NZ Music Month Highlights - Week 3
It’s crazy how fast the weeks are rolling round during NZ Music Month this year. It seems like just the other day that I was writing about HDU and here’s my brain still echoing from their show on Saturday… Luckily there’s plenty of cool stuff going on around NZ to talk you into checking out this week!
At the end of April Juice TV filmed seven acts playing live at Auckland’s Sky City Theatre (where, incidentally, you can see Katchafire and Bic Runga playing shows this week) and the individual showcases begin airing tonight with Jonny Love. As the week goes on you’ll be able to see dDUB, Anika Moa, The Exiles, Goldenhorse, Goodnight Nurse, and Atlas. Showcases air at 7pm, 10pm, 8am, and 1pm daily. Look out for Last Band Standing at the end of the month too – yesterday Juice filmed a bunch of bands inflicting pain on each other in the guise of a paintball competition. Can’t wait to see the bruises…
One of the more eclectic albums out this May is Monkey Magic Volume II – as evidenced by the lineup assembled to celebrate its release this Friday at Auckland’s Galatos. An Emerald City, The Benka Boradovsky Bordello Band, The Hot Grits, Káren Hunter and DJ Balkanetic all do their thing this week, and the show also marks the start of a national tour.
Auckland’s 95bFM have just kicked off their NZ Music Week, part of which is a big focus on Fancy New Band - an idea which started as a live-to-air in the studio, grew to include a doubleheader of a gig, and this year adds some education to the mix. The Fancy New Band Seminar takes place from 6pm on Tuesday May 20th at Auckland University’s Shadows Bar with Aroha Harawira (95bFM Programme Director), Chris Hocquard (Enterainment Lawyer), Lynda Parsons (Entertainment Accountant) and Hayley J Hansell (95bFM DJ and independent music artist). There are two jam-packed (and free!) nights at the Kings Arms again too:
Thursday 22 May
The Naked And Famous, Soft Shoe, Mean Street, Brand New Math, Calamity Jam, 1995, Lydia Cole and Moron Says What?
Friday 23 May
Side Kick Nick, Bionic Pixie, Wilberforces, Turning Tricks, Seth & Merle, The Randoms, Teacups and Clap Clap Riot.
Also on the part-seminar, part-gig tip is ChartFest , celebrating Christchurch music in NZ Music Month. Taking place this Friday at the Christchurch Town Hall, ChartFest will feature music clinics, workshops, stalls, prizes and giveaways, and live music showcases by Ladi6, Atlas, The Valves, Dukes, The Bats, Tiger Tones, Flying Solo, The Deceivers, Cairo Knife Fight, Flip Grater Band, Oakley Grenell+Mark Vanilau, Hera, The Eastern & MC Ed Muzik.
Real Groovy stores around the country get stuck in to NZ Music Month every year, but while we’re talking Christchurch let’s focus on the bands they’ve got playing instores down there this week. Today you can catch The Enright House, tomorrow is Happy Palace’s turn, Cowboy Machine play Wednesday, Cairo Knife Fight are on Thursday, The Eastern kick off the weekend on Friday, while The Undercurrents do their thing on Saturday. All are at 5pm, except Tiger Tones at 4pm on Sunday afternoon, because, you know, you should be taking it easy then.
If you are lucky enough to be at the Bluff Oyster & Food Festival this Saturday, make sure you head along to the Town Hall for a rare Southland appearance by Fat Freddys Drop. Tickets are limited & Available from the Bluff Service Centre.
Also in the South on Saturday are The Sami Sisters - Anji, Madeleine and Priya Sami. As Radio One says, they are "Three singing, guitar playing, coffee coloured songstresses from Auckland". You can check out the Sami Sisters at Onefest this Saturday, with support from Tono & his Finance Company. It's free with your Onecard at The Backstage.
The Hamilton Central Library will open the floor to Waikato musicians and performers in celebration of New Zealand Music Month from 20 - 29 May. Soundz Like Hamilton will see local musicians, bands and singers showcase their talent through a series of free lunchtime and evening performances. The full schedule is available here .
Have a good week – and don’t forget to hit our gig guide for more local music to check out all month long!