HOME BREW PRESENTS LAST WEEK

Today, one of Aotearoa’s most beloved hip-hop groups Home Brew have announced they will be performing their legendary EP Last Week live in full, as well as songs from their catalogue, at the Auckland Town Hall on Sunday 31 May 2026. The second Winter Series announcement, Home Brew join the already announced Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 on the line-up.

The Winter Series returns for its second year; a curated concert series brought to you by Live Nation in association with Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, on behalf of Auckland Council Events. Showcasing impressive international acts alongside some of Aotearoa’s most beloved artists in Tāmaki Makaurau this May. Sign up to the waitlist to find out more: www.livenation.co.nz/auckland-winter-series.  

Home Brew are one of Aotearoa’s most beloved hip-hop groups, rising to equal parts greatness and infamy through their extensive run of EPs through the early 2010s and culminating in their now-classic #1 self-titled debut. The band re-entered the charts with their brand-new album Run It Back in 2023, securing them a raft of new fans. 

Their aggressively DIY ethos has endeared them to many in the New Zealand Hip-Hop music scene, and they have cemented their place in history as one of the country's most authentic, uncompromising acts. 

Home Brew join Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 on the Winter Series line-up, with more to be announced. 

HOME BREW 
Presents Last Week 
AUCKLAND TOWN HALL, AUCKLAND 
AS PART OF THE WINTER SERIES 
SUNDAY 31 MAY 

TICKETS GO ON SALE ON THURSDAY 2 APRIL AT 12PM LOCAL TIME 
Live Nation Presale Wednesday 1 April 11am, until Thursday 2 April 11am local time. 

For complete tour and ticket information, visit: livenation.co.nz 

To apply for media accreditation for review purposes, visit here.  

BLACK ANGELS ADDED TO THE STRANGE UNIVERSE WINTER 2026 LINEUP

Now that Banished Music and Strange News have pulled down the shades on an epic Strange Universe Autumn, it’s time to drop the first new addition to the already mind-meltingly great line-up for Strange Universe: Winter. Hold onto your skulls, because on Saturday 6 June at the Powerstation, we’re getting deep, dank, and psychedelic with The Black Angels playing their formidable debut album Passoverin full to celebrate its 20th anniversary, alongside a healthy swathe of fan favourites.
 

“The Black Angels encourage you to rethink your preconceived notions, question authority and create other methods for survival. They also know how to throw a pretty awesome party.”
- RevoltOfTheApes

With The Black Angels joining an already wild line-up that is set to take over Tāmaki Makaurau across all of June and a tiny little bit of the end of May, Strange Universe: Winter also features the most welcome return of retrofuturist pop heroes Stereolab, Welsh chanteuse and producer extraordinaire Cate Le Bon, and the Fragile World album release show from brooding babes The Veils, all taking the stage at the mighty Powerstation. Hollywood Avondale plays host to droll indie darlings Dry Cleaning, while Double Whammy sets the scene for Japan’s psychedelic legends Acid Mothers Templeand one of the great American singer-songwriters Cass McCombs and his band. Finally, we’re adding two new venues to our list this time around, with the bilingual bossa nova of Mei Semones at the Tuning Fork, and breathtaking Warp Records favourite Kelly Moranat the exquisite Kahui St David’s.
 

“Honestly, if it wasn’t for Strange Universe: Winter, I’d be moving to Melbourne, bro”
- a prominent New Zealander

The combined daydream of promoter pals Banished Music and Strange News, Strange Universe is the show series banner designed to celebrate the city’s brilliant venues, and give us all a little something to look forward to.
 

CASS MCCOMBS - TUES 26 MAY - DOUBLE WHAMMY
Recently described by The Guardian as operating “at the highest songwriting level”, celebrated American indie favourite Cass McCombs is a true songwriter’s songwriter. A dozen or so albums in and his songs like Brighter!, Bum Bum Bum, and Absentee have become timeless earworms, with recent album Interior Live Oak seeing Pitchfork agree that this is an artist “in top form”. This one-off show by McCombs and his killer quartet at Double Whammy marks the first time the man has ever taken the stage in Aotearoa, and we’re absolutely thrilled to have him.

DRY CLEANING - WED 3 JUNE - HOLLYWOOD AVONDALE
Presented in partnership with I Oh You & MG Live
“They’re one of a kind” said NME of London quartet Dry Cleaning, and they were bang on. The band’s recent third album Secret Love is their finest by a country mile, and was recorded in France by none other than producer (and fellow Strange Universe act!) Cate Le Bon. Building on the band’s established spoken word post-punk “thing”, the album sees vocalist Florence Shaw embracing occasional melody, and includes horns, synths, and even Wilco’s own Jeff Tweedy joining on guitar for a tune. 

CATE LE BON - FRI 5 JUNE - POWERSTATIO
Presented in partnership with Susie Says!
It seems unanimously agreed that Cate Le Bon is a talent for the ages. Following stints producing the likes of Wilco, Horsegirl, and (see above) Dry Cleaning, Le Bon returned with her acclaimed seventh solo album Michelangelo Dying. The album was included in all the end of year lists we’d care to name, and a recent standalone collaboration with St Vincent confirmed Cate Le Bon is still operating in the upper echelon of creativity. Her innovations in song construction and production have recently seen Cate compared to the likes of David Bowie, Laurie Anderson, Björk, and other modern luminaries of music.

THE BLACK ANGELS - SAT 6 JUNE - POWERSTATION
Here to mark the hallowed 20th anniversary of their genre-defining modern psychedelic rock classic and debut album, Passover, The Black Angels are set to bring sacred fuzz to the unholy temple of the Powerstation this June. This Texan behemoth lovingly blends the magic of The Velvet Underground with the wild minds of Syd Barrett, Roky Erickson, and Arthur Lee, all while generating a sound all their own. Not just a radical rock band, The Black Angels founded the legendary Austin psych festival Levitation, and maintain a fierce political stance within and outside of their music. It’s high time we had them back, hell yeah.

MEI SEMONES - TUES 16 JUNE - THE TUNING FORK
With a sumptuous blend of indie rock, bossa nova, jazz, and chamber pop, accomplished guitarist and songwriter Mei Semones is set to make her long-awaited Aotearoa debut at Strange Universe: Winter. Brooklyn-based Mei writes songs in both English and Japanese, celebrating a passion for life, family, music, and more, sentiments which can be heard on her sublime debut album Animaru. Described by Clash Magazine as “a potent talent”, Mei Semones is more than just one to watch, she’s one to become a devoted fan of. SputnikMusic swooned over the songs of Animaru, calling them “as gorgeous as can be, and undeniably triumphant”. Now, it’s your turn to swoon.

KELLY MORAN - WED 17 JUNE - KAHUI ST DAVID’S
New York-based composer and pianist Kelly Moran has spent her career excavating the sonic possibilities of the piano. In the past decade, Moran has released numerous acclaimed albums through the fabled label Warp Records that have challenged the piano’s traditional, classically-imposed school of thought with a more contemporary approach. An accomplished and highly sought-after composer, Moran has collaborated with visionary contemporaries including FKA Twigs, Yves Tumor, The Avalanches, Kelsey Lu, Oneohtrix Point Never, and classical musician Margaret Leng Tan. Happening in the hallowed halls of Kahui St David’s on Khyber Pass, this is one of our wildcard offerings you won’t want to miss. 

ACID MOTHERS TEMPLE - FRI 19 JUNE - DOUBLE WHAMMY
Formed over thirty years ago by Makoto Kawabata, Acid Mothers Temple & The Paraiso U.F.O. released their debut album in 1997. The album was instantly branded one of the year's best in The Wire magazine, and the band have been an ever-present entity in the cosmic musical realm ever since. Their recorded albums easily number in the dozens, with The Guardian’s David Bennun stating that “Acid Mothers Temple have in their two-decade existence recorded far more head-melting music than any sane person would know what to do with.” Sane people aren’t necessarily this Japanese wonder-band’s target audience, and we are starry eyed to welcome this magic mothership to our very own Strange Universe!

STEREOLAB - THURS 25 JUNE - POWERSTATION
The panic is over! Anglo-French avant-pop group Stereolab are indeed returning to Aotearoa in June, hot on the mechanical heels of last year’s brilliant album Instant Holograms on Metal Film. This was the band’s first studio album in fifteen years, and followed their celebrated reunion in 2019. The Guardian hailed the album as “a radiant return”, and Rolling Stone fizzed over the band’s “gliding grooves, wowing-and-fluttering synthesizers, and lyrics that elegantly pine for more”. They’ve got a cult following for a very good reason, and we’re beyond astonished to have them as part of our winter line-up!
  
THE VEILS - SAT 27 JUNE - POWERSTATION
Following the critically acclaimed release of Asphodels in 2025, local heroes The Veils return with a bold and invigorated new album, Fragile World. Released June 19 on V2 Records, the album marks a striking shift in tone and energy for the band, with fearless leader Finn Andrews reflecting on his tendency to make each album as a rebellion against his last. Recorded live to tape at Roundhead by Paddy Hill, with production by Tom Healy (Tiny Ruins, The Chills), Fragile World captures The Veils in an urgent and instinctive mode. With its immediacy, intensity, and emotional clarity, Fragile World stands as one of The Veils’ most compelling releases to date, and is the perfect note to go out on for Strange Universe: Winter.

TRAILER REVEALED FOR SGT. HAANE

With one month to go until its nationwide cinema release, Sgt. Haane has today unveiled its second trailer, a gripping battle-charged glimpse into the story of 28th Māori Battalion Aotearoa hero Haane Manahi.

The release of the second trailer comes one month ahead of the film’s general release on April 30th and coincides with final preparations for the film’s premiere season, which begins in Rotorua on Sunday 19 April, acknowledging the whakapapa and community at the centre of the story. Following Rotorua, Tāmaki Makaurau’s premiere at Sylvia Park will be held on Monday April 20, and a Te Whanganui-a-Tara premiere on Tuesday 21st April. 

April 19th also stands as the anniversary day on which the charge on Takrouna, by the 28th Māori Battalion took place, in 1943. 

From international award-winning writer and director Tearepa Kahi (Muru, Poi E: The Story of Our Song, Mt. Zion), Sgt. Haane tells the story of L. Sgt. Haane Manahi DCM (Te Arawa, Ngāti Raukawa) of B Company, 28th Māori Battalion (28 September 1913 – 29 March 1986), a soldier of extraordinary courage whose bravery was described by Lieutenant General Sir Brian Horrocks as "the most gallant feat of arms I witnessed in the course of the war" – culminating in the 1943 attack on the heavily fortified pinnacle of Takrouna, Tunisia.

The film stars Alex Tarrant (The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, NCIS: Hawaiʻi, DMV) as Haane Manahi – with Niwa Whatuira (The Dark Horse, A Mistake, M3GAN 2.0), Vinnie Bennett(Whina, F9: The Fast Saga, Human Traces), Matuera Ngaropo (Whina) and Poroaki Merritt-McDonald (Muru, The Gone) as the soldiers who fought alongside Haane. Their performances are woven together with the voices of Māori Battalion descendants – Dr. Donna Morrison, Kīngi Biddle, Colin Bennett, Raimona Inia, and Anaru Grant Jr. 

Sgt. Haane will have commemorative screenings from 20-30th April, including ANZAC Day, and will be released on April 30th. Sgt. Haane is produced by Reikura Kahi, Selina Joe and Dr. Donna Morrison of Penny Diver Pictures, and made with investment from NZ On Air, Te Māngai Pāho, the New Zealand Film Commission and Kiwibank. Rialto Distribution International will distribute the film in New Zealand and Australia.

CASTAWAY ENTER A BOLD NEW ERA WITH EXPLOSIVE SINGLE “HEART ATTACK”

Aotearoa’s rising pop-rock force Castaway step confidently into their next chapter with the release of their electrifying new single, “Heart Attack” - the first taste of a new body of work. 

