Music First: Close Counters with Ryan Berkeley (AUS) - Auckland Show This Friday

Unless you've been trapped inside some kind of dungeon-like vault for the past year and a bit, you'll be aware Music First have been hosting some of Aotearoa's finest dance parties of recent times, demonstrating a commitment to top quality international guests befitting resident DJs Sam Harmony and Frank Booker's mission: "keep the music first". The keen-eared pair have invited Naarm dancefloor movers Close Counters to play their debut headline set on our shores this Friday at Tāmaki Makaurau's Whammy Bar, following the auspicious release of Allan McConnell and Finn Rees' soul / funk / house / broken beat long player LOVERS DANCE ACADEMY earlier this year.

The Music First team have also shared the second instalment of their ongoing Mix series, a live recording of NYC duo musclecars' recent headline sets at Double Whammy, which you can hit play on below...

"Back in the dreaded early days of 2020, the first lockdown specifically, I started hunting more on Bandcamp. I stumbled across an album called “Soulacosta” by a group called Close Counters. The album had been out since 2018, but had passed me by. I quickly grabbed some choice cuts and became a fast fan of this mysterious group from Melbourne.Unbeknownst to me, I’d actually already met Finn and Allan only a couple of months prior at 121 Festival where they were playing as part of the dynamic 30/70 group with Allysha Joy on vocals. Small world! As time has passed, I’ve had the pleasure of DJing with Close Counters and watching them grow into true heavyweight producers. They sent me their new album “Lovers Dance Academy” towards the end of 2024 and I was instantly hooked! It’s a truly complete album with incredible vocal performances, virtuoso musicians and, importantly, soulful dancefloor bangers both the house and broken beat variety.We are delighted to welcome them to Auckland for their NZ debut at Whammy on Friday 4 April.
Come and see what the fuss is all about! X" - Frank Booker

Music First: Close Counters
plus special guest Ryan Berkeley (Love Above Records)
with MF residents Frank Booker & Sam Harmony
Friday 4th April - Whammy Bar, Auckland
Tickets on sale HERE via UTR

Experience 'WATERFALL' from Close Counters' new album LOVERS DANCE ACADEMY...