CAT TUNKS & THE BEAUTIFUL DREAMERS TOUR
Cat Tunks with 'The Beautiful Dreamers' bring old fashioned soul, gospel and jazz and blend it with rootsy blues and alt country to create a NZ style Americana road trip that will take you on a journey you wont want to leave .
“an Americana road trip of NZ soul through dreamy alt country, Sth Pacific Jazz and dirty blues gospel”
Cat Tunks with 'The Beautiful Dreamers' bring old fashioned soul, gospel and jazz and blend it with rootsy blues and alt country to create a NZ style Americana road trip that will take you on a journey you wont want to leave . Featuring special guest Stefan Nagler on keys (Germany) and Kim Halliday on guitar and percussion (Pacific Curls)- they join forces on an introductory tour of Northland inspired by the new release of Cat's EP 'The Beautiful Dreamers' (Part 1).
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU1611/S00374/introducing-the-beautiful-dreamers-from-catherine-tunks.htm
With three successful album releases, a Waiata Maori Music Awards Nomination and tours around the Globe - Cat Tunks joined by her serious addition of Halliday & Naglerknow how to pack a punch - this International collaboration of musicianship from Germany, Aotearoa, and Rotuman Island is knock out soul, dreamy alt country, and dirty gritty blues
The Copthorne Bay Of Islands - Paihia - Friday Feb 17th 6pm
The Waterline - KohuKohu - Saturday 18th Feb - 7.30pm
The Marina Pizzeria Bar & Grill - Tutukaka - Sunday Feb 19th - 4pm
featuring special guests KIm Halliday (Pacific Curls) - percussion/guitar & Stefan Nagler - (Germany) - organ
KANE STRANG 'OH SO YOU'RE OFF I SEE'
Kane Strang (Liv Young) has shared new music for the first time since 2016’s Blue Cheese in the form of “Oh So You’re Off I See.” It’s the first single from the New Zealander’s forthcoming album that he is currently putting the finishing touches on. That record is due out later this year on Dead Oceans.
“Strang has a gift for pulling diamonds from the rough”
Kane Strang (Liv Young) has shared new music for the first time since 2016’s Blue Cheese in the form of “Oh So You’re Off I See.” It’s the first single from the New Zealander’s forthcoming album that he is currently putting the finishing touches on. That record is due out later this year on Dead Oceans.
On “Oh So You’re Off I See,” Strang has moved away from the bedroom and into the studio. The song is angular and bright, showcasing his new collaborative approach to recording and writing with his band. The four-piece twists Strang’s melodies upside down and pushes his hooks inside out.
Before heading off to explore the big red, white and blue, Kane Strang will play three shows at home.
Fri. Feb. 23 – Dunedin, NZ @ None Gallery
Fri. Feb. 24 – Auckland, NZ @ Cassette 9 *co-headline with Fazerdaze
Sat. Feb. 25 – Wellington, NZ @ Caroline *co-headline with Fazerdaze
For ticketing information head here: http://www.kanestrang.com/
Strang’s North American tour kicks off next month at Baby’s All Right in Brooklyn and takes him to Savannah Stopover, SXSW and Treefort.
These are his first shows ever outside of New Zealand, and a full list of dates is below.
