Thanks to Tony for answering these questions:
What is the best gig/event you have ever performed at, and why?
Playing with Audioslave at the Auckland Town Hall. I'm a big fan of Soundgarden, so being on the same bill as Chris Cornell was awesome. And they played an amazing show.
What is your favourite NZ venue?
Definitely the Auckland Town Hall.
What can we expect to see from Solstate over the next year?
Some great live shows around the country, we also have our album 'Whispers & Tremors' out on the 10th of November. Plus more videos and radio singles,
What other NZ musicians or bands would you like to see more of, and why?
I love the band Jakob... I think they are doing something so original... would really like to see and hear more from them.
If you could, what rumour would you start about Solstate?
Haha..none...rumours are bad!
What advice would you like to give to other aspiring musicians?
Stick to it...make sure you enjoy the music you make, because if it goes well you will be playing those songs for a long time.
Solstate is Troy McKubre (vocals, guitar), Dan Insley (bass), Zorran Mendonsa (guitar), Darren Crowe (guitar) and Tristan Reilly (drums).
Solstate's debut album 'Whispers and Tremors' will be out mid-November.
Website Links:
Muzic.net.nz Profile
MySpace Profile
Amplifier Profile
What is the best gig/event you have ever performed at, and why?
We have a lot of fun at all of our shows but a highlight for us was performing at Auckland's, Coca Cola Christmas in the Park. We performed our Christmas in the Summertime Song to over 200,000 people.
What is your favourite NZ venue?
The Bruce Mason Centre. We used the venue for our Get Up Go Tour during the July School Holidays. Fantastic venue and very helpful staff that made our job a lot easier.
What can we expect to see from The Funky Monkeys over the next year?
We have plans for a new DVD, more music videos for television and another 200 great shows around the country like we did this year.
What other NZ musicians or bands would you like to see more of, and why?
We have really enjoyed seeing young NZ talent on stage at the many varied events we have perform at, we would really like to see, more children encouraged to give it a go.
If you could, what rumour would you start about The Funky Monkeys?
That the Wiggles are opening for us at Mt Smart Stadium.
The Funky Monkeys are Chris Monkey, Neil Monkey, Joe Monkey and Dizzy Dog.
Website Links:
Muzic.net.nz Profile
Official Website
Thanks to Alex for answering these questions:
What is the best gig/event you have ever performed at, and why?
Wellington folk festival 2008 - A great crowd, pouring rain and gumboots galore, on damp spirits, brilliant musicians everywhere, fantastic organisation.
What is your favourite NZ venue?
The Bunker on top of Mount Victoria, home to the Devonport Folk Club and the Old Time Bluegrass and Country Music Club. It's warm and cosy, often a full house, with attentive and fun audiences. It's home to a huge variety of music.
What can we expect to see from Forbidden Joe over the next year?
A National tour from February to March 2009, and then off to Australia for a small tour and to check out the National Folk Festival in Canberra. Potentially a European tour in late 2009 too, mainly around England, Ireland, and Scotland.
What other NZ musicians or bands would you like to see more of, and why?
Copperkin, a stunning sister duo from Hamilton, who write beautiful songs and sing like angels. The Benka Boradovsky Bordello Band have an insane live performance! Plus they're raising the profile of Easten European/Klezmer music.
If you could, what rumour would you start about Forbidden Joe?
That we took out the New Zealand spelling bee championships for nine consecutive years.
What advice would you like to give to other aspiring musicians?
Listen to lots of different musics, get a feel for the styles, play the music you love, experiment, and play it with people you love. It helps!
Forbidden Joe is Frances Dickinson (vocals, concertina, dunbeq), Emily June Giles (cello, vocals) and Alex Borwick (banjo, trombone, vocals).
Forbidden Joe will be releasing their debut EP 'Oh, What A Queer Sensation' on 14 November @ The Masonic Tavern, Devonport.
Website Links:
Muzic.net.nz Profile
MySpace Profile
Music Managers Awards - The Winners
Last night (7 November) the 5th Annual Music Managers Forum Awards where held at the Back Beat Bar in Auckland.
There were representatives from throughout the country at the event to celebrate what has been an exceptional year in NZ Music and for the growth of the MMF. With a membership now numbering over 100, the MMF has truly become an important and vital organisation.
The Managers Awards went to:
Lorraine Barry - NZ Manager of the Year
Dave Dobbyn, Lucid 3, Electric Confectionaires, The Dukes, Mark Vanilau & Lauren Mitchell
Ingrid Round - North Island Manager of the Year
Dirty Management – Concord Dawn, State of Mind, Tiki Taane (with Callum August & Ninakaye), 48 May, PNC, Bulletproof
Flip Grater - South Island Manager of the Year
Self-managed artist
Carthew Neale – Upcoming Manager of the Year
Coco Solid
The NZ Music Commission - Industry Champion Award
Congratulations to all the nominees, the winners, and all that work so hard to keep the Music Managers Forum alive & well in New Zealand.
BDO 2009 Second Announcement
Roll up! Roll up! Rock ’n’ roll ringmaster SERJ TANKIAN has donned his top hat and will be cracking the whip at BIG DAY OUT 2009. The System of a Down front man has gone solo with the multi-layered album Elect the Dead. Backed by his band the FCC, TANKIAN’s show is a vaudevillian explosion – part comedic, part heart-attack serious. A showman like no other, SERJ TANKIAN is guaranteed to bring the drama at BIG DAY OUT this summer.
BIG DAY OUT is dedicated to providing good times. And to help us do this in 2009, we’ve called on the band dubbed Boston’s answer to the Ramones – the legendary DROPKICK MURPHYS. This loud, raucous and chaotic seven-piece Celtic punk combo hits the stage with one goal: to play music that creates an all-for-one, one-for-all environment where everyone is encouraged to participate, sing along, and have a good time. Sounds good to us! So let the good times roll with DROPKICK MURPHYS at BIG DAY OUT 2009.
Having destroyed as much of their surrounding NZ music environment as was deemed acceptable (at last count, one Big Day Out stage with a chainsaw, one Victorian plaster theatre ceiling shaken loose with high volume, sundry limbs, instruments and a bass player) the three remaining MINT CHICKS decamped in early 2008 to the relative safety of Portland, Oregon. Their second album, the award-snatching Crazy?Yes!Dumb?No!, has just been released Stateside on Milan Records and the trio have been releasing a steady stream of incredible new tunes from their Portland home studio onto itunes and the internet in recent months. If you thought the last lot of art-damaged spazz pop was brilliant, the forthcoming Screens album will lift-off like Saturn Five.
Summer Down Under is so hot, BIG DAY OUT is calling in The Cool – the head-spinning wordplay of Chicago hip hop trailblazer LUPE FIASCO. Once protégé to Kanye, Jay-Z and Pharrell, LUPE’s second album, The Cool, whose first single “Superstar” (featuring Matthew Santos) has shot him into the big leagues in his own right. This smart, charismatic and energetic performer and his band are coming to teach you the art of being cool. School’s in for summer with LUPE FIASCO at BIG DAY OUT 2009.
Full Article
Big Day Out offers opening slot to talented newcomers
Gig Guide Listing
Inverse Order EP Out Now
Disasteradio Europe Tour
Disasteradio have announced a European tour. Full details can be found here.
JacksonR Guitars USA Endorse New Zealand Metal band Tainted
NZ's premier metal band Tainted are proud to announce their affiliation with Jackson® Guitars USA following official endorsement by the iconic guitar company.
This is a first for New Zealand based musicians and adds members Tim Facoory, Linly Baxter and Sean McCurrie to an enviable list of artists who use and play Jackson Guitars including Mark Morton and John Campbell (Lamb of God), Adrian Smith (Iron Maiden), Matt Tuck (Bullet For My Valentine), Chris Beattie (Hatebreed) and Phil Demmel (Machine Head). Tim has played Jackson Guitars exclusively for many years while Linley and Sean were keen to move over to Jackson after experiencing and road testing the exceptional quality of Jackson® Guitars.
The endorsement follows the ground breaking New Zealand release of Tainted's new studio album "Carved and Created" in October this year and the upcoming national 'Path of Vengeance' Tour in November.
Site of the moment: Amplifier
Amplifier is a NZ owned and operated website, which offers the best in NZ music downloads and news. From this website you can also view the Amplifier charts and buy some gear.
New Artists
The following musicians were added to the muzic.net.nz website recently. Check them out:
Competitions
Congratulations to our latest winners:
- K. Quickenden (Wellington), G. Meredith (Te Aroha), K. Pearson (Auckland), M. Varcoe (Christchurch), L. Heppleston (New Plymouth), A. Orr (Tauranga), C. Stockum (Auckland), L. Dunningham (Hawera) and S. Dixon (Hokitika) who have all won a copy of the latest single from These Four Walls,
- A. Kelly (Palmerston North) will be receiving their copy of the latest Tainted album 'Carved and Created' this week,
- And J. Beaulieu (Mairehau) will also receive this week the debut album from Reb Fountain, 'Holster'.
Don't miss out on your chance to win these prizes:
From full throttle rock'n'roll to psychedelia to pop melodies, The Datsuns have written a magical follow up to 2006's Smoke & Mirrors. Enter now to win a copy! | |
Win a double pass to see Weta at Galatos in Auckland on Nov 20. | |
'A New Aesthetic' is the debut album from three-piece alternative rock band Decortica. | |
Win one of two single passes to the Big Day Out in Auckland on Jan 16 2009! |
The next muzic.net.nz newsletter is going out on 23 November and will feature Jonny Love and Inverse Order.
We only have space left in our last newsletter (dated 7 December) and it is filling up very quickly, so if you are a NZ musician or in a band, and would like to promote your music before the year is out by featuring in this newsletter, contact Lisa today!
If you don't get in now, you will have to wait until next year. The first issue of the muzic.net.nz newsletter for 2009 is planned for mid January.
If you would like to advertise your next album release or tour in our newsletter and/or gig mail out email Lisa. It is 100% FREE to feature or advertise in our newsletter and gig mail outs! We also offer advertising on the muzic.net.nz website for very competitive prices.
If you have any suggestions for our 2009 newsletters, including what questions we can ask musicians and bands who feature in the newsletter, let Lisa know your thoughts.
Our gig mail outs will continue through the Christmas break. Our extra special New Years Eve and summer festival edition of the gig mail out will go out on 28 December 08 - if you would like to advertise your summer tour in this issue, contact Lisa as soon as possible!
- The muzic.net.nz team