Wellington Art Rock band Sheeps made a bold debut with their record ‘Working the Machine,’ released April 2024 through AllGood Absolute Alternative Records. Exploring the pitfalls of capitalism, the ever-tightening global technological stranglehold, the electoral illusion of choice, and the prospect of failure after lifelong endeavour, the album is a statement on the modern struggles of the working class in a brave new, damaged era.
As the one-year anniversary of its release approaches, it’s high time Working the Machine got pressed to vinyl, to become its highest manifestation of art, as it was always intended to be.
The time has come for a major push to make this happen. To do so, Sheeps are holding a vinyl fundraiser show at San Fran on Saturday 3rd May, with all proceeds going toward the cost of pressing Working the Machine to vinyl. In order to ensure the pressing happens, Sheeps are inviting their fans to pre-order Working the Machine on vinyl by visiting sheepsband.bandcamp.com, and have also launched a Givealittle campaign.
Joining Sheeps on the night will be the powerhouse duo that is Into Orbit.
Come and be a part of making a piece of NZ art possible by joining Sheeps at San Fran on Saturday 3rd May.
Tickets via moshtix.co.nz.
Vinyl Pre-Order: https://sheepsband.bandcamp.com
Givealittle Page: https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/getworkingthemachinepressedtovinyl
Sheeps
Though Sheeps was born from writing sessions between brothers/guitarists Dean & Simon Blackwell in an Oriental Bay basement in 2015, the band didn’t begin in earnest until the addition of third guitarist Grace Baker, drummer Thomas Friggens, and bassist Blain Fitzpatrick the following year. The band quickly amassed a cult following and began to draw comparisons to the shifting, evolving art rock structures of Radiohead, the affecting and often bleak lyricism of The Smiths, and the grandiose atmospherics of post-rock bands Jakob & Mogwai.
Having signed with Auckland’s AllGood Absolute Alternative Records (AAA Records), Sheeps released their debut album Working The Machine (recorded, mixed, and produced by respected Wellington producer/engineer James Goldsmith) in April 2024. The album debuted at #18 on the Top 20 NZ Albums Chart. Their music video for Generation I (directed by Rich Turner of Black Lantern Film & VFX) went on to win awards for Best Rock Music Video at the Prague International Music Video Awards 2024 and Best Low Budget Music Video at the Nottingham Music Video Awards 2024. It was a quarter finalist in the Best Indie Rock Video category at the International Music Video Underground 2024 and received an official selection at both the Third Culture Film Festival NZ 2024 and the Europe Music Video Awards 2024.
Sheeps supported Japanese post-rock band Toe on the Wellington leg of their Oceania Tour in October 2024. The band are now writing material for their second album, and kicked off 2025 by headlining the Constable Street stage at Wellington’s Newtown Festival, and performing on the Valhalla Stage at Wellington’s CubaDupa street festival.
Into Orbit
Into Orbit is a Wellington duo of guitar and drums, whose immersive, genre-defying sound contains aspects of experimental rock, polished prog, ambience & drone.
