Congratulations to Jacqui Wairepo who is the lucky winner of a double pass to La De Da this New Year's Eve. She picked Katchafire, Donovan Frankenreiter and Fat Freddy's Drop as 3 acts from the tasty lineup that she'd put on her must-see list.

And if you're feeling lucky, how about entering this week's competition to win a double pass to ONE DROP Matakana on Monday January 2? - featuring Fat Freddy's Drop, TrinityRoots and Cornerstone Roots. Read on for more info...

Plus don’t forget that nominations are open for the Taite Music Prize 2012, which will reward the best New Zealand album released in 2011. Know someone who's put out a great album this year? Tell them to enter - head here for more information.

International and Industry Action
Parachute Festival have just launched their 2012 phone app - it's Parachute in your pocket. The app's got:
•    Full lineup details 
•    The full weekend programme (plus you can build your own weekend schedule)  
•    Full site maps where you can view the nearest toilets/venues/food stalls, and mark the location of your tent.  
•    A virtual flame for those weepy mainstage ballad moments.  
Point your browser here and help yourself http://festival.parachutemusic.com/interact/mobile-app

And the official Coromandel Gold App is the perfect tool to keep you in the loop with everything happening at the event this New Year s Eve. Straight from your pocket keep up to date with news and important updates, save your favourite bands to your personal schedule and get the latest info about the acts playing.  This App has everything at your fingertips so you can spend more time enjoying your New Year s.
Features on the Coromandel Gold App include:
•    Set times and artist information
•    The latest Event Information
•    Maps and directions
•    Up to the minute Updates
- You can download this party planning accessory for free from http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/coromandel-gold/id482736336.  Web and Android Apps are also on their way, for more information go to www.coromandelgold.co.nz

New release fanfare
Some new Dub Asylum business has been released: a new digi-EP called Stereo Freeze, out next Monday (Dec 19).  Six songs, some old, some new. Guests include Olly Harris (Kolab) and Chip Matthews (Open Souls). Lotsa melodica in there too.  Hallelujah Picassos retrospective Rewind The Hateman is out now too - and there's a brand new new video, for the song God Gave Us Boom Boom Washington. The Picassos' Peter McLennan found some old Super 8 movie footage of the band live at the Powerstation and got some help from the talented Mr Justin Redding to edit it up into a demented visual blast. And that's not all of the treats in store for Picassos fans - the next reissue will be a digital collection of their legendary cover versions, including Peanut butter, It's a man's world (James Brown), Who do you love (Bo Diddley), and previously unreleased covers of Tears of a clown (Smokey Robinson via The Beat), and The The's Perfect. The release date will be in the first half of next year.

Over the past two decades, The Renderers have crafted half a dozen albums of intimate psychedelia infused with Southern-fried Americana and noise. A Rocket Into Nothing - crafted during the earthquakes that hit the band's hometown of Christchurch in 2011 - is another extraordinary display of Brian and Maryrose Crook's talent as songwriters and sound sculptors and shows The Renderers as an essential a piece of the diverse New Zealand indie rock puzzle - as much as they were on their first Flying Nun album Trail of Tears (1990). Read more...
In the past five years Zionhill - hailing from Raglan - have perfected their effortlessly powerful fusion of rock and reggae, leaving audiences wanting more across Aotearoa. Inside Of You is the group's debut album. ON TOUR: Huntly Saturday 3rd December, Huntly RSA /Coromandel - Friday 30th December, Prana - New Years Festival  /Mt Maunganui - Saturday 10th December, Brewers Bar/ Raglan Wednesday 28th December, Raglan Club / Auckland  Thursday 19th January, 420 / Hamilton -  Friday 20th January, Altitude / Whangarei  Saturday 21st January, Tikipunga Tavern.
Read more...

Keith Statham is an English-born NZ-based composer in his late 70s. His debut album Of Wine And Roses is a collection of chamber music pieces for string quartet and wind soloists -  it's beautiful, lyrical and very English. Featuring the superb UK/NZ Puertas Quartet. Read more...
Craig Smith's third album Not Just For Kids features the APRA award winning children's song of the year (2008)  The Wonky Donkey, plus 9 more fun tracks the whole family will enjoy. This is a must have Children's album and would make a great Christmas gift. Read more...


