Lyttelton based Runaround Sue’s unique blend of country and rock’n’ roll swagger showcase the best set of lungs in the port, Anthea Struthers and her band of bluesful devotees. 

Their debut album “Tonight Expect Delays” was rescued from the inner city after the recent quakes and is launching at the Wunderbar on the 25^th May.

Also listen out for their stand out track “Weeping Willow” as part of the “Harbour Union” Compilation CD (“Album of the Year 2011” The Press).

Pure and Simple Dirty Rock N’ Roll.

Its what Suede Arcade have been doing for a long time. Its taken over 5 years, 2 trips to the national battle of the band finals, 184 line up changes and numerous incidents up and down the country (including the "snow on the Xmas tree" extinguisher scandal) for Suede Arcade to get their act together.

But now, its finally here folks. Suede Arcade are releasing their debut E.P! The release party will be a night of fine debauchery at The Dux Live on Friday the 25th of May, with very special guests Anthesiac and Stonehurst.

The current line up has been together for near on 4 years now, doing what they do best. For the uninitiated, Suede Arcade are a formidable live presence. Its been said time and time again their live shows are rock n roll chaos that is not to be missed. To quote a member of a rival band,  "Sweet Jesus, you guys keep getting heavier, but theres still this massive groove to your sound"

Doctor Dave of PawnRaid Studios has done a superb job of capturing Suede Arcades live sound, and refining it into a recording all the boys are bloody proud of.

Keep an eye out, because Suede Arcade are just getting started. With an album already in the works to follow the E.P its safe to say theres plenty of life left in the old boys of Christchurch Rock n Roll!

E.P Available from the 25th of May, if you are looking to get your hot little hands on a copy come down to the Dux on the night or contact Suede Arcade on facebook.

Suede Arcade EP Release Party
w/ Anthesiac and Stonehurst
Dux Live
Friday 25 May 2012
8pm Free

Ashei are a four-piece pop/rock band from Christchurch with a shared passion for intense live performance and honest song writing. Ashei are sure to not only appeal to fans looking for a solid rock act, but also people looking for something unique, fresh and a little left of centre.

They've just released their new single Beautiful Surrender available from Bandcamp. Watch the video here!

Formed in 2006, members: Liam Muir, Emma Cameron, Dan Perry and Curtis Booth bring their own individual musical approaches to the group. Along with this they also bring an equally important unique personality and depth. They have all respectively been brought up with different musical backgrounds, and the personal influences they draw from their pasts has put a unique twist on their music, which is influenced from everything from pop to jazz.

Ashei have just released their 4th independant studio single, "Beautiful Surrender," which is a catchy, upbeat pop track with a rock flavour. They are currently working hard on getting the song and video to the airwaves for rest of New Zealand to latch on to!

Their last single, "Let Me Down" is the third independent release from the band led by vocalist front-girl Emma Cameron. It's a ballsy track with a slower tempo than their previous releases with just as much impact. Ashei are very excited for Let Me Down to have been on 'A' rotation as Video of the Week for C4 & FOUR/Drew & Shannon Live, plus have had feature on NZ On Air's "Decent Exposure."

Ashei have had the privilege of opening for an array of international bands such as The Ataris (USA), Scary Kids Scaring Kids (US) and The Mission in Motion (AUS) and also New Zealand acts like Midnight Youth, Black River Drive, Luger Boa, Ivy Lies and Dane Rumble.

Ashei have a strong work ethic, and pride themselves on their independence, personally producing almost everything they do from touring, through to artwork and recording and releasing their music.

Feedback is helping Ashei to thrive and keep pushing to completely realize the rewards of their passion. Ashei are not only a band to look out for, but an entity that is sure to set crowds alight.

HUMAN - the name that is synonymous with New Zealand metal.

This Christchurch based four piece band, established in 1992, have long been pushing the boundaries of traditional metal music in New Zealand to create a musical style they can truly call their own. Encompassing the awesome abilities of Scott Spatcher-Harrison (vocals / lead guitar), Kezz Brewster (8 string rhythm guitar) and Vaughn Richardson (vocals / distorted bass) and Daniel Pawsey (drums), HUMAN present audiences with a ferocious sonic attack of blindingly fast rhythms and skillfully played melody, made ever more fearsome with the triple vocal frontline covering the low / mid / high range growls, screams and roars.

