DUAL RELEASE SELF TITLED DEBUT EP

Psychedelic dance duo Dual (Rueben Bonner) have announced the release of their debut self-titled EP on Banished Music this April 14th and a coinciding New Zealand tour.

The duo combine dream-like vocals with driving drum beats and intoxicating riffs to create the Dual sound reminiscent of Jagwar Ma and The Stone Roses thrown through a filter created in a dilapidated bungalow in the Coromandel. A quiet confidence gained through years of performing together creates a synchronicity rarely seen in a duo. Hooks and gliding vocals punctuate each Dual track and create a sound entirely their own. 

Their first single Yellow smashed it's way into the 95bFM top ten's #1 spot, and also took out the #1 spot on the NZ alternative airplay charts. Singles Kiss, and Vidgame arrived soon after, and their sound and the various club shows across the city that unfolded, cemented Dual's reputation coated in dirgy, late night splendour, and plastered with psychedelic projections.

With a Rhythm and Vines festival performance, and confirmed support slot for World Champion's Auckland show, 2017 is promising to be a busy year.

Don't miss Dual at a late night dive bar near you:

Thursday 6th April: Whammy Bar, Auckland 

Friday 7th April: Yot Club, Raglan 

Saturday 8th April: Caroline, Wellington

Thursday 13th April: Re:Fuel, Dunedin 

Saturday 15th April: Darkroon, Christchurch

KIWI FAVOURITE MEL PARSONS TO TOUR WITH FULL BAND

Mel Parsons has spent the last few years dividing her time between touring the world and performing her solo show in some of New Zealand’s remotest woolsheds. But this May, the Kiwi favourite will embark on her first tour with a full band since 2015, taking in the country’s main centres.

Parsons will play San Fran in Wellington on May 4, Galatos in Auckland on May 5 and Blue Smoke in Christchurch on May 6. 

The award-winning singer-songwriter is looking forward to returning to stages at these iconic venues, with the backing of a full band: “Taking my band out on the road is a special treat for me after touring solo for so long. I’m really excited about bringing the full sound back to these songs.” 

Inspired by touring almost every inch of rural New Zealand with comedy duo The Bitches’ Box, Parsons will have special guests from the comedy world at each show, including country crooner Wilson Dixon direct from the USA; fringe festival favourite and political satirist James Nokise; and good kiwi bloke Keith 'The Numbers' Preene of Golden Goose fame. 

Parsons - who was a Silver Scroll finalist in 2015 and the winner of the 2016 APRA Best Country Song Award - received critical acclaim for her last album DRYLANDS.

Drylands is an “exceptionally written, beautifully arranged and remarkably consistent album.” - The Music AU

“Drylands - Parsons' third album - is as confident, mature and consistent an album on the cusp of folk, folk-rock and country as anyone has a right to hear.” – Graham Reid / Elsewhere

The album spent 41 weeks in the IMNZ Album Charts, peaking at #2 and established Parsons’ place as one of New Zealand music’s most respected songwriters. She’s also well and truly earned her reputation as one of the hardest working musicians on the live circuit, with a European tour kicking off in May/June 2017. 

Don’t miss your chance to see Mel Parsons live with her full band. She will be playing songs from DRYLANDS, as well as all the favourites from her back catalogue.

Tickets are on sale at eventfinda.co.nz from 9am Thursday March 16.

Wellington - 4th May at San Fran  w/ James Nokise 

Tickets here

Auckland - 5th May at Galatos w/ Wilson Dixon

Tickets here

Christchurch 6th May - at Blue Smoke w/ Keith 'The Numbers' Preene

Tickets here

TAITE MUSIC PRIZE 2017 FINALISTS ANNOUNCED

Finalists for the Taite Music Prize 2017 have been confirmed.

The Taite Music Prize recognises outstanding creativity for an entire collection of music contained on one album.

Named after the late Dylan Taite, one of New Zealand’s most respected music journalists, the prize-winner will receive a cash prize of $10,000 to be spent as they wish, thanks to Taite Music Prize founding partner Recorded Music NZ; recording time at Red Bull Studios Auckland; and a year’s supply of Red Bull product.

This year’s eight finalists, from a lengthy list of 70 nominations submitted by record labels both independent and major from across the country, are:

Aaradhna / Brown Girl (Universal Music NZ)

Hopetoun Brown / Look So Good (Melita Music)

Lawrence Arabia / Absolute Truth (Flying Nun Records)

LEISURE / LEISURE (THE LEISURE COLLECTIVE)

Lontalius / I’ll Forget 17 (POD/Inertia)

Pacific Heights / The Stillness (Warner Music)

Shayne P Carter / Offsider (Flying Nun Records)

Street Chant / Hauora (Arch Hill Recordings)

2012 Taite Music Prize finalist Aaradhna is back with her fourth studio album Brown Girl, as are 2011 finalists Street Chant with their second record Hauora.

