Evergreen Copyrights

An Emerald City

Since their inception in late 2005, Auckland band An Emerald City have strived for musical experimentation and liberation. Organic instrumentation and sounds of the east meet psychedelia with guitars and violin are at the centre of this original and unique 6 piece.

"Swooning, grand and widescreen instrumentals... astral, epic, allusive, soundtracks for imaginary movies..." - elsewhere.co.nz

Andrew Paul Woodworth

Andrew Paul Woodworth's voice might perhaps be described as the love child of Michael Jackson, Eddie Vedder and Jeff Buckley: emotional and entranced by melody, but never soft or powerless. Eddy Ate Dynamite reveals Woodworth as a mad addicted to harmony through and through. It presents a kaleidoscope of different styles of playing with pop and songwriting. From light-on-its-feet and radio-worthy to introverted and melancholy and on to playfully complex harmony lines enhanced by suggestive hard arrangements, Woodworth pulls out all the stops time and again in order to find new approaches for his songs. Remarkably, a certain lightness weaves its way through all the tracks that enables listeners to lean back and enjoy.

Animal Collective

Animal Collective is a New York City based group of experimental musicians from Baltimore, MD. Animal Collective consists of Avey Tare (David Portner), Panda Bear (Noah Lennox), Deacon (Josh Dibb), and Geologist (Brian Weitz). Records released under the name Animal Collective may include contributions from any or all of these members, but the lineup is not uniform. The band members met in school and started recording together in various forms of collaboration from a young age. Although the band is often classified a pyschefolk or noise rock, it is hard to define the critically acclaimed Animal Collective sound as they often experiment with diverse styles and ideas.

Belle Humble

Belle Humble is a topline and lyric writer born in London but raised in a commune in Vancouver. Belle has always been surrounded by musical activity. After singing her own material for the last few years, she has now laid her roots in London to concentrate on songwriting for other artists. She currently has a cut on the new Paloma Faith album with a track called Upside Down and is working with some great co-writers. She is currently unpublished but judging by the buzz amongst the publishers, she won't be for long.

Ben Frost

On Theory Of Machines Frost presents a challenging and invasive sonic experience of digitally manipulated litany via minimal, guitar-oriented compositions that massage the lower-body and sometimes hurt above the waist ...A painfully beautiful experience.

"A deeper, darker minimalism- menacing and claustrophobic... This is Arvo Pärt as arranged by Trent Reznor... Magnificent" - THE WIRE Magazine

" Arresting and exquisite... A truly elemental creative force." - Maryanne Hobbs, BBC Radio One

Betty Steeles

Quirky, infectious and fun - Betty Steeles has a voice to make her stand out from the rest.

Instantly unique, her acoustic led sound is made up of sweet melodies, dark undertones and an accessible individuality that Betty has positively created as her own.

Caroline Lost

Caroline Lost has completed works on her album One More Nail, out now on A&G Records, and you can find it on iTunes and all good digital download stores worldwide. Working with film composer Christian Henson, Caroline has woven a mellifluous blend of sharp, lovelorn lyrics and scintillating vocals, all set to a bracingly original backing of organs and banjos, trumpets and cellos, xylophones and drums to create what will certainly be one of the most daring, innovative and utterly infectious albums of 2010.

Cavalier

Cavalier is a British rock band comprising Tom Harries (Vocals/Acoustic Guitar), his brother James (Keys), Guy Prall (Lead), Rick Brearley (Bass) and Mark Stormont (Drums). This musical talent combines to incredible effect and, whilst creatively drawing inspiration from the likes of Coldplay and Dave Matthews band, John Mayer and Ryan Adams, Cavalier continue to produce a unique and powerful sound that will appeal on a global level. From the outset, Cavalier set out to write passionate, inspirational and evocative songs, that will connect with as many people as possible around the world. Their sound has been described as "transatlantic", which only serves to add to their global appeal.

Célia Mara

Célia Mara’s diverse geographical background is reflected in her globe-trotting sound. Born and raised in the small bordertown of Pedra, Brazil, she spent her youth absorbing samba and bossa rhythms before relocating to Europe in the early 90s, where she became heavily involved in the jazz scene. Her music effortlessly combines these two influences while incorporating elements of rock, ska, and funk to create a sound that is truly unique and representative of her vision of the planet, by always carrying a message of unity, peace and social justice. The fiery Manifesto Bastardista and the quirky, funky Brigada Rosa are but two examples of her diverse sound, which is equally at home in underground dance clubs, grand opera-houses, or large outdoor festivals.

Charlotte Hatherley

Charlotte Hatherley is a British indie-pop solo artist from West London and is also known as the former guitarist in the rock band Ash. Charlotte left the band in January 2006 to pursue her solo career further. Her first solo material came in the form of the Behave EP which featured tracks from her second album and was released in December 2006. Her second album, The Deep Blue, was released in March 2007 on her own label Little Sister Records, which was founded by Charlotte together with her manager Ann-Marie Shields. Between this and the release of her 2009 third solo effort, New Worlds, Charlotte has played with Bat for Lashes as a touring guitarist, as well as gigging her own material.

Chaundon (Hall of Justus)

Growing up in South Bronx and constantly being surrounded by Hip Hop, Chaundon began writing rhymes at 13. As a member of the collaborative team Justus League, it wasn’t in this group where he first started performing. As a student at Stevenson High School, he earned his stardom rapping in front of students all over school. Realizing that music was his calling, Chaundon gained a reputation for his lyrical prowess; a reputation that followed him wherever he’s gone since. After graduation and while attending North Carolina Central University, he entered the hip-hop scene, performing at local venues. He has released many mixtapes, including collaborations with 9th Wonder, DJ Drama, and Khrysis. Chaundon’s versatility and expressive voice makes him a favorite among the Hip Hop community.

Chicago Afrobeat Project

Afrobeat cannot stand still. As the genre enjoys a resurgence across the globe, Chicago Afrobeat Project remains true to its original vision of breathing the intensity of Chicago’s rich music scene into the infectious sounds of afrobeat. Afrobeat’s traditional influences — funk, rock,  jazz, afro-cuban, high life and juju music – settle into a hypnotic, dance-compelling pulse at the core of Chicago Afrobeat Project. However, the group demonstrates a fiery originality by incorporating elements of high-energy rock and experimental jazz into their sound. The group’s fresh energized take on the genre, along with its frenzied and exciting live show have established CAbP as one of the premiere afrobeat groups in the United States. 

Clutch

Since 1991 Clutch have been challenging rock n' roll's limits, and they show no signs of abandoning the unique experimentation that has defined them. This Germantown, MD based band combines elements of funk, metal, and rock that helped to define the "stoner-rock" sound of the mid-90s which they have since taken in unexpected directions. 2009 saw the release of their ninth studio album, the innovative Strange Cousins From The West, which debuted in Billboards Top 40 albums. For Clutch, evolution is a way of life.

Cougar

Cougar creates passionate, powerful, unabashedly epic instrumental music. Formed in 2003 in Madison, Wisconsin, Cougar describes their sound as “Emergency Rock.”  Each song is a collage of voices constantly interacting and evolving one another; shape shifting melodies, vast sonic canvases, dense, raw, electronic, organic, found-percussion and driven sounds resonate throughout each track, in a style that is rooted in philosophical ponderings of nature versus architecture. Their debut LP, Law was released in 2007 on the Layered Music label. You can also catch members of Cougar in the internationally-acclaimed YoungBlood Brass Band.

Donots

This five-piece has come a long way full of excitement, sweat and volume with an impressive release back catalogue and a history of some 1000 shows. Yet the 14th year of their existence has proved to be the most challenging and thrilling time of their career. Formed in late 1993 with a slightly different line-up and boredom as a driving force The Donots have quickly progressed from covering punkrock classics by The Clash or The Sex Pistols to writing their own material and releasing two DIY albums entitled Pedigree Punk and Tonight's Karaoke-Contest Winners in the Mid '90s.

" ..in fact they are all infectious powerhouse songs that will blow your mind. If songs like Headphones, Stop The Clocks and This Is Not A Drill Don't blow you away I don't know what will?" - Street Voice

Eaststrikewest

Formed in Essex in late 2007 from former members of the critically acclaimed Threemovements, Eaststrikewest almost instantaneously courted major label interest. Showcasing Eaststrikewest at the peak of their powers, W O L V V E S, is an engaging musical journey from a band displaying a song writing maturity beyond their years. Epic and cinematic in feel, W O L V V E S rewards the listener with its expansive soundscapes and ethereal melodies. With single in waiting Stumble, emblazoned with its soaring vocal lines and driving rhythms a firm favourite amongst the bands’ burgeoning fanbase, it is on tracks like The Architect where the band show their skill for genuinely inspiring musicianship, crafting instantly memorable songs.

Emil Bulls

With more than 200 performances in 2008, among them the prestigious Rock am Ring festival, a tour alongside the System Of A Down project, Scars On Broadway, a top 60 chart position for The Black Path and any number of delighted fans, Emil Bulls have found themselves surfing on a wave of success through their native country and beyond.

"The glow around Emil Bulls is aggressive and almost gives you a feel of a new age Bowie" - RockEyes.com

Gentleman Starkey

Gentleman Starkey recently worked with director Barry Pilling in producing the Medicate video available to view on their associated websites and on their CD should you be lucky enough to have one of the only 500 in existence. Gentleman Starkey's EP Dead of the Modern will be available on general digital release in 2009.

“With organs set to "spooky" and a frontman who sounds like he gargles Johnnie Walker, Gentleman Starkey fire out unhinged garage rock with sweaty aplomb” – Q Magazine Jan '09

“Dead of the Modern is garage-pop at its best” – Latest 7 music review Feb '09

Gloria Cycles

Far from being another run-of-the-mill indie guitar band, Gloria Cycles songs are as diverse as their characters and musical references. "I'm influenced by everything from elevator music to rave," says Kenny, who pens all the lyrics. "Via Dexy's Midnight Runners, The Cure, Supergrass, Randy Crawford, and My Bloody Valentine." The resulting tracks on Gloria Cycles' debut album stick two fingers up at classification, straddling everything from indie-rock to Northern Soul and 60s dancehall.

Grand Fiction

Grand Fiction is the sound of the dead-dry silence of the desert mixed with the roar of the sea. It is the whiz from the never ending highway, and it's the moment between night and day where anything can happen. Grand Fiction captures body and soul through melodiuos pop songs supported by crisp funky beats, and sprinkled with elements of country, rock'n'roll, soul and blues. One groovy mixture that creates that special Grand Fiction sound.

Grand National

Made up of Rupert Lyddon and Lawrence 'La' Rudd, the Grand National sound is that of a fully-fledged band, a singer / song-writer / multi-instrumentalist combination that belies the fact that they are a duo. Influenced by the likes of new wave '80s bands such as New Order and Joy Division, Grand National display a 21st century styling that places them squarely in London's eclectic and varied music scene, with a sound that is as cutting edge as it is retro. Stand out tracks on the band's sophomore album include first single Animal Sounds, a pulsating pop song driven by a potent guitar riff layered with La's ghostly falsetto.

GWAR

GWAR is part of an ancient order of warriors known as the Scumdogs Of The Universe who were banished from space and sent to planet Earth. Once on Earth, the Scumdogs fornicated with apes and thus the human race was born. The Scumbogs were incarcerated in ice, deep in the wastelands of Antarctica. Here they lay dormant for millions of years, controlling the will of the humans they’d spawned through mental telepathy. With little effort they brought about war, disease and injustice. Earth was on a path to self-destruction before GWAR had ever played a note…

HerelDeduke

On first play, you would be forgiven for mistaking HerelDeduke’s debut album Country Bumpin for a new collaboration between Ian Brown, Timbaland and the Beta Band. Written and produced by up and coming producer Oliver Brown and featuring lyrics by the man himself, Lusak and Arthur Brown of God of Hellfire fame, it twists and turns faster than an electric eel plugged into a scalectrix. The first single from the album, Shudda, was ‘Record Of The Week’ on The Radcliffe&Maconie Show on BBC Radio 2.

“One of the best albums by a new artist we’ve heard in years” – Source Magazine

“Loving the album. Watch this man, he is going a long way. He moves through the styles effortlessly, top work!” – Long Range

Jane Said

In late 2008 Paula Jane Winger, under the name Jane Said, began writing and recording her debut album In Spite of Herself. The album has been met with a lot of adoration due to the eclectic blend of lilting pop melodies, playful rhythms, witty wordplay and sweet but street smart vocals. In the process of writing her album Winger was met with many offers for production but finally made the decision to produce herself with the intention of getting a sound that was truly her own to unfold in the process. Tom Biller recording/mix engineer for artists such as Fiona Apple, Kanye West, Sean Lennon and Silversun Pickups put the finishing touches on the album in L.A.

Jersey Budd

Inspired by his fathers love of Dylan, Springsteen, Lou Reed, Cat Stevens, Paul Weller, and also later captivated by Oasis, Jersey picked up a guitar as a teenager and taught himself to play. The result is a collection of classically crafted songs, shaped by his peers, yet effortlessly his own; his unique voice, soul, and talent for a melody having led to Jersey being tipped as one to watch after only a handful of gigs, albeit supporting Kasabian, The Enemy, The Rifles and Hard Fi.

"Everyman appeal and melodies prove that Budd has a weather eye cocked to stadium rock posterity" - The Observer Music

Jimmy Bosch

An expressive playing style, marked by flaring melodies and soulful rhythms, has made Jimmy Bosch one of the leading trombone players in contemporary Latin music. Known throughout the Latin communities as "El Trombon Criollo," the New Jersey-born Bosch has strengthened the music of many top-notch Latin groups.

Joe Scudda (Hall of Justus)

Joseph Samuel Griffin’s unruly nature as a teen led to his leaving home and turned to fortune when he met Justus League producer 9th Wonder through his local DJ work. Soon, Joe was recording songs with many Justus League emcees and producers. From there, Joe began working with HOJ alum and eventually was featured on almost every subsequent HOJ album. Joe’s cameo on Little Brother’s single Lovin It boosted him to fame, and since then, Joe has also performed with non-HOJ members including the Dilated Peoples, Pete Rock, and The Alchemist as well as appearing on the hit FX TV series The Shield.

Ken Rose

Ken Rose is an artist, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist. Ken works comfortably with both indie and major entertainment companies and his music is characterized by a unique blend of creativity and commerciality. Regardless of musical genre Ken's music is original and accessible.

Khrysis (Hall of Justus)

Khrysis (b. Christopher Frederick Tyson) is a main in-house producer for North Carolina rap crew the Justus League. While working at the North Carolina Central University radio station WNCU, Khrysis met League rapper Chaundon, who introduced him to 9th Wonder -- through whom he was able to join the League. Attempting to break out of his mentor’s shadow, Khrysis began producing for non-League artists including Sean Price, Masta Ace, and Jean Grae. Khrysis established his signature combination of drums and intricate melodies with heavy usage of uncut soul samples and spacey key riffs.

Lindsay Katt

Lindsay Katt's ethereal voice and introspective nature have found a place in the music business. She is a new name in the landscape that welcomes forward thinking female singer-songwriters, from Fiona Apple to the wonderful Joni Mitchell.

"As I listen to this beautiful, creative CD, a soothing wave of happiness washes over me. All of Lindsays' melodies and lyrics fit together like a hand in a glove." - West Coast Rockers Review

Lindsay Rae Spurlock

Lindsay Rae Spurlock is an artist with a lot of determination and a believer in the power of positive focus. After beginning her career in a college prog-rock band, Spurlock began recording on her own solo project, which led to her popularity in Louisiana and beyond increase dramatically. Soon after, her independent, home-made recordings were licensed for both television ads and prime time shows like NBC's Watch Over Me. Spring-boarding off of her quirky piano pop's growing popularity, Lindsay Rae Spurlock recorded Heart On, with Ben Allen (Gnarls Barkley, Animal Collective) and began touring constantly. Lindsay Rae Spurlock is a natural performer and hard worker with an uncommon amount of natural talent.

Luna Halo

Nashville-based Luna Halo have created great buzz with the release of two albums and two EPs. The band are known for their exciting live shows and have toured heavily with such artists as Velvet Revolver, Hoobastank, Collective Soul, Ours, Need to Breathe and Family Force 5. In October 2007, Luna Halo's self-titled album was released to great critical acclaim. The album features contributions by former Jellyfish keyboardist Roger Manning Jr., Self's Matt Mahaffey and two songs co-written by former DC Talk singer Kevin Max.

Magnaaflux

Magnaaflux is hard rock funk trio that combines a melting pot of influences to deliver a unique refreshing sound. Their new album Half A Mil Is The New Five Grand has been blowing away listeners with its raw energy! Magnaaflux are set to keep rocking and bringing it hard for years to come.

My Federation

If The Who drove at high speed, crashed into a giant synthesiser and the whole thing turned into a supermonster that had sex with The Flaming Lips and The Beach Boys, then, as well as creating a mess, you’d come close to describing the awesomeness of My Federation.
They are psychedelic electro rock with balls and bells.

My Federation "start a candy-metal riot of chunky riffs, fruity synths, spunky drumming and communal choruses" - Mojo

My Luminaries

My Luminaries are a British alternative rock band formed at Kingston University in London in 2004. In 2006 and 2007 they released two singles; Jumping the Great White and The Outsider Steps Inside on Grönland Records, alongside corresponding tours. Their debut studio album, Order From The Chaos, was recorded in 2009, and features contributions from members of the band The Blues and Royals. Set out towards new, unknown frontiers bound as a unit, we know My Luminaries will be out there, just like a band with a story to tell. And like dynamite, My Luminaries have mined deep for a sound and become explosive. Now the dust has settled, what we once couldn't see is just down a new road.

Nation Beat

Melding Brazilian maracatu drumming, New Orleans second-line funk, and even elements of rock and bluegrass, Nation Beat have earned their reputation as the most original and alluring fusion group today. Led by the invigorating rhythms of Skott Kettner, the inspiration for Nation Beat has its roots in the slums of Brazil, where Kettner studied drumming and first noticed the similarities between Brazilian and American music.  Since 2003, Nation Beat has been bringing their audacious and infectious energy to people all over the world, appealing to fans of many genres, and especially to those who like to dance.  Highlights include the raucous bluegrass-funk of Nago Nago, the tribal thump of  O Povo, and the high-energy country strut of A Cowboy In Brazil.

Noble Society

Broadcasting, from Brooklyn, New York, Noble Society creates a musical hybrid of dancehall and hip hop, with a whole lot of reggae thrown in. Sound-ink.com declares them "so good it hurts. It's the New York answer to grime – U.K. style beats with U.S. MCs." Filling the mysterious void of credible reggae artists in the U.S., Noble Society have earned their crown as the new kings of Urban Reggae. Their breakout album, Take Charge, was named Best Reggae album of 2008 on iTunes and the group was featured on the Huffington Post as one of the Top Ten global acts to watch in 2009.

Ostrich Head

A five-piece Hip-Hop collective of music-makes from Los Angeles, CA. Emcees are Calmentz, NoWonder, and Loreaxe. On the turntables are Mes E.Recspin and Waxbukler. The group is strongly influenced by Hip-Hop legends The Pharcyde, De la Soul and A Tribe Called Quest. 'Ohead' frequents the L.A. Club scene, having performed at many of the premier venues. The group is building an increasingly large underground following in Los Angeles and the Bay Area.

Sean Boog (Hall of Justus)

Since joining North Carolina's Justus League in 2001, rapper Sean Boog has successfully expanded his repertoire to include other critically-acclaimed acts. Following several guest appearances (notably The Foreign Exchange's 2004 album Connected.), Boog formed the Away Team with producer Khrysis. The duo debuted in 2005 with National Anthem, which featured Boot Camp Click and Little Brother and received international press coverage in The Source, XXL, and King Magazine. Since National Anthem, Boog has performed internationally with Little Brother, Boot Camp Click, Tha Liks, and Dilated Peoples. After extensive touring, the Away Team released their sophomore effort Training Day while recording their third album. 

