Phil Rudd
By Jake Ebdale
Phil Rudd is a beguiling, classic character in the world of rock. The drummer for AC/DC, one of the biggest rock bands ever in terms of both tours and album sales, he once gave it all up for a simpler life - in fact, he retreated to Tauranga in the eighties and is still living there today. Once he rejoined Acca Dacca in the early 90s, instead of begging for his old job back, the rest of the band came to him. It shows how powerful and crucial his style of drumming is to the band - but I've always wondered how he would sound on his own.
SoFar Sounds
By Jake Ebdale
SoFar Sounds August - Karen O Listening Party for ‘Crush Songs' + sets from Elena Siljic, Michael Murray and Adventures with Rhubarb.
David Ward
By Poppy Tohill
Written and performed by the exceptionally talented trio, David Ward, Peter Daube and Dave Kahn, Wheel Of Experience is a unique musical and theatrical experience that paints the lives and legends of early NZ through a collection of stunning original songs. Having recently returned to Auckland from an extensive 26 date tour around New Zealand, I caught up with composer, musician and producer of the show, David Ward, in the middle of Aotea Square where the project first debuted back in 2011, for a chat prior to their upcoming shows at Auckland's Q Theatre in September.
Hilltop Hoods - Walking Under Stars
By Rathan Paul Harshavardan
Released Friday August 8th, 2014 - UMusic
Royal New Zealand Ballet - Allegro: Five Short Ballets
By Kelly Carmichael
Date / Venue: Saturday August 16th, St. James Theatre, Wellington
Guardians of the Galaxy – Awesome Mix Vol.1 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
By Scott Birnie
Released Friday July 25th, 2014 - UMusic
Puss N Boots - No Fools, No Fun
By Rathan Paul Harshavardan
Released Friday July 11th, 2014 - UMusic
Pop Will Eat Itself
By Sebastian Mackay
Pop Will Eat Itself, thankfully isn't pop and hasn't eaten itself (you could argue they did but vomited themselves back up 10 years later) and that means they're coming for us. For the first time in 20 years the good ol' chaps are bringing their live shebang to our rainy little shores. It's a wonder any still cares, really. ButGraham Crabb (co-vocalist and last standing original member) has answer for that. Well, he has an answer for most things.
Angus And Julia Stone - Self Titled Album (Deluxe Edition)
By Christina Croucher
Released August 1st, 2014 - UMusic
Interview: Shayna King
By Poppy Tohill
Lately I've been hearing a lot about numerous emerging artists from Christchurch, with one of those being the talented alternative songstress Shayna King, who has been on my musical radar for a while. With the release of her new single ‘Calling You' on Monday, it was a treat catching up with Shayna for a chat on the phone a few days prior to the single's release.
Kimbra - The Golden Echo
By Patrick Campbell
Released Friday August 15th 2014 - Warner Music
Kimbra (DJ Set)
By Patrick Campbell
Artist: Kimbra (DJ Set)
Date / Venue: Saturday August 16th, 1885 Britomart, Auckland
Morgan Evans
By Sebastian Mackay
Interviewing is a lot like discovering. Artists come across your desk and there's a fair amount of 'who the hell are you?'. The next thing you know you're on the phone and there's a suspended silence before the hum and haw over a left field question. I'm ashamed to admit there was a fair amount of that during my interview withMorgan Evans (full disclosure: I'm the kind of guy that has heavy metal labels on speed dial, not country singers).
Justin Townes-Earle
By Poppy Tohill
Despite all the hardships Justin Townes Earle has been through over the past few years of his life, he's come out clean on the other side and is a wealth of knowledge and advice, proving a really down to earth, relaxed guy to chat to, early on a Tuesday morning.