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 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 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
By Mark Derricutt
Artist: Def Leppard & Scorpions
Date / Venue: Monday November 12th, 2018 - Spark Arena, Auckland
By Labretta Suede & Johnny Moondog
Artist: Dead Kennedys
Date / Venue: Saturday November 10th, 2018 - The Powerstation, Auckland
By Wal Reid
Artist: King Princess
Date / Venue: Thursday November 8th, 2018 - The Powerstation, Auckland
By Saffy Wihoite
Artist: Taylor Swift
Date / Venue: Friday November 9th, 2018 - Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland
By Saffy Wihoite
Artist: Fozzy
Date / Venue: Wednesday November 7th, 2018 - Galatos, Auckland
By Lisa Diedricks
Artist: Sam Smith
Date / Venue: Friday 2 November, 2018 - Spark Arena, Auckland
By Jake Ebdale
Artist: Shihad
Date / Venue: Friday October 26th, 2018 - Town Hall, Auckland
By Wal Reid
Artist: Elemeno P
Date / Venue: Friday October 26th, 2018 - The Brownzy, Browns Bay, 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.
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.
Following on from a performance at the famed Byron Bay Bluesfest, Little Steven and his powerful 14-piece band the Disciples of Soul, bring their critically acclaimed soul-infused Rock n Roll Soulfire show to Auckland’s Town Hall for one night only.
By Brendhan Lovegrove
Artist: The Jesus And Mary Chain
Date / Venue: Monday March 4th, 2019 - The Powerstation, Auckland
The Saboteurs--Jack White, Brendan Benson, Jack Lawrence, Patrick Keeler--aka The Raconteurs, are performing three exclusive headline dates in Auckland, Melbourne, and Sydney this April! This will be their very first performances in Australia and New Zealand, and anywhere worldwide since 2011.
The 4-piece genre-melders Hellions are getting ready for their biggest Australian headline show yet. The tour will be taking place this May and stopping off in all the major cities; Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.
Rock legends Greta Van Fleet have rescheduled their recently postponed Australia shows for this September.
Sun Kil Moon announces his return to New Zealand and Australia as part of a special tour in May.
Indie-rock darlings Clap Clap Riot have hit double digits and are now a decade old.
To celebrate 10 years of making great music, Clap Clap Riot will play four dates over the country travelling with their 10 Year Anniversary Tour.
It howls. It's grindingly beautiful. It's dangerously sentient. It’s The Sisters of Mercy returning to Australia and New Zealand this October and November. Due to demand, The Sisters Of Mercy will be adding Perth, Adelaide and Auckland to their tour in 2019.
Who Loves NZ The Most?
Following a Sold-Out Winter Tour in 2018, Kiwi icon's The Jordan Luck Band today announce their massive 19 date New Zealand Winter(ish) Tour.
Trekking the whole country; the massive NZ tour begins the last weekend of April with shows through to late June 2019.
Download Festival 2019 are excited to announce the Ascension Stage! A new stage showcasing those blistering acts that are on the rise to be the headliners of tomorrow….
Psychedelic heavyweight Earthless have announce their supporting acts for their Australia/New Zealand tour. The support line up is heady and heavy, meaning that each show is going to be stuffed with rock n roll greatness.
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
BROODS are back and they’re celebrating by bringing their DON’T FEED THE POP MONSTER tour home to New Zealand.
Due to incredible demand, internationally renowned award-winning musician, comedian, actor, writer and composer TIM MINCHIN has today announced a third and final Auckland show as part of his Australasian tour of his live show BACK.
Australian indie-folk outfit The Paper Kites are returning to New Zealand shores.
Legendary, GRAMMY-award winning band FLEETWOOD MAC today announced an Australian and New Zealand tour, set to kick off on August 9 with two shows in Auckland on September 16 and 19, along with a welcome return to Dunedin on September 21.
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
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!
Soaked Oats have already begun their 13 stop tour around Aotearoa, spreading their slinky sludge pop across our shores with a mixture of festival appearances and headline shows.
California’s radical sons, The Growlers arrive in the country this week for the start of the Australian leg of their mammoth worldwide ‘Beach Goth’ tour. In what is guaranteed to be a rollicking, majestic wave of movements all around our golden coast,
SEE THE UPDATED GALLERIES !
Event: Falls Festival, Marion Bay, Australia
Date: 29th - 31st December 2018
Photos by - Stephen Boxshall
Timaru’s iconic Soundshell in Caroline Bay will host two of the most well-known bands in New Zealand in a one-day entertainment extravaganza this January. Katchafire and The Black Seeds will headline the R18+ event at the Soundshell on Saturday, January 26, 2019. They’ll be joined by The Butlers.
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.
As Fat Freddy's Drop journey home from their epic European tour playing to their biggest crowds ever, their focus shifts home to whanau and upcoming 2019 Summer Tour.
One of New Zealand’s most-loved and unique female artists, Gin Wigmore, makes her great return to the Kiwi stage to perform three summer dates across the country as part of a New Zealand tour.
By Wal Reid
Artist: King Princess
Date / Venue: Thursday November 8th, 2018 - The Powerstation, Auckland
By Saffy Wihoite
Artist: Taylor Swift
Date / Venue: Friday November 9th, 2018 - Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland
By Lisa Diedricks
Artist: Sam Smith
Date / Venue: Friday 2 November, 2018 - Spark Arena, Auckland
By Mark Derricutt
Date / Venue: Saturday October 27th, 2018 - Spark Arena, Auckland
On the heels of a highly successful Australia and New Zealand tour earlier this year, New Zealand songstress KIMBRA has announced a one-off return show for Wellington audiences.
After 3 years in the making, Henry St, the long awaited debut album from Auckland based 4 piece Alae releases today.
On the cusp of his sold-out Sydney Opera House performance tomorrow evening, Sam Smith will return to Australia and New Zealand on his The Thrill Of It All World Tour this November.
Internationally celebrated musician Estère performs at Ostend War Memorial Hall on Saturday 8th December, her one show on Waiheke Island.
In anticipation of her sold out debut Australian shows in Sydney and Melbourne, breakout pop star Anne-Marie will perform her first New Zealand headline show next March.
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
After the 2016 sell-out tour, Larks in Transit, the UK’s very own straggle-haired polymath, Bill Bailey, returns to New Zealand with his new comedy and music extravaganza, Earl of Whimsy.
It has been announced overnight that Last Tapes Theatre Company's original production Valerie has been selected for a month-long season in the prestigious Summerhall programme at Edinburgh Festival Fringe this August.
By Teylor Moss
Artist: Slash with Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators
Date / Venue: Saturday January 26th, 2019 - Spark Arena, Auckland