Castaway are five mates bound by music. Beginning in a humble flat in Ōtautahi Christchurch, Castaway is made up of Austen (bass), Jack (saxophone, keys), Jackson (vocals, keys, guitar), Joe (vocals, drums), and Rhys (guitar), the band blend pop-rock with alternative notes and boy-band sensibility. Their sound combines driving guitars, punchy rhythms, sax hooks and dual vocals - brought to life in high-energy shows driven by soaring choruses and emotional pull - built to make crowds sing, dance, and feel everything all at once.

Fresh off the momentum of their EP Nondual, which saw breakout track “Pretty Little Liar” land B-rotation on ZM, Castaway return with “Heart Attack” - the first single from their forthcoming body of work. It marks a clear evolution: sharper, more self-assured, and unapologetically ambitious.

“Heart Attack” captures the rush of being young, naive, and completely consumed by someone who feels larger than life. It’s a story of reckless attraction and late-night escapism, where nostalgia, fantasy, and reality blur into one electrifying moment - leaning into the intoxicating push-and-pull of knowing something might not last, but diving in anyway for the thrill.

Driven by snappy, high-energy electric guitars and a relentless rhythm section, the track fuses modern pop polish with nods to ‘90s-era anthems. A bold, euphoric saxophone breakdown delivers an unexpected, stadium-sized release - elevating“Heart Attack” into a hook-heavy, adrenaline-fuelled anthem that feels as immediate and addictive as the emotions it captures.

Castaway have evolved from university jam sessions to sharing stages with Mitch James and Drax Project, lighting up Selwyn Sounds and earning spins across ZM, The Hits, More FM, Radio Hauraki, and RNZ. Heart Attack reflects that rise, capturing a band coming into their own. 

And the five-piece’s rise is already gaining traction! On May 16, Castaway will take the stage at the ‘Once In A Lifetime’ opening of One NZ Stadium in Ōtautahi, supporting Six60 and Synthony alongside Kaylee Bell and Cassie Henderson - a landmark moment that signals their arrival on a bigger platform.

“Heart Attack” by Castaway is out now on all streaming platforms. Listen here!

Stay connected with Castaway:
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BANISHED MUSIC PRESENTS DEAFHEAVEN & NOTHING ANNOUNCES NEW ZEALAND TOUR

American black-metal trailblazers Deafheaven announce their return to New Zealand this July, presented by Banished Music. The band will perform two exclusive headline shows in Auckland and Wellington, joined by special guests Nothing.

Formed in the San Francisco Bay Area in 2010, Deafheaven have spent the past decade and a half pushing at the emotional and sonic boundaries of modern metal. From their debut Roads to Judah, to the genre-defining breakthrough Sunbather, and subsequent records like New Bermuda, Ordinary Corrupt Human Love, and Infinite Granite, Deafheaven have continually redefined the limits of heavy music while confronting themes of alienation, addiction, family history, and self-perseverance.

The tour follows the release of their 2025 album Lonely People With Power. Their sixth album and first for Roadrunner Records arrives as both a culmination and a reckoning , an album that embraces the band’s full identity after years of evolution. Produced by Justin Meldal-Johnsen(Beck collaborator and producer of Infinite Granite), the record captures Deafheaven’s innate ability to merge melody with brutality, and pain with poetry. Through reflections on masculinity, inherited trauma, family, and self-perception, the album grapples with the idea that while we can’t fully escape our past or our nature, we can choose how we move forward. Ultimately, Lonely People With Power stands as one of Deafheaven’s most expansive and human statements.

The album has drawn praise from Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, The Line Of Best Fit, Kerrang and more, and features collaborations with Interpol’s Paul Banks and Boy Harsher’s Jae Matthews.

Revered for their transcendental live shows, Deafheaven have toured the world over, performing at festivals such as Coachella and Primavera Sound, and sharing stages with artists ranging from Slipknot and Knocked Loose to Chelsea Wolfe and Mono. They’ve received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Metal Performance and continue to command a reputation as one of the most compelling live acts in heavy music.

Joining them are American shoegaze outfit Nothing, whose latest release A Short History of Decay has been described by Pitchfork as “fresh and exciting.” Their fifth album and first for Run For Cover Records further expands the band’s sonic scope, delivering the most refined and immersive iteration of Nothing to date.

Deafheaven return to New Zealand at their most expansive and unrelenting. Don’t miss the chance to witness one of heavy music’s most boundary-pushing bands at full force.

CLARA LA SAN TO PERFORM AT THE TUNING FORK IN JUNE

British alternative-R&B artist Clara La San is set to captivate audiences across New Zealand this June, announcing her Chosen Silences NZ debut tour to come to Tāmaki Makaurau’s Tuning Fork on Sunday, June 14.

Emerging as a magnetic new voice in alt-pop, Clara La San crafts a sound that’s equal parts intimate and otherworldly. Blending smoky vocals with minimalist R&B production, her music drifts between late-night vulnerability and quiet confidence, pulling listeners into a hazy, emotionally rich universe that feels both deeply personal and effortlessly cool.

Tickets can be secured in the Tuning Fork presale from Thursday 26 March at 9:00am. The general public can then secure their tickets from Friday 27 March at 9:00am. For more information, visit thetuningfork.co.nz. 

First emerging in 2016 as a defining voice in underground R&B, Clara La San quietly vanished from the public eye the following year, removing her mixtape Good Mourningfrom streaming and only dropping occasional hints that she was still creating music. Despite her absence, a devoted cult following formed around her limited catalog, and the viral success of her 2014 track “In This Darkness” on TikTok reignited excitement for her return. 

Her first solo release since 2017, “Don’t Worry About It,” arrived cloaked in the signature clubby, ethereal sound that had become her hallmark, bridging the gap between past and present. This was followed by her debut album Made Mistakes, entirely written and produced by La San, which set the stage for a series of singles leading into her upcoming tour dates - including her highly anticipated visit to Aotearoa later this year.

