RNZ TO LAUNCH DYNAMIC WEB SERIES AND PODCAST THE CITIZEN’S HANDBOOK FEATURING A RANGE OF TOP KIWI COMEDIANS

From the creators of the popular satire White Man Behind a Desk, Robbie Nicol and Finnius Teppett

RNZ have today announced a brand-new web series and podcast titled The Citizen’s Handbook. The ten-part comedy and civics class from the creators of popular satire White Man Behind a Desk will launch on Thursday 16th April. All episodes will be available to view and listen to on RNZ’s website. 
 
Co-created by the award-winning duo Robbie Nicol and Finnius Teppett, The Citizen’s Handbook tackles the important issues of New Zealand history and today, teaching Kiwis how to be a good citizen. The innovative web series and podcast covers five topics in a fun and accessible way: history, politics, law, economics and international relations.
 
A host of well-known comedians and actors feature in each episode of The Citizen’s Handbook, including Tom Sainsbury, Eli Matthewson, Kura Forrester, Jamaine Ross, Brynley Stent, Shavaughn Ruakere and more.
 
The Citizen’s Handbook podcast sees Robbie Nicol competing against a comedian in explaining New Zealand civics, told in fact and fiction.
 
Co-creator and host Robbie Nicol commented: “We want to tell people how New Zealand came to be and how it works, so they know that if the current system isn't working for them - they can change it. We talked to a bunch of smart people to make sure we got our facts right, and brought in New Zealand’s best comedians to make it the funniest it could be. We’re really proud of it, and hopefully it’s the combination of light entertainment and community spirit that we’re looking for in this weird time.”
 
Finnius Teppett, co-creator, added: “Researching and writing this series made us angry, frustrated, sad, hopeful, bewildered, and grateful. But mostly just really, really bewildered. So many urgently important stories leapt out at us, and so many unbelievable jokes just wrote themselves. We cover a lot of ground in the series, and we get to be quite naughty and silly, but hopefully it’s enough to get our audience to start looking at our country in a new, more critical way.”
 
RNZ Head of Commissioning, Kay Ellmers commented: “We’re committed to keeping Aotearoa informed, connected and entertained during these uncertain times. The Citizen’s Handbook empowers audiences with the knowledge of how our country came to be, how it currently works, and how we can face the challenges that lie ahead.”
 
Produced by Kevin & Co, The Citizen’s Handbook puts the focus onto the actions of people, and by highlighting the power of human action in creating the present, the series demonstrates that New Zealanders actions can have a powerful impact on the future.
 
In addition to the web series and podcast, a virtual event for The Citizen’s Handbook is planned for Thursday 16th April. A kaupapa will be led by co-creators Robbie Nicol and Finnius Teppet to connect audiences from the comfort of their own homes. More information to follow soon.

AWARD-WINNING PLAY AND BBC SERIES FLEABAG IS COMING TO CINEMAS THIS WEEK

The award-winning theatre show that inspired the BBC’s hit TV series Fleabag will have its big screen kiwi debut this weekend as The National Theatre Live’s Fleabag opens in cinemas nationwide. The 67-minute, one-woman play written and performed by Phoebe Waller-Bridge and directed by Vicky Jones will give audiences a rip-roaring look at a sort of woman living her sort of life.
 
First debuting at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2013, Waller-Bridge’s one-woman show has taken the world by storm, going on to play sold-out seasons in London and New York. Now, Kiwis who missed out on the original stage play will have the opportunity to see it on the big screen.
 
The cultural phenomenon of Fleabag saw the play adapted into a BBC TV series of the same name, following the original plot line of an unnamed woman whose life is spiralling out of control after the accidental death of her best friend, all while butting heads with family and keeping her guinea pig themed café afloat. The show’s format sees the forth-wall often broken, with Waller-Bridge addressing the viewers with witty one-liners and offhand comments. The show ultimately earned her two 2019 Primetime Emmy Awards for Lead Actress and Writing and two 2020 Golden Globes for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy and Best Musical or Comedy TV Series.
 
From March 5th, Fleabag fans can catch the broadcast at selected cinemas nationwide. For all further details and session details, visit Flicks.

TRAILER DROPPED FOR ACTION-COMEDY GUNS AKIMBO STARRING DANIEL RADCLIFFE AND SAMARA WEAVING

Click here to view

The trailer for Guns Akimbo has dropped today, starring Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter) and Samara Weaving (Ready or Not). The action-comedy feature film, written and directed by New Zealand filmmaker Jason Lei Howden (Deathgasm) received its world premiere at Toronto Film Festival and will be released nationwide on March 5th, 2020. 
 
Largely filmed in Auckland, New Zealand, Guns Akimbo’s international cast also includes Kiwi actor and comedian Rhys Darby (Hunt for the Wilderpeople), Irish actor Ned Dennehy (Peaky Blinders) and Australian actress Natasha Liu Bordizzo (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny). 
 
The hilariously dark and viciously violent film follows Miles Harris (Daniel Radcliffe), a nerdy video game developer whose world is turned upside-down when he's enrolled in a dark social media movement that forces strangers to fight in a citywide game of death.
 
Speaking to Variety last year, Daniel Radcliffe said he was drawn to the film’s exciting and fun script, particularly the bizarre concept of having guns for hands: “It’s not just a device for crazy fight scenes… It’s also a device for a lot of physical comedy that I really enjoyed. ‘How do you dress yourself, how do you pick up your phone, how do you go through life.’”
 
Guns Akimbo is produced by New Zealander Tom Hern (The Dark Horse), Joe Neurauter (The Hallow) and Felipe Marino (The Wackness). The film is distributed in New Zealand by Madman and was made with investment from The New Zealand Film Commission. 

