TEASER TRAILER UNVEILED FOR NEW LOCAL ACTION-COMEDY FILM 'THE LEGEND OF BARON TO’A'

The first look at the brand-new action-comedy film ‘The Legend of Baron To’a’ featuring a stellar line-up of Aotearoa’s best local talent has been released today ahead of its theatrical release in early 2020.

The directorial debut from Kiel McNaughton sees an all-star Pasifika and Māori cast, including Uli Latukefu (Alien: Covenant, Marco Polo), Nathaniel Lees (The Matrix Reloaded), Jay Laga’aia (Star Wars), John Tui (Battleship, Hobbs & Shaw), Shortland Street alumni Shavaughn Ruakere and Fasitua Amosa (Auckland Daze, Fresh Eggs) as well as rising stars Duane Evens Jr (The New Legends of Monkey, Shortland Street) and Lotima Pome'e aka General Fiyah.

‘The Legend of Baron To’a’ tells the story of a Tongan entrepreneur who returns to his old neighbourhood and inadvertently causes the theft of his late father’s valued pro wrestling title belt by some ruthless gangsters. When negotiation and diplomacy fail to get it back, he is forced to embrace his father’s legacy to reclaim the title.

The film is produced by Kerry Warkia under the Brown Sugar Apple Grunt banner. Warkia and McNaughton’s credits include the critically acclaimed films Waru and Vai and TV series, Auckland Daze, This is Piki and Find Me A Maori Bride.

‘The Legend of Baron To’a’ is funded by the New Zealand Film Commission and will be distributed in NZ/Australia by Madman Entertainment (Hunt for the Wilderpeople, The Breaker Upperers) and is represented in North America by XYZ Films (The Dead Lands, Arctic, Brawl in Cell Block 99).

RED BULL PRESENTS: ROYAL FLUSH WITH SWIDT, HIGH HØØPS AND K2K IN WELLINGTON AND AUCKLAND

In their final music offering for 2019, Red Bull have teamed up with A Label Called Success to curate Royal Flush, featuring local rap superstars SWIDT, multimode artist HIGH HØØPS and producer/DJ extraordinaire, k2k. Shows are confirmed for Friday 4th October at Meow in Wellington and Friday 18th October at Mantells on the Water in Auckland.

In October 2013, Auckland musicians HIGH HØØPS, SPYCC, and Taste Nasa hopped on a plane to Wellington for the inaugural edition of a new event series Red Bull Sound Select. Held at the now-shuttered Mighty Mighty bar on Cuba Street and hosted by a young Connor Nestor (A Label Called Success), the intimate party opened the doors. Six years later, Red Bull has helped launch several new waves of local hip-hop, R&B, beats, and indie artists on their musical journeys.

SPYCC reflects: “Those times were A1 for me. I always got love for my OG DPTRCLB family, good peoples. I learnt a lot in those days too being exposed to different genres, vibes and even just different conversations. Even though our sounds and styles were different, they really did complement one another.”

This October, Red Bull and A Label Success are regrouping around the poker table to honour the spirit of that first event with ROYAL FLUSH: two shows in Wellington and Auckland. As this suggests, when it comes to the line-up, they’re playing a winning hand with SWIDT (the Onehunga rap collective that counts SPYCC among its members), HIGH HØØPS, and k2k.

“It's crazy for this occasion to come full circle. I'm looking forward to sharing the stage with SPYCC and his SWIDT collective - we've had similar timelines of creative growth and mutual respect for each other's work ever since those first curated shows all those years ago,” says HIGH HØØPS.

A Label Called Success’ founder Connor Nestor adds: “It's with much joy that we can look back six years and see the wave that both HIGH HØØPS and SPYCC have been riding as solo artists and as part of their collectives. Working across each other's records and often being sounding boards for new ideas. We're excited to see how this will unfold on stage across these two shows.”

FOLLOW THESE LINKS TO RSVP:

WELLINGTON RSVP - http://bit.ly/rbp-royal-flush-WLG-RSVP
AUCKLAND RSVP - http://bit.ly/rbp-royal-flush-AKL-RSVP

SOCIAL PARTNERS TO JOIN FORCES WITH GAIL COWAN MANAGEMENT

Social Partners, a brand new division of entertainment publicity agency 818, have today announced an agreement with one of the top artists agencies, Gail Cowan Management (GCM) to represent its stable of established talent in the social media space.

Specialising in social partnerships between brands and individuals with genuine, engaged followings, soon to be launched Social Partners will work with a brilliant range of local talent through this agreement, including actors Sally Martin, Ria Vandervis and Antonia Prebble, as well as presenter and broadcaster Jason Gunn.

