We're so pleased to announce the winners of the two signed Don McGlashan albums: Simon Davies has won Take It To The Bridge, and Nicky D won Bright November Morning. Ka rawe to you both! (and FOMO for the rest of us, including me, but I probably couldn't enter anyway).

We're so pleased to announce the winners of the two signed Don McGlashan albums: Simon Davies has won Take It To The Bridge, and Nicky D won Bright November Morning. Ka rawe to you both! (and FOMO for the rest of us, including me, but I probably couldn't enter anyway).

Tucked away in Hamilton city is one of Aotearoa’s most creative music venues: Nivara Lounge. Run by Ivan Muir over 2 separate stints, the venue was known as JBC in the 1990s, then took on a 2nd life and name in the 2010s. Sadly, 2026 is the venue's final year. www.audioculture.co.nz/articles/niv...

Tucked away in Hamilton city is one of Aotearoa’s most creative music venues: Nivara Lounge. Run by Ivan Muir over 2 separate stints, the venue was known as JBC in the 1990s, then took on a 2nd life and name in the 2010s. Sadly, 2026 is the venue's final year. www.audioculture.co.nz/articles/niv...

Out first new story of 2026! Whether it be for Headless Chickens, Children's Hour or This Kind of Punishment, Chris Matthews has written some very fine songs (including Flying Nun's only No. 1 'George'). Here, he picks some of his own Aotearoa NZ faves: www.audioculture.co.nz/articles/son...

Out first new story of 2026! Whether it be for Headless Chickens, Children's Hour or This Kind of Punishment, Chris Matthews has written some very fine songs (including Flying Nun's only No. 1 'George'). Here, he picks some of his own Aotearoa NZ faves: www.audioculture.co.nz/articles/son...

Hastings' 9lives blew up before most people knew who he was.⁠ With millions of streams on Tik Tok and YouTube, he's been on Billboard’s dance chart & had 2 gold US singles. ⁠A trained drummer, 9lives started making music in Year 10 using GarageBand on an iPad. www.audioculture.co.nz/profile/9liv...

We're back on 95bFM, for our first AudioCulture feature of the year. At 6pm @garethshute.bsky.social will be joining Nick on the Tuesday Drive show to talk about his story 'Ten trailblazing Auckland dance parties and promoters, 1990-2000'. No doubt... www.audioculture.co.nz/articles/ten...

Prize alert! We've got SIGNED COPIES of Don McGlashan's albums Take It To The Bridge (live with Anita Clark) and Bright November Morning to give away, to mark theis week's opening of the Anchor Me doco. But first, we have a really tricky question... www.audioculture.co.nz/profile/don-...

Prize alert! We've got SIGNED COPIES of Don McGlashan's albums Take It To The Bridge (live with Anita Clark) and Bright November Morning to give away, to mark theis week's opening of the Anchor Me doco. But first, we have a really tricky question... www.audioculture.co.nz/profile/don-...

Kia ora to our evening crowd :) Would you like to have a go at this week's quiz, by Lewis Tennant? How did you fare?

Happy Rāhina Monday, we hope your week has started well. The AudioCulture Quiz has landed! This week's questions are by Lewis Tennant. How did you get on? www.audioculture.co.nz/articles/aud...

Happy Rāhina Monday, we hope your week has started well. The AudioCulture Quiz has landed! This week's questions are by Lewis Tennant. How did you get on? www.audioculture.co.nz/articles/aud...

Our first newsletter of the year is out. We cover stories from the last couple of weeks of 2025: Tim Ward ('Mr Cuba St'), Koizilla, 1963 (an important year in NZ music), and NZ On Screen's 'Best of the Tens'. We also announce the Don McGlashan movie ticket winners... mailchi.mp/9d6b39d32aef...

Songwriter/keyboardist Paul Hewsonof Dragon left a large musical legacy when he died on January 10 1985. ⁠He wrote (or co-wrote) the hit songs ‘April Sun In Cuba’ and ‘Are You Old Enough’ (and others). His story by Steven Shaw is a great read. www.audioculture.co.nz/profile/paul...

Sunday viewing: Documentary-maker Dan Salmon says, "old music docos are a goldmine. Music, fashion, period cars, houses, and haircuts, but even more than that, colourful shots of crowds smiling with infectious joy." Enjoy! www.audioculture.co.nz/articles/mus...

