Anna van Riel at The Fire Station Theatre, MOSGIEL

Award-winning Hāwea-based folk musician Anna van Riel is bringing her show to the Fire Station Theatre in Mosgiel on Sunday May 29th as part of her vocal workshop and concert series in the Dunedin area. Rich in harmonies with special guest Kathryn Jones (Australia) and stunning guitar leads from Jonatans Rācenājs (Latvia), the night will be rich in jazz/folk fusion, storytelling and original music. 

In conjunction with her Fire Station Theatre show Anna will also be running a 2hr afternoon vocal workshop with a focus on breathwork, vocal mechanics and singing in parts.

Participants of the workshop that are also attending the evening concert are invited to join Anna in sharing their work to other concert-goers (optional) that night.

The workshop is a fantastic opportunity for existing vocal groups, bands and individuals to develop their ear for parts and learn some vocal foundation work.

For more information head to Eventfinda,  Anna's facebook page or email anna@annavanriel.com 

Angry art rock newcomer Elliott Dawson releases fanging new single “CEO” and announces debut album, ‘Hang Low’

Dawson says the track is about that little voice in your head telling you to “sack up”, describing the sound as angry-art-rock inspired by British post rock and south London jazz.

I wanted to start the album with something that would slap you in the face and be almost scary, although the rest of it is more considered. CEO is about the ugliest parts of the masculine ideal controlling the way you think or act.

CEO is Dawson’s first release under his own name, previously known for his work under

well-loved indie rock act DOONS. It represents a newer and darker project, heralded by the

upcoming release of his 8-track debut album ‘Hang Low’, recorded and mixed by James

Goldsmith at Surgery Studios in Te Whānganui-a-Tara.

‘Hang Low’ is a record of rebirth. It’s something that I tried to make sound jarring and pretty

at the same time, drawing on my experience of heavier music, within the context of the jazz

musicians in the band (Olivia Campion/Lily Rose Shaw) and the others with different musical

heritages (Pierce Higginson/Reuben Topzand).

The next single “Winter’s Ghost” is out on 24th June, and more singles will follow before the

release of the album in September 2022. Hang Low 12’’ Vinyl will be available for pre-order via Bandcamp on 27 May.

Website | Long bio | Spotify | Apple Music | Instagram | Twitter | Bandcamp

Indie-pop artist CAITLIN releases hard-hitting single ‘Hardly’

Indie-pop artist ‘CAITLIN’ releases her first single of 2022: the first of many exciting songs coming out this year. The driving electric guitar and tight drumbeat paired with frank lyricism show that CAITLIN is not afraid to be honest with her audience. She touches on emotions of jealousy, stress and confusion in a way that will have you shouting the lyrics in your car.

“I kept feeling frustrated with myself because the person I wanted to hang out with always seemed to be busy, but I kept taking it personally even though I knew it was just the circumstances. Hardly is a song of feeling the frustration of the circumstances you’re in, unable to change them, and unwilling to accept them”.

Inspired by indie-pop sensations Julia Jacklin, Faye Webster, and Spacey Jane, the songwriter has defined her unique sound in the indie-pop genre. Produced and mixed by Ryan Fisherman, Hardly is the first single of many to come with exciting new music not far around the corner for this young songwriter.

“I’m so excited to share this music I’ve been creating over the past year with Ryan Fisherman. It feels like a long time coming, and I’m finally ready to share my sound with the public. I hope people hear the passion and care that has gone into these upcoming releases.”

LISTEN TO HARDLY HERE

https://bfan.link/hardly

DISCOVER CAITLIN HERE

https://linktr.ee/caitlinmusic

TAMI NEILSON SHARES “BABY, YOU’RE A GUN”

EMPOWERING NEW SINGLE FROM THE FORTHCOMING, EAGERLY AWAITED, FIFTH STUDIO ALBUM - KINGMAKER Out FRIDAY, JULY 15

“Baby, You’re A Gun” marks the 2nd single from Neilson’s forthcoming fifth studio album, KINGMAKER, out Friday, July 15.

Opening with sweeping strings arranged by Victoria Kelly, and a lonesome whistle that conjures the same cinematic flair of old Hollywood Westerns, “Baby, You’re a Gun” is a song about the underestimation of women and the roles society expects them to play. Tami says she was inspired while re-reading Dolly Parton’s autobiography, where she states, “Many an old boy has found out too late that I look like a woman, but think like a man. It is a great mistake to assume that because I look soft, I do business that way.”

