Music News

Weekly Roundup: Friday 22nd June

Friday 22nd June, 2018 5:06PM

It was the shortest day of the year on Thursday, which means the rest of 2018 is literally looking brighter, as testified by this week's tour announcements and musical releases. Big news included English indie mainstays Florence + The Machine announced they’ll be performing at Auckland's Spark Arena in late January 2019, and US hip hop superstars Brockhampton are visiting Aotearoa for the first time in September.

Local tour news included globetrotting noise-punks Die! Die! Die! announced a three date tour for August, Auckland synth-pop collective Polyester are celebrating the launch of their self-titled debut album with shows around the country in July, and Wellington songsmith extraordinaire Finn Johansson is heading out for a trek across (mostly) the North Island. Auckland songwriter Mali Mali disclosed a six-date national outing, Lawrence Arabia announced his collaborative entity with Lord Echo's Mike Fabulous Fabulous / Arabia will play two dates in the lower North Island in late July, and Christchurch jangle-poppers Wurld Series declared a national tour in support of their collection Stately and Befrothed. That's not all - Melbourne party animals Drunk Mums are visiting Christchurch and Dunedin in August, and acclaimed ex-pat folk duo Great North shared details of a homecoming tour before heading back to their new headquarters in the UK.

We were thrilled to premiere the debut collection from Wellington-based "dreamo" artists Bad Friend, as well as a new tune from Auckland guitar-pop gurus The Situations, who announced their latest album The Day After The Night Before is out next month. We also spoke with Melbourne indie-electronic duo Kllo, who've touched down in Aotearoa for Red Bull Music Presents shows in Auckland and Wellington this weekend.

Local release highlights included local pop royals Neil & Liam Finn unveiled a star-studded video from their forthcoming collaborative album Lightsleeper, Cantabrian songsmith Jed Parsons shared toe-tapping number ‘Time’ ahead of his imminent album release tour, Auckland-based internet pop star Princess Chelsea announced her latest album The Loneliest Girl and shared cosmic video for lead single ‘I Love My Boyfriend’, and electronic duo Madly released their beat-heavy sophomore tune ‘Honey’. Electronic artist Cave Circles dropped three fresh singles, the first in a regular run of releases now emanating from his Wellington studio, Dunedin post-hardcore crew Swallows Nest unleashed the endearingly DIY clip for ‘Apathy As An Infinite Manifestation’, and award-winning Berlin via New Zealand and neo-soul artist Noah Slee shared a gloriously dazed video for his track ‘Stayed’.

Our Caught Live clip for this week features Norwegian metal maniacs Aura Noir, who'll be smashing skulls at Auckland's Whammy Bar and Wellington heavy music hub Valhalla in July. Here's vintage footage of the band slaying on stage at France's Hellfest in 2009, ripping through a devastating version of 'Conqueror' from their 1996 debut album Black Thrash Attack...