With close to a billion global career streams and over 2.5 million daily plays across her catalog, Clara has cultivated a devoted global fanbase and sold-out headline shows and continues to shape contemporary R&B on her own terms.

“Clara La San’s sound is singular. Her voice is effortless, slippery. Her lyrics have the unique quality of being disarmingly direct, moving between the confessional and meditative.” — PAPER
 

CLARA LA SAN

THE TUNING FORK
AUCKLAND
14 JUNE 2026 

TICKETS ON SALE FROM FRIDAY 27 MARCH, 9AM
For complete tour and ticket information, visit: tuningfork.co.nz

GRETA VAN DEN BRINK RELEASES ‘BODIES’ THE FIFTH SINGLE FROM HER DEBUT ALBUM ‘THIS WASN’T PLANNED’ OUT MAY 2026

Indie‑pop artist Greta van den Brink has today released her latest single Bodies, the fifth preview from her forthcoming nine‑track album This Wasn’t Planned, due May 2026. Bodies is a darkly cinematic exploration of identity, anxiety, and the unsettling glamour of the entertainment world, pairing Greta’s confessional storytelling with a glossy, haunting sonic palette.

A genre-blurring creator whose artistry spans screen and stage, Greta first made waves in film and stunt work, training at Sam Neill’s The Actor’s Program and contributing stunt performances to major productions like The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power and Apple TV’s Time Bandits. Her move into music has been equally compelling, with her debut single Road to Hell unexpectedly landing on a Netflix soundtrack and paving the way for her distinct blend of vivid storytelling and emotional rawness. 

From the dreamy lo‑fi of Chill Cool Girl to the self-aware bite of GIMBGTBLBM, the confessional sharpness of Mr Ego, and the reflective, cinematic sweep of Alpine State of Mind, Greta’s debut album continues to establish her as a bold, emotionally resonant voice in Aotearoa’s indie-pop landscape, culminating in the darkly cinematic intensity of Bodies.

Bodies originated in a caffeine-spiked afternoon that peaked Greta’s mind in the most specific way. Originally about anxiety, the song evolved into something darker and shinier: the glossy chaos of LA and Hollywood, where people are impossibly beautiful, eerily emotionless, and endlessly interchangeable. The track explores the fear of slowly metamorphosing into someone you don’t recognize, inspired by a world of shifting appearances, drug‑fuelled nights, conspiracy theories, and body‑horror entertainment like Ryan Murphy’s The Beauty and Coralie Fargeat’s The Substance.

Greta says, “Part of my perspective comes from working as a stunt performer, where you exist as a replaceable body for a production. Bodies sits right in that tension - glamour and decay, performance and identity - asking: in a world obsessed with appearances, how long before we all become just bodies?”

Sonically, Bodies blends Greta’s indie‑pop roots with darker, cinematic textures, reflecting the tension between performance and identity. The track cements her reputation as an artist unafraid to confront both personal and societal unease while keeping her signature emotional honesty at the forefront.

Bodies by Greta van den Brink is out now, stream it here. 

Stay connected with Greta van den Brink: 
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SEUN KUTI & EGYPT 80 TOUR AOTEAROA PLUS THE FIRST ACT ANNOUNCED FOR WINTER SERIES

Nigerian musician, singer, and songwriter Seun Kuti returns to Aotearoa after previously headling WOMAD in 2009 and 2016. The youngest son of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti, he is the first act to be announced for the Winter Series at Auckland Town Hall this May, before heading to Wellington’s Meow Nui, and will joined by his father’s former band Egypt 80.

The Winter Series returns for its second year; a curated concert series brought to you by Live Nation in association with Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, on behalf of Auckland Council Events. Showcasing impressive international acts alongside some of Aotearoa’s most beloved artists in Tāmaki Makaurau this May. Sign up to the waitlist to find out more: www.livenation.co.nz/auckland-winter-series  

Seun Kuti is a Nigerian musician, singer, and songwriter renowned for his captivating performances and socially conscious music. He is the youngest son of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti. Seun has spent most of his life preserving and extending his father’s political and musical legacy as the leader of his father’s former band Egypt 80. As a developing saxophonist and percussionist, he entered the formal ranks of the band before he was 12. In 1997 when Fela passed, in fulfilment of his father’s wishes, Seun assumed the mantle as head of Egypt 80 and he has run it ever since. As a musician and pan-African activist, Seun has been involved in a number of campaigns in recent years, including #OccupyNigeria and #EndSARS – a social movement against police brutality in Nigeria. Significantly, he’s revived the Movement of the People (M.O.P.), the political party his father set up in 1979, which was quashed by the military government not long after Fela’s failed presidential bid.

‘Heavier Yet (Lays The Crownless Head)’ is the highly-awaited new album by Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 published on October 4th 2024, via Milan independent label Record Kicks. Coming six years after the Grammy nominated album ‘Black Times’, this album marks a pivotal moment in Seun Kuti’s illustrious career, showcasing his evolution as an artist and activist. Executive produced by legendary musician Lenny Kravitz and Fela Kuti’s original engineer Sodi Marciszewer (artistic producer) and featuring special guests as Damian Marley and Sampa The Great.

On May 30 2025, Seun Kuti shares the highly anticipated Deluxe Edition of "Heavier Yet (Lays The Crownless Head)" via Record Kicks. Seun expands the sonic and political scope of the original album, presenting a compelling suite of remixes, reworks, and new collaborations that bring fresh perspectives to his message of resistance, empowerment, and cultural pride. The stellar collaborations include new jazz giant Kamasi Washingtonon “Move (Keep Moving Version),” French-Caribbean goddess Adi Oasis on “Love & Revolution (Cinnamon Version),” Zambian rapper and revolutionary poet Sampa The Great on “Emi Aluta (Zamrock Remix),” the legendary Pos of De La Soul on “Stand Well Well (Grand Stand Version)”, UK duo Gaudi & Don Letts on the disco dub remix of “Dey” feat. Damian Marley and reggae star on “T.O.P. (Over The Top Version)”.