In it's time HUMAN have become one of the most respected names in New Zealand metal. Having played alongside international heavyweights the like of Dragonforce, Cannibal Corpse and Suffocation, the band have gained a reputation as a band that has truly earned it's status and standing in the scene. With a large back catalog of recordings, live television performances, festival headline slots and a massive fan base HUMAN have proved that with no label an independent band can still come out on top. With hundreds of shows behind them, including both local and overseas, the band looks set to continue for many years to come.

The band's latest album 'Cadaver Academy' shows HUMAN in top form doing what it does best, and delivers 12 crushing tracks in just under an astounding 27 minutes (Reign In Blood anybody???). The album has gone on to be one of the fastest selling local metal albums of the past year.


HUMAN are marking their achievement of surviving 20 years in New Zealand metal by performing a special show at the newly revamped Dux Live (363 Lincoln Road) and have recently stated that the show will be filmed and recorded for a live album / video release later on in 2012. So the more people attending on the night, the better! The band will be playing material from all of their old-school demos right up to new material from their forthcoming album 'Mystery Meat.'

Support bands Dissolution, Awakened Inferno and Lebowski kick off the event. Doors open 9pm.

Limited tickets are only $7 (plus booking fee) and from Under The Radar / www.utr.co.nz - on sale from Tuesday, May 22nd.
Everyone that purchases a ticket online from Under The Radar will receive a free MP3 of HUMAN's "Teenage Bonesaw Massacre" single.

There will be $10 door sales on the night.

HUMAN 20th ANNIVERSARY SHOW @ Dux Live, Christchurch – June 23rd, 2012

Sleeping Dogs are a band from New Zealand that are flying high on their own unique trajectory. With a sprawling national tour of their home country under their belts that lasted for the whole of 2011, and hot off the heels from recording their latest album earlier this year in the UK, they are set to tear up the main centres of NZ this June and July before they head overseas to conquer the UK and Europe in October.

Sleeping Dogs were born when Thomas Reid - singer, songwriter - received summons from the Rock Gods to start a new, epic rock band. Next to join was Rocky on the bass, and soon to follow were the Infinite Lovechild on drums and finally, Tony Pantera on guitar. Together they have but one mission - to bring rock to the music lover of today.

"Do you feel that 'Epic' is a word thrown around with such enthusiasm these days that it has become blocked by the filters of selective hearing and any associated meaning is sucked out of it? Then listen to this album. As promised, it will illustrate, then reiterate what 'Epic' truly means."  - Petros, Muzic.net.nz


Sleeping Dogs hit the road this month with Wellington band Supermodel on a 3 date tour of New Zealand. The tour will showcase brand new material from both bands and all three shows will be filmed for a Live DVD release.

Friday 22 June
Dux De Lux, Christchurch

Friday 29 June
Dog's Bollix, Auckland

Saturday 7 July
The Frontroom, Wellington

Sometimes the song is the easy part. Listening to Nadia Reid it seems that way, they appear (on stage and on record) fully formed, alive in the world, born and crafted with a weight that belies their authors young age. Maybe it’s because Nadia sounds more than a singer, more than a songwriter. She sounds like a worker, one who cares about her craft and the path on which she intends to take it.

Her songs shape and turn and lie carved in the air, they carry your ear and lift your eye to the back of the room, the corner of your heart and the world outside your window but sometimes that's not enough. Sometimes the song is the easy part. To make them live you have to give them out, send or carry them into the world. That's the hard work, and that's where you find a writer's gift, their true worth. Nadia carries those songs and the moments they create, like water from a well, like a thing to care about. If you’re a listener then you can trust her, it helps to know she refuses to take it lightly and will work as hard as she wants you listen.

In 2011, Reid released her debut EP Letters I Wrote And Never Sent, ventured out on her first national tour, and had her song ‘Rise and Fall’ feature in Gerard Smythes’ film When a City Falls. The documentary film of the Christchurch earthquakes was shown in over 40 cinemas nationwide throughout the summer and is now due for international release. A pretty big year by all accounts, for someone only twenty years of age. After a two-year stint in Christchurch, the Dunedin-raised musician is now based in Auckland and is set for the next stage in her career.

