They're the two left in the juke joint when the hurricane's about to make landfall, when the revelers have gone home, sweat-soaked and exhausted. The bulbs are blown out, the floor's full of glass, but two men are honor bound to keep playing, pouring their sweat into the parched earth like libation. In the best traditions of two man blues and roots, Swamp Thing is a duo that you know are playing to stay alive. Grant answered the following questions for muzic.net.nz:

What is your most embarrassing on tour/gig moment?

The most embarrassing gig for me was about two years ago when Swamp Thing were opening for {Tim Finn} on his last Aussie Tour, I was staying at my sister's flat and I accidently grabbed her jeans instead of mine out of the washing before the gig, it wasn’t until backstage that I realised my mistake (my heart just sunk) and I had to go on in these ridiculously tight jeans, I got hell from Tim’s Band before we even hit the stage, it wasn’t cool... and it was packed.

What has been your most memorable show to date?

The most memorable gig for me so far was recently at Womadelaide 2013, despite hard conditions on and off the stage Mike and I played really well, one issue was the heat... man it was so hot! I’ve played at few barbeques in my time but that was the first time I’ve ever played ON a bbq!

How would you describe Swamp Thing’s music in one sentence?

High energy soul infused percussive rock with blues tinged funk overtones

What can you never leave home without?

I have to have plenty to read, so much downtime on tour it’s how I keep myself entertained, until recently, being old-school I’d take a few paperbacks with me, but I now download e-books to my phone, it’s like having a whole library in your pocket... sweet.

What inspired you to start Swamp Thing?

Speaking for myself I was just excited to have a chance to play with Mike... and 2 years on, I’m still excited, the dude is a serious musician and brings it every time.

What sets you apart from other bands?

While there are quite a few duos out there, our use of instruments and tunings make us a little different - Mike plays keyboards, key bass, marimbas, and drums, and sings- often simultaneously! I use a weird D tuning that Mike showed me which is quite trippy- I like to think it gives our songs a “Swampy” vibe.     

What is your favourite place to relax?

Home dude- my kids are 5^th generation on the land so it really is home, love watching my kids play doing the same stuff my brother and I used to do, I like cooking on my bbq which I built myself, having a couple of beers in the bar which my wife and I built, and chilling in the house I built, aint nothing better for me in the whole world than that.

Where do you get your inspiration to create music from?

I write from a personal perspective so all my songs are based loosely on life experiences, so you could say the inspiration is a need to share some of my life’s anecdotes through song.

What can we expect to see from Swamp Thing over the next year?

Touring and more touring, the last 2 years we’ve been to Aussie working those festivals, it’s been cool, and now we are shifting more focus back to Aotearoa, just trying to reach the masses is the agenda, and putting on good shows at good venues.

Swamp Thing is Michael Barker and Grant Haua.

Website Links

Muzic.net.nz Page
Amplifier Page
Facebook Page
Youtube Page

Yellow Eye Dunedin Presents Swamp Thing Breaking The Ice And Heading South Tour

Big Day Out New Zealand 2014 - NZ Announcement

The two year wait is over, it’s roll out time for Big Day Out 2014.

We have 3 rare jewels in the 2014 Big Day Out crown playing full concert sets, all major headliners in their own right, all coming together in the spirit of Big Day Out to deliver a unique event.

That’s just the beginning; we have an array of world class acts in store for the 2014 summer season.

You can read it below or you can see it unfold in our first ever announcement video.

BDO 2014 1st Announcement:

Pearl Jam * Arcade Fire * Blur
Snoop Dogg aka Snoop Lion * Major Lazer * Steve Angello * The Lumineers * Tame Impala
Dillon Francis * Mac Miller * Ghost * Grouplove * Flosstradamus * Portugal. The Man
Toro Y Moi * DIIV * The Naked And Famous * Mudhoney * The 1975
The Phoenix Foundation * SJD * P-Money * Ladi6 * Beastwars * Concord Dawn
Clap Clap Riot * Kody Nielson * Randa * PleasePlease

Full Article

Rippon Festival Announces Line-Up

As they celebrate their tenth Rippon Festival with a line-up that organisers describe as “gorgeously feisty”, Lake Wanaka SouNZ Incorporated has announced the artists performing at Rippon 2014.