KINGMAKER also sees Neilson joining forces with the legendary Willie Nelson for the timeless country duet, “Beyond The Stars,” An official music video – directed by Neilson’s brother Todd and featuring exclusive footage filmed earlier this year at Austin, TX’s SXSW Music Festival and Nelson’s world famous Luck Reunion in Luck, TX – is streaming now via YouTube HERE.

“Beyond The Stars” – which immediately hit the Official NZ Music Chart’s “Top 40 Hot Singles” and “Top 20 NZ Hot Singles” – was further met by critical applause from media outlets around the world:

“Tami Neilson and Willie Nelson meditate on heavy losses in their new duet…‘Beyond the Stars’ is a mournful ballad in 3/4 time and it takes a close look at the grief brought on by a loved one’s death. Neilson wrote the song after the 2015 loss of her father and, while Nelson acts as her father’s voice in his verse, it takes on an extra poignancy coming so soon after the death of his sister and bandmate Bobbie Nelson.” – ROLLING STONE

“‘Beyond The Stars’ taps into the painful feelings of longing to be with the one you've lost. Neilson and Nelson's vocals blend beautifully on the emotional and poetic song, anchored by a soaring string section.” – THE BOOT

“‘Beyond the Stars’ works to help remedy all loss, giving hope for a reunification someday in the future in the eternal dwelling of the cosmos, delivered via the timeless tones of Willie’s guitar Trigger.”

– SAVING COUNTRY MUSIC

Recorded at Neil Finn’s Roundhead Studios in Neilson’s adopted hometown of Auckland, New Zealand, KINGMAKER marks Neilson’s most provocative and powerful collection to date. Fueled by the world-changing events of the past two years, the album’s songs expose and explode the patriarchal structures that pervade the music industry, family life, and society as a whole. While Neilson has previously explored these themes on such acclaimed LPs as 2018’s SASSAFRASS! (hailed by PopMatters as “a potent social and political statement dressed up in catchy melodies and infectious choruses that sometimes belie the more serious elements taking place deep within the choruses.”), the new album draws these challenging ideas out even further, shining a dramatic musical light on what the late bell hooks referred to as “the politics of domination” that render women nameless and voiceless. Songs like “Baby, You’re A Gun” and the cinematic title track see Neilson giving her own resonant voice to women everywhere – to their strength, power, fierceness, and resilience in the face of structural and cultural barriers to their full participation in society.

Born in Toronto, Tami Neilson has been performing for as long as she can remember, first alongside her parents and brothers in the Canadian country music family band, The Neilsons. From being cradled as a baby in the arms of Roy Orbison, singing with Kitty Wells at the age of 10, and opening for Johnny Cash in her pajamas at 18, she had already led an extraordinary life before leaving North America in 2007 to start her own family on the other side of the world in New Zealand, where she has resided ever since. It was there Neilson forged her own artistic path as a critically acclaimed solo artist and songwriter, busking on the streets of Auckland and performing in countless clubs before ultimately earning wide-ranging applause and myriad NZ-based awards for her booming vocal power and inventive, strikingly personal approach to country, rockabilly, and soul.

2020’s CHICKABOOM! proved her most internationally praised work thus far, with No Depression declaring, “Neilson’s phrasing is impeccable…she gets inside the song, turns it inside and out, and makes it her own. She can soar on the rockers, she can deliver the heart-rending ache of a ballad of lost love, and she can capture the playfulness of a schoolyard rhyme with a joyous seriousness.” With her tireless work ethic, seemingly infinite musical gifts, and subversive songwriting approach, Tami Neilson has already found extraordinary success on her own terms. Now, with the groundbreaking KINGMAKER, she takes her music and message even further, using her one-of-a-kind voice to rattle cages and change the game for those who have been denied their rightful place at the table for far too long.