“Nadia Reid possesses a measured melancholia that speaks eloquently of the smoldering embers of life's firestorms.” Jeff Harford, (source).

“Self-styled “New folk” singer Nadia Reid has a rich sultry voice, which on her Letters I Wrote And Never Sent EP, she drapes languidly over ornate folk and alt-country instrumentation. Reid sings about relationships, but not strictly relationships of romantic love, also relationships with friends, places, events and ideas.” Martyn Pepperell, (source).

“’Rise and Fall’ has already etched itself into many people's hearts and that's in no small part to its hushed cadence, beautiful vocal performance and glistening acoustics; a gorgeous song on its own.” Music Hype.

Spawned in Christchurch, New Zealand, Zen Mantra channel trippy vibes with a smattering of young 'fuck the world' punkittude. Like a male-led Summer of Love girl group jamming surf rock in outer space, Zen Mantra will make you feel warm and fuzzy - much like a wake 'n' bake.

Zen Mantra’s “La La La La La” brings the noise and fuzz of classic garage rock acts to a modern setting.
Wasting no time with sonic introductions, from the beginning we get the sound and feel that Zen Mantra is all about. Rough and hazy vocals sit over these beautifully distorted guitars and slow paced rock drums. It’s a simple song, but if you know me you’d know I’m sucker for intelligent simplicity.
“La La La La La” follows this basic formula of a few lines followed by the short “La la lalala” and an occasional guitar lead accompanied by wordless vocals. It’s a working formula that goes hand in hand with Zen Mantra’s sound. The song gives off the “I don’t care attitude” of punk rock but in a gritty and warm setting.
The occasional guitar lead and vocal “Oohs” offer these beautiful moments filled with some amazing harmonies. These little beaks perfectly transition the song between verses as well, allowing the track to smoothly progress.
Zen Mantra describes it best as “warm and fuzzy” and after listening, I don’t think there’s any way you can disagree.
This is just the first single from the upcoming release How Many Padmes Hum? Be sure to keep your eye on this one. - http://heartandsoulmusic.tumblr.com/

Check out the new video from Zen Mantra - 'Soothsayer'


Catch Zen Mantra at the following dates

Wunderbar, Lyttleton
Thursday 5 July
Support for Paquin (AKL) with The Golden Orange
www.facebook.com/events/432848866747424/

Dux Live, Addington
Friday 20 July
Support for Sherpa (AKL) with Bang Bang Eche and Dance Asthmatics


Listen to Zen Mantra on BANDCAMP
 

Record-breaking New Zealand tours, scene-setting appearances at festivals like Glastonbury, The Big Chill, Big Day Out and Parklife, sold-out performances across Europe, worlds-colliding collaborations with Symphony Orchestras, multiple music awards, four EP's and five LP's - three with platinum sales - and an army of fans who return to relive the experience time and time again: the towering achievements of Shapeshifter, the future-shocked soul outfit who hail from Christchurch New Zealan, were built by a living, breathing band of musicians, with all the form-changing sonic possibilities live instrumentation offers.

The players in Shapeshifter created their very own heavy soul, a stadium-sized sound which adds layers of drum & bass, jazz, funk, rock and electronica to solid bass culture foundations, capable of morphing from rolling drum & bass to pummelling guitar-driven jams to horizon-shiftin electronic soundscapes. This genre-defying amalgamation of influences continues to draw from new source material and inspiration as Shapeshifter evolves, motivatin dancefloors worldwide and deluivering audiences to the bleeding edge of musical possibility.

As at home in an amped club environment as the are playing to packed festival fields, Shapeshifter is a truly adaptable unit. The five-strong lineup of PDigsss (vocals), Devin Abrams (sax/keys/synths), Sam Trevethick (guitars/synths/sampler), Nick Robinson (bass.synths/MPC) and Johnny Hooves (drums) have individually called Auckland, Wellington, Melbourne, Kingscliff, Berlin, Queenstown and, first and foremost, their original Christchurch stomping fround home, yet a chemistry refined over 12 years of playing together means they lock back into formation whenever they regroup.

After spending the beginning of 2012 hunkered down in the studio recording their new album, the band are more than ready for a return to their natural habitat.

