Music News

Weekly Roundup: Friday 5th July

Friday 5th July, 2019 4:51PM

Back in the saddle after over a week taking in the ear-bleeding sonics and freezing cold venues of Hobart's Dark Mofo festival (plus a short trip to Melbourne), UTR editor Chris Cudby got stuck right in to bring you our July playlist, showcasing fresh crucial tracks from Aotearoa and beyond plus a sprinkling of office faves – listen to it right HERE.

It was a flat-out awesome week for announcements – the first lineup for Auckland's multi-venue The Others Way 2019 festival was unveiled on Monday, featuring such mega names as The Chills, Straitjacket Fits, Blam Blam Blam, The Terminals, John Maus and many more. NZ alt-pop icons Blam Blam Blam also announced they'll be playing a special run of reunion shows, you can catch original members Don McGlashan, Tim Mahon and Mark Bell touring Aotearoa in August and September, but you better move fast as tickets are flying out the door!

More announcement highlights include Japanese punk-pop legends Shonen Knife are heading back our way for a guaranteed super fun three date tour of the North Island, Tiny Ruins are returning to their homeland this September to celebrate the global success of their third studio album Olympic Girls with a twelve date NZ tour, and The Southern Fork Americana Fest 2019 is returning for their sixth year this October, with a multi-night bill of international and local acts featuring Molly Tuttle & Dee White, Tami Neilson, Pokey LaFarge, Jonny Fritz & Joshua Hedley, The Felice Brothers, Albi & The Wolves plus more to be announced. Need even more great stuff for your diary? Dunedin guitar-pop crew Mild Orange are touring their massively successful debut album Foreplay across NZ in August and September, Sulfate (aka Peter Ruddell of Wax Chattels' new solo project) is playing a winter tour in celebration of his form-destroying debut single 'Speaking For Others', and the live band manifestation of Créme Jéan (the recording project of Brad Fafejta) are putting pedal to the metal to play throughout Aotearoa this winter.

On Wednesday we wrapped up our two-part interview with Beastwars, exploring the harrowing circumstances behind the triumphant release of their fourth studio album IV – read Cortina frontman Ace Hunt's epic conclusion to their in-depth conversation HERE, and experience the band in full flight tonight at Christchurch's Blue Smoke and this Saturday at Dunedin's The Cook.

Our Caught Live video for the week features Tāmaki Makaurau soul artist Bailey Wiley, whose nationwide release tour for her superb new self-titled EP kicks off at Auckland's Galatos on Friday 12th July. Enjoy exceptional recent Grow Room Sessions footage of the artist in her element, delivering a passionate rendition of 'Still On My Mind' from 2016's S.O.M.M...