International and Industry Action

The Phoenix Foundation are extremely excited to announce their return to the UK in a few weeks time to perform on the BBC2 UK TV show 'Later With Jools Holland'! “Get it Together” sees an international release this month through Germany’s Melting Pot Music and to celebrate Sola Rosa are making their first trip to Europe, playing everywhere from Berlin to Koln to Istanbul to London. Unfortunately economics prohibited bringing the whole band this time, but Andrew has crafted a special soundsystem set and drafted in not just veteran MC Spikey Tee (Jah Wobble, Mr Scruff, Bomb The Bass) but also the talented Lisa Tomlins (Fat Freddy’s Drop, Trinity Roots, Ebb). Support at the UK show comes from former New Zealand resident International Observer.  


New release fanfare

Funkommunity’s Isaac Aesili and Rachel Fraser are no strangers to the NZ music scene. Having played, toured and collaborated with some of the country’s top artists, the prolific pair now join forces to create their debut album Chequered Thoughts, due for release October 24. Spearheading a new collaborative effort, DJs P-Money and Dan Aux have teamed up to present The Disco 3, a three-track digital E.P due for release on October 14.  Singer/songwriter Flip Grater has captured tales and recipes from her European touring adventures and penned them all in a new book titled, 'The Cookbook Tour Europe'.


On the live front

With her brand new album ‘Red Grey Blue’ recently released, singer songwriter Mel Parsons is in celebration mode, hitting the road with her band for a 20 date NZ tour spanning Coast to Coast and tip to tail. This summer Shapeshifter are playing four shows over the Christmas/New Year break, and in an inspired pairing they’re bringing with them reggae legend Horace Andy and his band Dub Asante. Recent Music Awards nominated singer-songwriter Julia Deans returns to the stage with a small band to play two shows over November, playing the Masonic Tavern in Devonport, Auckland, on November 5 and The Garden Club in Wellington on November 12. King Kapisi is in the latest Splore lineup announcement, with other locals @Peace, IM INO, Disasteradio, Scratch 22, Maya and Vanya, Alphabethead and Jason Eli joining newly annouced internationals Soul II Soul (with original members Jazzie B, Caron Wheeler and MC Chickaboo), Africa Hitech feat Mark Pritchard and Steve Spacek, Amsterdam audio visual artist The SmokeEaters and the UK’s J Star, all making the trip to Tapapakanga Regional Park in February next year (17- 19). Fiesta in the Park is a family Fiesta being held in Auckland's Western Park, Ponsonby, to herald in the coming summer, celebrating community well-being and World Mental Health Day. Enjoy a line-up of national and local bands and performers with Jan Hellriegel and Emma Paki as well as Andrew Fagan, Jupiter Project, Ben Lummis and DJ Reminis, Abby Lee, J O, Latin Aotearoa, SamRB and special guests.


Around the World

Perception is reality, especially in business, and US independent label association A2IM is helping re-shape perception spotlighting that "Independent label music is the best!" Last week, Billboard ran their Midyear Soundscan Report and in it they included a report by label ownership noting that this breakdown reflects a “dramatically larger” percentage of the market for indies then when depicted by distribution-only (which has previously been the standard reporting method).  And in sad news, R.I.P Steve Jobs.

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