Big Backyard Festival

I was going to put this under the flood news, but it turns out it is not a flood fundraiser. Rather, it's just a kick ass show. Ric's is a great bar known in the past for their indie/hipster music and support of live music. And also delicious chips during lunch time in the Valley.


Now, they're going to have a festival. In their backyard. And upstairs. And downstairs. Three stages. 21 bands. A kind of awesome bar.

So on the 26th of March, expect to see these bands and more:

• You Am I
• Die Die Die
• Pangea
• Six Ft Hick
• King Cannons
• the Cairos
• the Mercy Beat

All playing intimate stages in Rics.

I for one, can't wait.
And of course, it's 18+. It is a bar after all.

New Years Noise

My favourite New Zealand band, hands down, is Die! Die! Die! Not only do they have a great name, they play some great noisy garage rock. Which is a particular favourite genre of mine right now.

Although they've been through town a few times in 2010, they thought they'd squeeze one more show in just before midnight on New Years Eve. They'll be playing Woodlands on New Years Eve, before the venue transforms into the official after party for the No Years show at the Powerhouse.

MySpace

Another lazy post!

Yes! I know you're excited, it's another one of those posts where I just list off a bunch of shows and news, because I haven't had time for anything else.


Belle and Sebastian new song
My favourite Scottish indie-pop group have released a new song, for free, from their new album due out in October. Download here. I love Belle and Sebastian and their take on 60's style pop/twee. I'm on my way to slowly getting all of their releases on vinyl, so you know for sure I'll be pre-ordering their new record Write About Love (also the name of the free track).

U2 sells out (in the 80s), but adds a new show for their Brisbane concert sell out
Yep, not just their music, but their shows (surprisingly) sell out amazingly fast. They've added a second show with Jay-Z at Suncorp on the 9th of December.

Die! Die! Die!
New Zealand's best noise/gaze/random band are putting out a new album soon, so they'll be doing the tour of our country playing their noisy garage rock, which I love. October 14 at the Club House (Tempo Bar). If you like a noisy and energetic great live show, do yourself a favour and go!

Soundwave bands
Added to the lineup we now have:

• Bring Me the Horizon
• Bullet for My Valentine
• H2O
• We the Kings

I've seen the first two and have no desire to see them again. The only one I'm keen (actually really excited about) is H2O, one of those few old-school straight-edge hardcore bands still kicking.

The Mess Hall
A great Australian two-piece garage-rock band, had a pretty big song with Metal and Hair in 2005 and a great album in 2007 with the Devil's Elbow, are going out on tour. September 17 at the Zoo. 18+

Philadelphia Grand Jury
Although they packed and moved to London only a few months back, they are coming back for their biggest run of shows yet. Catch their garage-party-rock November 19th at the HiFi. 18+. This is sure to be close to selling out, like their last show did at the Zoo. They are just a fun band to listen and dance to.

Fat Louie's Local Hardcore Gig
September 25, at my favourite pool bar/after work place, catch a great hardcore show and get some cheap drinks. Between the Devil and the Deep, Marathon, Headaches and the Quickening. All great heavier (mainly local bands) at my favourite haunt. 18+ of course.