Kevin Mark Trail
By Sebastian Mackay
Listening to Kevin Mark Trail speak, in a rapid fire English accent over the roar of a train and excited shouts in the background, my internal monologue was singing Good Charlotte's Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous quietly to itself, interjected with a deluge of snide comments. (Mum says I need to work on my people skills and I'm finally beginning to see that).
Hazel Mills - The Paper Cinema's 'Odyssey'
By Poppy Tohill
What happens at the accidental meeting of inkblots, photocopies, cardboard, angle-poise lamps, video technology, a laptop and a banana box? The United Kingdom's ‘Paper Cinema,' theatre company is what happens. Using the language of animation, music, film and theatre to lead viewers through a variety of stories, New Zealanders are lucky enough to have the opportunity to experience their most recent work‘Odyssey' in action this month, as the English theatre company bring this show to our shores for the very first time since its premiere in the spring of 2012.
Soulfest 2014
By Jake Ebdale
Date / Venue: Sunday October 26th, Western Springs Stadium, Auckland
Justin Townes Earle
By Poppy Tohill
Artist: Justin Townes Earle
Date / Venue: Saturday October 25th, Tuning Fork, Auckland
Hotboxed Treehut
By Poppy Tohill
Step aside Katchafire, there's a new reggae band in town. Forming just over a year ago, Auckland's newest seven piece roots reggae band who go by the name of Hotboxed Treehut, have just released their debut single, Positive Music, and a brand new music video to go with it.
Itch
By Poppy Tohill
Some of you may be familiar with the punk rock band The King Blueswho for ten years challenged the politicians and war-monger's of theUnited Kingdom with their original punk rock, ska, protest music. Well almost three years on from their break up, vocalist Jonny Fox, is back on the airwaves, more commonly known and referred to as ‘Itch' these days which is his stage name for his now, solo musical career.
Shapeshifter
By Poppy Tohill
With the release of Shapeshifter and The UpBeats EP, SSXUB, vocalist P Digsss provided some laughs, and information about the EP to me down the phone line last month just hours prior to it's anticipated release.
Sola Rosa - Magnetics
By Vanessa Marsh
With the release of their sixth studio album 'Magnetics', Sola Rosa have returned with an album featuring everything you'd expect from a band of their calibre.
Eb & Sparrow with Aldous Harding
By Poppy Tohill
Artist: Eb & Sparrow / Aldous Harding
Date / Venue: Saturday October 18th, The Tuning Fork, Auckland
Interview: Bernie Griffen
By Poppy Tohill
Bernie Griffen has got a new band. The Thin Men, a new album,'Salvation,' and a bit of a new sound. Launching the release of the new album at Auckland's Tuning Fork late last month, I caught up with Bernie and one third of the thin men, who is in fact not a man at all, but Griffen's long time musical partner Kirsten Warner, at the bands soundcheck ahead of their show later that night.
Basement Jaxx - Junto
By Paul Ballard
Released August 22nd, 2014 - Atlantic Jaxx Recordings
Electric Wire Hustle
By Jake Ebdale
Artist: Electric Wire Hustle
Date / Venue: Saturday October 18th, The Powerstation, Auckland
Erlend Øye - Legao
By Rathan Paul Harshavardan
Released Friday October 3rd - Bubbles Records
Nico And Vinz
By Sebastian Mackay
Nico and Vinz have made quite the storm - even still I'd never heard of them but that says more about me than it does them - and if the hype is to be believed they're going to be dominating the charts of every country across the world (literally speaking. They've triumphed over the United States, which let's be honest pretty much is the world, and they've trampled over pop everywhere from Denmark to the UK). But there's one thing about this duo that stands out more than everything else: when he has to Nico can talk a million words a minute, bloody good for me because we were only given 10.
Bold Worlds - Pictures At An Exhibition
By Amber Kelly
Artist: New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
Date / Venue: Friday October 10th, Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington
The Drums - Encyclopedia
By Patrick Campbell
Released Friday September 26th - Minor Records
New Music Review: Julian Casablancas + the Voidz - Tyranny
By Clare McCabe
Released Friday September 26th, 2014 - Cult Records