It seems like a good day for some 90's deep cuts. As the 1990s dawned, the influence of British and US fashion & music, particularly hip-hop, R&B, and house music, rang out across Aotearoa. Emerging record labels like Southside Records and Deepgrooves... www.audioculture.co.nz/articles/ten...

It seems like a good day for some 90's deep cuts. As the 1990s dawned, the influence of British and US fashion & music, particularly hip-hop, R&B, and house music, rang out across Aotearoa. Emerging record labels like Southside Records and Deepgrooves... www.audioculture.co.nz/articles/ten...

Auckland Council's excellent Music in Parks series is underway, and here's one to look out for, celebrating Pacific Music Awards Acts, in Lloyd Elsmore Park, Pakuranga on Saturday Jan 17th from 6pm... www.audioculture.co.nz/collections/...

It is sad news about the passing of Tim Shadbolt. He was a crucial part of Aotearoa's counterculture, including the “Jumping Sundays” movement in Tāmaki Makaurau's Albert Park, starting in 1969. Radio man John Sweetman said, “My most vivid memories... www.audioculture.co.nz/articles/alb...

It is sad news about the passing of Tim Shadbolt. He was a crucial part of Aotearoa's counterculture, including the “Jumping Sundays” movement in Tāmaki Makaurau's Albert Park, starting in 1969. Radio man John Sweetman said, “My most vivid memories... www.audioculture.co.nz/articles/alb...

Is it lunchtime? These tasty tracks start with a songwriter who has contributed much to the field of food: Edmund Cake. In Bressa Creeting Cake's slinky ‘A Chip That Sells Millions’, Ed asks that you call him “The Snack Man, Prince of the Sprinkles”... www.audioculture.co.nz/articles/eat...

John Doe is pictured here with Barry Jenkin.

RIP Jon Doe, who passed away from leukaemia a few days ago. Doe was a big reason that AK79 exists – he created Ripper Records with fellow broadcaster Bryan Staff, so they could make an album of tapes from the punk bands Bryan was playing on his 1ZM radio show. www.audioculture.co.nz/labels/hit-s...

We're drawing the winner of our first prize for 2026 this Friday: Win tickets to Anchor Me – The Don McGlashan Story (the film opens in cinemas across NZ on January 15th). To enter the draw, answer the question in our newsletter by midday, Friday January 9th. Good luck! mailchi.mp/54cf9d3763c3...

Remembering the Bastion Point occupation, which began on January 5th 1977, and the remarkable band Papa.

On this day in 1977, the Bastion Point occupation began. In 1976, the NZ Government announced that a 60-acre section of “public” land at Ōrākei was to be sold to the highest bidder. Named Bastion Point by cartographers, Ngāti Whātua knew it as Takaparawha... 1/2 www.audioculture.co.nz/profile/papa

And speaking of firsts for 2026...

We didn't repost the Quiz for our evening crowd yesterday - so here it is! How did you get on?

We're drawing the winner of our first prize for 2026 this Friday: Win tickets to Anchor Me – The Don McGlashan Story (the film opens in cinemas across NZ on January 15th). To enter the draw, answer the question in our newsletter by midday, Friday January 9th. Good luck! mailchi.mp/54cf9d3763c3...

And just like that, it's Rāhina Monday again! We hope you enjoy the first Quiz of 2026, with questions by me (Renee). What is your New Year score? www.audioculture.co.nz/articles/aud...

One of our most fun stories of 2025: @garethshute.bsky.social's 10 Remarkable NZ Music Month Moments. One was in 2006, at an industry showcase, which included bands naming their own cocktails. Nesian Mystik wanted to call theirs the "Sexy Polynesian"...

The lineup for the Waiheke Jazz & Blues Festival over Easter is out: headlining are Mark Williams and Deva Mahal, alongside The Narcs, Kim Willoughby, The Narcs, Hammond Gamble, Jan Preston and many more. Fun fact: Deva's Dad is Taj Mahal... www.audioculture.co.nz/profile/deva...

Hari huritau and happy birthday to Sir Dave Dobbyn for yesterday, December 3rd. This Kiwi classic by DD Smash spent 21 weeks in the charts. The much-loved video was directed by the late Andrew Shaw (Hey Hey It’s Andy/TVNZ). www.audioculture.co.nz/profile/dd-s...

Hari huritau and happy birtrhday to Sir Dave Dobbyn for yesterday, December 3rd. This Kiwi classic by DD Smash spent 21 weeks in the charts. The much-loved video was directed by the late Andrew Shaw (Hey Hey It’s Andy/TVNZ). www.audioculture.co.nz/profile/dd-s...

