The Waterboys: Still Flying Their Freak Flag High (Interview)
The Waterboys are about to release their new album, Modern Blues, tomorrow. Many fans of the Celtic rockers will remember their sizzling show at Auckland’s Civic Theatre in January of 2013 when Mike Scott and the boys made their first-ever stop in New Zealand. Modern Blues is being hailed as The Waterboys’ best album since […]
Watch Jessica Pratt At The 13th Floor
With write-ups in Pitchfork, Uncut and Stereogum and a recording contract with the ultra-cool Drag City label, Jessica Pratt has quickly become one of the most talked about musicians of the new year. The Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter is due to release her new album, On Your Own Love Again at the end of January. Her […]
Shovels & Rope: Americana Darlings (Interview)
Cary Ann Hearst and Michael Trent are Shovels And Rope, the husband and wife team who, after releasing their third album, Swimmin’ Time, in August of 2014, have decided to make their way down to this part of the world to perform at Auckland’s Tuning Fork on March 11. Although the couple now resides in […]
Courtney Barnett: Ready To Rock (Interview)
Australian musician and songwriter Courtney Barnett looks to be one of the highlights of this month’s Laneway Festival. Already the Melbourne-based rocker has started her own label, Milk! Records, had her song Avant Gardener named best track of 2013 by Pitchfork and been named Best Guitarist this past December during the first annual AU Awards […]
Introducing: Shakey Graves (Interview)
It seems Austin, Texas is teeming with musical talent. The latest to emerge from the self-proclaimed “Live Music Capital Of The World” is a gentleman named Alejandro Rose-Garcia…or as he’s known on record…Shakey Graves. Shakey, or “Al”, as his friends call him, stirred up a little buzz when he released his debut album in 2011. […]
Charles Bradley: The Soul Of A Man (Interview)
Charles Bradley, the veteran soul man who forms part of the Daptone roster along with Sharon Jones and Lee Fields, is scheduled to perform in Auckland this coming March. The 66-year-old New York-based singer has had a bust few years…his latest album, Victim Of Love, was released in 2013, a documentary about him, called Soul […]
Jesus Jones: Right Here, Again (Interview)
Jesus Jones will return to Auckland after more than 20 years to perform their chart-topping album, Doubt, in its entirety. The band, led by front man Mike Edwards, is still made up of the same five musicians who recorded the album back in 1991. That record featured the hit single Right Here, Right Now, a […]
Watch The Eastern’s 13th Floor Video Session
Lyttelton band The Eastern have just released their new album, The Territory. The group, led by chief songwriter and vocalist Adam McGrath, draws a musical line from Woody Guthrie to Bob Dylan to Bruce Springsteen while adding a distinctive New Zealand accent to the mix. Recently, McGrath and fellow band members Jess Shanks, Alice Ryan […]
Vika Bull: At Last! (Interview)
Along with her sister Linda, Vika Bull has been a fixture on the Australian music scene for over 20 years. Most recently, they added their voices to CW Stoneking’s latest album. But Vika Bull will be in Auckland on Friday, November 28 to perform At Last: The Etta James Story at the ASB Theatre. Vika […]
Cairo Knife Fight: Ready To Rock (Interview)
With their first album in the can and ready for release, Cairo Knife Fight are ready to make a big noise in 2015. One way they will achieve that goal is playing alongside their friends. Shihad, on what promises to be THE rock & roll tour of the summer season. Joining Shihad and Cairo Knife […]
Hurray For The Riff Raff: Small Town Heroes (Interview)
Alynda Lee Segarra is a New York City native of Puerto Rican descent who grew up listening to doo wop and punk rock, began riding freight trains at age 17 and eventually landed in New Orleans where she fronts a band called Hurray For The Riff Raff. The band’s music is a blend of old […]
Scott J Mason: The 13th Floor Video Session
Scott J Mason is another Auckland musician who has stepped up from behind the drum kit to write and sing his own songs. Mason, who has played with a several bands including Gasoline Cowboy and Mulholland, has just released his first EP, the seven-track Animal Guilt. Scott brought himself and a three-piece string section up […]
Lamb: It’s All About Space (Interview)
Electronic music duo Lamb have been busy lately. They’ve just released a new album, Backspace Unwind, are touring Europe and have announce a concert date at Auckland’s Tuning Fork in February. Lamb was formed 20 years ago by Andy Barlow and Lou Rhodes. They split up 10 years ago but reunited in 2009. Backspace Unwind […]
Spandau Ballet: It’s All True (Interview)
They’re back! Spandau Ballet has returned with a new album, The Story-The Very Best Of Spandau Ballet, which includes three brand new tracks, and a documentary about the band and its history called Soulboys Of The Western World. They have also announced a tour that will bring them to Auckland’s Vector Arena in May of […]
Age Pryor: Rockin’ The Uke (Interview)
Rachel Rayner spoke to the Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra’s Age Pryor on the eve of their first album release about taking things seriously and why the ukulele is the ideal instrument. Pryor is a major player in New Zealand music, but until he started the Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra with Bret McKenzie, he couldn’t play […]
Introducing: Josh Rennie-Hynes
Josh Rennie-Hynes is an Australian singer-songwriter who has just released his first album, titled February, produced by Shane Nicholson. Josh has booked a 16-date tour of New Zealand that begins today in Te Awamutu and wraps up on December 14th at The Wine Cellar in Auckland. You can find all the dates to his tour […]
Manchester Orchestra: From Cope To Hope (Interview)
No, they’re not British…indie band Manchester Orchestra is based in Atlanta, Georgia. The quintet will play their first New Zealand show at Auckland’s Powerstation on November 17th. This follows the release of Hope, the band’s second album of 2014. In April, the band released Cope, a record they have described as being “unrelenting and unapologetically […]
Ben Ottewell: Rattlebag Blues (Interview)
Ben Ottewell, the gravelly-voiced singer from Gomez has just released his second solo album, Rattlebag. He will also be performing at Auckland’s Tuning Fork this coming Friday. The 13th Floor’s Marty Duda spoke to Ben as he was touring Australia and discussed the thriving music scene in Ben’s hometown of Brighton and what makes a […]
Lucinda Williams: Confident & In Control (Interview)
35 years into her career, Lucinda Williams shows no signs of slowing down. In fact, she’s more productive than ever. Her latest album, Down Where The Spirit Meets The Bone is a double disc set featuring 20 new songs. And as it turns out, there’s more where those came from. That’s what The 13th Floor’s […]
CW Stoneking: Electric Boogaloo (Interview)
CW Stoneking is an Australian musician whose sound is steeped in early blues, doo-wop, calypso and African beats. His new album, Goin’ Boogaloo has just been released. It’s the follow-up to his 2008 album, Jungle Blues and his first to feature his own electric guitar playing. CW Stoneking has booked a five-date New Zealand tour […]