Music News

Weekly Round Up: Friday 2nd December

Friday 2nd December, 2016 4:41PM

Some great tour news came through the pipeline this week. The Pixies announced their return to New Zealand for three shows in March. Prolific composer Hans Zimmer lined up one Auckland performance for Vector Arena next April. English outfit The Darkness will be landing on these shores for these shores with none-other than Push Push in April. Rough and ready Aussie trio Cosmic Psychos were revealed as the headline act for next year's Woodcock festival. Also crossing the ditch will be fun loving three-piece Skegss for a four-date tour in February. And that same month will see expats A Dead Forest Index coming back home for two special shows.

In release news, we were elated to premiere the new tune from Auckland artist Oscar Dowling, who is working his way to releasing his debut solo album next year. Electronic four-piece Soccerpractise lifted the lid on their great new single 'I Was Screaming'. On the streaming front, we were stoked to present the debut airing of The All Seeing Hand's new album Sand To Glass. Rock n roll reprobates The Cavemen finally let loose their sophomore album Born To Hate. Dunedin outfit The River Jesters unveiled their new album The Beautiful Mire. And salty Mark Sultan shared his long-awaited full length record BBQ.

On a sad note, this week we had to say goodbye to New Zealand music icon Ray Columbus, who died aged 74 after a four-year battle with ill health. Ray had an incredible career spanning six decades as a singer, songwriter, television host, music manager and entertainer. With his band The Invaders he received The Legacy Award at the 2009 New Zealand Music Awards, and was the first pop star in the British Commonwealth to be awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE). Here he is performing 1965 hit 'Til We Kissed' with his band The Invaders. RIP Ray x