International and Industry Action

One of our newest members, The Phoenix Foundation, are heading toward the end of their UK/European Buffalo Release Tour, which started with an in-store performance at Rough Trade East in London on 25 January. Their London shows all sold out, but the band have generously scheduled another performance in the city later this year on 2 June at Scala. They've also just been featured on the French TV channel France 24, and the album Buffalo was described on France 24's website as "already tipped to be among the best of 2011". Read more...

Fat Freddy's Drop are stoked to announce a spot playing Sumol Summer Fest in Ericeira, Portugal on 24 June 2011. Music, surf, beach and good vibes await at the second edition of the festival, which overlooks the Sea of Ribeira D'ilhas. Closer to hand, this weekend Fat Freddy's Drop return to Australia for the second round of Good Vibrations festival - playing Gold Coast on Saturday and Perth on Sunday. Information about the performance in Portugal is available at http://www.sumolsummerfest.com. Read more...

In nice review news, Ladi6 gets a 4/5 review for her latest album The Liberation Of… on Australian music website Junioronline, and Surf City get a 7.7 review on Pitchfork.

New release fanfare

Music Hype are compiling a collection of tracks with all proceeds going to the Red Cross for Christchurch relief - in exchange for a minimum donation of $5  they'll reward you with a whole heap of great New Zealand music very kindly donated by the artists. Some of the artists involved right now are Grand Rapids, Nick Mulvey, Anna Kay, Rosie Tin Teacaddy, Clap Clap Riot, aieda_sin, The Zoup and others. There will be more tracks going up all the time, so even if you've donated already you can still come back and get the new ones! And if you're an artist who'd like to contribute a song, you can find more information here...

Cat & Bird is Anna Coddington's sophomore album, following on from her 2008 debut The Lake. Her beautiful voice and melodies remain a constant, but there is a shift toward louder guitars and bigger dynamics this time around, and an emphasis on the sound of a band surrounding the songs - the band, who will also join her on tour are drummer Riki Gooch (Eru Dangerspiel, Trinity Roots), bass player Mike Hall (Nightchoir, Pluto) and keyboardist/vocalist extraordinaire LA Mitchell (Dave Dobbyn, The Dukes). Recorded between Roundhead Studios and her home studio in Auckland, Anna co-produced the album with guitarist Ned Ngatae. Click here for tour dates...

Te Arohanui comprises a mixture of originals and traditional Maori songs all sung in Te Reo and brought to life in a modern setting. From the famous ‘Pa mai'and ‘E Ipo'through to a new version of ‘Po Atarau', Dwayne Wichman-Evans of Oyster Entertainment - aka Te Arohanui - has breathed new life into some of these timeless melodies. Guests include Leon Wharekura, Alison Ahu, Rangi Whakaruru, Greg Miller and Haki Tawhai. Read more...

To coincide with the 2011 Pasifika Festival, Dawn Raid Entertainment will release Pasifika-The Collection: Volume 2 on March 7th 2011, the follow up to the landmark # 1 album Pasifika:The Collection in 2010.  The track listing of 30 Pacific classics from both contemporary and traditional Polynesian artists features platinum and gold hits from Monsta, J Williams, Ladi 6, Nesian Mystik, Boo Yaa Tribe, House Of Shem, DLT feat. Che-Fu and current Hawaiian reggae sensation, J Boog. Pasifika-The Collection: Volume 2 is the official CD of the 2011 Pasifika Festival and is the second volume in an annual collaboration between Dawn Raid and the Pasifika Festival. Tha Pasifika Festival is happening in Auckland's Western Springs on Saturday March 12. Read more...

Luger Boa are proud to announce the release of their second long player, New Hot Nights, to be released on April 4th 2011, serving up a slew of deliciously twisted tales from the concrete jungle, featuring the singles Lazy, Paralyzed and New Hot Nights. http://www.lugerboa.com

On the 4th of April 2011, Little Bushman will release Te Oranga, their anticipated follow up to 2007's Pendulum. This 3rd studio album was written and recorded over the last 2 years at Warren Maxwell's own recording facilities, Stonefeather studios. “Te Oranga is mostly a celebration of the warmer side of humanity” says Maxwell. To celebrate the release of Te Oranga, Little Bushman are keyed up to take to the road for 4 rare shows, which will be their first solo performances in well over a year. Soon after, they're heading to Australia for a handful of shows – including the revered Byron Bay Bluesfest. With Nudge their special guests for all shows - a Wellington trio who recently supported The Black Seeds and Fly My Pretties nationally with their stomping drums, soaring guitar and savage organ mania - this will be a truly kaleidoscopic experience! Tickets go on sale on Monday February 28.

On the live front

In the wake of Christchurch's devastating earthquake, Heaps of People present the “Kotahitangata (One People)” concert for the New Zealand Red Cross 2011 Earthquake Appeal, happening this Sunday 27 February, 5pm at Auckland's Sale St. 100% of all proceeds will go to Red Cross New Zealand to aid their efforts to support those affected by the quake. The stellar line-up includes: Sola Rosa (live), King Kapisi, Homebrew, LA Mitchell, Anna Coddington, Coast, The Midnights, LatinAotearoa (Bobby Brazuka, Jennifer Zea & Isaac Aesili), Recloose, The Turnaround (Manuel Bundy, Cian, Submariner) & special guests. The artists are performing free of charge; and Loop, Finest Ego, Sale St, Wavefront Audio, Eventfinder, Kiwi FM, George FM, Base FM, Radio Ponsonby, Conch, Rise Graphics, PA Sound, The Production Company and Robert Barclay Limited, have all generously donated their services towards the event. More info and ticket links are available from: http://www.loop.co.nz

Pikachunes play at Auckland's Tabac Bar tonight (Thursday 24) with O'Lovely and A.D.A.M, and thanks to Workshop, all proceeds go to the Red Cross. Bands kick off at 10:30pm with The Clareheads (previously Bat Country). Read more...  And on Friday February 25 as part of the University of Auckland's Orientation, Pikachunes and O'Lovely will play another benefit show with Kids of 88, Zowie, Computers Want Me Dead and DJ Andrew Tidball.

If you're in Auckland, get ready for the Arch Hill Recordings VS Muzai Records 2011 Sunday Afternoon BBQ Indie Label Sound Off happening at the Kings Arms Tavern on Sunday March 6th and starting at the respectable time of 1pm. Team Arch Hill will be on the indoor stage with The Clean, Surf City, Street Chant, Ghost Wave, and Team Muzai take the outdoor stage with Full Moon Fiasco, Cat Venom, Sherpa and Onesie. Last year Arch Hill celebrated its 10th Birthday at the Kings Arms with a BBQ and bands like The Bats, Minisnap, Surf City, Superette, Family Cactus, Polaroyd/Bird Nest Roys, Andrew McKenzie, White Swan Black Swan and others playing… it was a great afternoon and Pavement even turned up (and got in trouble for bringing along their own beer after band practice).This year they plan to do more relaxing, drinking beer and enjoying good music and sunshine. And this is one of only two New Zealand shows before The Clean head to Australia for Golden Plains and an Australian Tour. Despite calling it a BBQ, strictly speaking there will not be a BBQ - instead (after their popularity at the Laneway Festival and the Arch Hill Christmas party) there will be Tasty Hungarian Langos bread available in the garden bar. Yum. Read more...

In Ihimaera, running as part of the Auckland Festival, twelve New Zealand recording artists come together for four very special nights to perform songs inspired by the words of iconic Maori writer Witi Ihimaera. Narrated by star of Outrageous Fortune, Kirk Torrance, and produced by Charlotte Yates, the creator of Baxter (2000) and Tuwhare (2006), Ihimaera gives the author's words an exciting new wardrobe of sound. Artists featured include Lupin (Victoria Girling-Butcher), LA Mitchell, Unitone Hi Fi, Ruia Aperahama, Horomona Horo, King Kapisi, Warren Maxwell, Ariana Tikao, The Twinks (Milan Borich and Tim Arnold ex-PLUTO), SJD, Teremoana Rapley and Charlotte Yates. Book tickets...