Skeewiff

Londoners Elliot Ireland and Alex Rizzo are better known as Skeewiff, the “lounge-hop” act that mixes breakbeat and lounge music to create a modern-yet-retro style that is urbane, classy, and ideal for martini drinking.  Their sound has been compared to the likes of Mark Ronson and Amy Winehouse, in that they share their roots in Northern Soul and classic R&B, while giving a freshness to the music that is distinctively modern.

Skitchy

Skitchy aka James Martin is a writer-producer of electronic/pop/rock music ranging from Hip-Hop right through the tempo spectrum to Drum&Bass. Working alone from a small studio in Cornwall in the UK, Skitchy has managed to successfully infiltrate the music industry as well as setting up his own video game brand called 'DyVision Works'. In 2005 he decided to make an animated CGI music video - as you do - to accompany one of the songs from his 19 track album which reached the top 10 chart on Video-C alongside such well established artists as Madonna and Massive Attack, reflecting its cult following on the net.
Skitchy has just finished his second album titled How Can This Little Brother Recoup.

Sohodolls

An "utterly magnificent slab of haughty electro-sleaze which makes Peaches sound as predatory and erotically charged as KT Tunstall," is NME’s extremely fitting description of the Sohodolls. Their debut album is full of the majesty of rock, the mystery of roll, all underpinned by a ferocious electro-glam beat, glamorous pouting, in-yer-face attitude and lashings of sex. The band’s eclectic influences have conspired to make it a multi-textured debut: "We love rock 'n' roll, electro, glam, '77-british punk, jazz and hip hop," says lead singer Maya.

Sportsday Megaphone

Sportsday Megaphone (aka Hugh Frost) began life as an art project. At University in Brighton Hugh created a series of album artworks for imaginary bands, 'Sportsday' would prove to be the moniker that stuck.  Married to Hugh's blend of scrappy bedroom studio pop, Sonic Youth guitars and a liking for a deep electro house groove, his debut album So Many Colours / So Little Time makes for one of the most engaging debuts of 2008.

"Gloriously melds Casio-spun bleeps with Sonic Youth. Slipshod Karaoke at its bloodthirsty best." – Dazed & Confused

"A bedsit Morrissey who discovered Garageband en route to the local poetry meet." – NME

"Indie laptop-pop at its very best. We're hearing this one-man-band loud and clear" - Mixmag

Stickboy

Stickboy has been writing and recording music for a good few years influenced by artists ranging from Dylan to Sparklehorse and always adding his own British pop twist. You may recognize the sound of Stickboy. His tracks have already been featured on a national TV advertising campaign for New Zealand Lamb (Recipe For Love), BBC3 sitcom Massive (Pirouette), US smash teen drama Gossip Girl (Today) and numerous radio stations from XFM to BBC radio 2.

Story One

For the last 6 years Story One has been performing over 500 gigs and recording 2 albums (with producers Chris Sheldon and Chris Potter - Foo Fighters and Verve respectively). Their first album, Disposable, was the first whole album to be released as a free download on the internet and 20,000 people were quick to jump on this opportunity. When their record label went bust in 2007, their second album, The Shadow-Line, had only just been released. With gigs in LA, Vegas, Paris, Rome and London, however, and Colin Murray and Dermot O'Leary radio plays, they are making their own fresh start. With expansive U.S. radio play and their songs used on a recent David Beckham documentary, their profile continues to surge.

Suzi Ragsdale

Suzi is the daughter of pop and country hit-maker Ray Stevens. When she was in kindergarten, Ray brought her into the recording studio to be part of the kiddie chorus on his Grammy Award winning 1970 smash Everything Is Beautiful. Her destiny was clear. “I always knew that I would be a singer and writer… I started writing poetry when I was about six, then songs a little later, and recording children’s music albums for the classroom when I was 10," says Suzi. During the past 14 years, this gifted songwriter, vocalist and pianist has released just one collection of her strikingly original songs. But this year, Suzi has created two new albums with producer Tim Lauer. The first, titled Best Regards, is a marvelously eclectic set of her recent tunes. On the second collection, Less of the Same, Suzi and Tim hand-picked a mix of her songs written over the course of her career. The textures range from jazzy pop to acoustic-folk waltz with some bluesiness thrown in.

The Chris Greys

The Chris Greys is a band full of energy and attitude. Rock n roll is the phrase written on the flesh of the bands frontline figure; Chris Grey. He loves it for this is the one place in the world where he feels right at home together with the family.

The Girls

Unconfined by genre boundaries and with lyrics spanning love, loss, voodoo and zebra clothing, The Girls have assembled themselves an extensive fan base of free-thinking music lovers: wide-eyed punks, a confused Dire Straits fan, members of the local rock scene, suited and booted art-rockers pogoing and chanting along - all can be found at the never average Girls gig.
Akimbo is the first official album - the first proper glimpse into their heads, revealing a string of beautiful, uplifting, and dark moments set up by songs which refuse to be predictable and never slacken for a second.
The melodies and lyrics can jar, sometimes the harmonies are not harmonic, and this freshness is sugared by the pill of pop structure. Wrong has never sounded so right.

The Hot Grits

What do you get if you mix a pound of Fela Kuti's Afrika 70, two cupfuls of The Meters, 250g of thinly sliced early James Brown and a level dessert spoon of psychedelic rock? - you get the heaving, convulsing powerhouse of soul music that is The Hot Grits. For over five years, this 11 piece band has been electrifying club dancefloors and festival stages around New Zealand with an eclectic, take no prisoners approach to soul and afrobeat music. In May 2008 they released their debut album to much acclaim and since then the Grits have undertaken several national tours and given many festivals appearances, firmly cementing their position as one of New Zealand’s favorite live bands.

The Lionheart Brothers

Prior to the release The Brothers promised that their arsenal of sounds, melodies and harmonies would be even bigger, more improved and earcandy for every pop loving ambitious minded music lover! And indeed, we can not say the promise was not redeemed! In the end it is all about creating magical music.

"Steep-gradient dreampop and lo-fi loveliness. The bridge between Camden and California." - The Guardian

"Trondheim pop masterclass" - Uncut

Thee Vicars

Thee Vicars are four individuals from the United Kingdom who have a taste for loud, raw and wild sounds. Playing their own unique brand of fine garage and RnB music, Thee Vicars are here to preach about genuine real music - which seems to have gone missing in these dark days of the music industry.

"Thee Vicars are thee most authentic garage punk band this side of The Mummies, who they recently supported on a one off reunion show." - Vice Magazine

"Psychotic garage squall from bury st edmunds quartet who scream and shout over a backdrop that melds the mighty caesars trash to sonics/standells punk." - Mojo Magazine

"So garage you can park your car in them" - Kruger Magazine

Valgeir Sigurðsson

Born and raised in Iceland, Valgeir Sigurðsson is a studio −collaborator in the broadest sense and an artist in his own right. Valgeir has been honing his craft in the recording studio since finding a home in a small basement studio in Reykjavik as a teenager. In 1998 Björk invited Valgeir to perform programming and engineering duties on her Dancer In the Dark soundtrack and Selmasongs album, this was the start of a working relationship that continued until 2006 and resulted in four albums including two film scores and numerous other projects. Ekvílibríum is Valgeir Sigurðsson's debut album, but here he has revealed that as well as being a gifted producer, engineer and musician, he is equally skilful as a crafter of songs and instigator of a cascade of emotions.

Wendy McNeill

Originally from the Canadian prairies, Wendy's songs retain her love of wide open space and the longing that such big skies can generate. A fan of 'underdogs', 'strange cats' and brave hearts, these are often the centerpieces of her songs that she shapes with looped vocals, accordion, and guitar. A compelling blend of the bold and the vulnerable with hints of cabaret and spoken word, Wendy makes music for dark hearted dreamers. On A Dreamer’s Guide to Hardcore Living, McNeill lives up to her 'Folk Noir' roots. The new songs stretch a tightrope between the intimate and the otherworldly with splashes of magical realism and a host of new characters.