Aligning 818’s Social Partners and GCM’s brand values of authenticity and collaboration, this partnership will allow GCM talent to explore further opportunities in the digital space and align with brands in a way that truly fits the talent’s ethos and style.

“Chris has always shown the utmost professionalism and he fully understands our need for authenticity and integrity around any product endorsement,” Says GCM Director Gail Cowan.“We are looking forward to seeing his brand develop and the benefit that brings to our talent, allowing us to get back to our core business and fully engage with our passion for drama!”

“The talent that GCM represent completely align with our vision to work with talent that audiences respect, aspire to and engage with”, says Social Partners Managing Director, Chris Henry. “These talent are enthusiastic about creating content that’s more than just a flash in the pan post, and instead curate targeted campaigns that centre around meaningful story arcs. We know that talent are craving careful and considered partnerships and we think this is going to be the start of something quite special.”

This agreement will see Social Partners work with GCM talent on social campaigns with GCM retaining focus on the talents acting, voice and MC work.

In addition to this announcement, the team at Social Partners are thrilled to confirm the appointment of Lauren Mitchell as Campaign Producer. With previous experience driving influencer and content campaigns at The Social Club mixed with her experiential and social knowledge at MKTG, Lauren will join the team in late September with a focus on creating talent-led social campaigns, as well as fostering relationships with key agencies and brands.

“I can’t wait to join the team at 818 to help make a driving change within our industry through these purposeful and lasting partnerships between brands and individuals,” Says Lauren. “There is a real opportunity in the industry to connect those that can create an action or change with a purpose or reason and I’m excited to be part of that.”

LIAM GALLAGHER HEADING TO AUCKLAND FOR ONE SHOW ONLY

SECRET SOUNDS & LIVE NATION PRESENTS
LIAM GALLAGHER
AUSTRALIAN & NEW ZEALAND TOUR 2019

Once voted by the readers of Q Magazine as the “greatest front man of all time”, living legend Liam Gallagher will return to Australia and New Zealand in December as he celebrates the release of his massively anticipated second solo record, Why Me, Why Not?

Shows in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Auckland will give Australasian audiences a chance to revel in tracks from Gallagher’s untouchable back catalogue as well as taking in newer cuts from his more recent output.

We all know the Oasis story by now: Manc lads discover the magic formula, pump out several anthems for a generation, release some of the highest selling (and most loved) albums of all time, define British guitar music, burn out in a blaze of glory...

Now, as we hurtle towards 2020, it’s a sheer delight to hear the unmistakable voice of Liam Gallagher producing music just as timeless as he did at the peak of Britpop’s heyday.

His debut solo album As You Were was released in October 2017, proving to be a critical and commercial success as it sold over 103,000 units in its first week and becoming the ninth fastest-selling debut of the decade in the UK.

Calling it a “debut” may seem a bit strange when we’re talking about an artist responsible for some of the most momentous albums in the history of recorded music, but Gallagher’s solo career to date has very much been about starting again with renewed vitality.

This attitude is on display through As It Were, a documentary released in June this year that documents the release of As You Were and the subsequent soul searching forced upon Gallagher in the wake of the break-up’s of Oasis, Beady Eye and several other personal relationships.

“I’m not doing this to be more famous, I’m f**king famous enough – you know what I mean,” he announces early in the film. “I’m not doing it for the money. I joined a band because I love music.”

With this typically confident catchcry in mind, Gallagher started work on his new record with super-producers Greg Kurstin and Andrew Wyatt, eventually pumping out Why Me, Why Not? and its stomping singles ‘Shockwave’ and ‘The River’. Both replete with oodles of the swagger and bluster that made Liam Gallagher a household name, the tunes are perfect precursors a much-anticipated sophomore release, both going down a treat at his recent Glastonbury performance.

In fact, if that show was anything to go by, audiences in Australia and New Zealand are in for something very special as Gallagher stacks his setlist with some of Oasis’ most well-known tunes and sends the likely lads and ladette’s into Supersonic ecstasy.

SPARK ARENA, AUCKLAND FRIDAY DECEMBER 20
TICKETS ON SALE 10AM THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 5

Live Nation pre-sale: 10am Wednesday September 4 until 9am Thursday September 5

For complete tour and ticket information, visit: liamgallagher.com & www.livenation.co.nz

CALVIN HARRIS TO HEADLINE FESTIVAL X RISING

CALVIN HARRIS / JUICE WRLD / LIL PUMP
TCHAMI / ANNA LUNOE / KATAYANAGI TWINS

New Zealand are you ready? FESTIVAL X RISINGlaunches this November at Western Springs as the newest event on the summer music calendar, featuring some of music’s biggest superstars. The inaugural line-up features multiple Grammy, Billboard and Brit Award winner CALVIN HARRIS announced today as the headline act.

