Congratulations to the 2011 Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards winners from the IMNZ crew last Thursday November 3. Tiki Taane was awarded three Tuis and Ladi6 two - and both delivered passionate performances on the night, with partcular attention given to Tiki's dance with the 'love police" (complete with real, police-approved uniforms) when he bounced around for Freedom to Sing. Six60 provided a dramatic opening number as well. Tiki Taane’s three award wins include Best Male Solo Artist and two for his second studio album – “In The World Of Light” – in the Best Electronica and Best Māori Album categories. The award for Best Female Solo Artist went to Ladi6 who also took out the Tui for Serato Best Urban Hip Hop Album for “The Liberation Of…”. Other Tuis announced on the night also went to TrinityRoots for “Music Is Choice” as Best Roots Album, Parachute Band for “Love Without Measure” as Best Gospel/Christian Album, “Resonator”’ by Reuben Bradley as Best Jazz Album, Nick Keller for Beastwars “Beastwars” as Best Album Cover and Donna Dean for “What Am I Gonna Do?” as Best Country Music Album. http://www.nzmusicawards.co.nz/   

International and Industry Action
Don McGlashan is one of the recipients of the 2012 Distinguished Alumni Awards from the University Of Auckland. The Award recognises him as one of New Zealand's most celebrated songwriters, with five entries in the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA)'s 100 best New Zealand songs of all time and two APRA Silver Scroll Awards.Parallel with his songwriting and performing career, Don has written music extensively for film and television, including Jane Campion's An Angel At My Table, the drama series Street Legal and Toa Fraser's film No 2. He also heads the tally in the muiscal finalists for the Aotearoa Film and Television Awards (AFTA) - he is up for Best Original Music in the same category as Sean Donnelly, Victoria Kelly and Gareth Farr, and Best Original Music in a Feature Film alongside Neville Copland and Plan 9. The awards will be presented on Saturday 12 November at Auckland s new Viaduct Events Centre. Don McGlashan s newly reformed Mutton Birds are also playing ( for their first shows in 10 years) alongside Gin Wigmore and 2011 APRA Silver Scroll winners Avalanche City in the 2012 Classic Hits Winery Tour. In its sixth year, the tour will feature 16 shows in 14 venues nationwide from Matakana to Cromwell. http://www.afta.co.nz ; http://www.winerytour.co.nz/welcome.html
The Warratahs will play two shows in November to support their new single Kupe's Tears. As well as the new tune, the band will perform material from their repertoire stretching across three decades. Frontman Barry Saunders explains the origin of the song,   It was inspired by a day trip I took to the Southern Wairarapa where I discovered the story of Kupe, a great Polynesian navigator who made a series of landings along the South Wairarapa coast". Thursday November 17 @ The Winchester, Auckland and Friday November 18 @ The Front Room, Wellington. http://www.nzmusician.co.nz/index.php/pi_pageid/61/pi_newsitemid/4935

Our condolences go to the family and friends of Eric Marsden, drummer from the seminal Christchurch punk band The Androidss, who passed away last week. Here is a classic clip of one of their best-loved anthems, Auckland Tonight: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88rNfOYf1rU  They released a singler on Ripper Records (which has historical links with Ode and Jayrem Records). There is a wake at Tabac bar in Auckland for friends of Eric and fans of the band this Wednesday November 9 from 7 - 10pm. Eric's twin brother Stephen passed away in 2009.


New release fanfare
After a two year hiatus while illness kept the band in a state of limbo, Kokomo, Tauranga's favourite musical cottage industry, have gone back to their roots. With It All Comes Round, the band s ninth studio album, Kokomo returns to the world of pre-war blues, the fertile fields of Mississippi blues and sparkling East Coast ragtime. These are mixed with a selection of contemporary Kiwi blues, both the band s own songs and works from Bill Lake (Windy City Strugglers) and Mike Garner. This is the first Kokomo album to be released on their own Boatshed Records label and marks the start of their relationship with distribution company Border Music. The Kokomo back-catalogue will be re-released by Border Music in early 2012. http://www.kokomo.co.nz/index.html
Dunedin-based pop-subersive trio Opposite Sex release their debut album on Fishrider Records on 7 November 2011 on CD and LP.  Their sound is, they say, an absurdist-logico mix of Euro pop, Beat poetry, and subterranean lo-fi adventuring. Drawing musical inspiration from such disparate elements as The Velvet Underground, Half Japanese and The Beatles and marrying it to lyrical themes of animal kingdoms, love and loss, and master/slave dialectics, Opposite Sex reinvent alternative pop in a style of their own with something novel to express. For those who are not sure what that might mean, their music ranges from oddly poppy carnival waltzes through to manic and melodic post-punk and no wave weirdness.  In between those extremes is a little bit of gothic rockabilly and classic post-punk Undertones/ Buzzcocks-style pop. Lucy has previously played in Connan Mockasin's band, Tim was a 2nd hand bookshop owner, and Fergus, self-taught from listening to Guitar Player magazine CDs in his bedroom, completes the trio. They were discovered in Gisborne by The Puddle and relocated to Dunedin. The song Sea Shanty has charted on Radio One s Top 11 and they'vetoured the deep south with The Puddle, including an epic mid-winter show in a Riverton shooting gallery during a freezing snow storm complete with thunder and hail.  Album release shows are planned for late 2011 in the south and North Island shows early in 2012. http://oppositesex.bandcamp.com/

