Music News

Weekly Round Up: Friday 16th February

Friday 16th February, 2018 8:22PM

This week's music news has been as solid as it gets, with a bevy of exciting musical releases and tour announcements to keep us hyped for the coming year. International tour news included US metal titans Mastodon are heading our way for a show with French heavy rockers Gojira this March, fun-loving Portland metal stalwarts Red Fang are returning to New Zealand for two shows this May, Norwegian dark-dweller Mortiis (of Emperor) will be haunting the dismal corners of our venues this August, and UK punks Seven Crowns will be bringing their riotous tunes our way for an extensive tour of the North Island. In the left-of-field news department, beloved US comedian Bill Murray is visiting the country for a show with musical collaborator Jan Vogler, playing tunes from their album 'New Worlds' which brings together the artists' shared love of literature and classical music!

Local tour news included Dunedin 'shoeglaze' duo Astro Children's nationwide tour in support of their forthcoming new single, and an upcoming Auckland show by supergroup Arabia/Buda/Scott which is comprised of Lawrence Arabia and key members of the Phoenix Foundation. We're super excited by the prospect of Heed The Call Live, an event which brings together a selection of legendary artists featured on the groundbreaking compilation of 70s & 80s Aotearoa soul, funk and disco, for a one-off celebration of our dance music history at Auckland's Hollywood Theatre.

We were thrilled to talk with Lyttelton songwriter Marlon Williams about his stunning new album Make Way For Love, you can read Lydia Jenkin's conversation with the artist here. We were stoked to chat with Wellington witch rockers Hex about the first video from their just-released debut album The Hill Temple, and premiere the first collection from youthful Rangiora power poppers Best Bets, who are launching their record tonight with a party the Auckland's Golden Dawn Tavern.

Local releases remained strong, with a stylish Valentines Day single from Auckland songwriter Jonathan Bree, an artful new video from Wellington singer/producer Alexa Casino, a very catchy slice of garage pop from evergreen Papakura group The Situations, a disturbingly cathartic clip from Auckland noiseniks The Pleasure Majenta, and a mesmerising single from Dunedin experimental duo Maryland. Overseas highlights included the long-overdue return of Kool Keith's hip hop sci-fi/horror project Dr. Octagon, and a collaborative single from the winning team of Mount Kimbie and King Krule.

This week's Caught Live video features Auckland artist Tiny Ruins aka Hollie Fullbrook, who is performing two intimate shows at the Golden Dawn Tavern early next week. Here's recent footage of Tiny Ruins playing 'Tread Softly' with Hamish Kilgour (of The Clean) and Gary Hunt (from Fullbrook and Kilgour's collaborative collection Hurtling Through) on RNZ's Music 101 show...