This year the Taite Music Prize will be announced at a presentation at The Civic’s Wintergarden in Auckland on Tuesday 18th April 2017. Alongside the main prize, two additional awards will be presented at the ceremony: the already established Independent Music NZ Classic Record Award and the newly created Auckland Live Best Independent Debut Award, celebrating the freshest talent of Aotearoa, and including a $2,000 cash prize and a live performance slot at Auckland Live Summer in the Square 2017/2018 – Auckland’s biggest backyard summer party.

TAITE MUSIC PRIZE 2017

TUESDAY 18th APRIL – WINTERGARDEN, at The Civic

Previous Taite Music Prize winners:

2010 - Lawrence Arabia - Chant Darling (Honorary Bedouin Records)

2011 - Ladi6 - The Liberation Of (What? Music)

2012 - Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Unknown Mortal Orchestra (Seeing Records)

2013 – SJD - Elastic Wasteland (Round Trip Mars)

2014 – Lorde - Pure Heroine (Universal Music NZ)

2015 – Jakob – Sines (Shoot The Freak)

2016 – Silicon - Personal Computer (Weird World/Domino Recordings)

Previous Independent Music NZ Classic Record recipients:

2013 - Gordons – Gordons (Flying Nun)

2014 – Various Artists - AK79 (Ripper Records)

2015 - Herbs – What’s Be Happen? (Warrior Records)

2016 – Upper Hutt Posse – E T? (Jayrem Records)

FAMILY OF STRANGERS NZ TOUR

noun: family - all the descendants of a common ancestor.

Noun: strangers - persons whom one does not know or with whom one is not familiar.

The Family of Strangers New Zealand Tour brings together four of the most diverse and talented acts in New Zealand rock.

Rock fans across the country are all related in their love of that sound that can bond people together and transcend age, race, gender and orientation, Family of Strangers is a tour for music fans from all walks of life, we may not know each other yet but we are all family.

Come and meet you’re new whanau on the road, in the pit and on the stage with Family of Strangers. 

These Four Walls – Kiwi expats now based in Brisbane. These guys have opened for some of the biggest names in rock and currently have two full length albums to their name with another in the offing. Keep an ear out for the first offering from the soon to be released 3rd album “The Bravery”, it’ll be hitting radio and digital platforms soon.

Armed In Advance (John Paul Carroll)– Auckland based three piece who can boast of 5 singles having extensive play across The Rock Network. Their latest album Change/Evolve has set a benchmark for hard hitting, thought provoking songs that have real international quality.

His Masters Voice – Self-proclaimed purveyors of The Devils Blues, it’s heavy blues infused rock with a front man in Jesse Sorensen who seemingly channels Paul Rogers, Robert Plant and Buddy Guy – at the same time! HMV have two EP’s out and a deal in Germany for a vinyl release.

Blue Ruin – If Family of Strangers truly is a family then Blue Ruin are the kid sister with a ton of attitude and the determination to make her brothers sit up and take notice. Five ladies with a love of punk Blue Ruin are already making waves in the New Zealand music scene off the back of their opening slots for Steel Panther and the Misfits

Friday April 28 Darkroom, Christchurch

Saturday April 29 Valhalla, Wellington

Friday May 5 Totara Street, Mount Maunganui

Saturday May 6 Kings Arms Tavern, Auckland

Tickets available from Eventfinder.

BRENDON THOMAS & THE VIBES 'WRAP YOU IN THE SUN' EP

Psychedelic rock trio Brendon Thomas and The Vibes (Luke Oram) have released their long-awaited EP Wrap You in the Sun. The EP was recorded live at Parachute Studios under the close watch of Split Enz legend Eddie Rayner.

"Wrap You in The Sun is an EP born from five years of long nights criss-crossing this country, playing dive bars and bringing psychedelic rock the the people of New Zealand. It's six eclectic tracks that show off our influences, captured live and in our element by Kiwi music royalty - the man, the myth, the crazy genius Eddie Rayner”

Check out a 360 video of the boys playing their song ‘Copper Shades’ in studio here

The band are celebrating their release tonight  at REC, with Skinny Hobos, Baker’s Eddy and Cheshire Grimm - http://www.undertheradar.co.nz/gig/53604/The-Hobos-and-The-Vibes.utr

OSCAR DOWLING 'FREE AND EASY'

OSCAR DOWLING’S DEBUT ALBUM FREE AND EASY OUT APRIL 14
PRE-ORDER AVAILABLE NOW HERE

NEW ZEALAND TOUR DATES BELOW

Since the disbandment of his Auckland-based band New Gum Sarn in the summer of 2015, Oscar Dowling (Reuben Bonner) has found a voice of his own with his debut solo record Free and Easy, due out April 14th through Spunk Records / Banished Music and on cassette through Prison Tapes.

