kRkRkRk is a Christchurch experimental and industrial cassette label founded in 1992 by TMA-1 members James Robinson and Peter Wright. Operating on a DIY ethic, the label grew to over one hundred and thirty releases, documenting a generation of Christchurch underground artists across cassette and digital formats. After Wright moved to England in 2003, David Khan took over as label head, continuing as a portable studio engineer until health issues brought its active phase to a close.
CRY TV was New Zealand’s first dedicated music television channel, broadcasting on UHF 56 from the Port Hills above Christchurch between July 1993 and April 1997. Founded by Christian Birch and Chris Clarkson, it pre-dated Auckland’s MAX TV by three months and launched the careers of Petra Bagust, Jason Fa’afoi, Francesca Rudkin, D’Arcy Waldegrave, and Dave Yetton (Jean-Paul Sartre Experience), who met Jason Fa’afoi at the station and went on to form The Stereo Bus.
FLASHBACK to May 2022 — Repertory Theatre Fundraiser.
FLASHBACK to May 2022 — Zinefest Afterparty: St Eden, Shark Street, Piha Rescue at Darkroom.
Auckland emo/pop-punk duo Nicole Gaffney and James Stuteley toured seventeen times around New Zealand and fifteen times through Australia over twelve years, releasing three LPs of mathy, heartfelt punk before calling it a day in 2024.
One of Christchurch’s oldest licensed premises, the Riccarton Hotel on the corner of Riccarton Road and Deans Avenue can trace its origins to an 1853 Canterbury Almanack advertisement for “The Traveller’s Home.” Over 150 years it traded as the Plough Inn, the Riccarton Hotel, DB Riccarton, and — most memorably — Nancy’s, named for the beloved publican Annie (Nancy) Hancock who ran it from 1930 until the 1960s. In its final chapter it became the Fat Ladies Arms student bar before being demolished and replaced by a fast food restaurant.
FLASHBACK TO 7 October 2006 with Not So Experimental, Ed Muzik, and Tiger Tones at Dux De Lux. A tremendous show of local acts stepping up and delivering catchy, engaging performances.
Radio One 91FM is Dunedin’s student radio station, broadcasting on 91.0MHz from the University of Otago since 6 February 1984. Owned and operated by OUSA, the station played a central role in the Dunedin Sound era of the early 1980s, championing Flying Nun Records artists including The Chills, The Bats, Sneaky Feelings, and The Verlaines when commercial radio would not. Among its alumni are Shayne Carter, Jan Hellriegel, and Lesley Paris. In 1987 it became the first radio station in the world to broadcast news of the Fiji coup. Still active as the voice of Ōtepoti student music culture.
New Zealand band active in the mid-1980s, releasing two EPs on Ode Records including the radio-played ‘The Burma Road’. Members went on to form the Dough Boys and The Reactions.
FLASHBACK to June 2022 — Kittentank, Sandfly Bay at Darkroom, April 21st 2012.
Dunedin school punk group formed over Labour Weekend 1978 by Martin Phillips (The Chills), Jeff Batts, Craig Easton (The Verlaines) and Alistair Dunn. Three songs written by Phillips for The Same became The Chills’s contribution to the famed Dunedin Double compilation.
The Aranui Tavern at 317 Pages Road was a working-class pub in Christchurch’s eastern suburbs that became one of the city’s most significant live music rooms from the mid-1970s through the 1980s. Bon Marché and The Newz held a three-year residency from 1978 to 1981, nurturing emerging acts including Pop Mechanix and the Dance Exponents — whose own Aranui residency led directly to their Mushroom Records signing in 1982.
Biography Allen Street Rock Club occupied a former motorcycle shop at 32 Allen Street in central Christchurch, opened as a live music venue in the post-earthquake rebuild era. The interior was designed by Dean Johnstone — a set designer with… Read More »Allen Street
Wellington pop group active 1989–1992, fronted by vocalist Belinda Bradley. Known for lush, melodic rock with saxophone and keyboard textures, they released two 1989 singles and the 1992 BMG single Normal before going on hiatus. Reunited in 2025 for their first show together in 30 years.