Kane Strange Tour Dates:
Fri. Feb. 24 – Auckland, NZ @ Cassette 9
Sat. Feb. 25 – Wellington, NZ @ Caroline
Fri. March 3 – Brooklyn, NY @ Baby’s All Right
Sun. March 5 – Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s
Mon. March 6 – Washington, DC @ DC9
Tue. March 7 – Richmond, VA @ Strange Matter
Wed. March 8 – Durham, NC @ The Pinhook
Thu. March 9 – Savannah, GA @ Savannah Stopover Music Festival
Fri. March 10 – Tallahassee, FL @ The Wilbury
Sat. March 11 – New Orleans, LA @ Gasa Gasa
Sun. March 12 – Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall
Mon. March 13-Sun. March 19 – Austin, TX @ SXSW
Mon. March 20 – Santa Fe, NM @ Meow Wolf
Tue. March 21 – Denver, CO @ Lost Lake
Wed. March 22 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court
Thu. March 23 – Boise, ID @ Treefort Music Festival
Fri. March 24 – Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios
Sat. March 25 – Vancouver, BC @ The Cobalt
Sun. March 26 – Seattle, WA @ The Vera Project
Wed. March 29 – San Francisco, CA @ Swedish American Hall
Thu. March 30 – Los Angeles, CA @ Bootleg Theater
Fri. March 31 – San Diego, CA @ Soda Bar
Purchase “Oh So You’re Off I See” – https://deadoceans.lnk.to/kanestrang
LOUIS BAKER 'GAVE IT ALL AWAY'
Today, Louis Baker (Cushla Aston) shares a third, new single "Gave It All Away" with the world, following two breathtaking singles ("Fade" and "Rainbow") and a year of co-writing and songwriting sessions abroad. The song has been released as two versions: a strikingly raw, acoustic version recorded by Baker, and as an electronic dance track produced by none other than Fat Freddy's Drop legend behind the MPC, Mu.
Today, Louis Baker (Cushla Aston) shares a third, new single "Gave It All Away" with the world, following two breathtaking singles ("Fade" and "Rainbow") and a year of co-writing and songwriting sessions abroad. The song has been released as two versions: a strikingly raw, acoustic version recorded by Baker, and as an electronic dance track produced by none other than Fat Freddy's Drop legend behind the MPC, Mu.
Baker will be releasing a 7" split single vinyl, featuring the two versions of the song on February 10th 2017.
Written alone by the young Wellington songwriter, the song came to life late one night in a hotel room, far from the grounding lights of home. "I remember feeling the exhaustion starting to set in, after being on the road by myself in the UK for quite some time," Louis reminises. "The song is about not giving up on your dreams. It's about never giving in. It's about the resolve and determination one must have in order to make these dreams become reality.”
Originally written and recorded acoustically, Baker also wanted to explore the idea of trying an alternate version of "Gave It All Away." With his love and interest in Dance, Hip-Hop and House music, Louis reached out to Mu of Fat Freddy's Drop to produce and collaborate on the track. Leaving us with a deep, four-to-the-floor dance track that makes your body want to move. “To work with Mu on this project was so dope. I've always been a huge fan of Fat Freddy's, and in particular Mu's production," says Baker.
The Mu-produced version was featured by Red Bull on their 20 before 17 feature, which ran across 2016 covering their biggest moments (and artists) of the year. This included the likes of Dizzee Rascal, Mike Will Made It, YG, Lil Wayne, and Erykah Badu, to name a few. You can catch up on the sessions HERE.
Last year, Louis spent a great deal of time overseas, creating new material and collaborating with a range of fellow songwriters from around the world. In late 2016, he attended ASCAP’s Songwriter Retreat – a prestigious songwriting camp held at the Château Marouatte castle in Southern France during the latter half of September. Previous attendees have included Ellie Goulding, James Bay, Mika, Mike Posner, Dougy Mandagi (The Temper Trap) and Tom Higgenson (Plain White T’s) to name a few.
Around travelling and seeing the world, the 27 year-old Wellingtonian released two new singles, "Rainbow" and "Fade", which invited us into a new chapter in this soulful singer-songwriter's book, and a new era of his musical evolution...
NZSO AND THE MODERN MAORI QUARTET JOIN FORCES FOR MESMERISING MUSIC
The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and the Modern Māori Quartet (Yee Yang Lee & Sums Selvarajan) are about to venture into new musical territory, which will enthral and delight audiences throughout the country.
The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and the Modern Māori Quartet (Yee Yang Lee & Sums Selvarajan) are about to venture into new musical territory, which will enthral and delight audiences throughout the country.
For its Summer Pops tour the NZSO has teamed up with the award-winning foursome, known for their fresh take on the music and magic of Māori show bands. The dream pairing of the NZSO and the quartet will feature new arrangements in English and Te Reo Māori of showband classics and pop hits. It includes the rousing Haere Mai, Pakanga and Aroha medleys, singalong favourite Ten Guitars and 70s R&B hit Float On.
The quartet have also written new original songs which will be performed with arrangements by seven New Zealand composers.
The quartet’s James Tito, Maaka Pohatu, Matariki Whatarau and Francis Kora have been eager to work with the NZSO for the past few years.
“We’ve been fortunate enough to work with some awesome people thus far,” says Tito. “None of us expected to be approached by the NZSO, so we are all pretty chuffed and rearing to share the aroha. Pretty flash too, might I add.”
“One of the things I am excited for the most is working alongside some of Aotearoa’s best musicians and players. The NZSO are masters at what they do musically - people who have dedicated their lives to perfecting what they do. I am just as excited for that as I am nervous. As a quartet, this will be a new level in our development and journey so I can’t wait to seize the opportunity with my brothers beside me.”
NZSO Associate Conductor Hamish McKeich will lead the orchestra on the 12-date tour, from Whangarei to Invercargill.
“Combining two quite distinct musical genres, the NZSO and the Modern Māori Quartet, presents exciting challenges and something that I’m looking forward to sharing all over the country,” says McKeich.
“Incorporating the quartet’s wit and singing with all the colour of an orchestra should provide a great vehicle for making some magic happen on stage. Will we succeed? Come and find out!”
The quartet has also been impressed with the arrangements to their original songs by composers Chris Gendall, Mahuia Bridgman-Cooper, Anonymouz, Claire Cowan, Mark Dennison, Robbie Ellis and frequent NZSO collaborator Gareth Farr.
“The process so far has been smooth and amazing,” says Tito. “These super talented composers have arranged our original songs beyond expectation and I can’t wait to tour around the country sharing our songs with the best orchestra this country has to offer.”
Summer Pops with the Modern Māori Quartet
JAMES TITO
MAAKA POHATU
MATARIKI WHATARAU
FRANCIS KORA
MATU NGAROPO – Music Director/Dramaturge
NAPIER | Municipal Theatre | Thursday 23 February | 7pm
AUCKLAND | Town Hall | Friday 24 February | 7.30pm
WHANGAREI | Forum North | Saturday 25 February | 7pm
INVERCARGILL | Civic Theatre | Wednesday 1 March | 7.30pm
DUNEDIN | Town Hall | Thursday 2 March | 7pm
CHRISTCHURCH | Horncastle Arena | Friday 3 March | 7pm
NEW PLYMOUTH | TSB Showplace | Wednesday 8 March | 7.30pm
PALMERSTON NORTH | Regent on Broadway | Thursday 9 March | 7.30pm
WELLINGTON | Michael Fowler Centre | Friday 10 March | 6.30pm
TAURANGA | Baycourt Theatre | Wednesday 15 March | 7.30pm
ROTORUA | Civic Theatre | Thursday 16 March 7.30pm
GISBORNE War Memorial Theatre | Friday 17 March | 7pm
ECHO CHILDREN 'THIS WAS OUR FAULT'
Alt-folk four piece, Echo Children (Daniel Jones), are releasing their first E.P., This Was Our Fault. They have been turning heads across the Auckland live music scene with their ethereal, electric sound, and haunting four-part vocal section.
Alt-folk four piece, Echo Children (Daniel Jones), are releasing their first E.P., This Was Our Fault. They have been turning heads across the Auckland live music scene with their ethereal, electric sound, and haunting four-part vocal section.
Echo Children are a band of foreigners formed in the great South Pacific melting pot of Auckland in late 2015. Writing songs about life, love, and the end of the world, their layers of vocal harmonies build on resonating electric guitar and driving percussion to create a gritty, alternative, indie-folk sound.