OFFICIAL TRAILER DROPPED FOR ACTION-COMEDY ‘THE LEGEND OF BARON TO’A’ AHEAD OF NATIONWIDE RELEASE

Click here to view

The official trailer for Aotearoa’s brand-new action-comedy The Legend of Baron To’a has today been released ahead of its nationwide theatrical release on 20th February 2020.
 
The film features an all-star Pacific and Māori cast, including Uli Latukefu (Alien: Covenant), Nathaniel Lees (The Matrix Reloaded), Jay Laga’aia (Star Wars), John Tui (Hobbs & Shaw), Shortland Street alumni Shavaughn Ruakere and Fasitua Amosa (Fresh Eggs), Xavier Horan (Westside) and upcoming stars Duane Evans Jr (Avatar sequels) and Lotima Pome’e (General Fyah).
 
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.
 
Directed by Kiel McNaughton and produced by Kerry Warkia under the Brown Sugar Apple Grunt banner, husband and wife duo Warkia and McNaughton’s credits include the critically acclaimed films Waru and Vai and TV series, Auckland Daze, Darryl: An Outward Bound Story and Find Me A Māori Bride.
 
Funded by the New Zealand Film Commission, ‘The Legend of Baron To’a’ will be distributed by Madman Entertainment (Hunt for the Wilderpeople) in NZ and Australia and represented in North America by XYZ Films (The Dead Lands).

16-YEAR-OLD CORY NEWMAN TAKES HOME THE ATTITUDE ACC SUPREME AWARD AT THE 2019 ATTITUDE AWARDS

Charismatic punk rocker Cory Newman has been announced winner of the Attitude ACC Supreme Award at the Attitude Awards in Auckland tonight. Now in their 12th year, the black-tie gala event celebrates the achievements and successes of New Zealanders living with disabilities.
 
Gisborne-raised Cory (16) was born premature and has cerebral palsy, epilepsy and ADHD. Two years ago, Cory followed his dreams and formed a band with his high school friends, Sit Down In Front, of which Cory is the lead singer.
 
In one of the toughest industries to crack into, Cory and his band have erupted onto the local and international music scene, placing third at the national Smokefreerockquest and catching the attention of music legend Jimmy Barnes, who invited them to open for his recent national tour. In a touching moment at the Attitude Awards this evening, a video message from Jimmy was played to the audience congratulating Cory.
 
The high-energy band performed at tonight’s award ceremony to an audience of 650 New Zealanders, including many prominent figures from the disability sector. In addition to Cory’s success with his band, he has excelled at school, having won awards for academic excellence, and leadership roles including becoming House Captain in Year 9. Cory’s also completed school cross countries, athletics days, school swimming sports and performed in Kapa Haka groups and a Polynesian club.
 
Attitude Trust chairperson Dan Buckingham commented on Cory’s win: “Cory is what we aspire to - someone who lives with disability and lives the fullest of lives. He has high expectations for himself, and from those around him to be completely included in all of the activities his peers are involved with. However, he has gone above merely being involved.… he’s excelled in all of his pursuits, whether they be academic, sports, cultural, or performance and the arts.”
 
On accepting his award Cory said: "This was the last thing I expected, I'm completely and utterly humbled. Who thought that a guy in a wheelchair, from a tiny country town, would get to experience this. I certainly didn't!"
 
Principal sponsor ACC’s Chief Executive Scott Pickering said this year’s finalists’ achievements are impressive: “They are proof of the power of attitude in achieving audacious goals or helping others in your community and of the unique and powerful talents we all bring to the table,” said Mr Pickering. “Congratulations to Cory for pursuing his dreams in music and for all he has achieved with his band and in his community. His drive and determination make him a very worthy recipient of the Attitude ACC Supreme Award. Well done Cory.”
 
Cory’s award closed an outstanding evening where 27 individuals and organisations were recognised. The black-tie gala was co-hosted by TV news reporter Simon Dallow and comedian Tom Sainsbury and saw performances from William Waiirua (Dancing With The Stars), comedian Willy De Wit and opera singer Tim McCallum. Highlights from the 2019 Attitude Awards will be screened on Sunday 1st December on TVNZ 1 at 11:00am.

GREG MURPHY TO JOIN A RAFT OF KIWI CELEBS TO RACE FOR CHARITY AT THIS YEARS MONSTER ENERGY S-X OPEN

Six of New Zealand’s most daring celebs will take to the track this Saturday at the Monster Energy S-X Open Auckland for their chance to take out the title and raise much needed funds for their local charities.
 
Motor Racing Legend Greg Murphy, Sky Sport’s Stephen McIvor, Devilskin’s ‘The Nail’, The CGW’s Anna Wilcox, The AM Shows Aziz Al-Sa'afin and Bachelor Star Zac Franich will take to the Mt Smart Stadium course on November 16th to battle it out each riding a Yamaha TTR125 in front of over 20,000 screaming fans.
 
“I’m a big fan of MX and S-X and have been riding dirt bikes for over 20 years myself,”  says Greg Murphy. “Can’t wait to get to MT Smart on the weekend for the S-X Open and catch all the stars in action and wipe the floor with the other “so called celebrities” in the Celebrity race.”
 
The winner of the race will have their winning bike auctioned on Trade Me with all proceeds going to the winner’s charities.
 
The race will take place amongst the evenings competitions and displays which features the world’s best and multiple World Champion riders going head-to-head on a full-sized World Championship style Supercross track as well as the greatest Freestyle Motocross riders on the planet. 
 
Adding to the great family night out will be live music and entertainment, stunning pyrotechnics, junior races, giveaways, autograph signings, celebrity races, plus best-trick and best-whip competitions making the Monster Energy S-X Open Auckland an incredible entertainment spectacle for all ages.

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.