Matthew Bannister (The Changing Same, One Man Bannister, and many other things) has a new solo album out. There's a central concept, but it's not a concept album. So...what is it? Read our review to find out, and get yourself to the release party at Nivara Lounge on Saturday. 

​Formed in Christchurch 30-odd years ago, Springloader are releasing their debut album on Friday... and sitting here in 2024, "this all smells pretty damn nice, thank you very much".

We've reviewed the album -> HERE <-

He's led rock gods Shihad for most of his life. He's detoured into African-infused hip hop and assembled a kiwi supergroup for fun. Now, for the first time, he's got a solo album to tour. Jon Toogood took some time between stops to discuss the hard road to Last of the Lonely Gods.

Kathryn doesn't usually notice the Mercury Music Prize. She heard a brief clip of the 2024 winner, English Teacher, on a UK news podcast, though, and something made her look for more. She found the album, This Could Be Texas, on Spotify and dug in at random, expecting to be disappointed, the next big thing in the emperor's new clothes. Still, start with track three, she thought, because that's usually a strong one, right?

Kathryn Thompson reviews This Could Be Texas by English Teacher.
Read the review -> HERE <-  

"Jonathan Oglivie’s Head South evokes 1970s Christchurch in a low-budget, low-lit, snappy and video-driven homage to punk rock’s untimely Antipodean afterbirth". 

Click the link -> HERE <- for Matthew Bannister's review of the movie "Head South".

The musical ‘Hamilton’ – full title, “Hamilton: An American Musical” – covers the life of one of America’s founding fathers, Alexander Hamilton, and his involvement in the American Revolution. While this musical has become world famous over the last few years, there exists another story set to music about a totally different Hamilton, half a world away. Our Hamilton. Kirikiriroa. 

Released in 2019, but currently available to view free to air - and full of both music and Hamilton -we review the film 'Daffodils' -> HERE <-

‘When the Cows Come Home’ was released into cinemas a couple of years ago, but I hadn’t managed to catch it until this week, with it recently having become available on TVNZ+. Why are we covering a film at HUP that on the surface appears to be about cattle? Well, the connection is that the primary focus of the movie, herdsman Andrew Johnstone, was previously the vocalist in late-'80s Hamilton bands ‘Three Men Missing’ and ‘Hoola Troupe’, he released a solo album in the '90s, and is still a collaborator of Zed Brookes today. 

​Read our review -> HERE <-

The eighth instalment in Troy Kingi's 10-10-10 project dropped today. Here's Max's interview with the man himself as he looks back on his trip into the Mojave Desert to overcome a creative block and put out one of his best releases, and looks forward to playing a release gig at Last Place next month. --> GO, READ IT NOW <-- 

It's going to be a "doom gathering" when Infinity Ritual and Demons of Noon bring their double-header Succession Tour to Hamilton on Friday August 23. We chat with both bands, and give away a double pass right here on HUP.

Read it -> HERE <-

​I went to my first listening party a few weeks ago, but I arrived fashionably late. As such, I only caught the tail end of the first airing of Beat Rhythm Fashion’s ‘Critical Mass’. What I did manage to hear at the time sounded great, however. And after slipping out of the party unnoticed, without the need for any awkward goodbyes, I explored the rest of the album as soon as I could.

​Read our review -> HERE <-