Record Store Day at Southbound Records with live performances from SJD and Don McGlashan.
Live Entertainment! will start at 3pm with a special performance by SJD, celebrating their new album Saint John Divine on CD & LP. Following this at 4.30pm we are excited to announce an acoustic set from Don McGlashan, whose new album Lucky Stars is released on CD the day before, April 17th. Grab a copy and get them […]
Michael Franti & Spearhead – Powerstation March 29, 2015
“Best Sunday night ever!” Obviously, Michael Franti is not a Blackcaps fan, but he and his own fans had a rollicking good time at Auckland’s Powerstation on Sunday night, serving up a set that neither he nor the crowd, wanted to end. Not only did the show run late, it started early…slated to take the […]
Jimmy Cliff – Powerstation
It was nothing short of a two-hour celebration of music, love and life as reggae legend Jimmy Cliff led his 8-piece band and a very enthusiastic crowd through a Saturday night of singing, dancing and cheering. When I spoke to Jimmy Cliff a couple of days ago, he told me he was feeling more creative […]
Uriah Heep – The Studio Saturday 28 March 2015
If there are any aspiring music gods in the audience, they’ve come to the right place to get a rock n roll education. The five members of Uriah Heep, the English prog rock band named after a Dickens character, could write a book about song writing, stage craft and putting a rocket under your audience. […]
Chick Corea & Herbie Hancock Winner
Congratulations to Martin Clyde who correctly identified Watermelon Man as the Herbie Hancock composition that became a hit for Mongo Santamaria in 1962. Martin has won two tickets to see Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea at Auckland’s Civic Theatre on Saturday, May 30th. We’ll have more ticket giveaways in the future so keep checking in […]
Beth Hart – Powerstation
I had a feeling this Beth Hart show might be something special…a preview of her about-to-be-released album, Better Than Home, indicated an artist bursting with talent…but her performance at Auckland’s Powerstation this Friday night was nothing short of a tour de force. Beth Hart has history with New Zealand. She spent several weeks here back […]
Pseudo Echo – The Kings Arms
At the Kings Arms we run into Emily, one of Australian new wave band Pseudo Echo’s biggest fans; a woman who loved singer Brian Canham so much that at age eleven she cried when he got married. Emily is buzzing with a mixture of excitement and trepidation. Excitement that she is about to see her […]
Interview with Napalm Death’s Shane Embury.
The 13th Floors Tove Partington sat down with Shane Embury (Napalm Death, Venomous Concept, Brujeria) to talk about Politics, Music, the upcoming Napalm Death/Carcass tour of New Zealand, and demented walruses. Shane Embury is the godfather of Grindcore, having been in Napalm Death since 1987 and various other bands of ill-repute. Watch the video to gain […]
Charles Bradley & The Extraordinaires – Powerstation
Soul veteran Charles Bradley, the “Screaming Eagle Of Soul”, spread his wings around a small but enthusiastic crowd at Auckland’s Powerstation and filled the venue with love and happiness. The 66-year old performer emerged on the Powerstation stage, resplendent in a black-sequined jump suit shortly before 10pm, but not before his ace band, The Extraordinaires […]
Watch: A Conversation With Jimmy Cliff (Interview)
Reggae legend Jimmy Cliff touched down in Auckland yesterday ahead of his two New Zealand shows this weekend. The 13th Floor’s Marty Duda sat down with Jimmy and spoke to him at length about his music, his films and his life, including plans to film a sequel to the 1972 film The Harder They Come. […]
Pokey LaFarge – Tuning Fork
A Pokey LaFarge show is a 78-RPM record brought to life, a string of wildly, infectiously, exuberantly catchy songs performed by a band of talented musicians led by a man who could so very easily be a cartoon, a caricature, but who manages to be one of the most authentic performers I’ve heard in some […]
Greg Johnson – Q Theatre
Greg Johnson introduced the Cocktail Club by saying: “If you can remember anything about the original Cocktail Club – you weren’t there.” The banter, the intimate venue, special guests and yes, cocktails, make for a performance that is unforgettable. Joining Johnson on stage was Lisa Crawley on keys, recorder and melodica, and Ted Brown on […]
Counting Crows Winner!
Congratulations to Gregory Fleming who has won two tickets to see the Counting Crows when they play Auckland’s Civic Theatre on Tuesday, April 14th. Greg correctly named Big Yellow Taxi as the Joni Mitchell song the Counting Crows recorded back in 2002. Thanks to all who entered the contest…keep checking The 13th Floor, we’ve got […]
Mastodon – Powerstation
Atlanta metal monsters Mastodon came raging into town last night, filling Auckland’s Powerstation with huge slabs of sludgy guitar riffs and howling vocals. Few things equal the anticipation felt just before a metal gig. The Powerstation was filled with black-T-shirted punters ready to have their senses assaulted by the four musicians known as Mastodon. The […]
SJD Introduces Saint John Divine (Interview)
SJD, aka Sean James Donnelly will release his new album, Saint John Divine tomorrow. Recorded at Neil Finn’s Roundhead studio, Sean has surrounded himself with a gaggle of some of New Zealand’s finest musicians in order to bring this latest collection of songs to life. SJD stopped by The 13th Floor Studios on the eve […]
Waterboys Winner
Congratulations to Chris Kemp who correctly identified Nashville as the city where The Waterboys recorded their newest album, Modern Blues. Chris wins two tickets to see The Waterboys when they play at Auckland’s ASB Theatre on Tuesday, March 31st. Thanks to all who entered our contest, they’ll be more opportunities to win on The 13th […]
Jakob: First Past The Post-Rock (Interview)
Hailing from the Hawkes Bay, New Zealand trio Jakob has been causing all kinds of commotion with the release of their fourth album, Sines. The band…Jeff Boyle (guitar), Maurice Beckett (bass), Jason Johnston (drums) is just about to play two NZ shows…April 11 at San Fran in Wellington and April 18 at Auckland’s Kings Arms…before […]
George Clinton: Keeping The Funk Fresh (Interview)
George Clinton is bringing his Parliament/Funkadelic thang to Auckland’s Powerstation on Wednesday, April 8th. George has been making music since the mid-1950s and has just released a new, three-disc album called, First Ya Gotta Shake The Gate. Its the first new P-Funk album in 33 years and features a cast of characters old and new. […]
Watch The Lonesome Pine Specials & Archer 13th Floor Video Session
Mid-way through their tour of New Zealand, The Lonesome Pine Specials and their friend Archer, stopped in to The 13th Floor Studio for a video session. Who are these Lonesome Pines, you may ask…its the trio of Hannah Harding (aka Aldous Harding), Ben Woolley (recently seen with Devilish Mary & The Holy Rollers) and Flora […]
David Gray: A New Beginning (Interview)
English singer-songwriter David Gray is on his way to New Zealand where he will play three shows in April in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. Gray has been recording for over 20 years now, with his latest album, Mutineers, finding him exploring new sonic landscapes thanks to producer Andy Barlow of Lamb. The 13th Floor’s Marty […]