RIP: Kim Fowley
KIm Fowley has passed away at the age of 75. Kim, who has been involved in music as a songwriter, artist , producer, label head and just about anything else, was a true rock & roll original. Kim began producing records in the late 1950s. His first big hit was Alley Oop by The Hollywood […]
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 […]
Watch Eyreton Hall’s 13th Floor Video Session
Eyreton Hall consists of vocalist Toni Randle and drummer Andrew Keegan. Although the couple now lives in Auckland (with their two children), Toni is originally from Christchurch and Andrew is from Sydney. The self-described “art-folk” music they write and perform can be heard on their debut album, Featherstitch, released just a month or so ago. […]
RIP: Joe Cocker
Joe Cocker has died at the age of 70. The singer passed away due to lung cancer. Hailing from Sheffield, England, the gravelly-voice vocalist was one of the highlights of 1969’s Woodstock Music Festival thanks to his bluesy version of The Beatles’ With A Little Help From My Friends. His Mad Dogs And Englishmen tour […]
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 […]
Midge Ure Announces NZ Dates
The voice of Ultravox, Midge Ure will perform four New Zealand shows in April 2015 – remarkably his first concerts here since electro-pop legends Ultravox visited our shores for the Sweetwaters festival in 1982. Fans in Auckland, Wellington, Nelson and Christchurch can look forward to intimate solo acoustic performances from Midge Ure (UK), with details […]
Raggamuffin Festival Concert Photos
Despite the soggy weather, this year’s Raggamuffin Festival went off thanks to acts like Cypress Hill, UB40 and Ice Cube. 13th Floor photographer David Watson braved the crowds and the rain and compiled this collection of images. Click here to view David Watson’s Raggamuffin Festival photo gallery.
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 […]
RIP Ian McLagan
Another veteran rocker has passed away. Former Faces keyboard player Ian McLagan has died in Austin, Texas after suffering a stroke. The 69-year-old began his musical career with The Small Faces in the mid-1960s and played on hits Itchycoo Park and Tin Soldier and then went on to The Faces with Rod Stewart. Recently, McLagan […]
RIP: Bobby Keys
We are sad to learn of the death of rock & roll sax man Bobby Keys. Keys, who was 70 years old, was best known for his work with The Rolling Stones. He had been their sax player on and off since 1969. But his career extended way beyond Brown Sugar. He played on hundreds […]
Minuit: The Final Fling
Minuit played their final show on Friday night at Auckland’s Tuning Fork. For those who couldn’t be there, or for those who were there and want to relive the experience, here’s a video clip of the band performing I Hate Guns.
At Last: The Etta James Story – Aotea Centre, 28 November 2014
Vika Bull and The Essential R&B Band have been performing this “narrative concert” based on the life and music of Etta James in Australia for over a year. Now, Vika brings her show to Auckland for one performance at the Aotea Centre. Most New Zealanders will be familiar with Vika Bull through her recordings with […]
Watch Guns n Roses' Dizzy Reed (Interview)
Who’s the largest serving member of Guns ‘n Roses besides Axl Rose? It’s keyboard player Dizzy Reed, who has been with the band since 1990. Reed is in New Zealand touring with Jimmy Barnes as part of the band The Dead Daisies. The Daises are fronted by Jon Stevens and features members of Thin Lizzy, […]
Dirty Kid Discount, 'A Life Amongst the Ruins'
A marriage of Gogol Bordello and a CSquat band seems hard to imagine, yet Dirty Kid Discount appear to be the bastard offspring of such an unholy union, and the world is a better place for it. Insanely catchy yet with surprising depth, if you haven’t heard ‘A Life Amongst the Ruins’ I suggest you […]
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 […]
See Our New Zealand Music Awards 2014 Photo Gallery
Congratulations to all winners and nominees at this year’s New Zealand Music Awards. We, at The 13th Floor, were especially thrilled to see Tiny Ruins get some much-deserved recognition. Photographer David Watson brought his trusty camera to the Vector Arena and captured plenty of action, both on the red carpet and in the media area […]