Shepherds Reign launches new visuals for 'Samoa Mo Samoa'

– A Tribute to Resilience and Heritage

Shepherds Reign is proud to announce the release of their latest video clip for the heavy metal anthem "Samoa Mo Samoa”. 

This project signifies the band’s first journey to their homeland, where they traveled from Upolu to Savaii to capture stunning scenic drone footage of historic locations that resonate deeply with the Samoan people.

Filmed and edited by local legends Twayne Laumua and the team at Sleeping Giant Films, the video employs striking animation to convey the narrative of Samoa's struggle against colonial powers in the late 19th century. It highlights the tragic events of March 1899, when the US warship Philadelphia bombarded villages on Upolu, resulting in significant suffering among the Samoan people.

In defiance of oppression, the resilience and courage of the Samoan people shine through. "Samoa Mo Samoa" serves as a tribute to those who valiantly defended their homeland, ensuring their sacrifices are remembered.

Shepherds Reign are in the midst of their tour with Alien Weaponry, performing "Samoa Mo Samoa" live across six towns in Aotearoa:

• 14.03.25 - Hamilton - Factory

• 15.03.25 - Wellington - Homegrown

• 20.03.25 - New Plymouth - TSB Showplace

• 21.03.25 - Auckland - Powerstation

• 22.03.25 - Christchurch - James Hay

• 23.03.25 - Queenstown - AJ Hackett Karawau Bungy Center

Fans can look forward to a mind-blowing experience as the band brings their powerful anthem to life.

Shepherds Reign invites everyone to celebrate this powerful anthem. The video is now available for viewing on YouTube. 

About Shepherds Reign:

Shepherds Reign is a Polynesian metal band from South Auckland, NZ; known for their unique fusion of traditional Polynesian sounds and heavy metal. Combining powerful vocals, thunderous guitar riffs, and cultural elements, they create an energetic musical experience that resonates with audiences worldwide.

Shepherds Reign are Filiva’a James (vocals and keytar), Gideon Voon (guitar), Oliver Leupolu (guitar/production), Shaymen Rameka (drums) and Joseph Oti-George (bass)

Delaney Davidson Anniversary Tour

DELANEY DAVIDSON

ANNIVERSARY TOUR
JULY / AUGUST 2025

"Incontestably one of Aotearoa’s most influential and lauded contemporary songwriters”  Under The Radar 

Thursday 10 July - The Yard, Raglan
Friday 11 July - Double Whammy, Auckland
Saturday 12 July - Turner Centre, Kerikeri
Sunday 13 July - Sawmill Cafe, Leigh
Friday 18 July - Meow, Wellington
Saturday 19 July - St. Peter's, Paekākāriki
Sunday 20 July - Paisley Stage, Napier
Friday 25 July - The Crown, Dunedin
Saturday 26 July - Kinross Winery, Queenstown
Friday 1 August - Theatre Royal, Nelson
Saturday 2 August - Loons, Lyttelton

Pre-sale tickets - 9am, Friday 21 March
General tickets - 9am, Monday 24 March

Tickets from Banished Music

Subscribe to presale at
www.banishedmusic.com/subscribe

Delaney Davidson now takes his band of Anniversaries on the local roads around Aotearoa, don’t miss a night of wry sense of humour, some theatre of unease, and a rocking collection of bangers from his extensive back catalogue as he celebrates the music that got him where he is today.

With multiple album Anniversaries this year, Delaney Davidson takes to the road in July to celebrate his extensive and star-studded catalogue with special band the Anniversaries - Heather Webb - Guitar, Alex Freer - Drums, Mark Hughes - Bass.

15 years ago, Delaney Davidson joined Reverend Beat Man - cult figure, gospel trash preacher, and founder of the hugely influential Swiss record label VOODOO RHYTHM RECORDS, to release Self Decapitation and a year later Bad Luck Man.

Self Decapitation had such hits as Little Heart (Silver Scroll Finalist 2011) and barnstormer Dirty Dozen while Bad Luck Man had You’re a Loser (country music song of the year 2012), as well as I’m So Depressed, and evergreen Time Has Gone. These albums cemented him into the Voodoo Rhythm Family and saw him become a distinct cult figure of the European Touring circuit.

Generally dealing with the darker side of things, Delaney Davidson has been described as “being the reigning king of capturing the essence of 'Noir' in Country and Folk Music, pushing at the framework and preconceptions of roots music with his brand of modern gothic Americana.”  - Post to Wire.

Having spent the last 20 years as travelling 'troubadour' around the globe, sometimes solo, sometimes with accomplices, but always with his Ghost Orchestra, Delaney Davidson has found new focus embracing a love of Aotearoa. 

Through his collaborative work with Troy Kingi Black Sea, Golden Ladder, his visual artwork with Tame Iti, and his most current album Out Of My Head produced by Merk, he has featured such varied talents as Hayley Westenra and Reb Fountain and has toured with Chamber Music New Zealand - all the while continuing to reinvent concepts and challenge expectations and gaining respect and admiration from audiences.