Grammy award winning, heavyweight producer, DJ and songwriter Calvin Harris stands as the figurehead for modern dance music, having broken world records and dominated the charts with his many hits. As one of the most successful artists of all time and the most played Scottish artist of the 21st century, Calvin Harris has collaborated with global stars including Frank Ocean, Pharrell Williams, Rihanna, Katy Perry, and Ellie Goulding to name a few. His work has garnered a number of music awards and nominations, including 16x Brit Award nominations with 2x wins this year for Producer of the Year and British Single (One Kiss), 14x VMA nominations, 5x Grammy nominations and a 2013 Grammy Award win in the Best Music Video category for “We Found Love”. Calvin’s single, “One Kiss” with Dua Lipa was the biggest selling single of 2018 in the UK and marked the fastest ascent to #1 in Dance radio chart history. Following “One Kiss,” Calvin released his hit “Promises” with Sam Smith, which spent 14 weeks at #1 on the European airplay chart. His three singles released in 2018 amassed over 2 billion streams. To date, Calvin has over 23.5 billion combined audio and video streams in his career history, making him one of the most viewed artists on YouTube & one of Sony’s biggest streaming artists.

Joining Calvin will be Juice WRLD, Lil Pump, Tchami, Anna Lunoe and Kiwi DJ duo, the Katayanagi Twins for the one-day event on Thursday 28 November 2019.

Committed to bringing a quality event as well as a safe, friendly and well-priced experience for guests, FESTIVAL X RISING will cater to fans from all genres and styles of music with a line-up which reflects that. Whether you’re into dance, hip-hop or pop – get ready – as this is THE music event to kickstart your summer.

First release tickets go on sale at 1pm Wednesday September 4.

Formed as a collaboration between industry leaders and teams behind some of Australasia’s leading festivals, concerts and events, Hardware (Piknic Electronik, Babylon, Onelove (Stereosonic) and Live Nation (Splendour in the Grass, Falls Festival and Download) have partnered to launch FESTIVAL X RISING. In its first year, the event will take place at The Outer Fields at Western Springs on Thursday 28th November 2019.

Founder of Hardware Corp, Richie McNeill said, “As they say, good things come to those who wait! We’re super excited to be working with the Live Nation team, to put together an incredible mix of music in the electronic, pop and urban realms. There are so many amazing artists right now and some amazing creatives we have been working with. Something very special is happening here and we’re super excited about it!”

“As we kick off the Summer festival season in New Zealand, we hope to create an event that showcases entertainment on the scale we’re known internationally for, with massive artists, epic event production and a focus firmly on FUN! Australia and New Zealand’s most successful electronic music promoters teaming up with the world’s largest touring company can only mean a great day for everyone. Festival X Rising is looking “Xtra-Large” and we can’t wait!” said Frank Cotela, Founder of Onelove.

With Roger Field, CEO of Live Nation Australasia adding, “Festival X Rising sets to wow Kiwi fans with the best talent, while showcasing a new and exciting festival experience. X is the ultimate pre-summer party fans have been waiting for and deserve. New Zealand, get ready!”

FESTIVAL X RISING – 2019
THE OUTER FIELDS AT WESTERN SPRINGS NOVEMBER 28

TICKETS ON SALE 1PM WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 4
My Live Nation presale: 12pm Monday September 2 until 12pm Wednesday September 4

festivalx.co.nz
livenation.co.nz
outerfields.co.nz

BRENT HANSEN, THE KIWI WHO BUILT MTV GLOBAL, ANNOUNCED TO JOIN THE PHOENIX SUMMIT LINE UP

New Zealander Brent Hansen might not be a household name in his home country, but his former role as the Creative President and Editor-in-Chief of MTV International made him one of the most influential people in music television globally.

Hansen is returning to New Zealand to share his story in a candid one-on-one live interview at The Phoenix Summit, a one-day music, entertainment and media industry event created by Rhythm and Vines co-founder Hamish Pinkham.

“Brent’s success on the world stage is inspiring and being able to have someone of his calibre to share his stories and learnings in this forum is incredible” says Pinkham. “We can’t wait to have him back on Kiwi shores and join us for this event.”

Hansen’s early career in television production started with working on some of New Zealand’s classic programmes, including Romper Room and That’s Country. Joining the team at late night music show Radio with Pictures, he rose to the role of director and producer in 1982. With the show on hiatus in 1986, Brent looked overseas and was offered a role as a news producer with MTV as it launched in Europe, and by the early 1990’s he was Head of Programming for all of Europe. He then continued on to become Creative President and Editor-in-Chief for all of MTV International.