TAMI NEILSON - KINGMAKER TOUR DATES

Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra

30 July Auckland, Aotea Centre, Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre

Chamber Music New Zealand

3 August New Plymouth Theatre Royal

10 August Wellington Opera House

13 August Tauranga Baycourt

17 August Nelson Theatre Royal

18 August Dunedin Regent Theatre

Christchurch Symphony Orchestra

20 August Christchurch Douglas Lilburn, Christchurch Town Hall

Ticket info www.tamineilson.com

Auckland City of Music announces $115,000 Music in Venues Fund

Auckland City of Music in association with Auckland Council are pleased to announce the Music in Venues Fund - a contestable fund of 23 x $5000 grants for the provision of music events in and around the region’s grassroots music venues.

This is in recognition of the vital role of venues in the music ecosystem and the pressure that they have been under due to extended restrictions. The Fund seeks to kickstart the welcoming back of audiences and contribute to boosting audience attendance.

The Music in Venues Fund comes off the back of the online offering of Auckland Council’s Music in Parks programme. Called Music in Parks At Home, it was a creative response to the red light setting that restricted audiences to under 100 people and saw at least eight episodes delivered over March and April 2022. Each episode showcased a different musical act.

Councillor Alf Filipaina, Chair of Auckland Council’s Parks Arts Community and Events Committee says that the Music in Venues Fund is another way that council is supporting Auckland’s music sector.

“The whole music sector has been really hit hard by the impacts of Covid-19, but it has been a real delight to see our events people and the music sector come together and adapt to the situation. Their creativity saw us deliver music performances to an Auckland audience, and to audiences across Aotearoa and overseas.”

“This fund is part of helping the sector recover from the challenges of the last few years. Nothing compares to seeing musicians perform live in a venue. Being able to support grassroots music venues alongside Auckland City of Music is a great investment in a sector that delivers so much to Tāmaki Makaurau audiences.”

“Our music venues are the R&D labs of the music industry,” says Auckland City of Music Director, Mark Roach. “It’s not an understatement to say that without music venues, we simply would not have a music industry. More than that, the venues serve as vital community hubs – places where we come together to celebrate, socialise and connect. Our collective experiences of music in these venues stay with us throughout our lives, and are woven into the city’s musical DNA.”

The fund, which will be delivered over two tranches, is designed to support the region’s small-to-medium sized, dedicated music venues that have a track record of hosting original, local performers.

“This is a massive boost for music venues, for performers and for audiences,” says Lucy Macrae from Save Our Venues. “Covid restrictions have crippled Auckland’s live music scene so it’s encouraging to see this support and recognition from the city for the vital role venues play in creating safe & inclusive communities for musicians and music fans.”

Applications for the first tranche of 10 grants will open on Monday 16 May 2022 9:00am. Closing date is Friday 27 May 5:00pm.

Applications for the remaining 13 grants will open on Monday 6 June 2022 9:00am. Closing date is Friday 27 June 5:00pm

Full details of the Fund including criteria can be found on the Auckland City of Music website.

LATINAOTEAROA present ‘ROLLIN’

Latinaotearoa ambitiously blends influences from throughout New Zealand and South America’s musical history. Born from a desire to celebrate a mix of cultures and flavours, Brazil-born Auckland DJ Bobby Brazuka and Venezuelan singer Jennifer Zea put Latinaotearoa on the map with their award nominated debut album Sonido de Latinaotearoa in 2013.
Since then, the act has moved from strength to strength - with their second album, Latinaotearoa in Latinoamerica, receiving a nomination for the New Zealand Music Awards in 2015. Now the band is preparing to release their latest single, the infectiously catchy Rollin', on May 13th.

“We worked hard to bring that rollerskate disco vibe to life,” says Bobby. The track draws from stylistic features of 70s and 80s Brazilian disco, and pays homage to Los Angeles’ vibrant latino community. “We listen to lots of Latin music, but also to some great soul, funk and disco from all across the American continent,” he says.

In that sense, Rollin' embodies the multiculturalism that defines the environment of its inspiration. Whether it’s Los Angeles, Auckland or Rio de Janeiro, Rollin' represents the diversity of city life with buckets of style and a beat that could make Cristo Redentor dance.

“We wanted to bring an uplifting summer vibe to this song,” says vocalist Jennifer Zea. “Rollin' is about finally getting out there and doing your thing, especially after all we've been through.”

The music video, directed by Swap Gomez, keeps pace with the track’s style through exceptional rollerskate-bound choreography. The bold visuals and distinct filmic style harkens back to the glory days of MTV’s sovereignty over music culture, while Zea’s performance channels the unique quality that defined legends like Donna Summer and Gloria Estefan.