Originally coming together as a team of four singer-guitarists with a folky inevitability, they have evolved over time to incorporate influences wide enough to accommodate fifties pop and melodic death metal. The resulting line-up looks like Oliver Young (vocals and guitar) from Scotland, Amanda Larsson (bass and vocals), of Sweden, Daniel Armstrong (vocals and guitar), from the UK, and Niamh O’Flynn (percussion and vocals), from Canada.
After honing their style and building a dedicated fanbase on the Auckland live music scene, the band took the somewhat unusual decision to record a fully analogue E.P., feeling that it more authentically captured their sound.
Together with analogue sound guru, Darren McShane of Earwig Studios, the band have pulled together six songs that blend folk, indie and alternative influences into a unique style that channels the likes of Fleet Foxes and Fleetwood Mac.
Echo Children will release their E.P. at Auckland’s Wine Cellar on 17 February before touring the rest of New Zealand, with dates already confirmed in Dunedin (3 March, Dog With Two Tails), Lyttelton (4 March, Wunderbar), Hamilton (15 April, Nivara Lounge) and Wellington (TBC).
DEVILSKIN TO PLAY DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL
NZ Rock sensation Devilskin (James Southgate) have been invited to play at Download Festival in the UK - joining an incredible 2017 line up which includes Aerosmith, System of a Down, Slayer, Biffy Clyro, Rob Zombie, Five Finger Death Punch, Alter Bridge, Airbourne, Coheed and Cambria.
NZ Rock sensation Devilskin (James Southgate) have been invited to play at Download Festival in the UK.
Download is the world famous 3 day Rock Festival held at the spiritual home of Rock - Donington Park, Leicestershire, UK on 9th - 11th June 2017. Devilskin perform Sunday 11th.
Devilskin join an incredible 2017 line up which includes Aerosmith, System of a Down, Slayer, Biffy Clyro, Rob Zombie, Five Finger Death Punch, Alter Bridge, Airbourne, Coheed and Cambria and many more.
Devilskin’s Paul Martin says "we are totally ecstatic to be performing at this years Download Festival alongside so many of our heroes. We can't wait! It’s very cool to be flying the flag for New Zealand rock at what is probably the apex of international rock events. From Castle Donnington Monsters of Rock to the monster Donnington is now, this is definitely one of the most important festivals in the world today. Bring it on!"
Download is the most popular British summer rock and heavy metal festival and has hosted some of the genres' biggest names, including Saxon, Black Sabbath, Metallica, Iron Maiden, Motörhead, Aerosmith, AC/DC, Def Leppard, Kiss, Judas Priest, Status Quo, Motley Crue, Journey, ZZ Top, Whitesnake, Thin Lizzy, and Guns N' Roses.
Devilskin have just completed their Be Like The River tour of New Zealand which was followed by 3 huge Australian gigs supporting Grammy Award winning US band Halestorm.
In addition to their appearance at Download, Devilskin will tour their blistering live act in Europe. Details to be announced.
Download tickets can be purchased here: www.downloadfestival.co.uk/tickets
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ALIEN WEAPONRY RELEASE THUNDEROUS NEW SINGLE
New Zealand’s youngest thrash metallers, Alien Weaponry (Hammerhead), are kicking off 2017 with a thunderous new single, ‘Raupatu’.
New Zealand’s youngest thrash metallers, Alien Weaponry (Hammerhead), are kicking off 2017 with a thunderous new single, ‘Raupatu’.
Staying true to Alien Weaponry’s modus operandi - to make and play loud, in-your-face, hard-core rock - ‘Raupatu’ follows on from the success of last year’s epic single, ‘Urutaa’.
Funded by NZ on Air as part of the band’s prize pack for winning last year’s Smokefree Pacifica Beats, ‘Raupatu’ is further proof that the teenage three-piece from Northland are a fierce force to be reckoned with.
Consisting of 14-year-old Lewis de Jong, his 16-year-old brother Henry and 14-year-old Ethan Trembath, Alien Weaponry have not only taken the New Zealand rock scene by storm, they’ve impressed critics and fans alike with their use of Te Reo Māori in their music and their focus on socio-political issues.
