Thalia Zedek (USA) & Ned Collette (AUS) Touring Aotearoa NZ in June

Key member of US alt-rock / art-punk innovators Live Skull, Uzi and Come amongst her many achievements, Boston icon Thalia Zedek has announced her first ever Aotearoa shows, joining forces with Berlin-based Australian / NZ tunesmith Ned Collette for double headline dates in Tāmaki Makaurau and Pōneke. Releasing records with her Thalia Zedek Band via esteemed Chicago imprint Thrill Jockey from 2001 onwards, Zedek's latest album Perfect Vision reaped praise from Dusted: "Like all her works, it exudes a brute, persistent strength that will not yield, no matter what happens".

Last on our shores back in 2009, Ned Collette's avant-folk oeuvre has expanded substantially since, reaching fresh ears with 2018's Old Chestnut and his newest solo record Our Other History. Brought to you by Strange News Touring and Home Alone Music, don't miss these masters of their craft this winter — Collette will also be treating southern gig-goers to a solo show in Lyttelton...

Thalia Zedek (USA) and Ned Collette (AUS)

Wednesday 18th June - Unitarian Church, Auckland*
Thursday 19th June - Vogelmorn Upstairs, Wellington*
Friday 20th June - Lyttelton Coffee Co, Lyttelton (Ned Collette only)

*Tickets on sale HERE via UTR

Hit play on 'Smoked' from Thalia Zedek Band's 2021 album Perfect Vision...

Experience 'Grant's Farm' from Ned Collette's 2018 album Old Chestnut...

Press release:

Auckland’s Strange News Touring have teamed up with Wellington record label and collective Home Alone Music to announce two very special shows this June featuring two incredible artists, Thalia Zedek and Ned Collette.

A true icon of alternative music, Thalia Zedek has been part of some of underground independent music’s fiercest and finest moments, including Live Skull and Uzi in the 1980s, and noisy 90s indie favourites Come.

Since then, Thalia has become a mainstay on legendary Chicago label Thrill Jockey (Trans Am, Rose City Band) with her brilliant Thalia Zekek Band output. As her label tells it, “Her ability to deliver raw emotions through her vivid stories of loss and hope, strife and triumph is unmatched”. New album The Boat Outside Your Window arrives next month, with new singles Tsunami and Naming Names suggesting this record is set to turn heads and destroy worlds.

While these days he calls Berlin home, Ned Collette is both an Aussie lad and card-carrying Kiwi. Ned’s early years were spent playing experimental music in the underground venues of Wellington, before he headed off into the wild yonder to seek fame and fortune, or at least some amazing adventures. Seven albums in, his latest record Our Other History features hometown pals Leah Senior, Jim White (Dirty Three), Chris Abrahams (The Necks), and more.

This marks the first time Thalia will have ever graced our shores, and it’s a very overdue return visit for Ned. These shows will be absolutely unmissable, so best not miss them, eh?