Weekly Round-Up: Friday 2nd August

Last week was indeed the calm before the storm as tours poured through this week starting off with New York band Beach Fossils announced on Monday to be playing two shows in September. On Tuesday the inimitable Leonard Cohen was announced to return in December for three dates and avant garde noise rockers Lightning Bolt were also announced to return, playing Auckland and Wellington in October.  Thursday brought us news of a one-off Auckland show by seminal post punk band Television, a two date tour from 80s hitmakers The Motels (touring as Martha Davis and The Motels), the 2014 lineup for Wanaka music festival Rippon Festival and of course, the much anticipated lineup for the Big Day Out 2014, confirming Pearl Jam as headliners alongside Blur and the Arcade Fire who'll be joined by Major Lazer, DIIV, Beastwars, Ghost, Snoop Lion (aka Snoop Dog) and heaps more great acts. And it's all down hill from here, to summer that is, with Rhythm and Vines announcing their 2013/2014 lineup next Wednesday and plenty more to come no doubt.

To release news,  Banished From The Universe have announced the release of the debut album from Dunedin's Mountaineater (ex HDU) in October, offering up first single 'Lord of Sumo' as part of a label mixtape released yesterday for free download; Auckland label Muzai Records also released a label compilation and annoucned news signings including Dunedin duo Astro Children and Wellington's The All Seeing Hand; T54's new album In Brush Park has been confirmed for release later in the year via Flying Nun and we have their brand new video from it premiering over here;also on Flying Nun, Sharpie Crows release their new album 12 Omeros this weekend and we've have been running a three track preview; and finally synth-rock pioneer Gary Numan has announced the release of his 20th (!!) studio album Splinter (Songs From A Broken Mind) and offered up first single 'I Am Dust'.

Caught live this week we have Franz Ferdinand performing 'Right Action' on Letterman....

WEEKEND GIG PICKS:

Friday

AUCKLAND: Transistors, Street Chant and The Situations, Kings Arms
AUCKLAND: Doprah and Milou, Cassette Nine
WELLINGTON: Orchestra of Spheres and Terror of the Deep, Mighty Mighty
WELLINGTON: The All Seeing Hand, Pikachunes, Alphabethead and More, Puppies
CHRISTCHURCH: Wilberforces Vinyl Release, Darkroom
DUNEDIN: Robert Scott, Bob Cardy and Chris Heazlewood, Chicks Hotel

Saturday

AUCKLAND: Sharpie Crows Album Release, Kings Arms
AUCKLAND: E N T, Lost Rockets and Mean Girls, Lucha Lounge
WELLINGTON: Transistors and The Situations, Mighty Mighty
WELLINGTON: Gutrot and Awkward Death, Medusa
CHRISTCHURCH: Coate, Winter and The River Jones, Darkroom
DUNEDIN: Wilberforces and Astro Children, Queens
DUNEDIN: Brown, Trick Mammoth and Fat Children, Taste Merchants

Coming up next week...

Jagwar Ma - Auckland (Wed 7th)
The Hard Ons -  Wellington (Thur 8th), New Plymouth (Friday 9th) and Auckland (Sat 10th)

For HEAPS more great gigs head over to our gig guide or grab our iPhone App from the iTunes Store.

NEW TRACKS: