It's only a few days until the 10th Annual Circle Jerk! One band making its first appearance at the event is Dr Mesmer's Private Army. We talked to Kent Macpherson (Octave guitar/synth/field recordings) about the concept behind band's performances, aspirations, and the story behind the name. Click HERE to read the interview!
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HUP's next show is next Friday, August 17th and features Auckland's Swallow The Rat alongside two new Hamilton bands, shoegazy noiseniks Landlords and lo fi indie heads Bitter Defeat. Just a tenner on the door first band around 9. 

​The compilation 'This Sporting Life - Alms for Children' was released recently by Failsafe Records, compiling the outputs of the two inter-connected Auckland bands. We had a talk to members Ben Hayman (bass) and Daron Johns (drums) about the release of the compilation, how they feel their songs have stood the test of time, memories of their time together, Hamilton gigs, and more! Read about it -> HERE <-

Failsafe Records have recently released 'This Sporting Life - Alms for Children', a compilation of songs by the two inextricably linked Auckland bands from the early '80s. We review the compilation -> HERE <-

HUP caught up with James Harding of Rangiora rock n' rollers Best Bets ahead of their show at Nivara Lounge this coming Friday, July 20th, with The Situations and Elephant Facelift. Head over to FEATURES to find out more about the band's history, the burgeoning Christchurch scene and James' love of The Situations! 

Deathnir are set to release their second album, Second Sin, on 25 May. We caught up with Andrew Carter (lead guitar, vocal) and Adam Johnson (bass) to talk about the upcoming release and video. Read what they had to say -> HERE <-

HUP is delighted and excited to be helping out with Nadia Reid's first Hamilton show! It will be held at Waikato Waldorf School Hall (Huntington) on Friday July 13th. More dets below...

NADIA REID will be hitting the road this June/July for a 13-date-tour of New Zealand. The High & Lonely Tour will be her last for 2018 before she heads to the U.S. to begin work on record number three. Reid says she wants to “road test some of the new songs” that will appear on the new record. High & Lonely comes from the title of a song she premiered on Radio NZ over Easter this year. You can watch the live session below. 

The last 12 months have proved to be an amazing year for Nadia with multiple tours of Europe and the U.S., supporting Ryan Adams in his sold out Auckland show, named as a finalist for the 2017 APRA Silver Scroll Award and the 2018 Taite Music Prize, and a bevy of glowing reviews from the world’s biggest music media for both her album and her live shows.

Don’t miss one of NZ’s finest songwriters live and catch a glimpse of the new songs before she goes into studio lock down.

Tickets available from 9am Fri May 18th at nadiareid.com

Formed in Hamilton in 1993, Disjecta Membra​ is commonly considered New Zealand’s premier goth band. Active in Hamilton until 1996, they moved to Wellington in 1997, and released their debut album ‘Achromaticia’. While Achromaticia has been out of print for many years, interest in the band, and the album, has grown. To meet demand, the band have recently released ‘Achromaticia: Twentieth Anniversary Edition’. We review of the album -> HERE <-

Pic O'Neill caught up with Keish of Aussie punks Hard-Ons, for a Q and A ahead of their Raglan show on 19th May with 5 Girls, Illicit Wah Wahs and amazingly, Mobile Stud Unit! Read the interview -> HERE <-