The new single ‘Raupatu’ centres around the Government confiscation of Maori land in the 1800s - specifically on three significant confiscations in Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Taranaki - and the prominent chiefs who resisted.
Appropriately, it will be released on Waitangi Day, Monday, February 6. Alien Weaponry will also play a free gig in Auckland’s Aotea Square this Waitangi weekend, on Sunday, February 5, at 12:30pm.
Alien Weaponry have gone from strength-to-strength since bursting onto the local music scene last year.
They made New Zealand music history when they won both the 2016 Smokefreerockquest and Smokefree Pacifica Beats competitions.
ANNA HAWKINS ANNOUNCES BOLD NEW ALBUM & 12 DATE TOUR
New Zealand singer-songwriter Anna Hawkins announces the release of her colourful new album 'Bold, Brave & Beautiful.' Arriving in NZ stores on the 10th of March, Anna's third studio album sees the performer release her most energetic offering to date, with an added emphasis on a new phase of her career - songwriting.
New Zealand singer-songwriter Anna Hawkins announces the release of her colourful new album 'Bold, Brave & Beautiful.' Arriving in NZ stores on the 10th of March, Anna's third studio album sees the performer release her most energetic offering to date, with an added emphasis on a new phase of her career - songwriting.
Drawing from a variety of musical inspirations, the album maintains continuity with her iconic voice and inspirational song selection while experimenting with the style of her original material.
"As a whole the album is more upbeat than my previous work, exploringpersonal themes and crossing over genres a bit more."
The album also features the same lush instrumentation of previous works, teaming up again with talented Polish producer Pawel Zarecki, recording the album and orchestra in Warsaw. The diverse song-list combines Anna's original material with some brilliantly reimagined work from the likes of Michael Jackson, Simon & Garfunkel and Sarah McLachlan to find musical expression for the central themes of freedom, courage and vulnerability.
"Whats been really exciting about this album is exploring my own songs which have taken me into new territory musically. I’m drawn to songs that move me over and above a specific genre of music. This is reflected in what I’ve performed over the years and especially in what I've sought to create with this album."
To support the release Anna will be touring 12 venues throughout New Zealand in March and April.
12 Date ‘Bold, Brave & Beautiful Tour’
Returning home from the UK Anna will hit the ground running with a 12 date tour lined up around the country.
Performing a new show, the tour coincides with the release of her latest album 'Bold, Brave & Beautiful.’ On top of her brand new original material the tour will see Anna perform songs from musical giants and personal heroes such as Simon & Garfunkel, Barbra Streisand, Michael Jackson, Shirley Bassey, Leonard Cohen and more.
Led by Musical Director Stephen Small Anna will also be joined on stage by her band for parts of the tour and various special guests at each stop including her sister Lisa Grace Hawkins.
Details and ticketing for the tour can be found at www.eventfinda.co.nz
Palmerston North - Friday 17th March, Cafe Royale (Dinner & Show)
Napier - Saturday 18th March, Church Road Winery (Dinner & Show)
Rotorua - Sunday 19th March, Blue Baths (High Tea Matinee)
Hamilton - Friday 24th March, University of Waikato, Playhouse Theatre
Tauranga - Saturday 25th March, Holy Trinity Church
Morrinsville - Sunday 26th March, Wallace Art Gallery (Matinee)
Queenstown - Saturday 1st April, Hilton Queenstown Hotel (Dinner & Show)
Ashburton - Sunday 2nd April, Ashburton Trust Events Centre
Whanganui - Wednesday 5th April, Prince Edward Auditorium Wanganui Collegiate
New Plymouth - Thursday 6th April, 4th Wall Theatre
Karapiro - Friday 7th April, The Hangar- Exclusive Event
Auckland - Saturday 8th April - The Vic Devonport (Presented by the ‘Devonport Arts Festival’)
Christchurch - Friday 31st March - Transitional Cathedral EXTRA SHOW - Will Martin ‘Encore’ (Joining as a guest artist)