Shapeshifter are that rare beast - a balls-to-the-wall dance act unrestricted by banks of samplers or studio sleight of hand. They have an international reputation as an unmissable live act who move seamlessly from heavy soul to and electronica. This supremely confident genre-shifting combined with the stadium-sized sound that only comes from a full band equals total sensory overload.


Check out the app for the new single 'Monarch' - HERE

 

Musician, raconteur, fisherman, weather reporter

Imposing himself on the national psyche as frontman of glam rock group ʻThe Puffinsʼ during the late 90', Lindon Puffin morphed into one of the countries hardest working solo troubadours, tirelessly touring the country, performing alongside the top echelon of national and international artists. Renowned for his entertaining upbeat rockabilly folk style and anarchic banter, Puffinʼs 2007 album 'Show Pony' reached the top 20 while his hilarious music touring road movie 'Figure 8000' screened many times on C4 Music and Sky TV's Documentary Channel.

Following an extensive world tour in 2008, Puffin assembled a motley all star band & began work on his third album 'Drink Like Police'. However while filming the video for the first single in his hometown of Lyttelton, they were caught up in the February 22nd earthquake and plans to release the album were put on hold. Puffin then joined forces with fellow Lytteltonians The Eastern, Delaney Davidson, The Unfaithful Ways & others to record and tour a fundraising album entitled The Harbour Union which eventually reached number 18 in the charts with all proceeds going to quake related charities.

Drink Like Police became the more appropriately titled 'Hope Holiday' and was eventually released in November of 2011 reaching number 10 on the iTunes charts snugly between Gotye and Mumford & Sons. The first single 'Outta Reach' has received widespread radio & video play and has just been shortlisted for the APRA Silver Scroll NZ Song Of The Year. Meanwhile the album has been receiving rave reviews with Graham Reid from the NZ Herald awarding it 4.5 stars and describing it as Tom Petty like swirling pop which hints at Crowded House & New Wave equally” while Marty Duda of Radio NZ awarded it 2nd best NZ album of the year & 12th best international release of 2011.

In August this year, Puffin teams up again with the mighty Eastern, Delaney Davidson & Marlon Williams (of the Unfaithful Ways) for an ambitious 15 date nationwide tour of town halls & theatres.

Calling the tour 'The Lyttelton Rough House Revival', the show promises to be an evening of uplifting foot-stomping rockabilly folk & country with compact solo sets culminating in a massive all in throw down that'll send you swaggering into night full of fire & fervor!

Lindon also hosts the drive show on RDU every Monday from 4 - 6pm
 

Upcoming Dates

Wunderbar - Sat Aug 11th
Supporting Mark Gardiner (of UK band Ride)

Lyttelton Rough House Revival Tour': 15 shows from Aug 22 - Sept 9
(More details coming soon!)

Otherwise you can catch Lindon Puffin at any of his weekly song book gigs at Pomeroys, The Brewery, Wunderbar & Monday Room.
(See our events section for when he's playing next)


 

Vote for Lindon Puffin's - 'Outta Reach' in the 2012 Silver Scroll Awards

Vote for Lindon here

Lindon Puffin on The Gravy

Buy Hope Holiday and more from Lindon Puffin

Bandcamp
Amplifier.co.nz
iTunes.co.nz
Penny Lane
Marbecks
The Warehouse
 

Amiria Grenell is the 4th and youngest of the innately musically talented Grenell tribe. At the head of the table of musical chairs sits father, New Zealand country legend John Hore Grenell & with 3 older brothers Denver (formerly of Christchurch band ‘Mountains Of Murray’), Jazz & Hip Hop/Electronic guitarist and producer Oakley a.k.a. ‘O.G’ and former Shapeshifter drummer Redford, it is fair to say that music runs in the family! With her captivating, honest & innocent charm, the beautiful young lady of the family, Amiria, more than holds her own.

After learning violin from a young age, Amiria was inspired by her older brothers and began playing the guitar at age 10, finding her own chords and performing her original songs at Folk Festival Blackboard Concerts. Her songwriting is refreshing and varied and ranges stylistically from contemporary folk to reggae, country to blues.

Amiria graduated from NASDA (National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Art) in 2004 with a Performing Arts Degree, followed by two years of acting, as well as singing at venues and festivals around New Zealand.

