International and Industry Action

Ladi6 is joining forces with Electric Wire Hustle for an Australian tour this April. Since returning from Europe late last year, Ladi's live show has expanded to feature dynamic New Zealand DJ/producer Julien Dyne as well as DJ Parks. Electric Wire Hustle feature a fresh combination of modern hip-hop, psychedelia and soul. Forming in 2007, they released their self titled debut album through BBE in 2010 as well as touring Europe and the US to make their mark and share their unique sound which features the unmistakable vocals of Mara TK. 

Today Jayrem Records is celebrating the completion of its 35th year in business. From 1975 through until today Jayrem has produced nearly 200 New Zealand albums.  Rarely in the mainstream of pop/rock, Jayrem Records album releases have tended to reflect the eclectic and specialist tastes of its owner, James Moss  -  Maori (Wai, Patea Maori Club, Aotearoa, Apanui, Dalvanius Prime, Upper Hutt Posse, Elena, Tuahine, Big Belly Woman,  Brannigan Kaa, Roger Cunningham, Aotearoa Maori Chorale), reggae (Dread Beat & Blood, David Grace & Injustice, Sticks And Shanty, Simon & Fire), women singer/songwriters (Mahinarangi Tocker, Charlotte Yates, Jan Preston, Hinemoana Baker, Jordan Reyne, Donna Muir), contemporary instrumental (Brendan Power), country (Roger Tibbs, The Cattlestops, Ann Pascoe), jazz/blues (Midge Marsden, Hot Club Sandwich, Kokomo, Rodger Fox, Sonia Bullot, Bullfrog Rata), poetry (Bill Manhire, Sam Hunt, Jenny Bornholdt, Michele Leggott) and childrens (Fatcat & Fishface). www.jayrem.co.nz

As we reported not too long ago, David Dallas has partnered with US-based Duck Down Music and moved from his hometown of Auckland to Harlem, NY. Recently, Dallas' "Big Time" video was added into rotation on MTV2, MTVU, and MTV Jams. The track was also used in ESPN's coverage of Men's College Basketball & in the upcoming Harvey Weinstein documentary.  Last week, David Dallas had his debut New York City performance during Pharoahe Monch's Hot 97's Who's Next Live Show celebrating the release of W.A.R. (We Are Renegades) album.  Watch his performance of "Take A Picture."  He'll be filming the video for this track in late April back in New Zealand. 


New release fanfare

To celebrate their birthday, tomorow - 1st April 2011 - Jayrem is releasing seven new CDs: She Sings and Plays, a compilation of the women of Jayrem including 80s recordings by Putty In Her Hands, Freudian Slips, Cassandra's Ears and Turiiyaâ, 90s offerings by Tuahine, Jan Preston, When The Cat's Been Spayed and Charlotte Yates, etc and more recent recordings by Elena, the late Mahinarangi Tocker, Big Belly Woman and Donna Muir, plus poetry read by Poet Laureates Jenny Bornholdt and Michele Leggott and link works by Jan Preston and Jane Devine and Hinemoana Baker and Shona Laing;  No Peace for the Wicked features the best from NZ's 80s heavy rock/heavy metal scene such as Knightshade, Confessor, Strikemaster, Lionheart, Stormbringer, Stonehenge, Tokyo and Blitz; Miharo : He Kohikohinga Waiata Maori (A Collaboration Of Maori Music) showcases 13 talented singers from throughout Aotearoa performing in a variety of musical settings - reggae, R&B, folk, pop, classical and Pacific Islands. Also out are The Tin Syndrome - Artefacts Which Reason Ate: 1980-83 and No Ordinary Sickness (Revived), Unrestful Movements - First Movement in  E B / Q: Are You A Fireman? and Confessor - The Anthology 1985-93. www.jayrem.co.nz

Auckland hip-hop heavyweight PNC returns with his third studio Man On Wire on April 18, inspired by the 2008 film of the same name, which documents Philippe Petit's 1974 high wire walk between the Twin Towers. While sticking with past collaborators David Dallas, Vince Harder and Te Awanui Reeder, PNC also introduces us to some new talents with vocalists Jessie Gurunathan and Joe London. The humour of rapper/producer Jordache and Homebrew's Tom Scott is also on display as each share a verse with PNC on the laid-back Slow Motion. Fire and Ice and 41 share production credits, with 41 playing the zany pop yin to Fire and Ice's more sample-based, soulful yang.
http://www.myspace.com/pncmusic


On the live front

Maisey Rika joins the lineup of Pao Pao Pao 2011, presented by Toi Māori Aotearoa. Also performing will be Billy TK Senior, Mara TK, Tyna Keelan, Ria Hall, Bela Kalolo, David Grace, Matiu Te Huki, Wai, Toni Huata, Bebe Deluxe and Porirua reggae band Vintage in the annual Māori Music showcase to sing their support for victims of the Christchurch earthquake. The two-hour show will be held at Pipitea Marae, Wellington on Friday 20 and Saturday 21 May 2011 and will feature a range of musical genres from Pūoro Māori to soul, hip hop, reggae and funk, all with Māori musical influences. Tickets and further details are available at http://www.maoriart.org.nz

After being in exile in LA, Greg Johnson is coming home for a nationwide tour, appropriately titled Small Towns and Ball Gowns. What's more he's giving local musicians in each town the opportunity to open for him by inviting them to submit a track via his website (www.gregjohnsonmusic.com) in the coming weeks, then Greg will then personally select one local support act to warm up their hometown audience. Small Towns and Ball Gowns will play unique indoor venues from Whangarei to Riverton and Nelson to Havelock North: he'll be at Pukekohe's Harrington Hall, and Matakana's Ascension Wine Estate; Tauranga's Mills Reef Winery and Wellington's famous Downstage Theatre. And what Kiwi road trip would be complete without a stop in Queenstown? Each of the concerts will be recorded for the production of Greg's first live album, which will be available to purchase with show tickets. The tour is being supported by Air New Zealand's grabaseat and as he travels, Greg will be making surprise appearances at airports across the country where he and his band will perform short acoustic sets to departing passengers. Greg is also appearing at the Bluff Oyster Festival on 21 May and will accompany fellow passengers as they fly directly from to Auckland to Invercargill on a very special Air New Zealand charter flight.  www.gregjohnsonmusic.com.

Rock Out Promotions presents Amped, featuring Hamilton rockers 8forty8, hard-hitting Westies Jealous Itch and local dark rockers Naquadah. Put April 15 at Auckland's Kings Arms in your diary now.

On March 31 (today!) Titirangi comes alive with the 2011 Titirangi Festival of Music. The four day festival will showcase an array of local and international talent alongside a variety of workshops including junk musical instrument construction, guitar, ukulele, hand drumming, medieval songs and music marketing. Artists include IMNZers An Emerald City, Carolina Moon, Home Brew Crew, Whirimako Black, Pacific Curls, Great North and Dylan Storey, plus The Barons of Tang, SandersAlleyGeiling, Macombee & the Absolute Truth, Yebiisu, The Big Muffin Serious Band, Logger Boys, Lauren Thompson, Deep River, Mandy Patmore and more.