During his career, Seun Kuti released other 4 albums with Egypt 80: ‘Many Things’ (2008), ‘From Africa with Fury: Rise for Knitting Factory Records’ (2011), coproduced by Brian Eno and John Reynolds, ‘A Long Way Beginning’ (2014) and the Grammy nominated ‘Black Times’ (2018) that included a feature from Carlos Santana. He also released numerous EPs. In 2022, Seun Kuti joined forces with Roots frontman and MC extraordinaire Black Thought in the EP ‘African Dreams’. In 2023, he collaborated on Janelle Monae’s ‘The Age of Pleasure’ (Grammy nominee for Album Of The Year) with the two singles ‘Float’; and ‘Knows Better’; teamed up with Talib Kweli and MadLib for their album ‘Liberation 2’ on the song ‘Nat Turner’ featuring Cassper Nyovest and released a new version of the single ‘Bad Man Lighter’ with Black Thought, featuring Vic Mensa.

Seun Kuti has started a side project, which looks to Afrobeats music, with his alter ego BigBird, together with Nigerian rapper Vector, releasing the singles "OOP (S)" with Odumodublvck and "The Matter".

SEUN KUTI & EGYPT 80

AUCKLAND TOWN HALL, AUCKLAND
AS PART OF THE WINTER SERIES
SATURDAY 30 MAY

MEOW NUI, WELLINGTON
SUNDAY 31 MAY

TIM BATT RETURNS TO NZ INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL WITH ETERNAL OPTIMIST)

A sharp, heartfelt, and unashamedly left-wing look at politics, parenthood and staying positive in 2026

Award-winning comedian and podcaster Tim Batt is back this May with his brand new show Eternal Optimist — a fearless, funny, and hopeful hour about New Zealand politics, the chaotic joy of fatherhood, and the rebellious act of staying upbeat when everything seems on fire.

Tickets are available now from comedyfestival.co.nz.

Known for his incisive political wit and brilliant irreverence, Batt brings the same sharp energy that’s made him a two-time Billy T Award nominee, three-time winner of Best Comedy Podcast at the NZ Podcast Awards, and co-host of the smash-hit global podcast The Worst Idea of All Time, which has racked up over 20 million downloads.

Eternal Optimist blends biting political satire with moments of genuine reflection on parenting and activism — exploring what it means to hold onto hope in an increasingly bleak world. Batt doesn’t shy away from tough topics, but he always finds the punchline.

“Unfortunately, comedy appears to be more important than ever as the world faces down a resurgence of a**holes trying to take away hard-won rights, so let's get in a room and have a laugh together!” — Tim Batt

Delivering his trademark mix of intelligence, absurdity and progressive politics, Batt invites audiences to laugh loud, think hard, and maybe even check their voter enrollment on the way out.

WELLINGTON: BATS Theatre — May 6–9, 6:30pm
AUCKLAND: Q Theatre — May 13–16, 9:15pm
Part of the 2026 New Zealand International Comedy Festival

A PERFECT CIRCLE CONFIRM RETURN TO NEW ZEALAND WITH SPECIAL GUEST PUSCIFIER

Live Nation has today announced that American rock band A Perfect Circle, formed in 1999 by guitarist Billy Howerdel and Tool vocalist Maynard James Keenan, will visit New Zealand in December, marking their return to New Zealand following a 22-year absence!

A Perfect Circle fans have been waiting in anticipation for an announcement following the unveiling of a massive European tour last year, the band's first headline outing since 2018. The tour kicks off June 3 in London, U.K. at the city's O2 Academy in Brixton and wraps up at Mad Cool Festival on July 10 in Madrid. The run consists of both headline shows and festival appearances around the continent.

A Perfect Circle will perform at Auckland’s Spark Arena on Sunday 13 December. 

Joining A Perfect Circle on their upcoming trek is Puscifer, the electro-rock outfit featuring Keenan, Mat Mitchell, and Carina Round. Known for blending dark electronic textures, post-punk atmospherics, and theatrical storytelling into a singular live experience, the band recently released their latest album, Normal Isn't."

Formed in 1999 by Billy Howerdel and Maynard James Keenan, A Perfect Circle has released four albums throughout their career while holding the distinction of having the highest-charting debut rock album at the time, Mer de Noms (2000). The collection, which boasted ever popular singles “Judith” and “3 Libras,” set a significant milestone for alternative and hard rock. Over their 25-plus-year career, they have released three additional albums: Thirteenth Step (2003), eMOTIVe (2004), and Eat the Elephant (2018), which debuted at #3 on the Billboard 200 and topped the Billboard Rock Albums chart. 

A Perfect Circle has headlined festivals worldwide, sold out prestigious venues including the Hollywood Bowl, Madison Square Garden and the Red Rocks Amphitheatre, and performed on a variety of late-night television programs including “Jimmy Kimmel Live” and “The Tonight Show.” 

Puscifer is a band of three creative confidants, namely Mat Mitchell, Carina Round, and Maynard James Keenan. It’s a vehicle for sonic and visual storytelling on stages worldwide and on screen through videos, animation, content, and more. It’s indelibly left its mark everywhere, releasing a series of acclaimed albums, selling out famed venues, probing the lineups of Coachella, Bonnaroo, and other festivals, and even curating their own touring festival, Sessanta. They’ve provided what was essentially the soundtrack to the first season of “Yellowstone,” and their albums regularly land on the top 30 of the Billboard Top 200. They’ve caused a ruckus on late-night television, with appearances on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and the “The Late Show.”

At the same time, Puscifer has welcomed a revolving door of collaborators, from musicians like Greg Edwards, Gunnar Olsen, and Sarah Jones to remixers including Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, Phantogram, and Sir Mix-A-Lot, and even actors such as Bob Odenkirk and Milla Jovovich. It’s also a universe for the (mis)adventures of original characters: Billy D, (his wife) Hildy Berger, Major Douche, and Special Agent Dick Merkin – now joined by new additions to the Pusciverse, Bellendia Black and Fanny Grey. It’s a 21st-century freak show where anything goes, everyone is welcome, and nothing is off-limits.

