Invercargill boy turned Aucklander Gary Dalhousie and his band of merry men that collectively call themselves Ocean Beach, return with new single Come Around. It’s been out since 1st August, but as I’m currently on borrowed hardware due to my Steampunk-era laptop running out of firewood, I’m only now giving my words of subjective thought…

Oooooh, someone is taking on an Eddie Van Halen guitar piece are they? You have my interest… Back in the late 70s music was in danger of going stale. Punk was a flash of defiance from the youth that had built up from the early part of the decade in the USA at a societal…

Tāmaki Makaurau-based Kiko is a 5 piece Māori rock band deservedly making huge waves across this country. Made up of Rewi McLay (Ngāti Kahu/Ngāti Hine on guitar and vocals), Lukas Wharekura (Ngāti Kahungunu keyboards, BVs and guitar), Kara Gordon (Ngāi Te Rangi on guitar), Phillip Peters (Whānau a Apanui and Rangitāne, on the drums) and Windon Bradfield (bass), these guys sing…

Hip-Hop/Rapper PNC brings us a great collaboration with renowned Kiwi Hip-Hop artist David Dallas, for PNCs latest single from upcoming album Unbothered Rapper. You’re going to like this. The promo vid, on You Tube and directed by Stacy Tapsell, gives us a great flow to bring us along the journey this track takes us on.…

I’ve just said hello to a groovy little three-piece outfit from, surprise surprise – Taranaki! New Plymouth’s Hollow Ground are made up of guitar/vocalist Eric Holt, bass player Aaron Hildred and drummer Paul Tattersall. They’ve been together since early 2023, making a bit of a name for themselves on the ‘Naki live circuit, and are…

I am many excites!! This coming Friday, 2nd August, sees the official launch of the new album from Hawkes Bay’s most rockin’ export since my wife, Black Smoke Trigger. That’s the band. It wouldn’t suit my wife as a name. As we all know, these guys have been making massive waves in the music biz…

Now this is Bluegrass Incarnate! Taranaki’s wonderful Turkey The Bird continues to get me slappin’ my thigh at their authentic, organic, stripped-back Cajun-inspired sound. New single Stone Wall Creek is a complete delight for any fans of the genre AND fans of the band. We’ve got banjos, I think some mandolin (?), guitars, some of…

Written By Wolves is definitely a growing force at the grown-ups table in Aotearoa’s music scene. This band is claiming ever expanding levels of kudos and a burgeoning support that’s elevating them to the top very quickly indeed. Their Sophomore album The Lighthouse is about to drop, marked by a show on 2nd August at…

Archie Orbell (drums), Clarke West (guitar), Henry McConnell (vocals), and Otis Murphy (bass), make up the foursome from Wanaka called Powder Chutes. And whooooah, do we have some heavy rockers on our hands here! This band is already making huge waves in the Aotearoa music scene and overseas. They have very definite fans in Alien…

Now this fella Jason McIver and I go wayyyyyyy back, all the way to the mid 2000’s in fact when I was still a pro muso plying my wares on the circuit in Central Wellington’s vibrant live scene of the day. A young, talented chap used to play a lot of the bars I played.…