The 2016 Taite Music Prize takes place tomorrow night, Wednesday April 20th at an invite only event at Galatos in Auckland City.
We had the chance to flick a few questions through to first time nominee Princess Chelsea ahead of the award.
By:Shelley Te Haara
Artist: Hollie Smith / Mara TK
Venue: Auckland Museum
Date: Monday 10th Mat 2019
By Francesca Champion
Artist: Little Steven
Date / Venue: Saturday April 27th, 2019 - Town Hall, Auckland
By Wal Reid
Artist: Matt Corby
Date / Venue: Thursday April 18th, 2019 - Civic Theatre, Auckland
By Darcey Mitchell
Artist: Tropical Fuck Storm
Date / Venue: Saturday March 23rd, 2019 - Corner Hotel, Melbourne
By Lisa Diedricks
Artist: John Mayer
Date / Venue: Saturday March 23rd, 2019 - Spark Arena, Auckland
By Wal Reid
Artist: Wallis Bird
Date / Venue: Friday March 22nd, 2019 - The Tuning Fork, Auckland
By Mark Derricutt
Artist: Judas Priest
Date / Venue: Saturday March 16th, 2019 - Spark Arena, Auckland
By Jason Beardsley
Date / Venue: Monday March 11th, 2019 - Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia
By Ben Doy
Artist: Red Hot Chili Peppers
Date / Venue: Friday March 8th, 2019 - Spark Arena, Auckland
By Brendhan Lovegrove
Artist: The Jesus And Mary Chain
Date / Venue: Monday March 4th, 2019 - The Powerstation, Auckland
By Charlie McCubbine
Date / Venue: Tuesday February 5th, 2018 - Spark Arena, Auckland
By Rhiannon Lloyd
Artist: Florence + The Machine
Date / Venue: Wednesday 30th January - Spark Arena, Auckland
By Joelle Reid
Date / Venue: Monday January 26th, 2019 - Albert Park, Auckland
By Teylor Moss
Artist: Slash with Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators
Date / Venue: Saturday January 26th, 2019 - Spark Arena, Auckland
By Janine Swail
Artist: Mumford & Sons featuring guests Tiny Ruins, Angie McMahon, Michael Kiwanuka & Leon Bridges
Date / Venue: Saturday January 12th, 2019 - Western Springs Outerfield, Auckland
By Lisa Diedricks
Artists: Nicki Minaj, Lil Pump, Mura Masa, Kali Uchis, San Holo, Montell2099 and The Katayanagi Twins
Date / Venue: Wednesday January 9th, 2018 - Spark Arena, Auckland
By Janine Swail
Artist: Shania Twain
Date / Venue: Tuesday December 18th, 2018 - Spark Arena, Auckland
By Wal Reid
Artist: Dashboard Confessional
Date / Venue: Thursday December 12th, 2018 - Galatos, Auckland
By Mark Derricutt
Artist: Living Colour
Date / Venue: Wednesday December 12th, 2018 - The Powerstation, Auckland
By Mark Derricutt
Artist: Joe Satriani
Date / Venue: Tuesday December 4th, 2018 - The Powerstation, Auckland
By Saffy Wihoite
Artist: The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
Date / Venue: Wednesday November 28th, 2018 - Galatos, Auckland
By Mark Derricutt
Artist: Jordan Rudess
Date / Venue: Sunday November 25th, 2018 - The Tuning Fork, Auckland
By Gerard Martin
Artist: Billy Bragg
Date / Venue: Thursday November 22nd, 2018 - Hollywood Theatre, Auckland
By Andra Jenkin
Artist: Skillet
Date / Venue: Wednesday November 21st, 2018 - The Powerstation, Auckland
By Lisa Diedricks
Date / Venue: Sunday November 18th, 2018 - Western Springs Stadium, Auckland
By Megan Moss
Artist: David Byrne
Date / Venue: Saturday November 17th, 2018 - Spark Arena, Auckland
By Wal Reid
Artist: Passenger
Date / Venue: Tuesday November 13th, 2018: The Powerstation, Auckland
By Teylor Moss
Artist: James
Date / Venue: Sunday November 11th, 2018 - The Powerstation, Auckland
Catching up with friends who are musicians at their gigs is always an odd, awkward, rushed affair between sets, pack-down, or a series of inaudible shouts as another band plays. So with the release of the new Seas of Conflict single Monachopsis, I thought it was time I simply scheduled time for a chat, not only once but twice--due to technical issues--with guitarist Declan Storrie.
I recently ventured back to my old festival haunting grounds - or at least the successor thereof. It was a hot Sunday afternoon and after juggling band members between their Festival One main stage duties and their prior commitments off-site, I managed to sit down with the guys and gal from Amanaki - one of the few hardcore-metal acts to perform at the mostly radio-friendly festival.
By Mark Derricutt
Starting his professional career as a member of The Cab, Frank Sidoris soon found himself among the ranks of The Conspirators, touring and recording alongside Myles Kennedy and guitar legend Slash.
By Lisa Diedricks
She’s taken over LA within a year and now she’s hitting the rest of the world with a bang!
By Andra Jenkin
I spoke with John Cooper, frontman for Skillet, and discovered he was a man unafraid to talk about positivity, identity or the darkness within.
By Saffy Wihoite
The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus are gracing our shores on the 28th of November at Galatos. After a 4-year hiatus, they have burst back onto the scene and headed straight for the spot they are most familiar with, number 1 on the Billboard Christian Rock Charts.
By Mark Derricutt
Breakups are never easy - whether it's a romantic tryst, a teenage crush, or with a young Mark and his favourite band Dream Theater, that dark moment when founding keyboardist Kevin Moore left the group in 1994.
By Andra Jenkin
Peter Pan Goes Wrong is a play I've been dying to see, being a huge fan of comedy and having loved J.M. Barrie since I was a child.
By Andra Jenkin
I caught up with Snake Sabo of Skid Row and discovered he was a lot more profound and positive that I expected from a guy named Snake.
Kim Benzie from Dead Letter Circus recently appeared the NZ Entertainment Podcast.
By Andra Jenkin
Rock and Roll with a Smile
I talked with Chris Jericho, about writing songs, fronting for Fozzy and rock and roll with a smile.
By Mark Derricutt
There's no denying that at my core, I'm a lover of progressive music - whether that means I love "prog" music or not is a question for another day, and is a topic which I touched on whilst talking to Steven Wilson the other week regarding the upcoming To The Bone show at Auckland's Bruce Mason Centre.
By Ben Doy
Auckland-based quartet Openside have added an extra date to their first, all-ages, nationwide tour. The group headlines The Seamless Tour will now perform a final show in Tauranga on July 20th featuring special guests DUNES .
By Leah Victoria
Paul Kastick, Jamaican drummer, producer and member of Big Mountain is a name that’s been hiding behind many international artistes for the last two decades.
The Iron Maidens - the world’s best (and only all-female) Iron Maiden tribute act - are bringing their intense and electrifying live shows to light up venues across Australia and New Zealand.
By Wal Reid
She’s hot, she’s edgy. Villette is just back from L.A. filming her new 360° Virtual Reality video.
We fired some questions Nicole's way to find out more about the tour and her new album.
Consisting of drummer/vocalist Cat Leahy and guitarist/vocalist Leisha Jungalwalla, This Way North will be a part of a very special night in Auckland called ‘Sass the Patriarchy’ an event they have been running in Australia.
Australian comedy duo, The Umbilical Brothers are back with a brand new show - Not Suitable For Children.
Vivian Campbell - legendary guitarist of Def Leppard chats with Mark Derricutt to discuss the announced Spark Arena show with The Scorpions in November to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Hysteria.
By Ben Doy
Last month Madeline North aka So Below released her highly anticipated second EP ‘II’.
By Poppy Tohill
As the days and nights get colder, we need something more to laugh about than the unpredictability of Auckland weather and lucky for us, The New Zealand International Comedy Festival returns (kicking off this Thursday 26 April).
By Ben Doy
Biffy Clyro are heading to New Zealand next week to play one show at the Spark Arena on Tuesday April 24th.