Opening for Aldous Harding last month for a slew of shows across New Zealand, Dowling is now preparing to head back out on the road for a headline tour of all major NZ cities. 

NZ TOUR DATES
April 21st - Whammy Bar, Auckland | April 27th – Darkroom, Christchurch
April 28th - Re:Fuel, Dunedin | April 29th – Caroline, Wellington

KAYLEE BELL TO OPEN FOR DIXIE CHICKS

Kaylee Bell is excited to announce she will be joining the Dixie Chicks for their first ever and only New Zealand show April 8th at the Mission Concert.

A prolific live performer, Kaylee has played at some of world’s biggest festivals and shared stages with the likes of Faith Hill, Tim McGraw and most recently Keith Urban at his only New Zealand show in Wellington on December 3rd 2016.

Kaylee Bell has recently released a new single Getting Closer, written in Nashville with good friend and fellow country artist Morgan Evans who will also be sharing the stage with  the Dixie Chicks show lineup.

Produced by Lindsay Rimes, who most recently had a Billboard #1 charting single with LOCASH, Getting Closer debuted on the New Zealand singles chart at number 14.

Tickets to the Dixie Chicks Mission Concert show are available from www.missionconcert.co.nz

THE CHILLS 'VIGOUROUS & FAR-REACHING NZ TOUR' APRIL/MAY 2017

Out on the tar sealed and gravelly roads this April and May, legendary Dunedin pop group The Chills (Scott Muir) have announced their embarkation on a vigorous and far-reaching New Zealand tour.

Stopping in major musical centres Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, as well as key outreaches such as Whanganui, Paekakariki, Queenstown, Napier, Raglan, Mount Maunganui, and a performance in Invercargill as part of the Southland Festival Of The Arts.  

Fronted by the rare talent of Martin Phillipps, The Chills were originally formed in 1980 and had a revolving cast of band members with Phillipps remaining the only constant. His knack for writing fantastic pop songs led to chart hits back home and a cult following around the world. With early releases via the legendary NZ label Flying Nun, The Chills produced a number of critically acclaimed recordings such as the single “Pink Frost” (their first hit) from the compilation album Kaleidoscope World and “Wet Blanket” from the LP Brave Words.

At the height of their success John Peel invited them in for a number of BBC sessions (1985/1987/1988) which were released for the first time late last year. They released the album Submarine Bells in 1990, where their single, “Heavenly Pop Hit” garnered much international praise and press. The band returned to NZ as national heroes and proceeded to release several more albums including Soft Bomb and Sunburnt.

With a few years hiatus due to health problems, Martin picked up The Chills again in ’99 and throughout the 00’s playing shows around the world and reaching a wider audience and gaining a cult following. 
The energy of their live performances is the central reason why The Chills are remembered fondly in all thirty-nine of the countries that they have thus far visited. It’s the combination of this and the consistent quality of their songs which have established The Chills as one of the most well-known New Zealand groups to date - particularly in the US,UK and Europe.

The highly anticipated new album (the first in almost 20 years) Silver Bullets was released on 30th October 2015 on Fire Records to critical applause, and in June 2016 the band went on to play Primavera Festival, Spain and sold out New York City and London shows. Soon after, their jangling, iconic masterpiece Kaleidoscope World was re-released with additional tracks on Flying Nun on double gatefold vinyl to universal critical acclaim.

They are joined on their NZ tour by fellow Dunedin alumni and SIlver Scroll/ Taite Prize finalist Anthonie Tonnon, who's current live show combines a performance art-inspired approach to stagecraft, home-soldered technology, and dance moves.

Catch the band at a venue near you this April/ May: 

Banished Music, Radio Hauraki and Under The Radar present
The Chills Vigorous and Far-reaching New Zealand tour
With support from Anthonie Tonnon*

April 26th - San Fran, Wellington
April 27th - St. Peter's Hall, Paekakariki
April 28th - The Cabana, Napier
April 29th - The Royal Wanganui Opera House, Whanganui**
May 4th - Blue Smoke, Christchurch
May 5th - The Scottish Hall, Invercargill***
May 6th - The Sherwood, Queenstown
May 11th - Totara St, Mount Maunganui
May 12th - The Raglan Club, Raglan
May 13th - The King's Arms, Auckland

Tickets From UnderTheRadar.co.nz
*Anthonie Tonnon plays all shows except Queenstown
** Tickets from www.royaloperahouse.co.nz
*** Tickets from http://www.ticketdirect.co.nz