Hansen will be interviewed live on stage at The Phoenix Summit by New Zealand entertainment TV veteran, Dominic Bowden, joining a line up which already includes John Legend’s manager and creative director to Lady Gaga, through to the creators of some of the most respected social movements in America.

Along with Hansen’s involvement – the full programme for The Phoenix Summit has now been released, which includes a long list of inspiring local talent such as New Zealand musicians Anna Coddington and Jan Hellriegel, music education expert Martin Emo, social change advocate Te Aroha Grace and TV and feature film documentary producer and director Julia Parnell. 

The Phoenix Summit will take place on Saturday 14 September at Q Theatre Auckland. Full programme details and tickets are available from www.phoenixsummit.co.nz

SPRING CITY LINEUP ANNOUNCED INCLUDING TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB, FLIGHT FACILITIES, CROOKED COLOURS, FOLEY AND MORE

Spring City Festival Launches in Auckland with Two Door Cinema Club, Flight Facilities and more.

Endeavour Live and Live Nation present SPRING CITY, featuring TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB, FLIGHT FACILITIES, CROOKED COLOURS, FOLEY + Support.

Following the success of EDM festival Electric Gardens, Ellerslie Racecourse will once again transform into a lively metropolis of food and dance as some of the world's top indie-electro acts take to the big stage on Sunday November 24th for Spring City.

Coming out of Northern Ireland, Two Door Cinema Club are one of the biggest indie pop bands on the planet and will headline the festival. Their 2010 timeless album ‘Tourist History’ propelled them onto the scene with hits such as ‘Something Good Can Work’ and ‘I Can Talk’ with Spring City marking their first performance in Aotearoa.

Making the trans-tasman trip are Flight Facilities, the producer duo from Sydney who make an infectious transition between electronic and pop. After releasing their debut album in late 2014 ‘Down To Earth’, Flight Facilities have stayed on the radar with strings of singles and remixes. A recent sold out show at Auckland’s Powerstation and headline performance at Gisborne’s Rhythm and Vines show the Aussie duo have a strong Kiwi fan base.

A recent sold out tour of New Zealand sees Perth indie-electro dance three piece Crooked Colours join us from Australia for the debut of Spring City. After originally starting off as house party DJs, the trio took a turn and developed a full scale live set to accompany their own original music. Earlier this year they released their second album ‘Langata’, the three-piece have plenty of new material to treat us to.

Honest to a fault, Foley have quickly picked up a fanbase of young like-minded listeners for their fun-loving attitude, and genuinely unbreakable friendship. The pair have made a name for themselves by acting out against the standard producer-vocalist two piece model; instead writing, performing and producing everything completely collaboratively.

Only 10 minutes from the central city, The Spring City location of the Ellerslie Racecourse infield will be transformed into a lively metropolis, complete with some of Auckland's best food venders and off stage entertainment. Co-producer and self-professed Mayor of Spring City Kyle Bell says “We have eagerly anticipated the return to Ellerslie Racecourse after successfully delivering Electric Gardens earlier this year with Fatboy Slim, Sigma and Bag Raiders. Audiences really responded to the line up and location so we can’t wait to return to welcome the new residents of Spring City.”

Register now for access to Earlybird tickets starting from $85.00, with tickets going on sale to the General Public on Monday, August 19 2019 at 2pm.

DISCLOSURE, ALISON WONDERLAND AND RL GRIME HEADLINE THE FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT FOR RHYTHM AND VINES 2019

DISCLOSURE, ALISON WONDERLAND AND RL GRIME HEADLINE THE FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT FOR RHYTHM AND VINES 2019

Some of the worlds biggest music industry heavyweights will be once again returning to Gisborne this December to bring in the new decade at New Zealand’s longest-running music festival, Rhythm and Vines.

With over 100 acts scheduled to perform across 5 stages, the first 32 confirmed acts coming to Gisborne are:

Disclosure, Alison Wonderland, RL Grime, Wilkinson (DJ Set), Jauz, Andy C, Green Velvet, Chris Lake, Calyx And Teebee, Culture Shock, Cyantific, Denis Sulta, Dom Dolla, Drax Project, GLXY, HAAi, Heidi, Home Brew, Leisure, Running Touch, Ziggy Alberts, Church & AP, Daffodils, Eno X Dirty, Flowidus, Jack Berry, Maala, Mako Road, Openside, Peach Milk, Summer Thieves, Vayne

Iconic British producer duo Disclosure will return to New Zealand tasked with bringing 20,000 people to the Vines dancefloor on the opening night of Rhythm and Vines (December 29). With numerous Grammy nominations and a decade of commercial hits and collaborations with the likes of Sam Smith (“Latch”), Khalid (“Talk”), Aluna George (“White Noise”) and our very own Lorde (“Magnets”), festival-goers are set for the perfect soundtrack to the night of their lives and will be brimming with smiles and high fives.

