Jon Spencer: Back To The Apple (Interview)
Jon Spencer brings his Blues Explosion back to Auckland for a raucous show at The Powerstation on Friday, July 31st plus 3 more NZ dates. The band has just released their latest album, Freedom Tower: No Wave Dance Party 2015. The album finds the trio in top form, with the songwriting centred around their adopted […]
Watch New Gum Sarn’s 13th Floor Video Session
With a debut album just released on Spunk Record, Auckland quartet New Gum Sarn are the hottest band on the local scene right now. Just before they set out on the road to conquer the rest of the country, they stopped by The 13th Floor to record a video session. In addition to playing two […]
Shining A Light On The Sherpa (Interview)
Film director Jennifer Peedom traveled to Nepal last year to make a documentary focusing on the often under-reported role Sherpas play in the huge business that has been built around Mt Everest climbing expeditions. Specifically, she planned to shine a light on Phurba Tashi Sherpa, who held the record with another Sherpa for most ascents […]
From Scotland To New Zealand With Love (Interview)
Originally produced to coincide with the 2014 Commonwealth Games held in Glasgow, From Scotland With Love has taken on a life of its own. The film was directed by ex-pat Kiwi Virginia Heath who combed through hundreds of hours of archival Scottish film footage, dating back a hundred years to come up with a mesmerizingly […]
From Bounty Hunter to Producer (Interview)
He’s been a bounty hunter, a private investigator and an author. Now Sam Brower is the producer of a feature-length documentary. Brower spent seven years investigating and tracking down Warren Jeffs, the leader of the Fundamentalist Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS). Brower finally got his man and Jeffs is now serving a […]
Robert Gordon Mixes Politics & Music (Interview)
A couple of weeks ago The 13th Floor’s Marty Duda spoke with Morgan Neville, one of two directors of Best Of Enemies, the documentary screening at this year’s New Zealand International Film Festival based around the 1968 televised debates between William F Buckley and Gore Vidal. Now, as the Film Festival gets underway, Marty speaks […]
Phoenix Rising (Interview)
Award-winning German film director Christian Petzold offers up his latest drama at this year’s New Zealand International Film Festival. Phoenix has all the ingredients of a classic film noir/Hitchcock-ian thriller. Set in immediate post-WWII Germany, Phoenix tells the story of a disfigured holocaust survivor, Nelly, played by Nina Hoss, who, after reconstructive surgery that leaves […]
How To Change The World (Interview)
Greenpeace has been an integral part of the New Zealand landscape for over 30 years, with the bombing of The Rainbow Warrior in Auckland Harbour becoming one of this country’s defining moments. But how much do you really know about how Greenpeace was formed? Director Jerry Rothwell has assembled How To Change The World, a […]
Watch The Warratahs 13th Floor Video Session
Veteran Kiwi country-rockers The Warratahs are about to hit the road with a five-date NZ tour beginning on July 17th (Click here for more info). The band, led by Barry Saunders, has just released their new album Runaway Days. They recently stopped by The 13th Floor studio where Barry Saunders spoke to Marty Duda about […]
Inside The Chinese Mayor (Interview)
The 13th Floor continues its coverage of the 2015 New Zealand International Film Festival with an interview with Chinese film producer Zhao Qi. Qi’s documentary, The Chinese Mayor offers unprecedented insight into the inner workings of the modern Chinese local government. Film director Zhou Hao followed Geng Yanbo, the mayor of Datong City, China’s most […]
On https://youtu.be/GIRcpBEzO9o: Documenting a Real-Life Super Hero (Interview)
You’ve probably heard of Evel Knievel, the larger-than-life daredevil who spent his life jumping over everything from rattlesnakes and cougars to buses and canyons on his trusty Harley-Davidson motorcycle. By the mid-1970s he was bigger than Elvis, and with a jump suit to match. Oscar-winning film maker Daniel Junge has just make a documentary about […]
Watch Rackets’ 13th Floor Video Session!!
Auckland-based trio Rackets wrap up an incredible week of playing over 20 gigs when they appear at The Kings Arms tonight. The week started this past Sunday at The 13th Floor when the band played a short set and spoke to Marty Duda. Here now, is the full session including a highlight from their new […]
Interview: Lindsay Schoolcraft of Cradle of Filth
Tove Partington sat down with the stunningly talented Lindsay Schoolcraft, the voice of Cradle of Filth’s female vocals, keyboard and harp. Talking about being a woman in a male dominated industry, veganisim and Cradle of Filths (hopefully) upcoming tour of New Zealand, give it a watch below! Check out a track from the upcoming album, […]
Interview: Dani Filth talks new album, "Hammer Of The Witches."
Tove Partington sat down on International Goth Day with Dani Filth, frontman of Cradle of Filth to talk about the new album “Hammer Of The Witches”, history, and the long awaited New Zealand Tour. Have a listen to find out more! The new album drops on the tenth of July, have a listen to one […]
From Cher To Zappa: The Wrecking Crew Pt. 2 (Interview)
Here is part two of our interview with film director Denny Tedesco. Denny directed The Wrecking Crew, the story of the LA session musicians who anonymously played on just about every hit record recorded in LA during the 1960s including those by The Beach Boys, Frank Sinatra, Glen Campbell, Paul Revere & The Raiders, The […]
SNFU: Drunk on a Boat!
The history of Punk in Canada (let alone the World) can not be told without the mention of these 4 letters: SNFU. In 1996 they rocked Australia and New Zealand and 2015 sees a return of Chi and his motley crew!
Inside The Wrecking Crew (Interview)
One of the highlights of the New Zealand International Film Festival, at least in recent years, has been the music documentaries on offer. This year is no exception. One of the most highly-anticipated is The Wrecking Crew, the story of the LA session musicians who anonymously played on just about every hit record recorded in […]
Watch Avalanche City’s 13th Floor Video Session
When Avalanche City’s debut album, Our New Life Above Ground, was released in 2011, it spawned the record-breaking hit single Love, Love, Love, which went on to spend 19 weeks atop the New Zealand charts and score an APRA Silver Scroll Awards for songwriter Dave Baxter. Finally, Avalanche City’s long-awaited second album, We Are For […]
Interview with Chad Grey from HellYeah!
HELLYEAH is a Supergroup that lives up to the title. Featuring ex-Mudvayne singer Chad Gray, ex-Pantera drummer Vinnie Paul, ex-Nothingface guitarist Tom Maxwell, bassist Kyle Sanders (ex-Bloodsimple and brother of Mastodon bassist Troy Sanders) and Christian Brady (ex-Überschall) guitar. HELLYEAH are in a league of their own with their own. Their distinct sound and stage presence is best described as pure metallic fury and […]
Oscar-Winning Director Morgan Neville Talks To The 13th Floor
The New Zealand International Film Festival revealed its schedule this week and we here at The 13th Floor are very excited. In the weeks leading up to the festival we’ll be presenting interviews with directors, producers, actors and musicians who have films featured this year. Once the festival gets underway in Auckland we’ll have a […]