Last year was the 30th anniversary of Hallelujah Picassos’ 90s anthem ‘Rewind’. The song became a highlight of the Picassos' live sets, sung by drummer Bobbylon from behind his kit, and has been an SRN staple for years. Bobbylon passed away in 2018... 1/2 www.audioculture.co.nz/profile/hall...

Last year was the 30th anniversary of Hallelujah Picassos’ 90s anthem ‘Rewind’. The song became a highlight of the Picassos' live sets, sung by drummer Bobbylon from behind his kit, and has been an SRN staple for years. Bobbylon passed away in 2018... 1/2 www.audioculture.co.nz/profile/hall...

Brand new: Hastings-raised beatmaker 9lives blew up before most people had ever heard of him. People found his music on TikTok & YouTube, and he's had millions of streams – he's even been on Billboard’s dance chart and had 2 gold-certified singles in the US... www.audioculture.co.nz/profile/9lives

Road tripping: How many of these places have you visited? "Location, location, location – the image on the cover of a record can set the mood of the music, and create a sense of place. This map of the locations where New Zealand album covers were shot... 1/2 www.audioculture.co.nz/articles/alb...

Road tripping: How many of these places have you visited? "Location, location, location – the image on the cover of a record can set the mood of the music, and create a sense of place. This map of the locations where New Zealand album covers were shot... 1/2 www.audioculture.co.nz/articles/alb...

Ngā mihi o te tau hou and happy New Year! We hope you had a great night, be it quiet or loud. Here's a banger to start your 2026 - Shapeshifter 'Electric Dream'. Aptly, the video follows Shapeshifter on a roadie to play a New Year's show at Rhythm and Vines. www.audioculture.co.nz/profile/shap...

Ngā mihi o te tau hou and happy New Year! We hope you had a great night, be it quiet or loud. Here's a banger to start your 2026 - Shapeshifter 'Electric Dream'. Aptly, the video follows Shapeshifter on a roadie to play a New Year's show at Rhythm and Vines. www.audioculture.co.nz/profile/shap...

What are you up to this New Year's Eve? Let us know :) Some of us are off to Ladi6's House Party in Karangahape Rd. Whatever you do, be safe and have fun! Here's a banger - and, aptly, the video sees Shapeshifter on a roadie to play a New Year's show at R'n'V. www.audioculture.co.nz/profile/shap...

Happy New Year's Eve! As Russell Brown @publicaddress.bsky.social says, "The outdoor dance party/festival is a fixture of the NZ summer. The Gathering, Splore & more are the stuff of legend. But we've almost forgotten the first of them all: Entrain." 1/2 www.audioculture.co.nz/articles/ent...

Happy New Year's Eve! As Russell Brown @publicaddress.bsky.social says, "The outdoor dance party/festival is a fixture of the NZ summer. The Gathering, Splore & more are the stuff of legend. But we've almost forgotten the first of them all: Entrain." 1/2 www.audioculture.co.nz/articles/ent...

Who's been to Rhythm and Vines? The first one happened when Otago Uni students Hamish Pinkham, Tom Gibson & Andrew Witters wanted to hold an event for their friends in a safe location. ⁠They approached Andrew’s Dad, Dean Witters, who owned Waiohika Estate... www.audioculture.co.nz/articles/rhy...

Graham Reid says of Voom's first album in almost two decades: “Something Good is Happening is a delight-filled, refreshing tonic…destined to be on many 2025 best of the year lists.” One of the wonders of NZ indie pop, with a history that goes back to 1987: www.audioculture.co.nz/profile/voom

Graham Reid says of Voom's first album in almost two decades: “Something Good is Happening is a delight-filled, refreshing tonic…destined to be on many 2025 best of the year lists.” One of the wonders of NZ indie pop, with a history that goes back to 1987: www.audioculture.co.nz/profile/voom

Kia ora evening friends - have you lost track of the days? Apparently it's Monday! And here is the AudioCulture Quiz to prove it. This week we have a geographical quiz, by Nick Sampson. How many stops on the road trip did you get right? www.audioculture.co.nz/articles/aud...

Kia ora eveing friends! Have you lost track of the days? Apparently it's Monday! And here is the AudioCulture Quiz to prove it. This week we have a geographical quiz, by Nick Sampson. How many stops on the road trip did you get right? www.audioculture.co.nz/articles/aud...