 A PERFECT CIRCLE
NEW ZEALAND 2026
WITH SPECIAL GUEST PUSCIFER

Spark Arena, Auckland
Sunday 13 December

ELLA MONNERY ANNOUNCED AS SUPPORT FOR SOPHIE ELLIS-BEXTOR’S NEW ZEALAND SHOWS

Today, the widely dynamic kiwi artist Ella Monnery has been announced to support British chart-topper Sophie Ellis-Bextor on her two-date Aotearoa tour on Tuesday 3 February at Kirikiriroa Hamilton’s BNZ Theatre, and Wednesday 4 February at Otautahi Christchurch’s James Hay Theatre. Monnery will warm the crowd up with her incomparable stage presence before the night rolls into Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s noughties favourites and brand-new pop anthems from her latest album Perimenopop. 

Powerhouse vocalist Ella Monnery burst onto the Aotearoa music scene in 2018 and her incomparable talent has since seen her perform at the country’s biggest festivals (Rhythm and Vines, Homegrown, Electric Avenue, Rhythm and Alps, Mardi Gras) she has also fronted major acts such as SACHI and SYNTHONY. Her voice has taken her across the globe as a solo artist performing internationally in Singapore, Mexico, Greece and the Netherlands. Not one for complacently, Ella has now broken into the recorded music scene hitting New Zealand official music charts as a recording artist working alongside Lee Mvtthews, Kings, P-Money, Ekko & Sidetrack and Sly Chaos. A crowd favourite for the National anthem, co-hosting on George FM radio, racking up millions of views on TikTok and reaching the semi-finals on The Voice Australia – Ella’s talent knows no limits and she is now fully stepping into her artistry and embarking on an exciting new chapter as solo artist.

One of the biggest British pop artists to emerge from the 2000s, Sophie Ellis-Bextorestablished herself as a pop diva with smash-hits like Murder On The Dancefloor, Get Over You and Take Me Home. Spanning across seven studio albums, her discography transcends layers of genres from dance-pop and folk to prog-rock and orchestral pop. By 17, she had joined Brit-pop band Theaudience, reaching #22 on the UK charts with their debut album. Following the band's breakup in 1999, Sophie wasted no time launching her solo career, where she would go on to create the iconic disco anthems fans know and love today. Showcasing a blend of '80s-influenced synth-pop and disco, 2001’s Read My Lips, reached number 2 in the UK. and hit the top 20 in several countries around the globe. Making a pop culture resurgence in 2023 after Murder on the Dancefloor was featured in cult film Saltburn, and covered by Royel Otis, Ellis-Bextor’s reach has extended to a new generation of listeners. Proving herself as a timeless pop icon, Sophie Ellis-Bextor will be uniting both new and all-time fans to enjoy her glittery hits in Aotearoa in 2026.

CASUAL HEALING RELEASES SINGLE ‘TELL THE TRUTH’ FROM FINAL EP OF HIS FOUR-EP SERIES

Pōneke-based soulful musician Nikau Te Huki (Ngāti Kahungunu ki te Wairarapa) known to audiences asCasual Healing, has today released ‘Tell The Truth’ - the second single from his final of four EPs embodying the elements. AHI (fire), HAU (wind), WAI (water) and completing the ambitious cycle, ONE (earth) in March 2026 are inspired by Te Taiao - the natural world. 

‘Tell the Truth’ is the second single from Casual Healing's EP - ONE (pronounced awe-ne). The fourth and final chapter of the elemental series is a timeless live performance of five new songs written by Nikau Te Huki.

In a classic Aotearoa Roots/Reggae style, Casual Healing provides the latest chapter of the book with ‘Tell the Truth’. Born from the guilt of telling a lie, this song was written in the hopes of encouraging the truth in our lives. 

“I lied to my insurance company and it backfired, I decided that day that the truth is the way. The world is full of illusion, smoke and mirrors - so let the truth of the kick and snare shatter the mirror and defuse the smoke.”

Recorded by Mike Gibson at Massey Studio - ‘Tell The Truth’ features an 11-piece band including Luther Hunt, Becky Devine, Sammy Lenati, Joseph Jenkins, Matiu Te Huki, Rudy Matoi, Jordan Gray, Toby Leman, Kaito Walley and Mysty Cooke. Nikau is stoked to have finally broken free from the boundaries of bedroom recording to produce a full band sound, live and direct as an ode to the trail blazers of recorded music.

2025 was a significant year for Casual Healing - writing, recording and releasing his four carefully curated studio EPs that aim to redefine his creative path - and have already been met with acclaim and great warmth from both listeners and the Aotearoa media database.

For over 10 years, Nikau Te Huki has embedded human and spiritual intimacy and connection into the foundation of his artistry. The result has yielded incredible musical results that have mirrored life experiences loved, lived and learned from. His solo project Casual Healing made a stunning debut with the 2024 album DRIFTWOOD, which led to sold-out tours and standout performances at SXSW Sydney, Rhythm & Vines, TSB Festival of Lights and more.

Casual Healing is blazing a trail nationwide to indigenise and revitalise the practise of puoro (music). Leading from the heart as an advocate for musicians and artists of all mediums to be valued as practitioners who provide an essential service, claiming - "it’s art that makes the world go around".

ALI WHITTON RELEASES SECOND SINGLE FROM UPCOMING DEBUT ALBUM ‘HOPEFUL HEART’

Indie-folk singer-songwriter Ali Whitton has today released ‘Hopeful Heart’ - a powerful follow-up to November’s track ‘Quiet My Heart’ ahead of his debut album Between the Forest and the Stars due to release in April 2026.

