Hollie Smith – Artworks Theatre, Waiheke Island: June 6, 2025
This year NZ Music Month is leaking into June. At least on Waiheke where Hollie Smith has brought The Bones Tour to the island’s theatre. Sold out and not surprising. Despite only 40 minutes away by ferry, we rarely get the bigger names in Kiwi music here.
Dave Dobbyn & Delaney Davidson – Auckland Town Hall: June 4, 2025
Last night…described as ‘Selected Songs’ amounted to a dream set list, reaching back into a catalogue of Aotearoa’s finest compositions that zero in on Dave Dobbyn’s central themes: love, hope and rootedness in this land.
Chelsea Wolfe – The Powerstation: May 30, 2025 (13th Floor Concert Review)
With May coming to a close, we turn our attention to The Powerstation, where Chelsea Wolfe held court last night. The 13th Floor’s Simon Coffey and Brenna Jo Gotje file these words and images.
Ash Grunwald – Tuning Fork: May 30, 2025 (13th Floor Concert Review)
The devil came to the Tuning Fork tonight. He said his name was Ash Grunwald and he spoke with an Aussie accent, but when he sang it was with such power and soul that no earthly being could muster such a voice.
Roachford – Tuning Fork: May 28, 2025 (13th Floor Concert Review)
Andrew Roachford brought his 80s-style r&b to the Tuning Fork while channeling the soul greats of the 60s and 70s.
The Lemonheads – Double Whammy: May 28, 2025 (13th Floor Concert Review)
The Lemonheads returned to Auckland, selling out Double Whammy. Simon Coffey was on the scene and files this report.
Train – Auckland Town Hall: May 28, 2025 (13th Floor Concert Review)
Auckland was in full chaos mode. Rain poured down on a Wednesday at the final days of NZ music month, and just up the road from Auckland Town Hall, a surprise Lorde pop-up gig had fans scrambling to find the right queue. But inside the Town Hall, something entirely different was unfolding — a night […]
Snarky Puppy – Powerstation: May 25, 2025 (13th Floor Concert Review)
Snarky Puppy returned after a 6-year hiatus to bring their brand of fusion jazz to Auckland and the sold-out Powerstation crowd was very happy to have them back.
Swallow the Rat, Memory Foam & Warm Leather – Whammy Bar: May 23, 2025
Swallow the Rat kicked off their Aotearoa tour tonight, releasing a new EP – Face Unpopular, and also announcing an 18-date tour of Europe in September. With fellow Tamaki Makaurau post-punker Memory Foam on the bill, an evening of riffs, rhythms and raciousness lay ahead for 13th Floor Reviewer Simon Coffey.
Voom – Double Whammy: May 23, 2025 (13th Floor Concert Review)
Double Whammy was the place to be on this Friday night in May as New Zealand Music Month marches on to the sounds of Voom.
Calla Of Ursa – Neck Of The Woods: May 22, 2025 (13th Floor Concert Review)
This is what New Zealand Music Month is all about…catching an adventurous new artist with music music about to be released and a sound all their own. Calla Of Ursa fits the bill to a tee.
Alison Moyet – Civic Theatre: May 21, 2025 (13th Floor Concert Review)
ALISON MOYET brought her beautiful and familiar voice to the beautiful and familiar Civic Theatre in Auckland, in her first visit to Aotearoa in 8 years. Carin Newbould was there to report back for The 13th Floor, with Michael Jeong photographing the leading lady.
The Longest Johns & Albi and the Wolves – The Tuning Fork: May 22, 2025
Has the Tuning Fork ever seen such gusto in both a band and crowd? Perhaps. But I doubt it. The Longest Johns – three lads from Bristol – take the crowd on a rollicking voyage from the get-go, with the opening songs generating energy usually reserved for an encore.
Pokey LaFarge – Tuning Fork: May 21, 2025 (13th Floor Concert Review)
Pokey LaFarge and his band warmed up a sold-out crowd with a set of tunes that had feet tapping and souls shakin’.
ZZ Top & George Thorogood & The Destroyers – Spark Arena: May 17, 2025
ZZ Top and George Thorogood & The Destroyers brought some good old fashioned rock & roll, with a healthy serving of the blues to Auckland’s Spark Arena. The 13th Floor’s Oxford Lamoureaux was there and reports back…
Joan As Police Woman – Raye Freedman Arts Centre: May 16, 2025
Joan As Police Woman returned to Auckland, kicking off a three-date solo New Zealand tour that finds her highlighting songs from her latest album, Lemons, Limes and Orchids.
Myles Smith – Powerstation: May 15, 2025 (13th Floor Concert Review)
Let’s get this out of the way early — last night at the Powerstation was something special. Myles Smith’s first-ever New Zealand show felt less like a debut and more like a heartfelt homecoming. And paired with a rousing opening set from Auckland’s own Will Swinton, the night became one of self-discovery, shared emotion, and […]
ATOMIC! 2.0 – Auckland Town Hall: May 9, 2025 (13th Floor Concert Review)
ATOMIC! 2.0 rocked Auckland Town Hall last night, following on from triumphant gigs in Christchurch and Wellington. Carin Newbould was there to report back for The 13th Floor, with Michael Jeong photographing all the action.
New Model Army – Tuning Fork: May 7, 2025 (13th Floor Concert Review)
After 45 years of making politically-charged punk rock, New Model Army rolled into Auckland for the first time…or at least a couple of them did.
Reb Fountain – Auckland Town Hall: May 3, 2025 (13th Floor Concert Review)
Reb Fountain put on a show for all to see last night at Auckland’s Town Hall as she closed out her How Love Bends Album Release Tour on this third day of New Zealand Music Month.