Here's the new music video for Kapabal's latest single "Flammable" taken from the new album "No Rest", directed by Miles "Ace" Ovia: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fx-ttUiroFQ

While known for her jazz background, L.A. Mitchell's love of innovation sees her constantly exploring new ways of recording and performing her songs. For the second of her collaborative EPs she worked with Wellington DJ/Producer D:UNK  (George Duncan) to combine his digital funk with her mighty soul vocals. " I hope the finished EP conveys how exciting it was to build this. Each track was a really delightful exploration into layering and processing vocals and synths.  I've used the voice as an instrument to create often very non-voice-like textures to compliment George's beats and define the sometimes gritty emotion of the songs", explains L.A. The Concept EP #2 was released on October 31, and the opening track 'You Know Now'' will feature in L.A's performance during the current Fly My Pretties 4 tour.  L.A. Mitchell has opened for both Stevie Wonder and Lionel Richie, performed for Bic Runga, Tim Finn, Guy Sebastian, and the Urban Soul Orchestra (U.K) and is a regular member of Dave Dobbyn's band.  She juggles her solo career with her rock-chick-alter-ego as a member of Dukes who supported rock legends Blondie and Pretenders and had a top 10 hit single with 'Vampires''. Her EP #1 with producer Isaac Aesilli followed on from two self-produced albums. http://laurenmitchell.co.nz/home/

This week Tui winner Tiki Taane re-releases his 2011 #1 album In The World of Light with 3 bonus tracks - this limited release is a snapshot of the hectic year Tiki has had so far. Fresh off the back of the Rugby World Cup, Tiki fans can re-live the magic of epic track "My Lion (RWC Remix)" by Tiki & Optimus Gryme, featuring the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, remixed especially for the Rugby World Cup Opening Ceremony, one of New Zealand's most-watched broadcasts ever (both home and abroad). Fans will also be treated to bonus additions including Crushington s monstrous remix of "Soundtrack To Forever", which has been smashing dance floors around the globe. Finally, the album features a live edition of "Freedom To Sing" which was recorded & filmed at a show in Tauranga for NZ Music Month. Written about Tiki's controversial arrest, in which he was hand cuffed & jailed for singing NWA's "F#%@ the Police" at one of his private R18 concerts, Tiki has since had a positive mediation with the Tauranga Police (as verified by his Tui performance!).  Read more...
Glass Vaults has just released a new single, Gold Star, taken from their new EP Into Clear, out this week. If you're in Wellington, head along to their EP release party at the Matterhorn this Saturday November 5. Recorded over the past 6 months, this stunning new EP presents a logical yet exciting new progression in their sound. Glass Vaults are best known for their succinctly titled Glass EP. Released in 2010, it commanded over 6000 downloads via Bandcamp as well as receiving international acknowledgement throughout the blogospheres. Once again teaming up with independent American label Jukboxr this release is set to see the light of day in digital and limited edition CD and Vinyl formats. Here is link to stream Into Clear: http://soundcloud.com/jukboxr-label/sets/glass-vaults-into-clear-ep/s-SqyvC

Paper Plane have been gracing the IMNZ Airplay chart for a few weeks now, and if you're wondering who they are, here's the story...Three years after his debut solo record 'The Crowd', Nathan King, former lead singer of Zed, is back with a new album and a new band. Paper Plane was formed between King and his 3 touring band mates. Recorded in the basement of Neil Finn's Roundhead studios, their forthcoming debut album Proof was essentially recorded as a live album, but with honed edges. Keep an eye out here for its release date.
http://www.paperplaneband.co.nz


