Concert Review: French For Rabbits at The Civic Club, 18 March 2021
If you mixed a bit of the Girl Group sound with masterful literary song-writing and spare textured musical backing you would have a good idea of what French For Rabbits delivered at the Civic Club tonight.
Concert Review: Crowded House, Spark Arena, 19 March 2021
Spark Arena was the only place to be last night as Neil Finn and Crowded House got a mesmerised audience on its feet in a spirit of celebration, both of the band’s work and just how lucky we are to be New Zealanders in this bizarre moment in space & time.
Labretta Suede and the Motel 6, Whammy, 14 March 2021
The Ministry of Health did Rock n Roll a favour and bumped Auckland back to Level 1 in time for the weekend. That’s how we found ourselves at Whammy on a Sunday to join Labretta Suede and the Motel 6 for one final Auckland party at their rescheduled gig before they relocate back to the […]
Concert Review: Che Fu and the Kratez – Auckland Town Hall March 13, 2021
We sent our old friend Dedee out to see and hear Che Fu this past weekend. Here’s her report with photos by Rachel Webb.
Concert Review: Emily Edrosa, Ben Woods & Louisa Nicklin – Whammy Bar March
Music of sombre moods and melodrama. Arty and theatrical. And then there was your abrasive Power Pop from headliner Emily Edrosa. A night of expansive genre-bending music leaking out into all areas but kept together by disciplined performances.
Concert Review: Soul Salute to Van Morrison – Galatos February 27, 2021
It was a Wild Night as the spirit of the King of Celtic Soul, Van Morrison, was made flesh and, most importantly, sound.
Concert Review: Yurt Party – Thirsty Dog February 26, 2021
We get our Yurt on at The Thirsty Dog as Yurt Party travel up from Christchurch to get Auckland dancing on this Friday night on K’rd.
Concert Review: Mireya Ramos -Tuning Fork February 25, 2021
Lady Latin Soul. Mireya Ramos is nothing but stunning in her debut Auckland performance. Founding member of America’s only all-female mariachi band Flor de Toloache who performed at Womad 2020 last March. That seems like another planet now as the lockdown descended down upon the country that weekend.
Concert Review: Jackie Bristow, Hamilton Gardens Arts Festival, 21 February 2021
Country music artist Jackie Bristow plays like she was born and raised in a Winnebago travelling constantly between Nashville and Memphis. She is from Gore, so she is Kiwi. And raised in the home of Country music New Zealand.
Concert Review: Fiona Pears and Connor Hartley-Hall, OSPA Theatre, Onewhero 14 February 2021
The show was titled South of France. The virtuoso violinist and guitarist took flight from the opening song and captivate us all with music that could casts spells. Fiona Pears would easily be one of the best violinists I’ve heard. A child prodigy from Christchurch. Won a talent show at age six. Playing in national […]
Concert Review: Takadimi, Anthology Lounge, 10 February 2021
An enthralling show of East-West Fusion Jazz by Takadimi kicked off the year for the Creative Jazz Club in Auckland. Virtuoso tabla player Manjit Singh, originally from Punjab Province leads a group which takes us on a magic carpet ride of sound which feels rooted in familiar American Jazz, but from which older Eastern music […]
Concert Review: DARTZ, Whammy Bar, Auckland 13 February 2021
Four mates from Parliamentary Services in Capital City pub-crawl their way up the country to slam out some high-energy Old-School Punk in front an enthusiastic K Road crowd. Above ground the street is shredded. In the dark pits below ground the DARTZ are shredding.
Concert Review: Louis Baker & The APO – Auckland Town Hall, February 11, 2021
A beautiful venue, a full orchestra and a stunning vocalist…things seemed perfectly in place for a lovely night out in Auckland with Louis Baker and the APO.
Concert Review: Hannah Fang & Friends – 107 Neilson St 13 Feb 2020
Wow! A visual and aural overload in, of all places, Onehunga, as Hannah Fang and her friends put on a spectacular show.
Concert Review: Kiwigrass Part 2
More from Rev Orange Peel on his three-day immersion in Kiwi Bluegrass!
Concert Review: Kiwigrass, Mighty River Domain, Lake Karapiro 5 -7 February 2021
The third New Zealand Bluegrass festival, held in the absence of international artists, establishes a NZ home for this vital American Roots country with home-grown acts both old and new.
Concert Review: Graeme Jefferies – Wine Cellar February 5, 2021
Ex-Cakekitchen/Nocturnal Projections/This Kind Of Punishment songwriter/guitarist Graeme Jefferies returns to Auckland’s Wine Cellar to promote the reissue of Messages For The Cakekitchen (on red vinyl no less).
Concert Review: Marina Bloom – The Tuning Fork February 5, 2021
From Russia with love, Marina Bloom treated her fans to a stunning recital of songs old and new at Auckland’s Tuning Fork.
Concert Review: Dragon, Tuning Fork, 3 February 2021
The legendary Kiwi band are in their 49th year and they emerge from their quarantine bubble from some Chelsea Hotel of Ageless Rock Stars to lay down a spirited and heartwarming set of great Power Pop and Rock’n’Roll. Taking care of business, and working overtime.
Concert Review: Auckland Folk Festival, Kumeu Showgrounds 29 January to 1 February 2021 Part 2
The 48th Auckland Folk Festival went ahead this year despite some last-minute threats of a lockdown. It was a stunning success due to the quality and vast breadth of styles and genres that we all enjoyed over three days.