Music News

Weekly Roundup: Friday 31st January

C.C. / Photo credit: Chigi Kanbe / Friday 31st January, 2020 4:04PM

The short work week in Tāmaki Makaurau meant more time for fun in the sun. Our small army of reviewers and incredibly hard-working photographers Ngamihi Pawa and Knucklehead headed along to Laneway 2020 to take in the sounds and sensations of the blistering hot festival – you can dive into our team's comprehensive coverage of this year's multi-stage event in leafy Albert Park right here.

The remainder of the week was crammed full of exciting show announcements – US indie rock heroes Sebadoh and NYC songwriting talent Greta Kline's project Frankie Cosmos both revealed local supports for their forthcoming Aotearoa shows, local guitar-pop heroes The Beths announced they'll be supporting US alt-rock pioneers Pixies at Tāmaki Makaurau's Spark Arena in March, Ukrainian groups Stoned Jesus and Somali Yacht Club are descending upon Aotearoa to unleash a bongload of ultra-heavy riffs in May, Brisbane art-pop trio Requin are playing an extensive national tour in March presented by the fine folk at Papaiti Records, Sydney club experimentalist Ptwiggs is heading our way for two North Island events also in March, and an awesome lineup was revealed for Tāmaki Makaurau's second Loud and Proud Queer Music Festival, happening in February as part of the Auckland Pride Festival.

We were over the moon to share an insightful and in-depth chat between Lyttelton songwriting figurehead Delaney Davidson and visiting US bluesman Jerron "Blind Boy" Paxton, both of whom are touring throughout Aotearoa in February – enjoy their conversation right here. We were also stoked to premiere the powerful and hushed second single from rising Tāmaki Makaurau songwriter Louisa Nicklin, listen to 'Pour It Down' over here.

Our Caught Live video for the week features Japanese sonic travellers Mono, bringing their sublime blend of cinematic shoegaze and lush post-rock back to NZ for Auckland and Wellington headline events in early 2020. Touring their tenth studio album Nowhere Now Here, recorded with Steve Albini, you can experience a taste of Mono's famously transcendent live show with stunning 2018 footage of the four-piece performing 'Ashes In The Snow' (from 2009's Hymn to the Immortal Wind) at the Ziro Festival of Music in India...