We are fortunate enough in New Zealand to have a number of organisations set up to help out local artists and those who choose to work with local music. This means a network of organisations willing to assist and support you guys. Here are a few of them. ...more

Lead singer Stu, who paints his shaven dome for every gig, has played with Nail and Lil for years in covers bands before they formed Chuganaut three years ago. Munro (bass) joined the band a year ago. ...more

Roger Greenaway decided he wanted to be a musician half-way through his fifth form year at school. He wanted to start studying music straight away but he wasn't allowed to. So he left. ...more

If you're the kind of person who hates Auckland duo The Fanatics, visit their official website www.thefanatics.co.nz and you'll find the most delightful little game - cheekily titled 'Kill them Fannys' where little animated Fanatics caricatures pop up randomly on the screen from behind wooden barrels for you to shoot. ...more

When Marcel Rodeka was 11 years old, he volunteered to hit a big bass drum with a mallet 12 times in a school play. ...more

One of the fantastic things about gigging in New Zealand is the never-ending chain of connections and coincidences that lead on to new opportunities and adventures. ...more

For the last Talking Pictures column of the year, I thought I'd leave you with something to think about over the holidays. ...more