Villainy
By Ben Doy
Last month Villainy released their highly anticipated sophomore album 'Dead Sight'; the follow up to their impressive 2012 debut release 'Mode. Set. Clear'. Consisting of James Dylan, Neill Fraser, Dave Johnston and Thom Watts, I had a quick chat with Neil and find out some more about the new album and what the band have been up too.
METZ
By Ben Doy
The St. Jerome's Laneway Festival is returning to Auckland in 2016, once again taking place at the fantastic Silo Park in Wynyard Quarter. Among the fantastic acts appearing at the festival is the Toronto 3-piece METZ.
Interview - Boyz II Men
By Wal Reid
One of the most influential R&B groups to have entered the world of music, American vocal group Boyz II Men are touring New Zealand this weekend, playing Auckland (sold out) and Wellington.
Parabola West
Raglan based singer-songwriter Parabola West is releasing her new single 'Fire' this Friday October 16th, with a special release showcase at Galatos in Auckland (see details at the bottom of this page).
Ritesh Vaghela
A Fine Balance is an explosive offering bringing over 20 cast members to the stage in an enduring tale of 1970s India and the effects of the state of emergency rule. Four strangers are thrust together, forced to share one cramped apartment as they shift from distrust to friendship and from friendship to love.
Mac Major
Mac Major is well known for his work with hip-hop group 'The Doqument' and DJing on the local music and entertainment scene. I sat down with Mac in his first solo interview to chat about how his DJ career came together and also to get the low down on the next Shenanigans event this Sunday, September 27th at Sweatshop Brew Bar, which is fast picking up quite the following.
Anathema
Courtesy of Spotlight Report
2014 marked Anathema's hugely successful first tour of Australia and the band is set to return in October of this year for a set of acoustic performances. This time, Anathema will also be performing for their fans in Adelaide, Perth, and New Zealand.
Mel Parsons
By Ben Doy
Following the release of her third studio album 'Drylands', Mel Parsons has been busy touring here, there and everywhere - and has managed to get herself nominated for a Silver Scroll Award; the winner of which is announced tonight (Thursday September 17th) at the Vector Arena in Auckland.
Interview - Anthonie Tonnon - September 2015
By Ben Doy
Earlier this year, Anthonie Tonnon released his latest studio album'Successor'; the first under his own name after retiring the moniker Tono and the Finance Company.
Sleeping With Sirens
By Ben Doy
Sleeping With Sirens are heading to New Zealand this week, playing one show only at the Powerstation in Auckland on this Wednesday September 16th.
Interview: Courtney Barnett
By Alva Casey
The rain started to spit down on an Auckland Hump Day as I hid in a closet (yes a closet, it is amazing how difficult it is to find a quiet space in an office) to chat with Courtney Barnett. Certainly there are way worse ways to escape the damp spring weather then talking to a fast rising star ahead of her upcoming New Zealand tour.
Interview: The Rubens
By Wal Reid
I am meeting one of the most exciting rock bands out of Australia, The Rubens. The band known for their gritty dirty blues style were last here in Aotearoa supporting American Rock duo Black Keys, their recent sophomore album Hoops has been making waves both here and in Oz, while the boys hope to crack American & European audiences next year. "I'd like to go to Europe" quips Scott.
No Tag
By Wal Reid
Andrew Boak is a man on a mission. The ex-guitarist from Kiwi punk band No Tag which had its auspicious beginnings in Auckland in the mid-80s, now living in the US and is back in NZ to reunite with the band after two decades to play a small set at tonight's Punk It Up gig at the Kings Arms in Auckland, including seminal 80s bands Spelling Mistakes and the X-Features featuring special guests. It's a far cry from the days when punks were punks and boppers were bopping.
Interview - Seth Sentry - September 2015
By Poppy Tohill
In the middle of breaking rap history for the biggest tour in Australia (45 dates), off the back of releasing critically acclaimed sophomore album 'Strange New Past,' and kicking arse at Halo, Fall Out and other such video games, Melbourne hip-hop star Seth Sentry found some time to sit down for a chat during a power outage in Bunbury to talk to us about touring, the world of hip hop and teleporting, ahead of his first ever upcoming New Zealand shows next month.
Anna Coddington & LIPS
By Wal Reid
If you believe everything Wikipedia says then new mum Anna Coddington has quite the colourful past. Raised in the seaside town of Raglan (anyone else get Home & Away vibes going there?) she tutu-ed on the drums at age 11 before taking up her signature guitar while fronting and writing for her first band Handsome Geoffrey which went on to win the 1998 Smokefree Rockquest, the prodigious siren went on to record an EP with her group Duchess before a tirade of solo albums including The Lake in 2008 and Cat & Bird in 2011.