Scheduled for Saturday 1st February next year at Wanaka’s Rippon Vineyard, the bill features The Phoenix Foundation, Electric Wire Hustle, Fat Freddy’s Drop, Die! Die! Die!, Ladi6, Myele Manzanza, Home Brew, Brockaflowersaurus-Rex, Some Other Planets, The Digg and Kody Nielson (formerly of The Mint Chicks). Special guests Ria Hall, P Digsss, KPz, and Sunshine Sound System complete the mix.

Local musician Danny Fairley (aka Civilian Sol) has won a coveted slot performing in the Rippon Hall at the 2014 event, alongside Warren Maxwell, Jesse Sheehan, Zoe Moon and Silver Scroll winner, Lips.

Full Article

Record Month For theaudience.co.nz With July Wildcard Chart

Just over a year after its inception, theaudience.co.nz is going from strength to strength, with the July Wildcard Funding Chart proving to be the most successful in its short history.

The first week of July saw theaudience.co.nz record the most unique visits to the site for any seven day period to date.

The continued growth in interest in discovering new New Zealand music also resulted in a record number of votes cast, as well as tracks played and shared via social media. It was fantastic to see the diversity of the songs represented in the Top three battling for the Wildcard funding too.

Taking out the number one spot for the July Wildcard Funding Chart was Fortafy with his track Girls With Tattoos. Fortafy took out what was an incredibly tight race between himself and NZ heavy metal legends, 8 Foot Sativa, with both acts posting record scores for both number one and two placing’s.

Full Article

Going Global Music Summit 2013 Announces All Speakers

Artist applications are still open at http://www.goingglobal.co.nz/ and attendant registrations to the event are available via NZTIX – full details are below.
Please note, Christchurch registrations for the panel sessions have now sold out.

If you are looking to take your music overseas, come and hear from people who are working with both new and established artists on the global stage.
GOING GLOBAL MUSIC SUMMIT 2013 continues to provide global business opportunities and educational awareness within the New Zealand music community.

Full Article

NZ Digital Music Company Going Global with Kiwi Music

New Zealand’s leading digital music company, DRM, has enlarged its coverage for NZ artists ten-fold with the announcement of new international supply outlets including world leaders Amazon and Google Play.

Alongside a deal to provide content to YouTube and being New Zealand’s only listed Apple approved provider, DRM can now boast a potential audience of over 500 million for their artists. DRM currently have 32,000 songs from over 750 NZ artists including Fat Freddy’s Drop, Tim Finn, Tiki Taane and the Patea Māori Club.

Full Article

APRA Silver Scrolls 2013: Announcing the Top 20

APRA (Australasian Performing Right Association) is proud to announce the Top 20 songs in line for the 2013 APRA Silver Scroll Award:

Baby Blue - Artisan Guns
Bird In Hand - Anna Coddington
Blood Letter - Marlon Williams and Delaney Davidson
Cobra Jacket - Sharkness
Complicated Man - Tattletale Saints
Flowers - @ Peace
Ikarus - Ladi6
Kingfisher Call Me - The Ruby Suns
Living The Dream - Kittens Of The Internet
Lose The Game - L.A. Mitchell
Lost - Six60
Medicine Man - Tama Waipara
Pazzida - Watercolours
Royals - Lorde
Sad Sound Good - Matt Langley
Sailors - Urbantramper
Thames Soup - The Phoenix Foundation
The Listening Times - Lawrence Arabia
Wake Up - Aaradhna
West Side Hori - Tipene

The Top 20 songs were selected by an anonymous panel of judges (all significant APRA writer member themselves), and it’s now over to the wider APRA membership to decide their champion for 2013.

Full Article

UnderTheRadar iPhone App Now Available

Undertheradar.co.nz are super excited to announce the release of the Undertheradar iPhone app, available to download now from the iTunes store - free! 

The app offers a unique mobile platform for New Zealand music fans, allowing them to easily browse music news and editorial content as soon as it is posted on the site. It also provides easy access to Undertheradar’s nationwide gig guide allowing users to browse through gigs based on region or by map where they can find out what’s on around them based on their current location. The app also connects to the Undertheradar ticketing service, not only allowing members to purchase tickets but also access to their tickets to gain entry to events, replacing the need for printed tickets.

Nine months in the making, the app was developed in-house by site founder Daryl Fincham who also holds down a challenging full time role as Lead Developer at a high profile media company. His first foray into iOS development, it is for Fincham one of the most exciting additions to the site since ticketing in 2008.

Full Article

iHeartRadio Launches in New Zealand

The Radio Network (TRN) announced today the official launch of iHeartRadio beta, Clear Channel’s free, industry-leading, all-in-one digital radio service, in New Zealand.

iHeartRadio provides radio fans instant access to live broadcast and digital-only radio stations, user-created Custom Stations inspired by favourite artists and songs, plus mood-related stations “Perfect For” any activity. In addition, the service recently introduced “iHeartRadio Talk,” the first mass market focused audio platform to offer on-demand listener-created talk content side by side with established personalities, celebrities and shows. With more than 50,000 “audiosodes” that span more than 20 categories – from business and news to comedy, lifestyle and sports – listeners will enjoy customizable, on-demand content from top-rated talk and entertainment shows.

iHeartRadio is available beginning August 2 in an early version (beta) on the web at http://www.iheartradio.co.nz/, with expanded mobile and web functionality in September.

Full Article

New Releases, Tours and Gigs

X Factor Winner Jackie Thomas To Release Self-Titled Debut Album On August 9th
Thomas Oliver - New Album and Tour Dates
Whenua Patuwai To Release Debut Single 'Something Special'
New Transistors Video for Your Life Could Be So Easy
2 A.M. Orchestra To Release Third Studio Album 'Working To Divide'
Benny Tipene Release Debut Single 'Walking On Water' Available On iTunes Now
Tama Waipara - Fill Up The Silence Album Release
Rhythmethod welcomes The Drones to the family - with NZ tour dates
Sam Allen August 2013 tour
The Classic Hits Acoustic Church Tour - Dave Dobbyn and Don McGlashan
Beach Fossils Announce Kiwi Shows
Leonard Cohen to perform in NZ this December!
AKON & T.I Announce NZ Concert

NZ Music News
Gig and Tour News
Artist News

New Artists

The following musicians have been added to the muzic.net.nz website in the last fortnight:

Add yourself or your band to muzic.net.nz!
Add Artist Form
Info about filling out the add artist form

New Reviews

Fat Freddy's Drop - Blackbird Album Review
Written by Emma

The Symphony of Screams - Radio Candy Album Review
Written by Tony

Sound the Ocean - Hold On Single Review
Written by Emma

Unknown Mortal Orchestra - Live at Bar Bodega, 20/07/13
Written by Alistar

Ladi6 Live at The Powerstation, Auckland, 13/07/13
Written by Emma

Nachur - Cicada Sessions EP Review
Written by Peter

Shitripper - Brain Defect Album Review
Written by River

Shapeshifter - Delta Album Review
Written by Alistar

Splashh - Comfort Album Review
Written by Peter

Needless Cane - The Sun Did Not Shine EP Review
Written by Kerry

Ghetto Sunrise - One Drop Love EP Review
Written by Chris

El Schlong - Live at San Francisco Bathhouse, 13/07/13
Written by Alistar

All of our reviews and interviews can be read here.
Want to write reviews for muzic.net.nz? Email [email protected]

New Photos

Thanks to Alistar for these fantastic photos, taken on 20 July 2013 at Bar Bodega in Wellington.

Unknown Mortal Orchestra
Las Tetas

Tour Features

All muzic.net.nz features can be viewed here.

The next muzic.net.nz newsletter is going out on Sunday 18 August!
There are only 8 issues left in 2013!

Any NZ bands and musicians can feature in our newsletters
You can choose any newsletter date which suits you.

We can also feature record labels, venues, music stores, music websites
and anything else that has something to do with NZ music!

If you would like to feature in a muzic.net.nz newsletter, contact Lisa for further details.

Muzic.net.nz newsletters are currently sent out to over 8120 members!
With this number growing every day, featuring in our newsletter is an excellent promotional tool.

Our newsletter archives are one of the most accessed areas on the site.

If you would like to advertise in our newsletter and/or gig mail out, email Lisa.

The next muzic.net.nz gig mail out is going out on Sunday 11 August.

- The muzic.net.nz team

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  Muroki @ Galatos, Auckland - 19/04/2024
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