We know one thing about you if you’re reading this. You’re a music feen, just like us.
Welcome, friend.
I throw out a challenge to you this summer: try to attend a gig that’s not your go-to genre. If you’re a drum and bass animal, cruise on down to Capaldi. If you’re a pop-diva, dip your toes into the upcoming Our-House festival. Life is for living, and if you don’t try you don’t know.
Go on, I dare you.
Shawn Mendes – Saturday, 9 November
https://www.instagram.com/p/B398mipACV2/
No 21 year old out there is doing pop-escapism quite like Shawn Mendes. At 21, Shawn’s vocal range is remarkable and there is a … palatable tastiness to his music that endures. Hard to believe he started with simple 6 second vine covers of Sheeran and Bieber.
The platinum singer-songwriter is coming to Spark Arena Saturday 9 November for his one New Zealand show on his world tour for his third album ‘Shawn Mendes’. Australian’s 16 year old Ruel has been announced as the opening act.
Tickets Here (SOLD OUT. RESALE AVAILABLE)
Duke Dumont – Friday, 15 November
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bt30a9qArky/
He’s been here for Our House and again for his own show in 2017 at the Studio. Now, the house-producer comes back with his inescapably vibey tunes to give us another great crowd-pleasing cardio workout.
See the master of the decks November 15at Shed 10 on Auckland’s Queens Wharf as a part of the Our: House Festival 2019 where he joins Marten Horger, Goflands, Odd Mob, Jacknife, Otosan and Dan Aux. See you up front for ‘Red Light Green Light’.
Tickets Here (LIMITED)
Juice WRLD at Festival X – Thursday, 28 November
The outer fields of Western Springs Stadium of November will 100% be absolutely pumping on the 28thof November. Let ‘Lucid Dreams’ bless your ears and take you right on into the start of your summer.
Chicago emo-rapper Juice WRLD has been creating his name since 2015, knocking big artists off the top chats and no longer in need of any formal introduction. He’ll be on our shores this November for FESTIVAL X RISING along with Lil Pump and headline act Calvin Harris.
It’s going to get silly.
Carly Rae Jepsen – Wednesday, 4 December
https://www.instagram.com/p/B3emeLSFNF-/
Performing for the very first time in New Zealand, pop-idol Carly Rae Jepsen is coming to Auckland Town Hall this December. Since her huge radio hit ‘Call Me Maybe’, Jepsen’s been nothing short of busy.
She’s opened for Katy Perry, The 1975, performed in Broadways, featured in a whole load of tracks and wrote her own for a few select films, dabbled in voice animation, and has now begun her ‘Dedicated Tour’ for her fourth album ‘Dedicated’ released May 17 of this year with 15 wicked hits.
Make sure you’re prepped for the boogie.
Bay Dreams – Thursday, 2 January (The Mount) & Saturday 4 January (Nelson)
Now comes the time we all frantically discuss our New Year’s plans and accommodation.
Bay Dreams is truly one of the NY festivals to consider (assuming they improve their wait-line time efficiency). Every year I’ve gone to this festival it’s blown all expectations out of the park. They always seem to rake up the best artists and provide the perfect vibe. This year, we’ve got some different genres presented in the mix. Look out for the beautiful Halsey, and talented R&B artists Ella Mai and Blackbear.
Tickets Here (LIMITED)
Ella Mai sideshow in Auckland – Sunday, 5 January
https://www.instagram.com/p/BzlI6uigl1v/
Musically intriguing, her tracks are super simple alliterations that drift into the head at the strangest of times. “I think that I’m done trippin’, I’m trip-trippin’/I’ve been sippin’, that’s how I control/This feelin.” never fails to make the solo shower-set line up.
Join me in being incredibly keen to bring the groove to Ella Mai’s ‘Shot Clock’ ‘Boo’d Up’ and ‘Trip’ live at Auckland’s Logan Campbell Centre this coming January.
Lewis Capaldi – Tuesday, 7 January
https://www.instagram.com/p/B3P3AWhBXlG/
Capaldi will be showcasing his long-awaited debut album ‘Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent’ with 1 billion streams worldwide at Auckland’s Town Hall, January 7.
I mean what an album title. It’s almost as if becoming a globally renowned singer was a total accident… Capaldi was just doing him as he has always done, and to some great unintended surprise, he becomes top of the charts at 22.
So, what to expect? If you’ve had a failing romantic history (speaking for a friend), ‘Someone You Loved’, amongst others, will be a straight tearjerker. If you’re a sucker for a self-deprecating cynic, go to this concert. It will be greater, darker, and more empowering than you could ever imagine.
Tickets Here (SOLD OUT. RESALE AVAILABLE)
Bastille – Thursday, 23 January
British Indie pop group, Bastille, have given Cities in which they don’t usually visit the opportunity to experience their Doom Days album live; one of them, Auckland.
You’ll know them from their hit ‘Pompeii’. Since then, these guys have had tunes in The Vampire Diaries, Rookie Blue, Finding Carter, and the music on their new album is beautiful too. It’s a unique-sounding record that thrives on evoking feeling. It is nostalgic, melancholic, and a sobering reminder of the world’s reality.
They have been here briefly before, once in 2014 for Rhythm & Vines and Rhythm & Alps, and now return to us this coming January at Spark Arena.
I’d most definitely invest.
Laneway Festival
https://www.instagram.com/p/B2h1DnipRl5/
The recurring post New Year’s commitment we all love.
It’s a long, long, long sunny day in the heart of the City. We all attempt to keep mildly hydrated whilst not wanting to lose our spot at our current stage of choice – which is the big key to this festival – choice. The timetable will come out slightly before, which leaves us with some huge decisions to be made.
This year, amidst the line-up, we’ll be waiting to hear the order of our UMusic talent: smooth rapper JID, Our very own Queen BENEE, UK’s new on the scene rapper COL3TRANE and our up and coming NZ twins, eleven7four.
What’s your game plan?