On the live front
The Big Day Out timetable has been announced - here's the goss on when to catch your favourite IMNZ bands: Skate Stage: Ghost Wave 11.45am - 12.15pm, Beastwars 2.15 - 2.45pm, Cairo Knife Fight 3.30 - 4.00pm, I Am Giant 6.30 - 7.15pm; Converse Green Stage: The Wilberforces 10.30 - 11.00am; Boiler Room: David Dallas 12.15 - 1.00pm, Six60 3.15 - 4.00pm, P-Money 7.30 - 8.15pm.
https://www.facebook.com/BIGDAYOUTNZOFFICIAL

At the gateway to Queenstown, nestled in the Kawarau Gorge in Central Otago is The Winehouse. A finalist in the 2008 "Cuisine Restaurant of the Year" awards, over the course of six evenings The Winehouse is set to play host to eight of New Zealand music's finest. Every second Sunday from January 15th until the 1st of April sees one or two of New Zealand's best offering up a rare opportunity to see them in such a truly unique setting. Audiences will be treated to performances from Greg Johnson, Barry Saunders & Lindon Puffin, Jason Kerrison, Hollie Smith, Anika Moa and Julia Deans & Seth Haapu in The Summer Playground Series. Tickets are limited and available from www.eventfinder.co.nz, Quest (Wanaka & Queenstown) and Arrowtown Info Centre.

This Saturday 17th December, Silo Sessions at Auckland's Silo Park presents The Spoilers of Utopia Brass Band with DJ Mr Music, Fritterhead & Bonahead, free from noon until 5pm. Spoilers of Utopia have a great line up of accomplished musicians including Don McGlashan and Kingsley Melhuish. Formed in August 2011, the Spoilers are the most apocalyptic Brass band in the universe at present. They have been presenting the music of American jazz composer Albert Ayler as well as pleasant folk ditties, anthems, and exalted, exuberant bugle-fired performances forged in brimstone. The Spoilers of Utopia Brass Band Are: John Bell (arranger, tenor horn, vibraphone), Kingsley Melhuish (trumpet, trombone), Finn Scholes (trumpet), Owen Melhuish (Tuba), Don McGlashan (Euphonium), Ben Zilber (Trombone), Chris O'Connor or Rory Hyde ( Drumset) and Neil Watson (Guitar). For full details of these events please go to www.silopark.co.nz or www.facebook.com/silopark. With special thanks to The Arts Foundation.
Freight Train Entertainment presents ALIVE 2012, a post-Easter concert featuring local Kiwi favorites Rapture Ruckus and American band P.O.D. With sales of over 10 million albums worldwide, Grammy-nominated P.O.D are known for a series of chart topping radio hits including Alive and Youth Of The Nation. Rapture Ruckus return home briefly following 15 months of touring in the U.S, and promise to bring their biggest show ever for loyal fans. Both bands play one night only in Wellington & Auckland - Wellington Tuesday April 10 and Auckland Wednesday April 11
http://premier.ticketek.co.nz/shows/show.aspx?sh=ALIVE2012

This Friday 23 December is Fou Nature’s last live band gig for the year at the Republic Bar in Manukau. Their live performances are known for bringing energetic Pacific flavours and good vibes. Read more...

Around the World
A strong year for Michael Gudinski's Frontier Touring has seen them earn $19 million, according to the BRW Rich List (published by Australian business magazine BRW). Ranking the top 50 Australian entertainers, Michael Gudinksi/Frontier Touring raked in $19 million during the 2010/11 period to rank 4 on the list. It's a stark improvement from last year's $7 million, which saw them ranked 17th.
The top five in the list are:
1.. Global Creatures (Walking With Dinosaurs) - $62m
2. The Wiggles - $28.3m
3. Naomi Watts - $19.1m
4. Michael Gudinksi/Frontier Touring - $19m
5. Nicole Kidman - $18.6m
(Thanks to www.themusic.com.au)