By Ben Doy
I Am Giant’s have recently released their third and final album ‘Life in Captivity’. Featuring the singles ‘Dead Flower’, ‘Playing With Fire’ and ‘Don’t Look Back’, the band are currently touring New Zealand; their final tour and last hurrah in NZ.
By Mark Derricutt
To this day I still remember my introduction to Sepultura - camped out in the granny flat bedroom of long-time friend Kerry - a live version of their cover of Motörhead's Orgasmatron, and from there it continues to this day
By Lorraine Warren
80’s rockers Big Country are currently in this part of the world - having just completed a tour in Australia and have now made it to New Zealand to perform a series of shows here.
Following the one/two punch of NURSERY CRYME and FOXTROT (both albums driven by the muscular guitars of new member Steve Hackett), Genesis were ready to launch what would become their finest album, SELLING ENGLAND BY THE POUND. Finally, now, 47 years after the album’s release; Hackett will be performing the album in full in New Zealand and Australia (One Date only in New Zealand).
By: Jason Moss
Artist: Wo Fat
Date: Tuesday 11th Jun 2019
Venue: Whammy Bar, Auckland, New Zealand
Artist/Band: Wo Fat
Photos By: Megan Moss
Venue: Whammy Bar, Auckland, New Zealand
Date: Tuesday, 11th June 2019
U2 will bring their acclaimed Joshua Tree Tour to New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Singapore and South Korea later this year.
Bruce Springsteen’s first new studio album in five years takes his music to a new place, drawing inspiration in part from the Southern California pop records of the late ‘60s and early ‘70s. The album was recorded primarily at Springsteen’s home studio in New Jersey, with additional recording in California and New York. Columbia Records will release Springsteen’s 19th studio album on June 14.
Elton John will perform a third and final show at Auckland’s Mt Smart Stadium, to satisfy New Zealand’s insatiable demand. It has also been announced that, due to a scheduling conflict, three of Elton’s sold out New Zealand concerts have been delayed by one week. Rescheduled dates affect the second show at Mission Estate Winery, and the first two Mt Smart Stadium shows in Auckland.
Due to overwhelming demand, UK glam-rockers The Struts have announced a second Melbourne show at The Corner Hotel on Thursday August 22.
Irish rockers SNOW PATROL return to New Zealand this coming August for the first time in a decade on their Snow Patrol: Live and Acoustic tour, performing one show at Auckland’s ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre
Photos by Trevor Villers
Artists: Mike Garson (piano / keys), Lee John (drums), Gerry Leonard (lead guitar), Carmine Rojas (bass), Mark Plati (guitar), Bernard Fowler (vocals), Corey Glover (vocals), Joe Sumner (vocals), Gabi Moreno (vocals), Alistair Riddell (vocals)
Date / Venue: Saturday May 5th, 2019 - Aotea Centre, Auckland
Photos by Trevor Villers
Artists: The Bowie Alumni Tour 2019
Venue: Aotea Centre, Auckland, New Zealand
Date: Saturday May 5th, 2019 -
Blues-rock superstar, Joe Bonamassa, will be returning to New Zealand in September for two shows in Christchurch and Auckland for his first time since 2016.
Dream-pop legends RIDE return to Australia and New Zealand for their first headline tour in over 25 years thanks to SBM Presents. Comprised of Andy Bell, Mark Gardener, Loz Colbert, and Steve Queralt, RIDE have sold out headline tours around the world to a plethora of critical acclaim.
By Francesca Champion
Artist: Little Steven
Date / Venue: Saturday April 27th, 2019 - Town Hall, Auckland
Photos by: Megan Moss
Artist: Shakey Graves
Venue: Powerstation, Auckland NZ
Date: Wednesday 24th April 2019
Photos By: Ginny C Photography
Artist: Sevendust
Date: Tuesday 23rd April 2019
Venue: Powerstation NZ
Artist: The Raconteurs
Photos by: Megan Moss
Venue: Powerstation, Auckland
Date: Tuesday 16th April 2019
Artist/Band: The Raconteurs
Photos By: Megan Moss
Venue: Powerstation, Auckland, New Zealand
Date: Tuesday 16th April 2019
Vampire Weekend have shared the final two tracks before releasing their upcoming fourth album, Father of the Bride, out May 3rd on Columbia Records.
