Weekly Round-Up: Friday 15th March

It seems weird to get excited about Spring at this time of year, particular given the glorious summer weather still about, but Foals fans are doing just that as the Brits announced their return earlier this week for a one-off Auckland show in October. Pop fans too have something to look forward to during the winter months ahead with mega-star Rihanna set to bring her 'Diamonds' world tour to Auckland in October also.  Of course there are plenty of weeks to get through before then and with newly announced acts King Tuff and Municpal Waste touring in April and June respectively and The Drones announced to be joining Neil Young next week it seems we're in good shape to be entertained consistently through the coming months.

In local music news this week, god bows to math are thankfully returning to the live scene announcing their first tour in several months; The Raw Nerves have a new EP out and we have a stream of the lead single 'Scared of Serious Drugs';  Wilberforces have released the second single from their new EP Paradise Beach; Badd Energy's new album Underwater Pyramids, which we've been streaming all week, is out today on Flying Nun; and we have an exclusive premiere of the new Artisan Guns video 'Baby Blue'.

Internationally SXSW 2013 is well underway, the coverage of which always makes us feel pretty jealous but we did have a laugh at this post about New Zealand and Australian acts at the festival including '90s sounding band' band Ghost Wave and Die!Die!Die! from 'Remuera'.  If you have you no fomo issues then NPR have some pretty epic coverage of the festival which should get better over the weekend as they get more live footage up.

WEEKEND GIG PICKS:

Friday 15th March

AUCKLAND: Badd Energy, Trust Punks and Melting Pot Massacre, Cassette Nine
AUCKLAND: John The Baptist, Golden Dawn
AUCKLAND: The Mornings (AU), Wine Cellar and Whammy Bar
AUCKLAND: For Love Not Money feat. Suren Unka, 1885
WELLINGTON: Golden Axe + Quarks + Eyeliner + Snoregazzm, PUPPIES
WELLINGTON: The Shocking and Stunning + more, The Crypt
CHRISTCHURCH: Bad Blocks (aka South City Sushi Cop), Dux Live

Saturday 16th March

AUCKLAND: The Moonrakers, The Wine Cellar
AUCKLAND: Tami Neilson, Delaney Davidson and Marlon Williams, Victoria Theatre
WELLINGTON: Whole Lotta Led, The Frontroom
WELLINGTON: Melting Faces, Desperanados and Rainbow Warrior, Bodega
CHRISTCHURCH: Sam Hamilton and Teen Haters, The Darkroom
DUNEDIN: The Drab Doo-Riffs and Wilberforces, Queens

Sunday 17th March

AUCKLAND: St Patrick's at the BCC, Britomart Country Club

Coming up next week...

Neil Young and Crazy Horse with The Drones  - Wellington (Tue 19th) and Auckland (Thur 21st)
Mick Harvey (ex The Bad Seeds) - Wellington (Thur 21st), Auckland (Fri 22nd) and Leigh (Sat 23rd)

NEW TRACKS: