Music News

Weekly Roundup: Friday 31st August

Friday 31st August, 2018 5:23PM

Unless you've been sealed in a cave for the past few months you'll know Auckland multi-venue mega festival The Others Way is happening tonight, with more than fifty acts descending upon the Karangahape Road district over fourteen venues. In advance of arguably the biggest local independent music event of the year, we spoke with Chris Matthews of legendary Flying Nun hitmakers Headless Chickens about what they've got cooking for tonight's special reunion performance, we previewed the debut collection from Auckland's TOOMS who'll be hitting the stage at the Audio Foundation as part of the festival, and chatted with rising Wellington electro-pop star Josie Moon about her latest EP out today, who'll be performing at at Whammy Backroom. Christchurch noise-rock legends Bailterspace are reuniting for tonight's musical extravaganza too, they're heading out for a nationwide tour in September and this week announced an additional Auckland headline show at Auckland's Whammy Bar.

Of course The Other's Way isn't the only show in town this weekend, annual boutique musical industry event the Going Global Music Summit kicked off today, and is presenting a selection of aspiring artists from throughout New Zealand at Saturday's Going Global Presents showcase. Kiki Van Newtown of Wellington's Hex caught up with featured speaker Jessi Frick about her work with influential US independent label Father / Daughter Records ahead of her Auckland appearance. On top of all that, this year's top five finalists were announced for the prestigious annual Silver Scroll Award for songwriting, you can check out the nominated songs here.

Tour highlights for the week included Kim Deal's trailblazing grunge-pop group The Breeders are heading our way in December to play at Auckland's Powerstation, Norwegian jazz quintet Friends and Neighbours are visiting New Zealand for a nationwide tour in September, Ben Ottewell of Mercury Prize winning indie rockers Gomez is playing a headline show at Auckland's Tuning Fork in November, UK punk / new wave originator Wreckless Eric is touring Aotearoa in November, youthful local post-punks Yukon Era and Soda Boyz are getting in the van for an extensive nationwide tour, and ex-pat streaming superstar Lakyn is playing his debut New Zealand headline show at Auckland's Whammy Bar.

Local release highlights included the stunning latest single from Dunedin's Bad Sav, whose long-awaited self-titled debut album is out in September, a sterling compilation of homegrown 'Footmahi' from Christchurch dance facilitators The Big Fresh Collective, a six track collection of club-smoking dance cuts by enigmatic Auckland producer Dj TALK, a sparkling guitar pop tune and video from Dunedin's Marlin's Dreaming, a frenzied collection from Oamaru noise-punks The Trendees, a beat-heavy track from Cantabrian duo Dance Armstrong, and two dope jams from Auckland electronic dance artist Power Nap.

Our Caught Live video for the week features Auckland City hip hop artist Melodownz, who'll be doing double duty at The Others Way tonight, laying down rhymes solo at Anthology Lounge and joining his High Beams crew for a sure to be banging party at Samoa House. Prep yourself for tonight via checking out ace recent footage of the rapper performing his tracks 'Peace $igns Gang $igns' and '$on of a Queen' in the 95bFM studios for Freak The Sheep's Live & Direct sessions...