Music News

Weekly Roundup: Friday 21st February

C.C. / Photo credit: Abe Mora Photography / Friday 21st February, 2020 5:17PM

It was a red hot news week crammed with awesome shows to look forward to and killer releases too, here's the low down...

Announcement highlights included US folk / doom metal queen of the goths Chelsea Wolfe will embark on her first ever Aotearoa tour with band and Sargent House labelmate Emma Ruth Rundle (solo) this coming June, Mercury Prize winning UK rock veterans elbow will play an Auckland Town Hall winter headline event supported by Californian songwriter Jesca Hoop, ex-Fur Patrol songwriter Julia Deans returns to local stages in autumn for an intimate run of South Island solo events, Colombia underground techno artist Filmmaker is heading our way for an A Low Hum national tour kicking off next week, and guitar-poppers Great Gable make the long journey from Perth for their 'All My Friends' single release tour across Aotearoa. Southern California skate punk veterans Lagwagon revealed local supports for their two stop March tour, and Iggy Pop's favourite band, UK electronic punk duo Sleaford Mods did exactly the same for next Friday's Tāmaki Makaurau headline show.

We served up a crucial pair of interviews this week. Lety Beers of San Diego garage rock 'n' soul trio The Schizophonics spoke with Janie Jinx ahead of their explosive return tour of Aotearoa, which marches onwards to Leigh and Tauranga this weekend – read their chat here. We also had the privilege of sharing an illuminating conversation between boundary-pushing Aussie pop-rocker Alex Cameron and Morgan Leary of Cindy and newcomers Kathy Bates Motel, in advance of Cameron's two date North island tour in March – dive into their chinwag here.

Our Caught Live video for the week features Troy Kingi, bringing the magic to Pōneke's Meow on Saturday 7th March alongside Mara TK and Mark Vanilau as L(())VE & HOPE, who will be "channelling early soul groups such as The Temptations and Curtis Mayfield's The Impressions and performing their original songs as well as those from the likes of Al Green and Aretha Franklin." Experience electrifying live footage of the multiple Tui award winning artist with his group The Upperclass performing 'Mighty Invader' at VNZMA 2019, from his powerful latest album Holy Colony Burning Acres...