Music News

Weekly Roundup: Friday 14th June

Friday 14th June, 2019 6:19PM

It's been a bit quiet on the news side since NZ Music Month wrapped up (maybe everyone went on holiday?), but a few exciting goodies did come down the sonic pipeline this week. Announcement highlights included Swedish masters of black metal Dark Funeral will be unleashing their unholy fury in Auckland and Wellington this September, Aotearoa soul artist Hollie Smith has extended her New Song Showcase tour with an intimate run of South Island gigs in August (North Island shows are now all sold out), Ōtepoti legends Psychic Maps (led by Simon Maclaren of the Subliminals) have announced a collection of North Island shows to celebrate “ten years of languishing in Dunedin”, Auckland alt-pop big band Half Moon Baby will be cramming onto stages across the North Island this winter, and prolific Tāmaki Makaurau hip hop duo Church & AP are hitting stages across Aotearoa in August. Last but by absolutely no means least, hugely influential US anti-comedy icon Neil Hamburger (the alter-ego of Gregg Turkington of On Cinema and Faxed Head / Secret Chiefs 3 fame) is bringing his "hilarious" "jokes" to Auckland for a special evening of mirth, music and magic in July – hey what is this, a comedy website all of a sudden?!

We caught up with hard-gigging Aotearoa guitar-poppers Soaked Oats about their brand new Sludge Pop EP (out today) and forthcoming launch tour – you can read Chris Cudby's chinwag with lead singer / songwriter Oscar Mein right here. We also got on the blower with re-emerged Tāmaki Makaurau rapper Randa about their bumping latest single 'Rock Bottom'. Check out Chris Cudby's off-the-dome chat with Randa and experience the single's unforgettable accompanying clip here. After all that interview action Chris is throwing in the towel and jumping the ditch for Hobart's Dark Mofo festival. Holding the website reins while he's away for the following week and a half will be UTR Acting Editor Annabel Kean, who has a tonne of exciting features to share while Chris skives off – stay tuned!

Our Caught Live video for the week features folk-country songwriter Jenny Mitchell, who was awarded the 2019 Recorded Music NZ Best Country Music Artist | Te Kaipuoro Tuawhenua Toa Tui at the New Zealand Country Music Awards in her hometown of Gore last month. You can catch Mitchell continuing her Troubadour tour across Aotearoa over the next few weeks, playing in Barrytown and Christchurch this weekend. Experience a taste of what's to come with a sumptuous live performance video of 'Troubadour', from her latest album Wildfires...