Weekly Round Up: Friday 5th May

Some cool tour news came rolling in to UTR HQ this week. 2tone ska legends The Selecter and The Beat are teaming up for a double-headline tour that will bring them to this side of the globe in late January. UK grime superstar Stormzy announced his debut NZ shows for July/August. Aussie's Wolfmother are coming back this way for two howling appearances in early June. Also coming from across the ditch is post-punk outfit Gold Class who will be performing a couple of co-headline shows with our own Yukon Era. Formidable folk artist Aldous Harding revealed the dates for two special shows at Auckland's historic Pah Homestead. Wellington's Mermaidens announced a five-show jaunt to celebrate the release of their new single 'Satsuma'. And Berlin-based musician Luckless has lined up a couple of shows on home soil for later this month. And last but certainly not least, with NZ Music Month in full swing the annual NZ Music Month Summit has been announced and sees a whole slew of excellent speakers lined-up to speak at the Auckland Museum on 20th May. Check out the details over here.

Highlights from this week's release news included the long-awaited release of Slowdive's first record in 22 years, entitled Slowdive, and we were lucky enough to have a yarn with guitarist Christian Savill about the new album as well as have a wander down memory lane. Also out of the woodwork came the first album in 17 years from influential post-hardcore crew At The Drive In. On a more local vibe, Dunedin four-piece Soaked Oats shared their sweet produced-themed release Stone Fruit Melodies. Also coming out of Dunedin, but on a entirely different note, Ov Pain let loose a haunting single called 'Soon To Be'. Lowtide affiliate T.King dropped his debut album Heliotrope Horoscope. Out of the capital city came flying a new cut from The Tape Wolves, who are letting loose new album Esoteric Surf Trash this week on vinyl. And we got the lowdown from lo-fi collective Baton De Cul-de-sac and their awesome new single 'Something'.

We love the live clips that are coming out of the Freak The Sheep show, and so for this week's Caught Live we definitely have to share this awesome appearance of i.e crazy up at the bFM studios where she performed 'A Child's Blood' before slipping off to Berlin...

WEEKEND GIG PICKS:

Friday

Auckland: Tapz + Mzwetwo - REC
Auckland: WCB + Marika Hodgson - Shanghai Lils
Wellington: Nashville Pussy - Valhalla
Wellington: The Biscuits 'Rise' Release Show - Meow 
Christchurch: Jordan Luck band - The Sail Bar
Christchurch: Straight From The Garage - Darkroom
Dunedin: Clap Clap Riot 'Dull Life' Release Show - The Crown Hotel

Saturday

Auckland: Snackdown - Whammy Bar
Auckland: Johnny Osbourne - Neck Of The Woods
Wellington: Teeth + So Laid Back Country China - San Fran
Wellington: Gemma Ray - Caroline 
Christchurch: Elan Vital 'Shadow Self' Release Show - New City Hotel
Christchurch: Clap Clap Riot 'Dull Life' Release Show - Darkroom
Dunedin: Southern Hostility - The Crown Hotel

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

NEW TRACKS: