Weekly Round-Up: Friday 7th March

March is now well underway and as alternative rock fans will be aware, Queens of the Stone Age and Nine Inch Nails are heading to these shores soon for their three-date double bill tour. The bands are currently doing the rounds in Australia and the first setlists from their show in Sydney have been posted online, so take a peek if you want an idea of what to expect when they land here.

In other tour news, "ginger rap genius" Action Bronson will be heading back to New Zealand for two shows in April, hip hop group @Peace (which includes members from the Homebrew crew) are taking their stellar debut album @Peace and the the Plutonian Noise Symphony on the road, Wellingtonian Grayson Gilmour will be making his way around the country this month for a bunch of solo and band shows, former Drive by Trucker Jason Isbell is doing a one-off Auckland show next month and British singer-songwriter Lloyd Cole is heading this way for a tour with Greg Johnson in June.

In release news,  tUnE-yArDs has confirmed the release of a new album this year, officially announcing the release of fourth album Nikki Nack in May, Black Lips have been streaming their new album Under The Rainbow,  supergroup Kimono Kult have also been streaming their EP Hiding in the Light to coincide with it's release, Wellington heavyweights Spook the Horses shared an epic first single from their forthcoming album, Mac DeMarco released another great track from his forthcoming album Salad Days, and local country icon Tami Neilson unveiled sultry song 'Walk (Back To Your Arms)' as a preview for her forthcoming album Dynamite.

It has been a busy week for videos with some interesting clips coming out of the woodwork. The Dum Dum Girls unveiled a mini-movie written by Bret Easton Ellis for their track 'Are You Okay', Leeds lads Eagulls put out a video for their post-punk tune 'Possessed' from their self-titled debut out this week and Brody Dalle (ex-Distillers), who is touring with QOST and NIN, released an animated video for track 'Meet The Foetus/Oh The Joy' featuring Shirley Manson (Garbage).

For our video offering this week we have the first glimpse of Andre 3000 (Outkast) playing Jimi Hendrix in the upcoming biopic of Jimi's life.  The short clip shows the guitarist having a heart-to-heart with Linda Keith and Andre proves he not only can look the part, but he can nail the voice too....

WEEKEND GIG PICKS

Friday

Auckland: PCP Eagles, Bloodbags + more, Whammy Bar
Auckland: Clap Clap Riot, Sherpa + more, Galatos
Wellington: The Mantarays,  Mighty Mighty
Wellington: Scarlett Lashes, Gold Medal Famous + more, Burgundy Room
Christchurch: Face of The Collapser, No Broadcast and Tsunami
Dunedin: Sam Hunt + David Kilgour and the Heavy Eights, Chicks Hotel

Saturday

Auckland: Delaney Davidson and Marlon Williams, Tuning Fork
Auckland: Shepherds of Cassini, Mice on Stilts, Greenfog + more, Wine Cellar and Whammy
Wellington: Clap Clap Riot and Sherpa, Puppies
Wellington: PCP Eagles, D Burmester and Mr Sterile Assembly, Mighty Mighty
Christchurch: Oslo Accords and Les Baxters, darkroom
Dunedin: Males, Kane Strang, Bad Sav and Mavis Gary, Re Fuel

Head over to our gig guide for heaps more great shows and/or grab the UTR app now available for both iPhone AND Android!!

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