After full time parenting for two years, Amiria was ready to record a new album of original songs, most of which were recorded on the family farm, once home to the Whitecliffs Family Music Festivals for 14 years. The family links run thick throughout the album, with brothers Oakley producing and playing several instruments, Redford featuring on drums and guest vocals from her father, partner Tola and even 2 year old daughter Sienna.

This year the album won the 2012 RIANZ Vodafone NZ Music Awards Tui for Best Folk Album. She toured with FLY MY PRETTIES, sold out at the Christchurch Arts Festival, featured at Kaikoura Roots Festival, Luminate, Christchurch International Jazz Festival, wowed them at WOMAD 2012 and recently made TOP 10 in the Official NZ Music Chart.

 

Quotes

NZ-pop singer Amiria Grenell is poised to be the next big thing. - www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post Jan 2012

RIANZ Managing Director, Chris Caddick, offered his “sincere congratulations” to Amiria, Three Feathers is a truly superb album. We hope this fully deserved Tui will encourage more people to discover this gem of New Zealand music.” January 2012

If you feel cheated by a lacklustre performance from the NZ summer this year, slip Amiria Genell's new album Three Feathers into your disc player - a collection of sunny tunes encompassing country, rock, pop and reggae influences. In January, the Canterbury folk singer-songwriter, who has recently moved from Lyttelton to Wellington, was overjoyed to win the Best Folk Album Tui for Three Feathers, her second album. - North and South Magazine April 2012

 

Upcoming Dates

-Wednesday 18th July - The Brewery (Woolston) - 9pm-11pm

-Thursday 19th July - The Monday Room - 9pm-11pm

-Friday 20th July - Restart City Mall lunchtime concert - 12pm

-Saturday 21st July - Riccarton house markets - 10am-12pm

-Sunday 22nd July - Riccarton House markets - 11am-1pm

-Thursday 26th July - Clink, Sumner - 8:30pm-11pm
 

Fly My Pretties - Fallen From You.

Troika is an atmospheric-experimental rock 4-piece formed in Christchurch in 2009. Their sound ranges from gentle and atmospheric passages to dynamic, intense walls of distortion and feedback.

Troika's textured and ambient sound has been described within the local music scene as being intense, surprising and unpredictable.

"Troika is amazing, it's always this beautiful trance that people go into once they start playing, surreal" ~ Maria Pop Inkorporated~

Comprising of Dorian Lemonnier on drums/vocals, Alan Kang on guitar/vocals and David Webber on bass/vocals, they recently added a fourth member Vanessa Morrison on keys/vocals which has added a broader dimension to their sound.

Currently, TROIKA has one self-produced album of songs, ‘PROTOTYPE’, available on CD or  download  from troikaband.com. Troika are in preproduction for the next record which aims to be a lot darker and ambient than the current one, with more of a focus on sonic/cinematic landscapes

Upcoming shows

w/ Suede Arcade and guests
Saturday 1 September
Dux Live
 

Win a copy of Troika's 'Prototype'

Just email us if you'd like a copy of Troika's debut album Prototype
 

HUMAN - the name that is synonymous with New Zealand metal.

This Christchurch based four piece band, established in 1992, have long been pushing the boundaries of traditional metal music in New Zealand to create a musical style they can truly call their own. Encompassing the awesome abilities of Scott Spatcher-Harrison (vocals / lead guitar), Kezz Brewster (8 string rhythm guitar) and Vaughn Richardson (vocals / distorted bass) and Daniel Pawsey (drums), HUMAN present audiences with a ferocious sonic attack of blindingly fast rhythms and skillfully played melody, made ever more fearsome with the triple vocal frontline covering the low / mid / high range growls, screams and roars.

In it's time HUMAN have become one of the most respected names in New Zealand metal. Having played alongside international heavyweights the like of Dragonforce, Cannibal Corpse and Suffocation, the band have gained a reputation as a band that has truly earned it's status and standing in the scene. With a large back catalog of recordings, live television performances, festival headline slots and a massive fan base HUMAN have proved that with no label an independent band can still come out on top. With hundreds of shows behind them, including both local and overseas, the band looks set to continue for many years to come.