Sydney born, Los Angeles based singer, producer, songwriter and DJ Alison Wonderland has been confirmed as the headliner for New Year’s Eve. Her futuristic dance tracks will be the first music heard in the new era, confirmed to play the coveted Vines Stage slot after midnight on January 1 2020. With now nearly half a billion streams, Alison has captured the attention of dance music fans across the globe translating into her high-energy, action-packed live sets. Performing a dynamic high octane show and with numerous accolades under her belt including 2 x #1 Billboard Top Electronic Album chart-topper and “highest female DJ billing ever at Coachella” label, expect this to be one of the highlight performances of Rhythm and Vines for years to come.

Another fan favourite joining the bill will be the return of New York-born, Los Angeles native RL Grime. His self-produced albums, instrumental projects and loud hip-hop remixes make for a live show with an absolute punch. When his debut album ‘VOID’ debuted at #1 on the electronic charts in 2014, it was clearly Grime was destined for big things. One year later he made his debut performance at R&V 2015 and now with 150 million plays, countless remixes, world-class collaborations and a new project out, RL Grime’s return will be popular amongst R&V fans.

If Drum and Bass in your face is what you seek, look no further than the fields of Waiohika. The international serving of drum and bass includes the head honcho of legendary English electronic label RAM Records, Andy C. Countless remixes, record-breaking club residencies and more tours than you can imagine makes Andy C one of the most prestigious acts at this year's festival. Fan favourite Wilkinson can’t keep his mitts off the Vines stage controllers, bringing back his catalogue of festival anthems. He will be joined by fellow Europeans D&B masters such as Culture Shock, Calyx & TeeBee, GLXY and Cyantific. Our very own D&B rising stars Flowidus will be making their debut at R&V after selling out shows across the nation over the past two years.

House heads will be licking their dancing wounds this summer. Age is just a number for Chicagoan DJ Green Velvet as the 52-year-old makes his way down to Aotearoa to showcase his timeless skills on the turntables. Chris Lake has been behind some of the biggest hits of the past few years but also making a mark with his solo works, Lake is a multi-versed producer, to say the least. At just 25 years old, Jauz has been around the world and back showcasing off all the skills he honed back in San Francisco. Everything from future house, dubstep, trap and 80s/90s dance music, Jauz has been able to bring together elements from all to craft his own style. Add to the mix Denis Sulta, Dom Dolla, BBC Radio One DJ Heidi, and HAAi taking up big slots across various stages this year.

And of course, the home ground advantage still sits with the local favourites. Saxophone wielding four-piece Drax Project return after a blockbuster sundown performance during last year’s festival and excitement levels are high for indie darlings Leisure who debut at Rhythm after releasing their sophomore album ‘Twister’. Other bands making their debut include indie synth-pop group Daffodils, Jack Berry, Summer Thieves and Mako Road.

New Zealand hip hop is always a staple for the Rhythm experience, and expect hip hop royalty Home Brew to drive it home with their return to the festival. While lyricist and old school production specialists Eno x Dirty will be back again this year, R&V 2019 will also mark the debut of two acts who have been turning heads this past year. Church & AP and Vayne, who have had a busy 2019 crafting their own unique style and forging promising careers worth celebrating.

“The festival experience and incredible trust in the brand to deliver year and year out has seen over 80% of tickets sold for this year’s festival already, and that is before we have even announced an act,” says Festival Co-Founder and Programming Director Hamish Pinkham. “The team is passionate and focussed on delivering a world-class festival, and this lineup sets the tone for what to expect. We got a few more surprises up our sleeve.”

Final camping passes are expected to be sold out within a few weeks, and 3 Day Passes by September. The popular Vintage Club VIP tickets have already sold out, and only a few accommodation packages remain in Glamping, Tepee, Pre-Setup camping options as well as Hotel and Motel packages. A small allocation of single-day tickets are released for sale on Thursday, August 15 at 9am.

First Release of Acts include:

Disclosure, Alison Wonderland, RL Grime, Wilkinson (DJ Set), Jauz, Andy C, Green Velvet, Chris Lake, Calyx And Teebee, Culture Shock, Cyantific, Denis Sulta, Dom Dolla, Drax Project, GLXY, HAAi, Heidi, Home Brew, Leisure, Running Touch, Ziggy Alberts, Church & AP, Daffodils, Eno X Dirty, Flowidus, Jack Berry, Maala, Mako Road, Openside, Peach Milk, Summer Thieves, Vayne

A second and final release of acts is scheduled to be released towards the end of October.

TRAILER RELEASED FOR DAN CARTER: A PERFECT 10

The trailer for ‘Dan Carter: A Perfect 10’ has today been unveiled. The film will receive its world premiere on Monday 26th August ahead of a nationwide release on Thursday 29th August.

Produced by Pitch Productions, the all-access film opens the door to All Blacks legend Dan Carter’s private life, revealing a side to the global superstar that’s never been seen before.

The film also tracks Dan Carter’s remarkable career and his journey from rural New Zealand to becoming the greatest number 10 of all time.

Directed by Luke Mellows, ‘Dan Carter: A Perfect 10’ features interviews with Dan’s wife Honor Carter, Richie McCaw, Jonny Wilkinson, Beauden Barrett, Carter’s family and many more, offering a rare insight into Carter the man.

‘Dan Carter: A Perfect 10’ is distributed by Rialto Distribution in New Zealand and Australia.

RUEL RETURNS TO NZ IN SEPTEMBER FOR HIS BIGGEST SHOW YET

LIVE NATION & SECRET SOUNDS PRESENTS

RUEL

– Returning to New Zealand for his biggest show yet –

After playing sold out rooms throughout Australia, the UK, Europe and Asia, Australian multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and performer Ruelwill celebrate the upcoming release of his highly anticipated sophomore EP FREE TIME by bringing his brand new stage show to Auckland’s Shed 10 this September for his biggest show to date in New Zealand.

Tickets go on sale at 4pm Monday August 5.

My Live Nation members can secure tickets first during the exclusive pre-sale beginning 4pm Friday August 2 until 3pm Monday August 5.

Fans can also sign up to the Audience Republic pre-sale beginning 4pm Friday August 2 until 3pm Monday August 5.

Ruel will stop by Shed 10 for one of the biggest shows of his career and treat fans to a completely new stage production and brand new music from the forthcoming EP.

FREE TIME was written in between Ruel's rigorous global touring schedule and sees the young songwriter teaming up once again with Grammy winning producer M-Phazes, plus an all star cast of collaborators including Sarah Aarons (Zedd, Alessia Cara), Tobias Jesso Jr. (Adele, Sia), Joseph Angel (Rihanna), Nick Long (King Princess, K. Flay) and Wrabel (Ellie Goulding).

The EP’s first single Painkiller has already gathered over 20 million streams in just two months, adding to Ruel’s overall 300 million+ global streams. The new body of work is the next step in the evolution of an artist who began playing guitar and writing songs at only 8 years of age. It demonstrates Ruel’s maturity as a songwriter able take on any genre and unsatisfied staying in the lanes of Pop and RnB.

At just 16 years of age, Ruel has received public praise from the likes of Khalid, Zane Lowe and Sir Elton John for his songwriting craft well beyond his years and his commanding live performances. Last year, he received recognition back home by becoming the youngest recipient of an ARIA Award for Breakthrough Artist of the Year.

Ruel’s videos for singles ‘Younger’ and ‘Not Thinkin’ Bout You’ have caught fire, each surpassing over 8 million views, and the videos for ‘Dazed and Confused’ and ‘Don’t Tell Me’ have each enjoyed over 5 million views, with his latest single ‘Painkiller’ fast approaching 8 million views.

RUEL
NEW ZEALAND 2019
SHED 10, AUCKLAND SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 28

TICKETS ON SALE 4PM MONDAY AUGUST 5
Audience Republic presale: 4pm Friday August 2 until 3pm Monday August 5
Live Nation pre-sale: 4pm Friday August 2 until 3pm Monday August 5

For complete tour and ticket information visit: oneruel.com & www.livenation.co.nz

GOLF ALPHA BRAVO ANNOUNCED AS SUPPORT FOR GRETA VAN FLEET THIS SEPTEMBER

GRETA VAN FLEET

US Grammy Award Winning Rockers Touring New Zealand This September Announce Golf Alpha Bravo As Special Guest

2019 US Grammy Award winning rockers, GRETA VAN FLEET, are touring New Zealand this September on their “March of the Peaceful Army” World Tour. Today, the band have announced that GOLF ALPHA BRAVO, the new solo moniker of Jagwar Ma singer-guitarist Gab Winterfield, will join the tour and appear at all dates as special guest.