Ali Whitton’s songwriting journey has taken him from rural North Yorkshire to the stages of London, Paris and Aotearoa - shaped by heartbreak, reinvention, and a lifelong connection to storytelling. Inspired early on by discovering his father’s poetry, Ali learned that songwriting could be a way to process life’s most emotional moments.

After fronting bands and performing solo across Europe, Ali relocated to New Zealand in 2010, where he began releasing music under the name Lost Bird and became a fixture on the local acoustic circuit. A longtime friendship with Ed Sheeranled to a pivotal moment in 2023, when Ali shared a work-in-progress track that sparked a year-long songwriting and recording commitment.

That collaboration has since evolved into Ali’s debut album, co-produced by Dave Khan (Marlon Williams, The Veils, Reb Fountain) and Reb Fountain featuring musicians Gus Agars and Steve Harrop - marking an exciting new chapter in his career.

Today’s release of ‘Hopeful Heart’ gives audiences another sneak peek into what to expect from April’s album release. Lyrically, ‘Hopeful Heart’ is a cynical lament to the optimism and the ‘keeping-on-trying’ mentality of a dreamer, whose heart is always hoping for some big true love and sees only ‘the possible’, and the good in the world, only to be so-often let down. “It really shows the unkindness of our inner voices sometimes, how we are all constantly wrestling with the balance between our hopes and our setbacks.”

Ali’s full body of work encapsulates the spiritof a traveller, moving through the world. In ‘Hopeful Heart’ Ali found himself in the thick of his challenge of writing a song a week for a year. “In between solo parenting and the day job, I had hardly any time to write the song for the week I was in, so the opening line ‘hopeful heart, another song’ was almost expressing exasperation towards the challenge. It ended up being written really quickly and being about the dreamer inside of me that just wants to do music and experience all the beauty in the world versus the reality of the day job, the grind, and the aches of life.”

Today’s single and Ali’s debut album Between the Forest and the Stars showcases a sound that is woody and warm, rich and layered, with Ali’s voice always at the centre, vulnerable yet true. There is comfort in this music, as well as a deep sense of longing.

PLAY IT STRANGE ANNOUNCES COMPETITION DATES AND ALL-STAR LINEUP OF JUDGES FOR 2026

After a record-breaking year of competition entries, producing 876 original songs and waiata, the most in their 23-year history, Play It Strange is thrilled to be back for 2026. Today the charitable trust announces an incredible lineup of 23 world-class artists from throughout Aotearoa, as well as the dates of their 2026 competitions including their Junior, National, Peace Project and Waiata Māori competitions. 

Play It Strange CEO Stephanie Brown says: “In 2025, Play It Strange received a record number of song entries from rangatahi across Aotearoa, spanning languages, styles, and genres. Recognising the power of songwriting during the formative teenage years, we’ve brought together 23 established musicians to judge nearly 1,000 original songs written in bedrooms and classrooms across the motu. Our judges span a wide range of musical worlds, ensuring every young songwriter can see themselves reflected in Play It Strange”.

All competitions will open their entries next Monday, 2 February. Entries will then close for the Junior Competition first of all, on Sunday, 3 May, with winners notified by Friday, 22 May. Judges for the junior competition include There’s a Tuesday frontwoman Nat Hutton, young alt-pop songwriter Frankie Venter, award-winning pop icon Boh Runga, reggae and roots trailblazer Laughton Kora, Split Enz alumni and Play It Strange founder Mike Chunn, and soul-pop artist Muroki.

2026 judge Frankie Venter is not only a rising star in Aotearoa’s music scene, but a Play It Strange Alumni who was a finalist in Play It Strange’s 2022 Junior Competition! She says: “It’s such an honour to judge the Junior Competition! Play It Strange is such an incredible organisation for young artists - I’m super excited to hear what people come up with this round! I released my first song through Play It Strange when I was in high school and it was such an awesome kickstart to releasing my own music!"

Sunday, 24 May will then see the Peace Project competition close, with winners being notified by Friday, 12 June. Judged by pop powerhouse and Play It Strange’s very own Paige, genre-blending neo-soul artist Jordyn with a Why, internationally acclaimed soul singer Deva Mahal, award-winning rapper and producer Tom Scott and, once again, Mike Chunn - this competition has been freshly re-named this year to clearly reflect its initiative. The focus is on purpose - using songwriting to respond to the times we are living in and to contribute something meaningful through your art. Entrants are encouraged to write lyrics that reflect their own perspective on peace, whether that relates to personal wellbeing, relationships, community unity, cultural identity, or global issues. Participants are asked to consider why peace matters right now, what it looks like in their own world, and how their song can contribute to the wider project.

Platinum artist Paige returns to the judging panel again this year, after judging the National Competition in 2025. “I’m so passionate about the meaningful and thought provoking songwriting coming out of Aotearoa, especially from our rangatahi. I’ve always loved how in history, music has been shaped by the political and social state of the world and how it’s used to heal us. I’m excited to hear the songs that come out of the Peace Project this year. With the way the world is moving right now we need some good tunes!”

On Sunday 21 June, the Waiata Competition will close, with winners notified by Wednesday 8 July. Powerful wāhine artist Ria Hall, and producer and songwriter Noema Te Hau III will judge this competition, with last year's intake seeing more rangatahi than ever entered. The competition aims to incorporate te reo Māori - whether it’s a few kupu (words) or the entire waiata - to showcase the incredible talent we have in Aotearoa specifically throughout this area of the industry. 

Noema Te Hau III is thrilled to be coming on board to judge the Waiata Māori Competition, saying: “Judging the 2026 Play It Strange Waiata Māori Competition is especially meaningful to me because of how waiata Māori has shaped my own creative journey. It’s a privilege to support and uplift rangatahi who are using music to explore identity, perspectives, tell their own unique stories, and carry our culture forward through waiata Māori”.