The Saboteurs announce their special guests for Australia shows. Laura Imbruglia will be bringing her just-released album to the now sold out Melbourne show; Johnny Hunter is joining them for their Sydney show at Big Top Luna Park, tickets are still available!
Iconic Australian rock band Midnight Oil has announced two intimate gigs for late May. These will be the Oils' only Australian concerts for 2019 apart from their headlining appearance at the world’s most remote music festival, The Big Red Bash, near Birdsville on July 18.
The wild, gyrating, and down-right gymnastic, guitarist Pat Beers is joined by his wife Lety on drums and bass player Blake Lindquist ... and yes, Beers is their real name.
The Schizophonics are, in one word, EXPLOSIVE. When they hit the stage, they grab your attention and don’t let go. They’ve built up a formidable reputation in their home base of San Diego and a fervent following among locals.
Hot on the heels of a triumphant performance to a capacity crowd at Homegrown, rockers Villainy have just announced a nationwide tour, which will coincide with the release of their highly-anticipated third album, Raised in the Dark.
By Darcey Mitchell
Artist: Tropical Fuck Storm
Date / Venue: Saturday March 23rd, 2019 - Corner Hotel, Melbourne
By Lisa Diedricks
Artist: John Mayer
Date / Venue: Saturday March 23rd, 2019 - Spark Arena, Auckland
Darren Middleton (POWDERFINGER), Mark Wilson (JET), Davey Lane (YOU AM I) and Kram (SPIDERBAIT) have joined forces to become ARC, one of the most collectively celebrated and successful supergroups in Australia’s rock history will be performing Abbey Road live, commemorating 50 years of existence.
Abbey Road, The Beatles' swansong and their crowning achievement as a recording group - is a stately, majestic, playful yet fiercely rocking masterpiece of pop music, regarded as one of the greatest records of all time.
EVENT: Download Festival Sydney 2019
PHOTOS BY: Matt Young
Date: 9th March 2019
VENUE: Parramatta Park , Sydney Australia
Premiere Gladys Berejiklian’s excessive police presence could not dampen the spirits of heavy music lovers in Sydney! 20,000 heavy music fans descended on Parramatta Park for Download Sydney’s debut.
Secret Sounds are throwing a party you won’t want to miss at this year’s SXSW. This year’s explosive line-up includes our very own Aussie dream girl Odette as well as Englishman on the rise Sam Fender, R&B mastermind Pink Sweat$, genre-bending Boy Azooga, Brisbane legends WAAX and riff rulers The Amazons.
TEG DAINTY and THE MISSION ESTATE WINERY CONCERT announced today that global superstar Michael Bublé will return in February 2020! Accompanied by a 36-piece orchestra and ready to to thrill his New Zealand fans for one night only; this will be Michael Bublé’s only show in New Zealand.
Elton John will perform a third and final show at Auckland’s Mt Smart Stadium, to satisfy New Zealand’s insatiable demand. It has also been announced that, due to a scheduling conflict, three of Elton’s sold out New Zealand concerts have been delayed by one week. Rescheduled dates affect the second show at Mission Estate Winery, and the first two Mt Smart Stadium shows in Auckland.
By Teylor Moss
Artist: Billie Eilish
Date / Venue: Wednesday April 24th, 2019 - Spark Arena, Auckland
Artist/Band: Finneas (Sup Billie Eilish)
Photos By: Ginny C
Venue: Spark Arena, Auckland, New Zealand
Date: Wednesday; 24th April 2019
Artist/Band: Billie Eilish
Photos By: Ginny C
Venue: Spark Arena, Auckland, New Zealand
Date: Wednesday; 24th April 2019
Vampire Weekend have shared the final two tracks before releasing their upcoming fourth album, Father of the Bride, out May 3rd on Columbia Records.
Vocal prodigy RUEL is returning to New Zealand for one show in Auckland at the Bruce Mason Centre in May. Counting Elton John and Khalid among his fans, RUEL is taking the globe by storm, smashing show records, and he’s only 16 years old.
Pop’s new heartbreak king, Lauv, announces Auckland show for this November, with special guest, Carlie Hanson.
Exactly six years to the day since the release of Vance Joy’s debut EP God Loves You When You’re Dancing, Liberation Records are pleased to reveal an extremely limited run of the EP have been pressed on vinyl for the first time ever for release on Friday 26 April. Vance Joy has also announced he will bring his Ukuleles For Kids program to Australia in a new partnership with Ronald McDonald House Charities Australia. Launched in the USA last year the program delivers ukuleles and how-to video tutorials lead by Vance Joy to children’s hospitals.
LA two-piece Moby Rich have announced two headline shows on their debut Australian tour this May. With their latest single Blink bringing further attention to the duo, this Australian tour is the perfect opportunity to catch two indie stars on the rise. Support on the tour comes from yergurl in Melbourne, whose lo-fi beats and unique pop style made her a Triple J Unearthed favourite. Sydney support will be from Hoodlem, a streaming sensation with her mix of experimental soul and future R&B.
By Lisa Diedricks
Artist: John Mayer
Date / Venue: Saturday March 23rd, 2019 - Spark Arena, Auckland
Darren Middleton (POWDERFINGER), Mark Wilson (JET), Davey Lane (YOU AM I) and Kram (SPIDERBAIT) have joined forces to become ARC, one of the most collectively celebrated and successful supergroups in Australia’s rock history will be performing Abbey Road live, commemorating 50 years of existence.
Abbey Road, The Beatles' swansong and their crowning achievement as a recording group - is a stately, majestic, playful yet fiercely rocking masterpiece of pop music, regarded as one of the greatest records of all time.
BROODS have announced indie-alt rockers Balu Brigada as the support act for their upcoming DON’T FEED THE POP MONSTER tour of New Zealand.
Auckland’s newest rising pop-star Jasmine Tilyard releases her intoxicating track Take It To The Grave, a mature, reflective and haunting single that explores the dark theme of deceit.
Possessing one of the most streamed voices on the planet, MØ will arrive in New Zealand with her latest album Forever Neverland tucked securely under her arm.
By Charlie McCubbine
Date / Venue: Tuesday February 5th, 2018 - Spark Arena, Auckland
Julia Holter is heading to New Zealand to play one show at The Tuning Fork in Auckland and we have a double pass to giveaway!
By Shawn Moodie
Artist: 21 Pilots
Date / Venue: Friday December 21st, 2018 - Spark Arena, Auckland
By Janine Swail
Artist: Shania Twain
Date / Venue: Tuesday December 18th, 2018 - Spark Arena, Auckland
New Zealand-born, international art pop superstar Kimbra is to play a one-off show near Wanaka on January 5, 2019.
After a huge viral campaign from their South Island fans, SIX60 announce that they’ll be bringing their stadium show to Forsyth Barr Stadium on Saturday 9 March.
This summer Soaked Oats are embarking on a 13 stop tour around Aotearoa, spreading their slinky sludge pop across our shores with a mixture of festival appearances and headline shows.
Award-winning singer and songwriter Thomas Oliver has released his new single ‘Learn That Lesson Again’.
On the heels of releasing several collaborative hit tracks this year, five-time Grammy Award-winning artist and producer Mark Ronson returns with a brand new single of his own ‘Nothing Breaks Like A Heart’ featuring Miley Cyrus.
Bailey Wiley releases a stunning, stripped back and unplugged version of her new single ‘Sugar,’ shot in Auckland’s Cornwall Park with director Jordan Arts.
‘We Appreciate Power’ is the new track from Grimes; a hard, audacious rock banger which was produced, performed and written by Grimes and featuring HANA.
Auckland-based singer-songwriter Bartells is proud to release his latest single, the heartfelt and personal Americana/Pop-infused ‘Extraordinary Girl’, along with a self-shot official video.
Respected Kiwi singer/songwriter, Avalanche City (AKA Dave Baxter), returns with his first new song in three years, ‘Prayed For Love’.