GOLF ALPHA BRAVO will bring his clean reverb guitar tones, mid and up-tempo rhythms and melodic basslines to life in some of the first ever performances of this new project. His cool coloured collage of sounds create a world of sound akin to R L Burnside, early Hendrix and more recently, BadBadNotGood. GAB’s upcoming first single, ‘Groove Baby Groove’ out this August via MOM+POP Records, showcases his dynamic voice jumping from a whisper to a howl which his guitar mimics joyously, shifting rich chords then gliding to a single note, maracas shake and the bass guitar thumps. His debut record, “Groove Baby Groove” will be released this August.

GRETA VAN FLEET
SEPTEMBER 10 – SOLD OUT
LOGAN CAMPBELL CENTRE

ABOUT GRETA VAN FLEET

Music fans were first introduced to Greta Van Fleet's Josh Kiszka/vocals, Jake Kiszka/guitars, Sam Kiszka/bass & keys, and Danny Wagner/drums in March 2017 with the release of the band's debut single Highway Tune that held the #1 position on U.S. Rock Radio Charts for five consecutive weeks and on Canada's Active Rock Radio Charts for nine straight weeks.

Twenty-seventeen went on to be a wild ride of sold-out concerts in North America and Europe, glowing press, accolades from a slew of fellow artists from Elton John to Nikki Sixx to Justin Bieber, millions of YouTube video plays and Spotify streams, two #1 EPs, a Gold record in Canada, and most importantly, the genesis of an extraordinary connection with their fans.

The band’s debut album, Anthem of the Peaceful Army, was released in October 2018 (Lava/Republic Records). It has turned the rock world upside down, there hasn't been a rock record to light the fires like this in a long time!

The album’s first radio track, When The Curtain Falls, exploded at Rock Radio and has so far accumulated more than 18.5-million streams, and four million-plus views of the music video.

Watch When The Curtain Falls here.
gretavanfleet.com

FIRST TEASER TRAILER FOR TAIKA WAITITI'S 'JOJO RABBIT' RELEASED

The very first teaser trailer for Taika Waititi’s upcoming anti-hate satire, JOJO RABBIT, has been shared ahead of its release in New Zealand on October 24.

WATCH THE TEASER TRAILER HERE

In addition, it has also been announced this morning that the film will have its World Premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Writer director Taika Waititi (Thor: Ragnarok, Hunt For The Wilderpeople), brings his signature style of humor and pathos to his latest film, JOJO RABBIT, a World War II satire that follows a lonely German boy (Roman Griffin Davis), whose world view is turned upside down when he discovers his single mother (Scarlett Johansson) is hiding a young Jewish girl (Thomasin McKenzie) in her attic. Aided only by his idiotic imaginary friend, Adolf Hitler (Taika Waititi), Jojo must confront his naive patriotism.

JOJO RABBIT opens in New Zealand Cinemas October 24

NEW KIDS SHOW THE FEIJOA CLUB LAUNCHES ON TVNZ HEIHEI

From the creators of This is Piki and Nia’s Extraordinary Life comes The Feijoa Club, a show about a young girl, Perry, who has made the big move from the bright lights of the big city to a small rural town in Taranaki.

When Perry (Kiki McNaughton) arrives in Taranaki with her dads Hughey (Scotty Cotter) and Steven (Andy Wong) it’s quite a change from her big city life. Luckily for Perry it's not long before she meets a group of outcasts who welcome her into their crazy little club where they eat feijoa’s and enjoy solving life's little mysteries.

Filmed in Taranaki, the show was directed by Nicole Whippy (Shortland Street, Outrageous Fortune) and Kerry Warkia (Waru, Vai) and written by Warkia and Kiel McNaughton. The diverse cast also features a slate of Kiwi kids from the Taranaki region including Dante Moore as Boyden, Te Waea Hurunui as Rima, Suhjal Prasad as Amir and Daniela Belmonte as Gemma-Jane.

All six episodes of season one of The Feijoa Club are now available on NZ On Air and TVNZ’s children’s platform, HEIHEI.

“It’s a delight from start to finish. It’s even better than a warm feijoa muffin, and that’s a big call.” – Tara Reid – The Spinoff

RED BULL PRESENTS: WELLINGTON & AUCKLAND FEATURING METHYL ETHEL, DAFFODILS & STINK, CURATED BY LANEWAY

RED BULL PRESENTS: WELLINGTON & AUCKLAND FEATURING METHYL ETHEL, DAFFODILS & STINK, CURATED BY LANEWAY

Red Bull and St Jerome’s Laneway Festival have joined forces once again to presenta musical showcase of Wellington & Auckland, with two nights of live music featuring indie favourites Methyl Ethel, Daffodils and Stink. Tickets are available now for Wellington on Friday 2nd August at San Fran and Auckland on Saturday 3rd August at Galatos.