DELANEY DAVIDSON ANNIVERSARY TOUR

JULY / AUGUST 2025

Pre-sale tickets - 9AM, Friday 21 March
General tickets - 9AM, Monday 24 March

Tickets from Banished Music

Subscribe to presale at
www.banishedmusic.com/subscribe

Thabani Gapara Presents The African Traveller (Tour)

A Celebration of Southern African Music Across Aotearoa

Southern African saxophonist Thabani Gapara is hitting the road with The African Traveller, a tour that brings the rich, soulful sounds of Southern Africa to audiences across New Zealand.

For those who grew up with the rhythms of Southern Africa, this is a chance to be transported back home through the music that shaped childhoods, dance floors, and family gatherings. And for those who have never experienced the infectious energy of Afro-jazz and township grooves, this tour is an open invitation to step into the heartbeat of the region.

Thabani and his band bring together original music and timeless classics from Zimbabwe, South Africa, Mozambique, and beyond, blending soaring saxophone solos, deep grooves, and rhythms that get you moving. From high-energy dance numbers to soul-stirring ballads, every note carries the essence of Southern Africa’s storytelling traditions.

This tour also marks a milestone for Thabani as he heads to the South Island for the first time, performing in Christchurch, alongside North Island stops in Auckland, Hamilton, Mount Maunganui, Wellington, and Whangamatā.

Whether you’re part of the African diaspora longing for the sounds of home or someone ready to experience Southern African music for the first time, The African Traveller is about bringing people together, through music, movement, and shared stories.

Tour Dates & Venues

Tickets & Info: https://linktr.ee/thabanigapara

The African Traveller - New Zealand Tour

17 April – Mount Maunganui – Totara Street
26 April – Whangamatā – Edison's
10 May – Christchurch – Space Academy
17 May – Hamilton – The Meteor
23 May – Wellington – Meow
31 May – Auckland – Tuning Fork

2 a.m. Orchestra 'The Last'

"The Last" is the latest and perhaps most introspective release from 2 a.m. Orchestra, the long-time music project of David Kelley. Originally from California, Kelley now calls Auckland, New Zealand, home, but his roots in the American West still influence the sonic landscapes he crafts. For years, 2 a.m. Orchestra was a staple on the Western U.S. touring circuit, building a loyal fan base with their raw, emotive indie rock. Yet, as the tides of life change, Kelley’s music has shifted, reflecting a deepening exploration of the human condition and our place in an increasingly uncertain world.

On "The Last," Kelley delves into some of his most challenging themes to date: the corrosive impact of war, the haunting question of survival in a fragmented world, and the feeling of resignation in the face of mounting global and personal challenges. Technology looms large on the album, both as a force for alienation and a harbinger of a future that feels both dystopian and inescapable. Across each track, there’s a palpable sense of nihilism, as well as a mourning for the loss of youth’s idealism and the innocence that inevitably fades with time.

Largely recorded on his own, Kelley played nearly every instrument and handled all of the vocals on the album, giving "The Last" a deeply personal and solitary atmosphere. His intimate approach to recording mirrors the album’s lyrical content—one that feels more like an internal reckoning than a public statement. The sound is at once grand and stripped-down, capturing a sense of both isolation and vastness, the tension between what is and what could be.

"The Last" is a somber reflection on our present moment—a journey into the complexities of living in a world that’s hard to recognize. As 2 a.m. Orchestra has always done, Kelley crafts an emotional landscape that speaks to listeners navigating their own struggles, providing a soundtrack for those at the crossroads of uncertainty. With this album, David Kelley takes a step away from the familiar, offering a reflection on what comes after the end of everything we once understood.

Announcing the release of “Seventeen” by Don and The Divorcees

“Seventeen” , the debut single from Don and the Divorcees, will be available on all major online platforms from 21 March.   Written by Hollie Wright, who also does lead vocal,   ‘Seventeen’ conjures up whimsical images of teenage love in all its intensity

Don and the Divorcees is a collaboration among Te Whanganui a Tara singer-songwriters and multi-instrumentalists Don Mackay, Hollie Wright and Beans Wright (no relation).  Beans as a soloist was one of the main stage guests at the 2023 Wellington Folk Festival.  

The three friends had from time to time performed together in various combinations.  This gave rise to the decision to try working together as a trio.  Each brings their own compositions to the table and we then work together to make the most of them.

As we each tend to write a slightly different style of song, the unifying element of our sound comes from the arrangements featuring tight vocal harmonies over multiple stringed instruments.  While this gives breadth and variety to our live performances, it does make us, in marketing terms, seriously genre non-compliant. 

We are a bit “old school”.   Our songs are strongly centred on the lyrics, which tell stories or paint pictures, and are designed to be listened to.  The instrumentation is built around a variety of acoustic stringed instruments (guitars, violin, mandolin, cello and bass).  The whole approach is pretty “wooden” and low tech. We see ourselves as “spiritual folkies” performing contemporary songs.

Since we debuted the lineup during the winter of 2023 we have performed regularly around the broader Wellington area, at music venues, around the local folk scene, and at local festivals (most recently headlining on the Songwriters Stage at the Newtown Festival 2025).

If you want to check out what we sound like live you can follow the link https://www.youtube.com/@DonandTheDivorceesBand.   You will find live recordings of five songs from a gig in April 2024.  This includes “Seventeen” and 3 other songs that will be on the “Bit Players” album.

“Seventeen” was recorded in June 2024.  Recording and mixing was by Warwick Donald, and the recordings were mastered by Mike Gibson. 

What next?

“Seventeen” is the first single from the forthcoming album “Bit Players”.  The full album (7 songs) will be released, initially as a CD only limited edition, in late April.   Further online single releases will follow before the full album is released online later in the year.

To mark the release of “Seventeen” we are playing at Moon in Newtown on 23 March, with support by Goodnight My Darling and Rex Davies aka Notorious D.A.D.

We have a further show at Moon again on 13 April to mark the CD release of the “Bit Players” album

Erin G & Altercation Release New Single ‘Half Light’ Ahead of Upcoming EP Dream It Again

LISTEN TO  'HALF LIGHT' HERE

“If I had to sum up the process of half light. It started as a heavier tune with more driving factors but when Erin presented her take on it it sounded great, a little stripped back and ambient. My favourite part of this is seeing a song I’d written a long time ago come to life!” - Altercation

Singer-songwriter Erin G and drum and bass/jungle inspired DJ/producer Altercation unveil their latest single, Half Light, marking the third release from their upcoming EP Dream It Again, set for release on 02 May 2025.

A captivating fusion of hypnotic vocals and dynamic production, Half Light explores the emotional struggle of holding on to something that feels increasingly out of reach. Erin’s ethereal, siren-esque melodies intertwine seamlessly with Altercation’s electrifying production, resulting in a track that exudes confidence, allure, and raw emotion.

Reflecting on the making of the track, Erin G shares:

"After recording Kind Eyes, Joel (Altercation) and I realised how naturally our styles blended. We started working on Half Light right away, and the energy was instant.  We wanted something stronger and more confident compared to the softness of our first single Kind Eyes, and this track just clicked!

What makes it even more special is that Half Light was written and demoed in our very first studio session together. We originally planned to record Kind Eyes and finished early, so when Joel played me this beat, it was an immediate YES!

This track quickly became our favourite, and we couldn’t stop refining it. It was such a creative and emotional week, and the studio became a space to explore something new and exciting."

Madam Parker 'Boombox'

Madam Parker is a powerhouse artist making waves with her soulful, R&B-infused sound, blending reggae, hip-hop, Afro dancehall, and beyond. Hailing from New Zealand, she brings a unique fusion of cultural roots and genre-defying creativity to every performance. Her music isn't just for listening—it's an experience, designed to connect and move you.

Her latest collaboration with Matroda on the epic track *Boombox* has been nothing short of incredible, showcasing her versatile talent and undeniable groove. The track is a true testament to her ability to effortlessly merge genres, bringing fresh, infectious energy to the global music scene. 

But this is just the beginning for Madam Parker. She's already preparing to release more electrifying tracks across even more genres, pushing boundaries and defying expectations. Whether she's performing live at events like the Pasifika Festival or laying down tracks that leave you wanting more, Madam Parker is a force to be reckoned with.

With velvet chocolate tones, a soulful voice, and an irresistible stage presence, Madam Parker is capturing hearts and turning heads worldwide. Follow her journey as she continues to craft music that moves, excites, and connects audiences everywhere.

Wellington Heads 'A Night on the Town'

Wellington Heads released their 4th Album, A Night On The Town, in April 2009 at Sandwiches – a Majoribanks Street music and food venue that we’d been playing at on a regular basis for a couple of years.

Since completing our previous album – Midnight Down in the Jungle – the band had been pretty busy playing in and around Wellington and also further afield; we’d played four Tauranga Jazz Festivals, twice at the Mission Bay Jazz / Blues Street Festival and also at the Manawatu and Nelson Jazz Fests. Through all this the band line-up had stayed pretty much the same so with some well road-tested songs we headed into Trident Studios, in the old SIS building on Taranaki Street, to record our next album.

This was our first digitally recorded album. We worked closely with our engineer and co-producer, Andrew Downes, to record the eleven songs on ‘A Night on the Town’, enjoying the high-quality and funky recording environment and Andrew’s amazing skills and abilities in the studio. Recording together with Neil, Bill and Geoff, Justin Hooper (drums and percussion), Michael Taylor (trumpet) and Jabin Ward (tenor sax) were again laying down some excellent grooves and it was great to welcome back Nick van Dijk (trumpet, trombone, tuba) and Damian Forlong (trombone) and to welcome Alan Norman (piano accordion), Andre Paris (baritone / tenor sax) and Kate Smith, Shelly Weir and Katrina Granger (harmonies). The album was mastered by Mike Gibson and released through Ode Records. Jenny O’Connor and Jesse Keith were again involved in the brilliant CD artwork, design and layout.

After 14 years of gigging and recording, and with their new album receiving wonderful reviews, Wellington Heads was ready to enter a new phase…

Thanks once more to Maurice (the high-priest of sonic sound) Priestley and PriMau Productions for bringing A Night on the Town’ to the on-line universe.

A Night On The Town - Wellington Heads