thebigcity

Radio Stations

CRY TV

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.

c artists

Carb on Carb

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.

Venues

Riccarton Hotel

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.

Radio Stations

Radio One 91FM

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.

w artists

The Wait

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.

s artists

The Same

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.

Venues

Aranui Tavern

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.

Venues

Allen Street

Biography Allen Street Rock Club occupied a former motorcycle shop at 32 Allen Street in central Christchurch, opened as a live music venue in…

s artists

The Spirals

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.

d artists

DOG Power

Christchurch duo formed in 2017 by vocalist Sam Perry and Henry Nicol, blending experimental textures, 1980s pop aesthetics, and cinematic electronics. Released a self-titled debut on Flying Nun Records in 2018 before relocating to Serbia.