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Venues
His Lordship’s Hotel stood at 105 Lichfield Street from 1876 until an arson fire destroyed it in October 2000. Over more than a century it carried several names and many owners before becoming a live music venue through the 1990s, when Christchurch’s SOL Square precinct was at its most active.
Venues
Central city bar that had live shows from local bands such as Future Stupid, Loves Ugly Children, Range, Hawaii Five-O, Creeley, Ape Management, Brother Love, Space Dust, Snort, Squirm, Pumpkinhead and early Salmonella Dub, plus touring groups such as Superette, Nothing At All, and Wendy House. Located upstairs on the corner of Lichfield and Colombo Streets (though the address is Colombo Street, the entrance was actually on Lichfield) and ran by the Yee family for a few years in the mid 90's. #livemusic #christchurch
j artists
Junkanoo were a percussive band from Christchurch who put out a split album release on Campbell McLay's Onset/Offset label in 1986, recorded at Arne van Bussell's Nightshift Studios. The name 'Junkanoo' stems from a festival that was originated during the period of African chattel slavery in British American colonies. #nzmusic #junkanoo
s artists
Hugely popular Christchurch hard-rock all-girl group with a very 90's riotgrrrl sound and a line-up that changed quite a bit over time. Members have included: Reta Le Quesne, twins Joanne and Sharon Billesdon, Lisa Preston, Fleur Walden Ninakaye Taane-Tinorau and Carla Rotta . They recorded 2 singles, then had an album and a music video held back by Festival Records in nefarious circumstances. #nzmusic #snort
d artists
Long-running country-folk flavoured rock band from Christchurch featuring singer-songwriter Fleur Walden (aka Fleur de Lis). After forming in 1997 it took until 2004 for their debut album was released - a strong selection of songs that date right back to the bands formation. #nzmusic #thedialtones #fleurdelis
Venues
The scummiest, most rundown, but welcoming and communal venue in Christchurch. Had 2 lives - first as Hex Central (under Squirm's stewardship) in the mid 1990's, then as the punk head quarters dubbed The Glory Hole, from 2009 till it's demise in 2011.
c artists
Biography No relation to the UK band of the same name, this one was formed in 1988 if it makes any difference. Following on…
Interviews
A memorial I wrote for Michael J. Brassell after he sadly passed away from pneumonia in 2004. I helped organize a music tribute wake here in Christchurch to celebrate his life, whilst a similar event was also help in his then-current home of Dunedin.
u artists
Biography Excellent Christchurch guitar band that evolved from earlier group The Centre Will Hold. From that group Jamey Holloway (Guitar / vocals), and Nathan…
r artists
Biography The Renderers are New Zealand’s prime example of southern-fried country, and are indeed one of our finest ever bands. Brian Crook formed the…
a artists
Weird old Christchurch hard/sludge rock act who put out a few releases in the mid to late 90s. Made up of prominent poster artist Rock Hardman, Brother Love, Ken Mexted, Dave Clarke, and a revolving crowd of Bass players.
c artists
Biography Melodic pop four-piece Chameleon was formed by Jazz School students Leigh Franklin and Julian Marchant late in 1993. Drummer Bevan Davison and keyboardist…
s artists
Brilliant 90's Christchurch sludge-rock outfit comprised of Brett Lupton, Daryl Kirk and Mike Brassell (Hiss Explosion). Took a thoroughly DIY, low-budget approach to release a series of warped, discordant guitar albums, based around excellent guitar-work and an inventive, lo-fi and somewhat sloppy (in a good way) approach to recording songs.
h artists
The solo recording alias of Michael Brassell, former member of Christchurch lo-fi legends Squirm, and future Hiss Explosion front-man. Brassell (who used the Hex pseudonym for many of his make-shift bands) formed the Noseflute label to release the classic 1995 debut Johnnie Horse - a scattered and thoroughly charming lo-fi oddity that shines well beyond the grit of his determined 4-track recordings.
h artists
Excellent two-man band that evolved out of old-school Christchurch Lo-Fi pioneers Squirm featuring Mike Hex (aka Mike Brassell, the head honcho of the Arc Life record label at the time) on guitar, backed by Peter Mitchell. Hex moved the two-piece south to Dunedin in the early 00's, and continued to be a pioneer of the south island Lo-Fi scene, incorporating simple delay techniques, open chords and melodic singing to create a beautifully sparse sound.