With an eclectic discography and countless tours under their belt, Rollin' proves that Latinaotearoa continue to deliver quality music. 

Out May 13th via New Zealand indie label Bigpop Records.

If you're in Tāmaki Makaurau on the 13th make sure you get to Ponsonby Social Club where the band will be throwing a single release party - tickets here!

New Zealand artists feature on Australian Benny Time’s upcoming children’s music album Benny and Friends

2022 NZ Children’s Music Awards nominees Itty Bitty Beats (for Best Children’s Artist) and past APRA Children’s Song Award winner Claudia Robin Gunn have new releases out with Australian songwriter, podcaster and award winning children’s advocate Benny Time.

The River, The Mountain featuring Itty Bitty Beats and Little Grey Cloud (It’s OK to Cry) featuring Claudia Robin Gunn and the USA’s East Coast Inspirational Singers are both out now; advance singles ahead of Benny Time’s upcoming album ‘Benny and Friends’. The album will also feature 2022 Best Children’s Music Video nominees Loopy Tunes Preschool Music. Benny and Friends, as the name suggests, features a luminary cast of Benny’s artist friends from across the Australian children’s music landscape including TV regulars Justine Clarke, Lah Lah, The Beanies and more, and is produced by Michael McGlynn and mastered by William Bowden of King Willy Sound.

Not just for the playground, this collaborative kids music speaks to the whole family.

Find out more at www.bennytime.com.au

MILES CALDER Shares new single 'Pushing & Pulling' Out today with acoustic video + Nationwide Tour This May-July

Today, Wellington songwriter and Aotearoa Music Award Best Folk Artist 2022 finalist Miles Calder unveils his new single ‘Pushing & Pulling’ and accompanying acoustic  video session. It follows the release of bonus track 'Workman Song' from his celebrated 2021 solo debut album Autopilot Life, and the announcement of the acoustic tour this May to July. Full tour details are below.  

'Pushing & Pulling' is a summery guitar pop cut where catchy chorus melodies are punctuated by juicy, electric guitar riffs, as the lyrics tangle over a burgeoning romance. Newly working with Samuel Flynn Scott (The Phoenix Foundation) as a producer, Calder and his band spent time building the song's dreamy arrangement. The chewy rhythm track is complemented by vintage keys and percussion, and Sam’s addition of chilling synths and ethereal backing vocals. 

Calder says, “Pushing & Pulling was written within the rollercoaster of burgeoning love, and for me, it marks the point of accepting what you don’t control and deciding to go along for the ride… whether that's up or down, or both.

"Working with Sam Flynn Scott as a producer was a dream. He brought fresh ears to what the band and I already had together, and gave us licence to push the sound to something bolder and more punchy." 

Teasing the forthcoming acoustic tour is the accompanying live acoustic session of ‘Pushing & Pulling', showcasing Calder’s dazzling vocals, atop the skillful guitar work of bandmate Chris Armour. Kicking off May 19th and running till July 2nd, the duo will perform intimate, acoustic sets across the country (rounded out with a full band show in hometown Wellington), re-imagining songs from Calder’s previous record Autopilot Life along with brand new material.

Stay tuned for the official ‘Pushing & Pulling’ music video directed by Matilda Boese-Wong (Belladonna, RadioActive Film Review!) and produced and edited by Martin Sagadin (Aldous Harding, Marlon Williams, Tiny Ruins) out later this month.

Listen and download 'Pushing & Pulling' here: https://bfan.link/pushing-pulling

Miles Calder
Pushing & Pulling Single Release Tour

Thursday 19 May - The Boathouse, Nelson
Friday 20 May - Le Cafe, Picton 
Saturday 21 May - Mussel Inn, Golden Bay 
Thursday 26 May - Ahuahu Villas, New Plymouth 
Friday 27 May - The Globe Theatre, Palmerston North 
Saturday 28 May - Vogelmorn Hall, Wellington 
Friday 3 June - Paisley Stage, Napier 
Saturday 4 June - St. Peters Hall, Paekakariki
Sunday 5 June -  Secret Show, Lincoln, Selwyn
Saturday 11 June - San Fran, Wellington (FULL BAND)
Saturday July 2nd - The Wine Cellar, Auckland (Miles solo)