Fly My Pretties Fly to #1 on IMNZ Chart

December News...

The Silly Season is well upon us, however in between the Christmas parties the IMNZ crew have found time to release a few albums and plan a few shows – no rest for the wicked eh?

One Million Dollars (Sugarlicks) have been confirmed for gigs in Australia in February to support the release of their album ‘Energy State’.

Demand for Te Vaka is also hotting up in Australia for 2005 – they have received invitations to the Gold Coast in January, and Brisbane, Byron Bay and Sydney in March. Back home, they are playing the Hamilton Gardens Summer Festival on 27th February and the Lake Wanaka Festival 30th April.

Metal superstars 8 Foot Sativa’s third album ‘Breed the Pain’, recorded in Sweden, is out on the 14th of this month.

Rip It Up have published their Top 10 New Zealand albums of 2004, and IMNZ is quietly pleased to note that they have selected SJD’s ‘Southern Lights’ to fill the top spot, with TrinityRoots ‘Home Land and Sea’ coming in at #5 and the Misfits of Science ‘M.o.S. Presents’ at # 9.

Real Groove’s Top 5 also includes some IMNZ gems: SJD is at #2, TrinityRoots are at #4 and The Fanatics are at #5.

Speaking of TrinityRoots, the band have announced that they are breaking up in early 2005, after six years, two and a half albums and many gigs across the earth. They will be playing four final summer shows, wrapping it all up for good on February 5 2005 at Raglan’s Soundsplash festival.

The Axe Attack, in conjunction with Hellman Records and Intergalactic Records, has released the first of a series of 'Axe Attack' CD releases featuring mostly unsigned New Zealand metal acts. The compilation features 3 bands that have won the NZ battle of the bands and all the artists have featured regularly on The Axe Attack radio show. There are tracks from the likes of Stardrunk, Subtract, Cripple Mr Onion, 8 Foot Sativa, Chuganaut, 6DAYWAR and Dawn of Azazel.

Savage from The Deceptikonz’ debut single & video Swing is released this month on Dawn Raid, and the Adeaze ‘Special edition’ with a Christmas bonus disc is available now.

If you are looking for summertime entertainment, ethnic groove band Ishta will be touring for the first two weeks of January, beginning at the Prana New Year's Festival in the Coromandel and finishing up at Kaikoura Roots after a few gigs around Golden Bay.

The Billy TK Jnr Band, Autozamm, The Heavy Jones Trio, No Artificial Flavors and Mo’ Reece are embarking on a summer tour of the North Island’s hot spots in the Miller Beer Summer Splash Music Xtravaganza.

With barely time to catch their breath after a nationwide tour of New Zealand, Lucid 3 are taking their show to summer resorts throughout the North Island, alongside Brooke Fraser and Dave Dobbyn (whose band consists of two other legends – Ross Burge on drums & Bones Hillman on bass). Lucid 3’s new single & video Pitch Jumping is out now.

Katchafire’s new album ‘Slow-Burning’ has hit the national charts and the band are now booked solid, playing every week until March 2005. Whirimako Black is wrapping up the recording of her new album. Recorded over the last 2 months with Russell Walder, 'Kurahuna' is a collection of very old waiata from her tribal district that have been arranged and interpreted for a modern audience; expect the release some time late February 2005.

The video for the new Misfits of Science single MmmHmm is out now, and continues their crazed journey into virtual 3D animated worlds. Live they play the Resolution Party at Whitianga on New Year’s Eve. You can also catch them at Summadayze on Jan 7 and on the new improved Hip-Hop Stage at the BDO, 21st Jan.

Rootskonductor, who released one single through Legend Music, have disbanded. Their sole recorded track Let Me Be Your Lover featuring Sandy Mill, made the A/C Hit Disc, was named track of the week by US website garageband.com and received airplay on Australia’s JJJ network. They also played support for the John Butler Trio.

Kahu Records has a sparkling fresh new website, with updated artist pages and regular competitions. Head to www.kahurecords.co.nz and have a look around.

And finally, congratulations to the IMNZ-related artists and labels who received Creative New Zealand assistance in the most recent funding round. Auckland band The Coolies will now be able to head off on a United States tour and in the process do some recording. Chris Chetland of KOG Transmissions will be able to work with and learn from international producers. Rattle Records Ltd received funding toward an album of award-winning Olympic composer John Psathas' concertos, and Te Vaka management and Opetaita Foa'i were awarded a contribution toward a new Te Vaka album.

Have a great holiday season!

TOURS:

Lucid 3/Dave Dobbyn/Brooke Fraser
December 2004
Monday 27 Taupo Great Lakes Centre, Tuesday 28 Ohope Beach Memorial Hall
Wednesday 29 Coroglen Tavern
Thursday 30 Coroglen Tavern
Friday 31 Waihi Beach Hotel (New Years Eve)
January 2005
Sunday 2 New Plymouth,Butlers Reef
Monday 3 Mt Maunganui, Brewers Stadium
Tuesday 4 Mt Maunganui, Brewers Stadium, Thursday 6 Mangawhai Tavern
Friday 7 Mangawhai Tavern
Saturday 8 Russell Duke Of Marlborough
Sunday 9 Auckland Western Springs

Gahu
December 31 First Night, Aotea Square, Auckland
January 22 – 31 2005 Tour of Central North Island
January 22 Rotorua Streetfest, January 23 – 24 Horowhenua River Festival
January 31 New Plymouth Festival of Lights
And Auckland’s London Bar every Thursday

TrinityRoots
December 31 2004 Ru Uawa Rocks, Tolaga Bay
January 15 2005 Kaikoura Roots Festival, Kaikoura
January 20 2005 Big Day Out, Auckland
February 5 2005 Soundsplash, Raglan

NEW RELEASES

8 Foot Sativa ‘Breed the Pain’ (Intergalactic), Agent Alvin ‘Agent Alvin’ (Capitalrecordings), Batrider ‘They Told Us You're Hideous’ (Global Routes), Definite & Bling Jump Up/Dam! CD Single (Capitalrecordings), Jacky Tar ‘Splatt’ (Jacky Tar/Global Routes), Katchafire ‘Slow-Burning’ (Mai Music), Kidameln ‘The Kidameln lo fi’ (Powertool), The Fanatics ‘The Fanatics’ (Capitalrecordings), Various ‘The Axe Attack Vol. 1'  (Hellman/Intergalactic)

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