Hi folks. Just catching up with the music post after a busy of writing, talking and flying in planes. It's a lovely day in most parts of the motu. I'm going to barbecue. Summer really is coming ...
And I'm happy about that because, against all reasonable expectation, Echo Festival has scheduled most of the acts I really want to see – and Flaming Lips and Jamie Xx are quite possibly the acts I want to see most in the world right now – on one of its two days at Vector Arena. Monday January 11 also features Courtney Barnett and The Chills.
It's as haphazard as ever: the full lineup for each day still isn't on the festival website and even the sales page on Ticketmaster doesn't include Jamie Xx in the line up (he's on the digital poster, so I'm assuming he is actually playing). But the $119 one-day price looks like quite the bargain to me.
The new Auckland City Limits festival has also made its main lineup announcement, with The National (called it!) and Kendrick Lamar at the top of the bill. I'm not quite so amped for that, but it is in my neighbourhood, so ...
And a couple of days after playing at Laneway 2016 in Auckland, Thundercat has a side show in Wellington.
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After the high-concept video for 'Lifeguard', LarzRanda has gone for straightforward Auckland city scenes for his new video for 'Fortress':
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You may have heard that 95bFM is bringing back the Bombathon. The early-90s pledge drive has been revived in the context of 21st century crowdfunding:
From Monday November 16 to Sunday November 22, bFM’s Bombathon will be a non-stop carnival of broadcasting mayhem, including the live Breakfast Bus each weekday, specialist show outside broadcasts, gold archive moments replayed, live-to-air bands live streamed, special guests and alumni, a Friday night video telethon and on Saturday a special party at Real Groovy Records to release a limited edition 45RPM 12” LP of Darcy Clay’s Jesus I Was Evil with some original band members and special guest vocalists performing cover tributes.
All on-air and off-air activity will be to drive contributions to our Givealittle page in an effort to help fund our growth into digital, better equipment for our volunteers, plus other sexy equipment in need of replacement such as a UPS, Axia node, a lick or two of paint, an FM Exciter and maybe even a second toilet.
Should be a lot of fun. The video is here.
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Tunes!
The new Waves EP from pianist Aaron Ottignon and Rodi Kirk (aka DJ Scratch 22) seems to fit the coming-summer bill pretty nicely. Here's the title track:
You can hear the rest of the EP (and buy it) here on Baboom.
RocknRolla Soundsystem do their thing with a track from disco-era multi-instrumentalist, singer and producer Leroy Burgess. Click through for a free download:
And, finally, because the sun is shining, Leftside Wobble's extended edit of Augustus Pablo's immortal 'King Tubby Meets the Rockers Uptown'. Click through for a free download ...
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The Hard News Friday Music Post is kindly sponsored by:
