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 […]
French For Rabbits: Dream-Folk From Canterbury (Interview)
New Zealand self-described “dream/folk” band French For Rabbits release their debut album, Spirits, today. The Canterbury-area based act began as a duo with Brooke Singer and John Fitzgerald gaining international acclaim after releasing their EP, Claimed By The Sea. They have now expanded to a four-piece while recording Spirits in Wellington. The 13th Floor’s Marty […]
Spiegeltent: A Bit Of Tallulah, A Bit Of Iggy (Interview)
A Spiegeltent is large travelling entertainment venue made from teak and decorated with velvet, stained glass and mirrors. Such a tent is home to Spiegelworld, the New York-based troupe who’ve taken circus, cabaret and burlesque and given them an extreme makeover for our post-Playboy world. Kathryn van Beek spoke to Jonathan Taylor, AKA Oscar the […]
James Burton: From Elvis To New Zealand (Interview)
Guitarist James Burton has one of the most incredible CVs in music history. His work with Elvis Presley and Rick Nelson alone would be more than enough to land him in the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, but the “Master Of The Telecaster” has recorded with just about everyone over the past 60 years…Ray […]
Hot Chocolate: Every 1’s A Winner! (Interview)
English hitmakers Hot Chocolate will perform at Auckland’s Bruce Mason Centre tomorrow night and then move on to Wellington on Wednesday. Although singer Errol Brown is long gone, the core of the group…guitarist Harvey Hinsley, bassist Patrick Olive and drummer Tony Conner remain in tact. The band formed in 1968 and went on to have […]
The Delines Arrive In New Zealand
The Delines, featuring members of Richmond Fontaine and vocalist Amy Boone, landed in Auckland yesterday and will play at The Tuning Fork this evening. The 13th Floor’s Marty Duda found the band enjoying a few beverages after their long flight and sat down for a brief interview. You can watch it here: [wpvideo gG7gYYFQ] Listen to […]
From Radiography To The Radio: The Selecter’s Pauline Black (Interview)
British 2-Tone ska band The Selecter begins its 3-date New Zealand tour tomorrow in Christchurch. The band is still fronted by rude-girl Pauline Black and also features original co-vocalist Arthur ‘Gaps’ Hendrickson. In addition to her work as a musician, Black has revealed her talents as an actress and author over the years. On this […]
In Her Own Words: Moana Introduces Rima (Interview)
Moana Maniapoto is one of New Zealand’s most important artists mixing indigenous New Zealand music with dub, reggae and electronica. With her band, The Tribe, Moana has just released her fifth album, Rima featuring a collaboration with Don McGlashan and production by Pitch Black’s Paddy Free. Moana & The Tribe will launch the album tomorrow […]