It has been an amazing year for us, and so we thought it was about time we gave a little bit (more) back by having another one of our awesome Great Blend events in association with Public Address. We would love for you to come and have a drink, check out some amazing speakers and great music, and celebrate with us.

 We are delighted to be bringing you what we think is going to be another amazing event next Friday, the 4th of December.

The venue is the old Birdcage Tavern, through the wall from Shanghai Lil's – 133 Franklin Road, nestled beneath the Victoria Park overpass.

The doors open at 6pm, and from about 6.30 there will be another round of Nat Torkington's very popular Ignite series of lightning presentations, as follows:

• Vaughan Rowsell (The Big Ride)
• J Karen Waldie (Dyslexia)
• Melanie Pohl (Mars: Myths and Misdirections)
• Ian Kirk (Brains!)
• Ben Gracewood (Spooky Action at a Distance)
• Russell Briggs (How Do You Make 1.3M People Fall In Love With A Building?)
• Jayson Bryant, (Turps)
• Ana Samways (Enchanting Children's Books)
• Peter Griffin (Dangers of Faith-Based Decision Making)
• Courtney Johnston (Sex and New Zealand Art)
• Mystery Guest (TBC)

Then there'll be some tunes courtesy of Peter "Dubdotdash" McLennan, before the live band for the evening.

Which is …2009 Silver Scroll Winner Lawrence Arabia!

And if you're all suitably appreciative, James Milne's Reduction Agents pals might just join him on stage for a few of those wonderful tunes too.

There is just one small limitation: there is strictly limited to a capacity for the Ignite talks. It's going to fill up very quickly – but we have tons more room for the rest of the evening's festivities. So even if you miss out on getting a spot for the Ignite sessions please do come down anytime after about 7:30 to say hi, enjoy the music, and meet some Orcon employees, customers, and Public Adress readers.