The band's latest album 'Cadaver Academy' shows HUMAN in top form doing what it does best, and delivers 12 crushing tracks in just under an astounding 27 minutes (Reign In Blood anybody???). The album has gone on to be one of the fastest selling local metal albums of the past year.


HUMAN are marking their achievement of surviving 20 years in New Zealand metal by performing a special show at the newly revamped Dux Live (363 Lincoln Road) and have recently stated that the show will be filmed and recorded for a live album / video release later on in 2012. So the more people attending on the night, the better! The band will be playing material from all of their old-school demos right up to new material from their forthcoming album 'Mystery Meat.'

Support bands Dissolution, Awakened Inferno and Lebowski kick off the event. Doors open 9pm.

Limited tickets are only $7 (plus booking fee) and from Under The Radar / www.utr.co.nz - on sale from Tuesday, May 22nd.
Everyone that purchases a ticket online from Under The Radar will receive a free MP3 of HUMAN's "Teenage Bonesaw Massacre" single.

There will be $10 door sales on the night.

HUMAN 20th ANNIVERSARY SHOW @ Dux Live, Christchurch – June 23rd, 2012

Sleeping Dogs are a band from New Zealand that are flying high on their own unique trajectory. With a sprawling national tour of their home country under their belts that lasted for the whole of 2011, and hot off the heels from recording their latest album earlier this year in the UK, they are set to tear up the main centres of NZ this June and July before they head overseas to conquer the UK and Europe in October.

Sleeping Dogs were born when Thomas Reid - singer, songwriter - received summons from the Rock Gods to start a new, epic rock band. Next to join was Rocky on the bass, and soon to follow were the Infinite Lovechild on drums and finally, Tony Pantera on guitar. Together they have but one mission - to bring rock to the music lover of today.

"Do you feel that 'Epic' is a word thrown around with such enthusiasm these days that it has become blocked by the filters of selective hearing and any associated meaning is sucked out of it? Then listen to this album. As promised, it will illustrate, then reiterate what 'Epic' truly means."  - Petros, Muzic.net.nz


Sleeping Dogs hit the road this month with Wellington band Supermodel on a 3 date tour of New Zealand. The tour will showcase brand new material from both bands and all three shows will be filmed for a Live DVD release.

Friday 22 June
Dux De Lux, Christchurch

Friday 29 June
Dog's Bollix, Auckland

Saturday 7 July
The Frontroom, Wellington

Sometimes the song is the easy part. Listening to Nadia Reid it seems that way, they appear (on stage and on record) fully formed, alive in the world, born and crafted with a weight that belies their authors young age. Maybe it’s because Nadia sounds more than a singer, more than a songwriter. She sounds like a worker, one who cares about her craft and the path on which she intends to take it.

Her songs shape and turn and lie carved in the air, they carry your ear and lift your eye to the back of the room, the corner of your heart and the world outside your window but sometimes that's not enough. Sometimes the song is the easy part. To make them live you have to give them out, send or carry them into the world. That's the hard work, and that's where you find a writer's gift, their true worth. Nadia carries those songs and the moments they create, like water from a well, like a thing to care about. If you’re a listener then you can trust her, it helps to know she refuses to take it lightly and will work as hard as she wants you listen.

In 2011, Reid released her debut EP Letters I Wrote And Never Sent, ventured out on her first national tour, and had her song ‘Rise and Fall’ feature in Gerard Smythes’ film When a City Falls. The documentary film of the Christchurch earthquakes was shown in over 40 cinemas nationwide throughout the summer and is now due for international release. A pretty big year by all accounts, for someone only twenty years of age. After a two-year stint in Christchurch, the Dunedin-raised musician is now based in Auckland and is set for the next stage in her career.

“Nadia Reid possesses a measured melancholia that speaks eloquently of the smoldering embers of life's firestorms.” Jeff Harford, (source).

“Self-styled “New folk” singer Nadia Reid has a rich sultry voice, which on her Letters I Wrote And Never Sent EP, she drapes languidly over ornate folk and alt-country instrumentation. Reid sings about relationships, but not strictly relationships of romantic love, also relationships with friends, places, events and ideas.” Martyn Pepperell, (source).

“’Rise and Fall’ has already etched itself into many people's hearts and that's in no small part to its hushed cadence, beautiful vocal performance and glistening acoustics; a gorgeous song on its own.” Music Hype.