Laneway Festival organiser Mark Kneebone explains “Laneway has showcased so many incredible artists over the years and we’re excited to bring three of them together with Red Bull for two nights of awesome indie music this winter.”

Australian band Methyl Ethel will take the stage as headliners after playing Lanewayback in 2016. Hailing from Perth, the five-piece band will perform old favourites like Ubu, as well as songs from their latest album release, Triage. Methyl Ethel have enjoyed phenomenal success over the past few years, with more than 25 million Spotify streams alone and sold-out tours across Australia and the UK.

Joining Methyl Ethel are new-wave inspired indie-pop group Daffodils, whose SmokeFree Rock Quest win last year paved the way to a slot at Laneway 2019, a sold-out show at Auckland’s Tuning Fork and some big support slots for the likes of Miss June, Openside and Soaked Oats.

Completing the line-up is Stink, Wellington-based up-and-comers who have graced the local indie music scene with their psych-pop debut single ‘Lollipops’. Featuring members of Benee’s band, they performed Laneway 2019 to a crowd of excited fans.

Mark Kneebone continues: “We’ve had our eye on Methyl Ethel for a while now and can’t wait to see them back on stage in Auckland. Daffodils have quickly established themselves on the local music scene through the strength of their songs and performances. We recommend keeping an ear out for these guys. Finally, Stink are a brand-new band with a cool single and style. They may be named Stink, but their sound is anything but.”

All three bands will perform in both Wellington and Auckland. Audiences are invited to RSVP for this show now at redbull.co.nz/music for a reduced ticket price of $10, with door sales available at the venues for $20.

WLG: https://www.redbull.com/nz-en/music/events/red-bull-presents-wlg-laneway-2019
AKL: https://www.redbull.com/nz-en/music/events/red-bull-presents-akl-laneway-2019

CHELSEA HANDLER RETURNS TO NZ WITH HER BRAND NEW STAND UP TOUR

CHELSEA HANDLER RETURNS TO NZ WITH HER BRAND NEW STAND UP TOUR

US Comedian, Author and Activist CHELSEA HANDLER returns to New Zealand in October for the first time since her 2014 live tour.

LIFE WILL BE THE DEATH OF ME: CHELSEA HANDLER’S STAND-UP COMEDY TOUR, taking the same name as her just-released #1 NY TIMES BEST SELLING sixth book, Life Will Be The Death Of Me, will see the disarmingly honest and riotously funny Handler head to Auckland on October 9th.

Fresh from her 27-date tour in the US, this brand-new stand up show is classic Chelsea Handler. The brash candour and self-deprecating humour that fuelled her previous bestselling essays collections and wildly successful TV shows is here in spades.

Regarded as one of the most successful figures in entertainment today, Chelsea Handler’s talk shows, best-selling books and stand-up comedy have attracted millions of fans worldwide.

After a successful seven-year run as the host of E!’s top-rated Chelsea Lately, Handler launched an all-new talk show for Netflix in 2016. Chelsea was the first of its kind for the global on-demand generation and tackled today’s tough issues with the same acerbic wit and fearless curiosity fans know and love. The 120 eps are still available on Netflix, as is her documentary series Chelsea Does. Handler has continued her partnership with Netflix, producing a feature-length documentary focusing on the notion of white privilege to be released later this year. Handler also launched her first podcast this year - also called Life Will Be The Death Of Me - teaming up with iHeartRadio for the weekly show which regularly holds the #1 spot.

Handler left her Netflix show at the end of 2017 to focus on her work as an activist by joining forces with EMILY’s List to help elect more women to public office, register people to vote and campaign for candidates who are fighting for women’s rights. In addition, she has partnered with the Karam Foundation, a non-profit organisation whose mission is to build a better future for Syria by developing innovative education programs for refugee youth, distributing smart aid to families and funding sustainable development projects initiated by Syrians for Syrians.

Handler, who has been honoured by TIME magazine as one of it’s annual “TIME 100”, now has six best-selling books including My Horizontal Life (2005), Are You There, Vodka? It’s Me, Chelsea (2008), Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang (2010), Lies That Chelsea Handler Told Me (2011), and 2014’s Uganda Be Kidding Me, and now Life Will Be The Death Of Me.

Don’t miss the irrepressibly candid Chelsea Handler live and on-stage this October.

AUCKLAND TOWN HALL, AUCKLAND WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 9

TICKETS ON SALE 1PM, FRIDAY JULY 12
Live Nation pre-sale begins 12pm, Thursday July 11 until 12pm Friday, July 12

For complete tour, ticket and VIP Experience information, visit:
livenation.co.nz & chelseahandler.com