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The Bats

Robert Scott

Dunedin bassist, guitarist, and songwriter at the heart of New Zealand’s underground music scene since the late 1970s. Co-founder of the Every Secret Thing cassette label and fanzine, bassist in The Clean, and frontman of The Bats.

Minisnap

Christchurch indie-pop trio formed in the early 2000s by three-quarters of The Bats, with guitarist Kaye Woodward stepping up as principal songwriter and vocalist. Rooted in the jangle-pop of the Dunedin Sound. Debut album Bounce Around (2008, Pocket Music); a follow-up album is mastered and awaiting release.

Lyndon and the Liars

Short-lived Christchurch group fronted by Ross Humphries after the dissolution of the legendary Pin Group and featuring a young Lyndon Frasier prior to his stint in Ballon D’Essai, plus the future Bats duo of Kaye Woodward and Malcolm Grant.

#lyndonandtheliars #nzmusic

Mr Big Nose

Recorded in a typically DIY fashion and released straight to cassette in 1989, this rucous live album features a stellar band line-up. Bob Scott was joined by future 3D Dave Saunders (just arrived in Dunedin), Australian guitarist / vocalist Ken Stewart, former-Chill Alan Haig on the drums, and billed as a special guest on organ; Peter Gutteridge – just prior to the release of his incredible solo album ‘Pure’.

#mrbignose

Look Blue Go Purple

Look Blue Go Purple was an influential and resilient all-female indie-pop group from Dunedin during the Early-Mid 1980s. Despite facing chauvinistic attitudes, they released 3 stellar EPs on Flying Nun, with their debut ‘Bewitched’ reaching No. 21 on the pop chart. Their impact endures through the compilation ‘Still Bewitched’.

#nzmusic #lookbluegopurple

The World

Jangly Christchurch pop from the early 1980’s. The group recorded a 6 song mini-album with the intent of it being released on Flying Nun Records, however the recordings went unreleased until 2013 when it was picked up and released as a retrospective LP by German label Unwucht.

The song ‘Mystery’ shows the group had bags of potential.

#nzmusic #theworld

Electric Blood

Electric Blood was the formative group of Robert Scott; forming the group with his brother in 1978, and featuring any number of local friends and family members on extremely lo-fi DIY recordings.

The Clean

The Clean have left a giant stamp on New Zealand Independent Music. The group that came to define ‘The Dunedin Sound’ had a terrific topsy-turvy career that spanned 5 albums and a number of EPs, singles, compilations and live releases over a 31 year time-span.

The Vacuum

A formative group for 2 significant groups in New Zealand music – The Terminals song-writing duo of Peter Stapleton and Stephen Cogle, and Bilders duo Bill Direen and Allan Meek. Though a fairly significant group at the time, their recordings were sparse.

Bill Direen

One of the longest running mythic underground figures of New Zealand rock who has worked (and commanded) such significant figures in the New Zealand music scene as Chris Knox, Peter Stapleton, Maryrose Crook, Dave Mitchell, Malcolm Grant – the list goes on.

The Bats

Biography The Clean was never a band to stand still. Several times during the 80’s they broke up, then reformed for a European, New Zealand or American tour, and all three members relocated at least once during these crucial years.… Read More »The Bats

Dissolve

Biography Mid 90s outfit from the legendary Roy Montgomery, joined by former Remarkables guitarist [and fellow Christchurch resident] Chris Heaphy. Their excellent Third Album From The Sun features contributions from heavyweights John Chrisstoffels (cello, drums – the Terminals), Kaye Woodward… Read More »Dissolve

The Weeds

Biography [Profile thanks to Tim Davey] The Weeds were around for about a year in the mid-80’s, formed with the intention of having fun and seeing just how stupid they could be, while also entertaining people. The band provided a… Read More »The Weeds

Darkroom

Mid-sized live performance and comedy venue located within The Archive a building which has also housed a Gallery / 2nd venue space and front record store.