Play It Strange’s biggest competition of all, the National Songwriting Competition, will close entries on Sunday, 26 July, with winners being notified by Wednesday 19 August.The impressive collection of judges for this year’s National Competition includes pop icon Cassie Henderson, Drax Project’s Shaan Singh, producer and engineer EDY On The Beat, singer-songwriter Riiki Reid, country artist Kaylee Bell, Academy Award-winning songwriter Bret McKenzie, Devilskin lead singer Jennie Skulander, powerhouse singer-songwriter Gin Wigmore, genre-crossing rapper and producer Melodownz, and Play It Strange’s Mike Chunn.

Riiki Reid judges for Play It Strange for the first time this year, and says: “Being a judge in this year's Play It Strange Competition makes me SO excited to witness the new up and coming writers and musicians of Aotearoa. The work that Play It Strange does is so important for our youth - it is a way that we can introduce them into our music industry with the support and guidance they need. There's an enormous amount of talent here and I'm grateful to be able to play a part in spotlighting our talented youth. I have so much hope for the way young artists will positively shape music in our country”. 

2025’s four major competition winners included:

Salem Māhia Randall from Tairāwhiti Gisborne (2025 National Songwriting Competition Winner)
Ihaka Whanarere-Tauri from Whanganui (2025 Waiata Māori Competition Winner)
Betty Shen from Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland (2025 Peace Song Competition winner)
Sienna Fitzgerald from Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland (2025 Junior Songwriting Competition winner)

Following last year’s success, Play It Strange awarded these winners prizes including recording their singles in a professional studio, mentoring sessions, radio airplay, Artist Development sessions and inclusion on Play It Strange’s digital albums available on all major streaming platforms.

Behind each entry into a Play It Strange competition, there are hundreds of young people finding their voice, building confidence, and feeling empowered to share their creativity with the world. 

The small but mighty team of 3 including Stephanie Brown, Evie Bamford and Paige Tapara showcase creativity, passion, and relentless mahi to mirror the work of founder, Mike Chunn and consistently offer the New Zealand Music Industry and its rangatahi countless opportunities to immerse themselves in songwriting, breaking down barriers and welcoming everyone in with open arms. 

Mike Chunn has listened to every single Play It Strange submission for 23 years - more than 7200 songs. Mike says: “The volume of entries is increasing, and the quality is extraordinary. It is a joy to witness the evolution of Play It Strange”.

About Play It Strange: 
Established in 2003, Play it Strange runs annual national songwriting competitions for high school students, with finalists awarded a day in a recording studio to professionally record their songs. Play It Strange releases these songs on digital albums and provide mentorship and performance opportunities. Their alumni list includes Kimbra, Georgia Nott of Broods, Liz Stokes of The Beths, Frankie Venter, Annah Mac, Louis Baker, CHAII, Luca George, Ratbag and so many more. 

BANISHED MUSIC & STRANGE NEWS PRESENT STRANGE UNIVERSE AUTUMN EDITION - FULL LINEUP REVEALED!

If you weren’t already cancelling all your plans for March, Banished Music and Strange News have just gone and added a whole lot more musical mashed potato to your plate with the extraordinary full line-up for Strange Universe: Autumn edition revealed at last!

That’s right, this phenomenal series of shows in your favourite venues across Tāmaki Makaurau just added 200% more phenom! We’ve gone and added three whole new shows into the mix for your troubles, and announced a bunch of pretty incredible support acts!

One of the UK’s most sought after acts, and an NTS Radio regular, Nabihah Iqbal is coming on back to our shores to throw down a late night DJ set to remember at Neck of the Woods! Opening up the night will be the formidable Tāmaki Makaurau-based Iraqi artist and producer Mariam (Hafleh, Sonic Hapori), spinning for all your Maqams and Mawaals, dancehall, dub, and Raï needs!

Making her Aotearoa debut, it’s the soulfully sublime Los Angeles folk artist Annahstasia, praised by The Guardian for her “superbly written, remarkably moving songs, delivered by a singer who knows exactly how to use her vocals to cut the listener deep”. Joining Annahstasia at Pitt Street Methodist Church is local alternative folk favourite Na’amah Cheiban, whose songs resonate with frank vulnerability and aching sincerity.
 
Finally, we are unbelievably honoured to announce the long-awaited return of American folk hero Jolie Holland, back at last to perform at Pitt Street Methodist Church as a very special intimate duo. Jolie’s connection with Aotearoa runs deep, recording a recent collaboration with Theia, and a long-standing friendship and collaboration with our old friend Steve Abel. Speak of the devil, we’ve managed to lure Steve away from the Beehive for one night only, set to perform his first solo show in longer than we care to imagine.
 

But wait… that’s not all! 

Norwegian duo of the moment Smerz have invited the one-and-only Erny Belle to join the bill at Double Whammy for one of her only shows of the season! Smerz are absolutely dominating the world circuit at the moment, and this new addition makes the show truly unmissable.
 
Flying Nun favourite The Bats are celebrating their 2025 already-classic album Corner Coming Up, inviting the wonderful HalfSisteR to open for them at the iconic Hollywood Avondale! HalfSisteR are newly minted, and feature members of Jean-Paul Sartre Experience, Superette, Drorgan, and more!
 
Set to join American psych lord Ty Segall and his scorching band on his grand return are none other than Japan’s most dangerous band, Guitar Wolf! The Powerstation is set to have its foundations put to the test once and for all with this rock’n’roll collision for the ages!
 
Anatolian psych-folk sensation Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek will transform Double Whammy into something truly magical, now with added sorcery thanks to an all-star live incarnation of Noa Records mainstays WAIWHAI.!

Eternally excellent Swedish noise makers Les Big Byrd will be joined by the fiercest trio in the land right now, Sulfate! Reunited, reinvented, and fully reinvigorated, you won’t experience a deeper head trip than a Sulfate show any time soon, and we’re stoked to have them on the bill.
 
“Woah, turns out we’re even more crazy than we were when we thought we were crazy before!”
- Reuben Bonner, CEO of Banished Music
 
Yes, it’s time to ramp things up and really get the party started with this wild line-up of good times. March will never be the same again… And you better believe we are planning Strange Universe WINTER Edition already…