Music News

Weekly Roundup: Friday 18th January

Friday 18th January, 2019 5:39PM

It's time again to round up the musical week as 2019 gathers steam - it can be a bit like herding cats, but instead of claws and fangs, it's awesome music releases and can't-miss live shows. Big news for the week included Queensland 'Smoko' viral hitmakers The Chats are descending upon Aotearoa for a national tour in February, Hollie Fullbrook's Tiny Ruins is playing a special pair of album release events in Auckland and Wellington this March, Finnish folk metal maestros Korpiklaani are returning to New Zealand for two shows in May, Hamilton's annual Future City Festival revealed their humungous full lineup for their return this March, Wellington indie / Americana crew Anxiety Club are playing a three date national tour in celebration of their debut collection Black Heart, and Australian songsmith Juanita Stein (Howling Bells) is playing a special headline event at Auckland's Whammy Bar, squeezed in between her upcoming support slots for touring UK icon Bryan Ferry.

If you thought that was everything you'd better think twice, Dunedin's long-running experimental music festival Lines Of Flight revealed their mind-expanding second lineup of local sound explorers for this year's three day event, Auckland artist-led "boutique live music experience” Field Of Dreams announced their roster of awesomely psychedelic, guitar jangling and synth-driven local acts for the one-day DIY festival in March, Melbourne folk-rock group The Paper Kites are heading back our way also in March, and legendary British-American rockers Fleetwood Mac are touring Aotearoa in September, featuring our very own Neil Finn.

We were thrilled to feature an in-depth chat with UK electronic pioneers Orbital playing at Splore Festival 2019 and Electric Avenue Festival in February, interviewed by the tag-team of fans Chris Cudby and Satin Sheets. We also hosted an illuminating conversation between visiting LA-based composer Tashi Wada and Martyn Pepperell, and had the privilege of premiering captivating new audio-visual works by Melbourne-based expat songwriter Plum Green and Auckland shoegaze / dream-pop crew Dead Little Penny. Last but by no means least, our man on the scene Fluffy reviewed California hip hop / R&B star Anderson .Paak's triumphant Saturday performance at Spark Arena - you can read his definitive hot take on the event along with a FOMO-inducing set of images by photographer Connor Crawford here.

Our Caught Live video for the week features Los Angeles dance-pop stylists Drab Majesty, whose four date summer tour of Aotearoa commences this coming Thursday at Wellington's Valhalla. Zone out to truly otherworldly recent live footage of the duo in action, playing their song 'Dot In The Sky' (starting from 0:45) at Chicago's International Museum of Surgical Science...