On the live front

Jim Beam Homegrown proudly showcases the cream of New Zealand music this summer, and a further 17 acts have just been announced to grace the seven stages set along the beautiful Wellington waterfront. After four consecutive sell-outs, the festival on Saturday 18 February features a new free to the public stage, a new collaborative stage - The Red Bull Lab - and a huge line-up of bands and DJs. The Vodafone Dub and Roots stage boasts a truly epic line-up with Fat Freddy's Drop making their first Homegrown appearance amongst a who's who of headline acts including Kora, Six60, The Black Seeds, 1814, Sola Rosa and Sunshine Sound System. The Jim Beam Rock stage line-up sees Shihad headline alongside Blacklist, The Feelers, Opshop, Black River Drive, The Thomas Oliver Band, Shotgun Alley and The Checks. The new Red Bull Lab provides a platform for our richest talent to collaborate and jam. Jon Toogood's brainchild The Adults are joined by AHoriBuzz with guests Dallas Tamaira (FFD), Fran Kora (Kora), LA Mitchell (Dukes) and Tiki Taane. There's a DJ sound-clash with Concord Dawn taking on P-Money, Nick D featuring Yewala Sound System, Tiki will perform an acoustic set and Minuit will be joined by Asian percussionists Gamelan. The evening will finish off with an old school mash-up from the masters... King Kapisi, Che Fu and Manuel Bundy. The Vodafone Pop and RnB stage is packed with talent including heavy weights David Dallas, Smashproof, P-Money, K.One, Homebrew, Kidz In Space, Zowie, Computers Want Me Dead and Kids Of 88. The Electronic stage offers Optimus Gryme, Bulletproof with Jesse G, State of Mind Live, Kids Of 88 with a DJ set and just announced MayaVanya, Karn Hall and Dick Johnson. Last but not least, free to the public Amphitheatre stage features the country's premier 3 on 3 breakdancing competition with a mix of DJs throughout the day. http://www.homegrown.net.nz
Tainted and Sinate are amongst the national and international rock and metal acts joining together to celebrate New Year 2012 at New Zealand's newest and heaviest festival - Beyond The Black. BeyoThe line-up features Shotgun Alley, Distentomb, Indicator Dogs, Sinate, In Dread Response, Decortica, Whole Lotta Led, Subtract, Sonic Altar, Tainted, Devilskin, Molest The Episcopate, Advocates, Of Blackest Oceans, Bulletbelt and Draco Aerius. On Saturday 31 December 2011 through until New Years Day 2012, rock & metal fans alike are to unite at Trentham Racecourse, Upper Hutt, Wellington to rock into 2012, with the aid of one stage, 16 bands and 14 hours of solid rock & metal. Overnight camping is encouraged and a campsite is available for only $10. Tickets start from just $30 and are on sale at various outlets all over New Zealand. Read more...

Speaking of Don McGlashan, as we were earlier...his former band Blam Blam Blam is reforming to play a special benefit show - Rock for Starship - alongside other post-punk legends such as Fetus Productions, Scrunch, X-Features and Andrew Fagan. The show is this Friday November 11 at Juice Bar in Parnell, Auckland - tickets are available from Real Groovy, and Barfoot & Thompson Offices in Parnell, Ponsonby, Grey Lynn, Takapuna and Birkenhead. Read more...
And you can also catch Fetus Productions as part of the Flying Nun 'Nunvember' 30th birthday celebrations which kicked off last week, with exciting recently-named support bands playing across the month such as Solid Gold Hell, X-Features, The Subliminals, The Verlaines, The Puddle and Dear Time's Waste. Read more...
Around the World
One of the most successful partnerships in Australian music history - between Vivian Lees and Ken West who've run Big Day Out since 1992 and did international tours together for ten years before - has ended.

Lees has decided to bow out, citing the need to spend more time with his family, and interests outside the festival. West will continue to promote Big Day Out by himself although, he says, he might take in a minor partner down the track.

Lees told TMN: "After 20 wonderful years as co-producer of the Big Day Out Festival I have decided to move on. My decision is principally to ease the workload on myself and I believe this will also allow me to increase my commitment to my family and interests outside of Big Day Out.

For the first time in my life I will be stepping off the gas a little instead of stepping on it and I am looking forward to new challenges I may find outside the Big Day Out.

I am a passionate supporter of the Big Day Out and the musical legacy I have created with Ken West who will now continue to produce the show as sole producer.

To all my friends and supporters, the loyal and committed Big Day Out staff and the legions of Big Day Out audience members I thank you and I will always be indebted to you for keeping me in such a great job for so long."   Read more...