By Lisa Diedricks
She’s taken over LA within a year and now she’s hitting the rest of the world with a bang!
Grammy Award winner Kacey Musgraves is heading to New Zealand in May 2019, where she’ll play one show at Auckland Town Hall.
By Andra Jenkin
Artists: Ed Amon, Corin Healy and Heta Dawson
Date / Venue: Monday May 14th, 2019 - The Cellar, Q Theatre, Auckland
By Andra Jenkin
Artist: Alice Snedden
Date / Venue: Tuesday May 7th, 2019 - Basement Theatre, Auckland
By Andra Jenkin
Date / Venue: Friday February 15th, 2019 - Alexandra Park, Auckland
Cirque du Soleil is returning to New Zealand, this time bringing their show KOOZA to Auckland this February and we have a double pass to giveaway!
1000 Doors is heading to Aotea Square in Auckland from January 10 - February 6, and we have a double pass to giveaway!
The cast of New Zealand's answer to Ru Paul's Drag Race are bringing a Christmas-themed live drag show to Auckland for one night only.
By Andra Jenkin
Date / Venue: Thursday November 1st, 2018 - Civic Theatre, Auckland
By Andra Jenkin
Peter Pan Goes Wrong is a play I've been dying to see, being a huge fan of comedy and having loved J.M. Barrie since I was a child.
By Shane Jones
Artist: William Shatner
Date / Venue: Sunday October 14th, 2018 - Isaac Theatre Royal, Christchurch
Cirque du Soleil is returning to Auckland with its trademark blue-and-yellow big top (Grand Chapiteau) for the first time in FIVE years, with the spectactular production KOOZA.
By Jarred Tito
Date / Venue: Thursday September 13th, 2018 - ASB Theatre, Auckland
It's better to have loved...
Love and beauty take centre stage in New Zealand Opera's La bohème, with an exciting young cast from around the world beginning rehearsals in Auckland this week.
Due to demand, an extra late show added in Auckland and new shows added in Wellington and Napier.
Award-winning comedian and writer Sarah Millican, announces her biggest ever stand-up tour of New Zealand, Control Enthusiast.
William Shatner, pop culture icon, television superstar and raconteur extraordinaire, is returning to NZ with SHATNER’S WORLD - THE RETURN DOWN UNDER
Colin Mochrie, Brad Sherwood and Greg Proops the popular stars of the Emmy nominated Whose Line Is It Anyway? have teamed up to present an evening of extraordinary improvisational comedy for one show only at the Bruce Mason Centre in Auckland.
A very special line-up of guests has been announced for the two night season of Stimmung Choir Sings Our Lady of the Flowers at Q Theatre on 19-20 July.
In a New Zealand first, five of the stars of Twin Peaks, Sheryl Lee, Kimmy Robertson, Michael Horse, Al Strobel, Dana Ashbrook and the Executive Producer of Twin Peaks: A Limited Event Series, Sabrina S. Sutherland, will visit Auckland and Christchurch for an exclusive and unique CONVERSATION WITH THE STARS evening.
The line-up for Auckland’s Winter Art Ache has been revealed. Headlining artist Judy Darragh will be supported by artist’s Paula Friis, Katharine Atafu-Mayo, Olyvia Hong, Karen Rubado and Greg Page.
Singer Elaine Paige has announced an 8-date series of concerts from October 10 to October 25 2018, which will see her perform songs from her illustrious career along side an array of her favourite tracks by contemporary songwriters.
Due to strong demand, Catherine Tate has added new shows in Auckland and Christchurch.
The critically acclaimed, award-winning comedian and actor, Catherine Tate, is bringing The Catherine Tate Show - Live to New Zealand for the first time, with shows in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch commencing November 28, 2018.
By Amber Kelly
Date / Venue: Thursday 31 May 2018, The Opera House, Wellington
Dynamo will now extend his first ever New Zealand tour to a total of eight arena performances with one last and final show to be added to his already massive NZ tour
By Teylor Moss
Artist: Billie Eilish
Date / Venue: Wednesday April 24th, 2019 - Spark Arena, Auckland