Ben Folds Announces One New Zealand Show In February 2018
Lauded singer-songwriter and piano-pop maverick, BEN FOLDS, today announces he will return to Australasia in 2018 to take in six theatre dates around Australia before heading to New Zealand to perform one Auckland show on Monday 19th February at the Powerstation.
Justin Hayward: The 13th Floor Interview
Justin Hayward has been fronting The Moody Blues since 1967 when they abandoned their early r&b sound and created something completely new with Days Of Future Passed. Since then, the band has amassed an incredible legacy of work including iconic albums such as A Question Of Balance, Seventh Sojourn and In Search Of The Lost […]
Bill Frisell: A Portrait Dir: Emma Franz
A few days ago I nominated BANG! The Bern Berns Story as the best music documentary at this year’s film festival (read review here). After watching Bill Frisell: A Portrait, I must say that it comes in as a close second.
Bridge Burner – Audio Foundation July 29, 2017
This one is a freebie in more ways than one. As with all other performers at 95bFM’s bStreet Festival, Bridge Burner’s set was free entry. This review is also “free.” I didn’t arrange it with 13th Floor beforehand, I was at the gig in no role except a metal fan who liked Bridge Burner’s debut […]
Happy End Dir: Michael Haneke
Starring: Isabelle Huppert, Jean-louis Trintignant, Toby Jones Austrian filmmaker Michael Haneke serves up a French-language black comedy featuring a dysfunctional family, observations on social media, euthanasia, European class structure and immigration and video surveillance in the age of the smart phone. Unfortunately, the end result of all this is less than the sum of […]
My Year with Helen, Director: Gaylene Preston
My Year with Helen takes an in-depth look at former Prime Minister Helen Clark’s bid for Secretary General, the top job at UN, where she has headed up the Development Programme for six years. For those who have followed Aunty Helen’s impressive career trajectory, it’s a warm and personal step into both her personal and […]
To Stay Alive: A Method – Dir: Erik Lieshout, Arno Hagars & Renier van Brummelen (NZIFF)
“A dead poet does not write”. Iggy Pop reads the words of Michel Houellecq in this film that addresses the issue of struggling artists and their mental health.
Steve Hackett – Auckland Town Hall July 28, 2017
Former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett brought his “Genesis Revisited” show to Auckland last night. Incredibly, after over 40 years and countless albums, this was Hackett’s first foray into New Zealand.
Check Out Gin Wigmore’s New Single!
Gin Wigmore releases a new single (and video) today. Here’s the word from Universal Music:
Beatriz At Dinner Dir: Miguel Arteta
Starring: Salma Hayek, John Lithgow, Connie Britton At first, Beatriz At Dinner comes across as an American counterpoint to Sally Potter’s very English and very black comedy The Party (reviewed here) and also playing at this year’s film festival.
August Burns Red Announces New Album & Releases Music Video For “Invisible Enemy”
August Burns Red is back with the announcement of new album Phantom Anthem, the follow-up to 2015’s Found In Far Away Places that took the band to new heights and earned them a GRAMMY nomination. The Lancaster, PA five-piece teamed up with Sirius XM Liquid Metal to premiere new track “Invisible Enemy” and have released the imaginative new […]
Tony Conrad: Completely In The Present Dir: Tyler Hubby (NZIFF)
You may be aware of Tony Conrad’s contribution to music and his association with The Velvet Underground, but this lively, entertaining look at the late experimental artist reveals that there was much more to Conrad besides the drone.
The Free Man Dir: Toa Fraser
Feeling a bit over day-to-day monotony? If you can handle the dizzying spectacle, Jossi Wells and his newfound French friends might set you free.
Roots, Radicals and Rockers: How Skiffle Changed the World – Billy Bragg (Faber)
Roots, Radicals and Rockers: How Skiffle Changed the World – by Billy Bragg / Faber and Faber $45 Told with joyous vigour, this book tells the story of jazz pilgrims and blues blowers, Teddy Boys and beatnik girls, coffee-bar bohemians and refugees from the McCarthy witch-hunts. Billy Bragg traces how the guitar came to the […]
Mermaidens Announce New Single “Sunstone” & “Perfect Body” New Zealand Tour
Mermaidens are defined by intricate and unique songwriting, boldly raw – yet increasingly refined – studio production, and a hypnotic live synergy that leaves audiences enchanted. The three-piece outfit from Wellington, New Zealand draw inspiration from bands like Warpaint, Fugazi, Exploded View and Sleater-Kinney, offering a mesmerising dip into the realms of post-punk and psych.
Watch: Tony Daunt & The Dauntless 13th Floor Video Session
After years of backing other artists and playing in bands such as The Grifters and Swampland, Tony Daunt has released his first album under his own name. The Gypsy features Tony’s band, The Dauntless along with 10 of Tony’s compositions.
A Date For Mad Mary Dir: Darren Thornton
If you’re after a bit of craic at the NZ International Film Festival you won’t go wrong with A Date For Mad Mary, an expertly handled soulful rom-com.
It Comes At Night Dir: Trey Edward Shults
It’s the Walking Dread in this tightly focused post-apocalyptic survival movie; no zombies just Joel Edgerton out to protect his family at any cost.
Shonen Knife Return To New Zealand
A SHONEN KNIFE 101 in 9 easy lessons… *SHONEN KNIFE refers to old Japanese pencil sharpner and literally means Boy Knife in Japanese
Devilskin Announce NZ Tour 2017
DEVILSKIN are thrilled to announce their NZ TOUR 2017, bringing their incredible live show to New Zealand towns from October 5 – October 21.