
Tues & Weds May 11/12 - Greg Johnson

What else is going on, you say? HEAPS.

Here are a few tips for the next few days.

TONIGHT:

Holy F**k ft Tony Tunes, Popstrangers, La Gargoyle @ Flight Lounge, Central Auckland

Clap Clap Riot @ Wunderbar, Christchurch

The Chills @ Empire Tavern, Dunedin

THURSDAY:

LATE 03 w/ Kirsten Morrell, Steve Abel, Nick Bollinger at Auckland Museum, Central Auckland

Opensouls, DJ Chris Cox at SkyCity twentyone, Central Auckland

Don McGlashan at Ashburton Club & MSA, Ashburton

FRIDAY:

Kitsch at The Red Eye, Whangarei

Tiger Tones, Heaven+Paradise, Quarks at Whammy Bar, Central Auckland

Scribe vs Savage at Republic Bar, South Auckland

Wellington International Ukelele Orchestra at The Crater Room, Erupt! Taupo Arts Festival

The Trons, Sets @ Whanganui Regional Museum, Whanganui

Grayson Gilmour Album Release at The Stomach, Palmerston North

MADE IN NEW ZEALAND by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra at Wellington Town Hall, Central Wellington

SATURDAY:

Ivy Lies and friends @ Dargaville Town Hall, North Auckland

Smash the Jukebox - Fundraiser @ Windsor Castle, Central Auckland

Shotgun Alley @ Kings Arms, Central Auckland

The Midnights - Album Release @ Charmers Bar & Nightclub, Hamilton

Aitutaki Enua Cyclone Relief Benefit Concert @ Hawkes Bay Opera House, Hastings

Heavy Metal Head Banger Festival @ Paekakariki Memorial Hall, Paekakariki

SUNDAY:

Starlight Sundays ft LA Thompson, Robbie White, Gerald Waters @ Windsor Castle, Central Auckland

Sing Songs, Tim Blackman @ Happy, Central Wellington



That's just a smattering of course - check the full gig guide and more besides atwww.nzmusicmonth.co.nz