Weekly Round Up: Friday 20th April

It was an eventful week for music news, releases and tour announcements, highlighted by the prestigious 2018 Taite Music Prize going to Lyttelton songwriting icon Aldous Harding for her landmark album Party. We were there in full force at the presentation ceremony on Tuesday, you can watch footage of the entire event here and Harding's graceful acceptance speech here.

Other big news for the week included Melbourne superstar Courtney Barnett is heading our way for two shows in August and shared a very catchy new single. Office faves Wax Chattels announced a nationwide tour kicking off in May in support of their debut album coming out via Flying Nun Records and Captured Tracks, and Cantabrian dream-folk artists French For Rabbits are hitting the road for a tour of "pocket size" venues in May.

We were stoked to premiere ex-Wellington swamp-grunge unit Thought Creature's long-awaited second album Ocean Dream ahead of their tour on Aoteraoa which continues this weekend, as well as an anthemic new single from Auckland songwriter Dictaphone Blues. We also spoke with regular UTR photographer Connor Crawford about his upcoming music-inspired exhibition You Saw Sound, I Heard Colour with painter Diva Ford, opening tonight at Auckland venue Lowtide.

Other local news highlights included Taite-nominees Mermaidens shared a dreamy video for their tune 'Fade', Wellington singer and producer Estère dropped the latest tune from her long-awaited double album My Design, On Others' Lives, Lawrence Arabia unveiled the latest release from his 2018 Singles Club, Coyote lifted the lid on a spaced-out number, Delaney Davidson unveiled his first studio album in two and a half years, and Melbourne-based ex-pat Sarah Mary Chadwick (of Batrider) shared a powerful track from her upcoming album Sugar Still Melts In The Rain, along with a new collection of rarities.

Our Caught Live video for this week features footage of Yoko-Zuna, Anna Coddington and Joel Shadbolt playing a stellar rendition of Aldous Harding's song 'Imagining My Man' from her 2018 Taite Prize-winning album Party. Check out their performance at the award presentation ceremony at Auckland's Civic Wintergarden below courtesy of RNZ and IMNZ...

WEEKEND GIG PICKS:

Friday

Auckland: Bench Press, Carb on Carb, Ha The Unclear - Whammy Bar
Auckland: Eno x Dirty, Jess B, Omni Potent + More - Galatos
Wellington: Nomad, Alae - Meow
Wellington: Tom Cunliffe - Caroline
Christchurch: Soaked Oats - New City Hotel
Christchurch: Murgatroyd, No Broadcast + More - darkroom
Dunedin: Eb and Sparrow - Captain Cook


Saturday

Auckland: John Cooper Clarke - Crystal Palace
Auckland: Mild Orange, Jack Berry - The Dogs Bolix
Wellington: Tiny Ruins - Meow
Wellington: Bench Press, Eyeliner - Caroline
Christchurch: Thought Creature - Hell Fire Club
Christchurch: Alphabethead - darkroom
Dunedin: Feastock 2018: Koizilla, Flora & Sean + More


Head over to our Gig Guide for more listings!!!

NEW TRACKS: