Music

Waitangi "Weekend" brings the music

Two long weekends in a row - can life get any better? Of course the second one isn't strictly a long weekend. Waitangi Day is a Tuesday. But is anyone... Read More

Amanda Palmer returns; and some gigs

Amanda Palmer has a complicated history in New Zealand. Now she's back... The American singer, songwriter, musician, and performance artist is playing Queenstown,... Read More

Cultural liberation; and some gigs

The news that most interested me as we arrived in 2024 is the wealth of cultural material that has moved into the public domain. What that means is anyone... Read More

A quick musical ‘best of’...

So we come to Christmas. Nearly there. In case you didn't know, this is also the last column of the year since The Weekend Sun team is taking a well-earned... Read More

A musical smorgasbord

OK. We're approaching the 'Ho, Ho, Ho” end of the year. Don't panic. I have a few things to share this week. Look upon it as a loose smorgasbord... Read More

Grant Haua - from Paris to Pukehinahina

After touring Europe and Australia and being praised in Rolling Stone magazine, Grant Haua is home. He told me he's going fishing and after the last few... Read More

Reggae with a Rastafari message

People tell me I take music too seriously; who am I to argue? Someone has to. This week the wit and intelligence of Kim Hill disappeared from radio - thanks... Read More

Soundtracks, songwriters and Big Muffins

I had intended to turn this week over to music reviews. The lede was debut album 'Soul Exodus' from John Michaelz and the Black Brothers Band, local... Read More

Blues & BBQS – but mainly blues!

This week it's all about blues - and here's an extravagant statement to open with... It may sound like an exaggeration, but I reckon the NZ Blues & BBQ Festival... Read More

Oozing talent from Octogenarians

Just occasionally, as we rush towards the precipice, it can feel like time is standing still. I've felt that recently, enjoying in the same week both a new... Read More

Brand new music from the plentiful Bay

I do love when local music gets released; today I have some new Tauranga tunes for you. Firstly, there's an album set for release which - due to the complicated... Read More

Celebrating Unrestful Movements

Way back when, the New Zealand punk scene was a small fragile thing. For all the braggadocio and swaggering fashion violations, anything that radical was going... Read More