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Suitable Alternative

EntertainmentJuly 14

Americana at Purple Rain

The Miltones are on tour throughout the country this month, supporting the release of their self-titled debut album.
Americana at Purple Rain
Americana at Purple Rain
EntertainmentJuly 7

Touring gets ‘Easier’

In celebration of new single Easier, Albion Place is launching a national tour, starting with a hometown show next week.
Touring gets ‘Easier’
Touring gets ‘Easier’
EntertainmentJune 30

A guitarist of calibre

Brooklyn guitar virtuoso Steve Gunn is on tour across the country this month, playing four back-to-back solo acoustic dates, including a stop at Queenstown’s Sherwood Hotel.
A guitarist of calibre
A guitarist of calibre
EntertainmentJune 15

Tiny Ruins heading south

Dark folk band Tiny Ruins is embarking on an 11-date national tour this winter, including two stops in Otago next weekend.
Tiny Ruins heading south
Tiny Ruins heading south
EntertainmentMay 26

Floating some ideas

Silver Scroll-winning singer-songwriter and Weissenborn guitarist Thomas Oliver is touring Aotearoa this month in support of his sophomore album Floating In The Darkness.
Floating some ideas
Floating some ideas
EntertainmentMay 19

Aboard the music bus

Auckland alternative pop outfit Ha the Unclear is out and about this month, touring behind new single Big City, the first taste of the group’s sophomore album due out later this year.
Aboard the music bus
Aboard the music bus
EntertainmentMay 5

Novelty singles released

A series of novelty bedroom singles has turned into a broad and quick-witted debut album for former Dunedin musician Angus McBryde.
Novelty singles released
Novelty singles released
EntertainmentApril 23

Album anything but

Former New Gum Sarn vocalist Oscar Dowling is on national tour this month celebrating the release of his debut solo album, Free and Easy.
Album anything but
Album anything but
EntertainmentApril 14

Singles going steady

It’s been a bumper couple of weeks for Dunedin single releases, perfect for your Easter break listening post.
Singles going steady
Singles going steady
EntertainmentApril 7

Bold and brassy

Swinging and stomping brass duo Hopetoun Brown are in town this weekend, bringing with them a special guest.
Bold and brassy
Bold and brassy
EntertainmentMarch 31

Operational again

A sleeping giant has been reawakened. One of the nation’s best, Dunedin’s Operation Rolling Thunder are returning from a years-long slumber next week to play a special one-off show at the Crown Hotel. It’s all in celebration of self-proclaimed "mentor/manager/rip-off merchant" David Ager’s 40th birthday, an event almost as once-in-a-lifetime as this show is bound to be, according to the band.
Operational again
Operational again
EntertainmentMarch 24

Light in the darkness

Dunedin darkwave post-punk trio Elan Vital released their debut album this week: seven claustrophobic and dreamy swirls of cold keys, drum machines, and distorted disco bass.
Light in the darkness
Light in the darkness
EntertainmentMarch 17

Coming of the light

Bandmates and collaborators Indira Force and Anita Clark are touring together this month, celebrating their debut album as ambient duo New Dawn, as well as Clark’s new LP under the moniker Motte, on which Force guests.
Coming of the light
Coming of the light
EntertainmentMarch 10

Rocking the Beeb

Christchurch lyrical folk musician Fraser Ross and his band the 04s are touring the South Island this week to promote the release of their new single BBC, from their forthcoming album due to be released later this year.
Rocking the Beeb
Rocking the Beeb
EntertainmentMarch 3

A taste of ‘Utopia’

"I recorded it in Auckland with Jonathan Pearce at the end of December 2014, so I’ve been sitting on it quite a while," former Dunedin student Christopher Bull says of his EP.
A taste of ‘Utopia’
A taste of ‘Utopia’
EntertainmentFebruary 24

Summer roadie

Auckland indie pop outfit Dictaphone Blues is wrapping up "summer" with a seven-show national tour this month.
Summer roadie
Summer roadie
EntertainmentFebruary 17

Setting the music free

Delicate and intricate indie-folk music outfit Grawlixes has released a new single and video ahead of the release of its debut album in July.Penelope Esplin and Robin Cederman, also half of Dunedin band the Prophet Hens, are currently based in Wellington, but will visit Dunedin next week in support of the single.
Setting the music free
Setting the music free
EntertainmentFebruary 10

Back in the groove

Ageless Dunedin jangle-popsters the Bats have  a new album,  30 years on since they started recording their debut, Daddy’s Highway, in the living room studio of a friend of a friend in Glasgow.
Back in the groove
Back in the groove
EntertainmentFebruary 3

Strut in the mire

After two months and 22 shows of a summer tour, Dunedin modern rock quartet The River Jesters are finishing up their album release with a "giant mega hooley homecoming extravaganza". The psychedelic blues band has been touring behind their  debut album Beautiful Mire,  11 songs of cheeky, pumped-up swampy southern swagger.
Strut in the mire
Strut in the mire
EntertainmentJanuary 20

Rhymes with classical

Dunedin musician Abigail Knudson has just released her debut album, the classical hip-pop of Nicotine.
Rhymes with classical
Rhymes with classical
EntertainmentJanuary 15

Please, release me

Sam Valentine shares his pick of "hotly anticipated" Kiwi acts, all but one from Dunedin, with new material out in the next few months.
Please, release me
Please, release me
EntertainmentDecember 16

Simply the best

So here we are; the last edition of Suitable Alternative for 2016. These are my favourite New Zealand releases of 2016. Mere Kirihimete.
Simply the best
Simply the best
EntertainmentDecember 9

The best from elsewhere

Well, here it is. Another year has gone by and who can say how much we’ve learned. This week, it’s Suitable Alternative’s international roundup, picking my 26 (a number I arrived at randomly) favourite albums of the year.
The best from elsewhere
The best from elsewhere
EntertainmentDecember 1

Now for something completely different

Dunedin musician Tristan Dingemans is probably best known for his eardrum-blowing fiery, dense electric guitar playing sonic rock in High Dependency Unit, Mountaineater and solo project Kahu. But Dingemans might be about to slightly subvert what you’ve come to expect of him, with the musician showcasing a collection of intimate songs performed on acoustic guitar at Dog With Two Tails on Friday.
Now for something completely different
Now for something completely different
EntertainmentNovember 11

Joe Gow back in familiar territory

Australia-based alternative country musician Matt Joe Gow is returning to Dunedin, touring brand-new album Seven Years.
Joe Gow back in familiar territory
Joe Gow back in familiar territory