Wellington Love Letter

Take a life long prankster, mix in some free time, 3 guys who work in film, some mild homo eroticism, and just the right amount of sexiness, and what you get is the Wellington Love Letter.

Sleepers, Awake!

Wellington electronic music fans will have fond memories of the While_you_were_Sleeping nights. They’ve been hibernating for a couple of years, but will emerge blinking into the light on Sunday November the 14th at Betty’s. Expect a broad spectrum of sound, with an emphasis on ambient and experimental textures, but with touches of hip-hop, post-rock and […]

The Lane comes to Wellington

You know how you saw the lineup for the St Jerome Laneaways Festival and were like “Oh man, such cool bands, but I don’t want to have to go to Auckland to see them”? Well now you don’t have to! Haha! Awesomeness.

K Records documentary & Mirah at Happy

A double dose from the influential and inspiring K Records out of Olympia, Washington. On Wednesday you get a chance to ‘bone up’ on this legendary label thanks to a screening of the 1999 doco: THE SHIELD AROUND THE K: THE STORY OF K RECORDS and on Thursday Mirah (one of K record’s brightest stars) […]

Will you play, baby?

Wellington five-piece The Thomas Oliver Band have spent the past few years touring and playing live throughout New Zealand with the likes of Fat Freddy’s Drop, Gin Wigmore and Britain’s Oli Brown. Within this time the band have also written and recorded their debut full-length album Baby, I’ll Play to be released in early 2011. […]

Live Brazil Festival 2010

Oi Galera! The 2010 Live Brazil festival kicks off tonight and runs until Sunday night. There will be Brazilian music, dance, and food — what more could you want? Most events will be at Estadio on Blair St (the former Temperance) but tonight’s performances are at Te Papa. Check out the programme.

Sun Araw (US) w, Orchestra of Spheres Thursday at Happy

Another excellent show on Thursday, you can even make it after Flying Nun at City Gallery Wellington. SUN ARAW is the sound of the late-night party deepening to cosmic levels as you turn up the bass and fog up the place. Mantras emerge from voluminous reverb. Old-school Jamaican grooves roll deep with Afro-funk guitar. Shuddering […]

Music vs Art = Open City

City Gallery is currently exhibiting Roundabout, a major collection of bold, bright and wicked-as works from emerging artists from around the world. It’s well worth a visit. Part of Roundabout is 48,000 Revolutions, a piece by Flying Nun founder Roger Shepherd. He’s selected 24 hours worth of songs, which randomly play. There is also – and […]

Soundstage: Strike Percussion and Warren Maxwell

Wellington musical collaborations are so hot right now, with the pulsing funked out drama of Eru Dangerspiel cramming more than 15 musicians and a damn choir onto the stage at the Town Hall last night and Rhian Sheehan’s outstanding show at the Opera House in June it seems that being all lush and orchestral and big is, well, big.  The spores of certain Welly super-groups can be found in basements all over Wellington collaborating on new projects, getting back together with each other, going solo again, it is bloody hard to keep up! 

 

Those Twinset boys seem to be slutting it all over town and Warren Maxwell has managed mix it with NZSO (as Little Bushman) plan a couple of shows with a reformed Trinity Roots and work on new material with Strike Percussion.

 

Phew.

 

A little taster of the full length show brewing between Warren and Strike will be on offer at Downstage this Sunday as part of the Soundstage series.  There will also be some fresh reinterpretations of Strike and Little Bushman classics (this girl is looking forward to seeing what they can do with Corrupt Demeanor).  Looks like there may be another guest musician spot too, so once again time to have a few less $5 flat whites and book tickets.

 

What: Strike Percussion and Warren Maxwell

Where: Downstage theatre

When: Sunday 17 October

Cost: $35

Image by Dominika Zielinska from a set of live rehearsal shots.

Have You Seen This Spam?

Following on from a tidbit in Mike’s last post, here’s some Thursday night hobo country garage entertainment for you!

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Delaney Davidson plays at the Mighty Mighty tonight to release his album ‘Rough Diamond’ (out on local label Stink Magnetic), and unveils his Ghost Orchestra for the very first time … featuring a real live voodoo rhythm section as well as banjo, brass, violin, lap steel and accordian. The band played and talked on National Radio last Saturday, and are doing a small number of shows before Delaney heads off overseas again in April. The Wrongdoings play support, before they (we?) lose bass player Justin to the big wide world, also in April.

The gig kicks off at 8:30 but as a warm-up Issue #4 of local design magazine The National Grid will be launched in fine style by voodoo guru Dr Eric Vornoff and tractor afficionado Boss Christ, from 5:30. #4 and back issues are available at special prices, and there’s talk of a limbo contest that the Wellingtonista’s own Anna Dean has been banned from entering.

Mighty Mighty, Cuba St, 5:30/8:30 tonight
and the gig repeats with extra flair on Friday night too.