Stories

Graeme James, one of the country’s most streamed indie artists, is hitting the road to tour his Nettwerk label debut album The Long Way Home. It’s been a whirlwind of a year for the muso, who went international and racked up a cool 25,000km on his extensive – and highly successful – North American tour. Boasting 20million streams on Spotify, James has garnered a loyal fan base and there’s a rumour that his New Zealand shows are on the cusp of selling out. Catch the wild talents of James – he can effortlessly play the electric violin, guitar, bass, baritone ukulele, mandolin, harmonica and percussion while stomping on his famous loop pedal – when he hits Blue Smoke, May 18. graemejamesmusic.com Image: Kyman Cheng

Whether you love it or hate it, 2019 is the year of denim according to savvy style mavens at leading luxe brand curator, Net-a-Porter. The crème de la crème of fashion powerhouses – think Fendi and Miu Miu plus the who’s who of the modelling and influencer world – are rocking the hottest looks off the runway with Net-a-Porter singling high-rise, straight-leg jeans out as the go-to cut of the year. Their numero uno styling tip: embrace it. As for double denim, nail the right wash combo and you’re away giving ol’ Britney and Justin circa 2001 a run for their denim money. And if you’re unsure about which wash is right for you, take your cue from the likes of Altazurra whose raw indigo denim is universally flattering and crisp.    

Travel blogger Justine Tyerman comes close to hugging a strange man at the airport in Marrakech. Never underestimate the sheer joy of a transfer from airport to hotel in a seriously foreign country, especially when in that twilight zombie zone of the sleep-deprived after 30 hours of travel. It’s one of the most valuable aspects of booking with an experienced travel company. The heady thrill of seeing my name on a piece of cardboard was the most beautiful thing as I cleared customs in Marrakech. I stopped just short of hugging Lyazid, who had been waiting there patiently to collect me, holding up the large card with Ms Justine Tyerman on it. Checking-in at the luxurious five-star Sofitel Marrakech was a dream. Smart men in traditional Moroccan costume opened doors to a haven of cool and whisked my case up to my room, which just happened to have a large balcony overlooking...

Cityscape chats with Richard Peebles, Kris Inglis and Mike Percasky who are leading the charge in terms of developments around the city. Why should locals get out and explore the inner city? There is so much to see and do. The city is really starting to come alive with some vibrant retail and interesting hospitality places along with some amazing architecture and cultural attractions like the new library, riverside promenade, Margaret Mahy playground, etc. People need to get out and discover and connect with the inner city as there really are a lot of very cool and interesting parts of the rebuild that we can all be very proud to call home; places that are starting to create a point of difference to other NZ cities. What are some of the hidden gems among the laneways as the city develops? Every laneway will be slightly different and offer a new opportunity for discovery. Each...

Summer’s warm whispers are soon to be a distant memory so autumn is the perfect time to collate tropical bucket lists. Set on St Lucia’s Southwestern Coast, the Jade Mountain Resort is the stuff of day dreams. Sitting pretty on a cliffside with a maze of dramatic suspension bridges connecting each suite to the common areas and infinity pools, the five-star luxury resort hotel offers plenty to do when you’re not staring slack-jawed at the scenery. Snorkel in the glistening bays, get all vinyasa with the resident yoga instructor, pamper yourself silly at the boutique spa, hike to local waterfalls, gallop along on the white sand beaches, or feast on the spoils of the hotel’s own organic farm and the very finest Caribbean kingfish ceviche, giant prawns and Chateaubriand steak courtesy of your own around-the-clock butler. jademountain.com

If there’s one thing Canterbury has, it’s plenty of sunlight, and solar panels have come a long way since they first hit our rooves some 35 years ago. Harvey Norman Commercial has recently teamed up with World Solar to bring the latest all-black solar panels and storage to the market, getting power to more people. Solar power is also going into more businesses than ever before, and with slick, sexy styling that adds value to your biggest investment, there’s never been a better time to harness the natural power of sunlight. Talk to Craig Shaw on 03 363 5910.harveynorman.co.nz/worldsolar

Cityscape taps the talents of  Station Road's Gavin How for some interior design inspiration. How did the business come about? Station Road Home began 25 years ago, founded by my father. He was handcrafting furniture from solid timbers which quickly progressed into a family business with a strong focus on premium craftsmanship, internationally inspired styles and artisan hand finishes. While time has moved on, Station Road is still an independent family business which holds true to these values. What got you into furniture and interiors? I don’t ever remember a time when I wasn’t passionate about design, craftsmanship and beautifully made furniture, interiors and architecture – I think they call this the furniture bug! When the family started in furniture, it was a natural progression for me to include the design and retail aspect. I’m continually inspired by great design, the excitement of exploring and discovering new styles, amazing locations and...

The city bids farewell to Quasi the five-metre tall sculpture of artist Ronnie van Hout’s face and hand which took up residence on the roof of the Christchurch Art Gallery in 2016. Renowned for mixing surreal with the serious, van Hout’s work focuses on dramatic figures that initiate conversation and engagement – which is exactly what the giant installation has done since it graced the city and enlivened the skyline. Bringing a profound sense of humour, the thought-provoking piece has been the talk of the town drawing curious gazes and snaps of the obscure installation but it’s now heading north and setting up shop in the culture capital, Wellington. Lara Strongman, Head Curator of the Christchurch Art Gallery says that “like all his work, it’s essentially enigmatic – you make your own reading of the work, and have your own emotional response to its presence there on the skyline. We’ve loved...

You can’t help but smile when you hear that anthem of an earlier summer – Avalance City’s 'Love, Love, Love'. Few Kiwi musicians have managed to roar up the charts and our lives like Dave Baxter’s ear worm, so Cityscape was rapt to catch up with the hit maker ahead of his tour for his third album, My Babylon. It’s been a long time between albums… The first one I wrote over about four and a half years, and it’s been about three years between albums this time so they’re getting quicker! I sort of needed to take a break after the court case and my wife got pregnant so I thought I’d better get it together and write another album. I wrote for other people for about a year, and then we had a two month holiday and I didn’t think about music at all. So when I got back into the...

It’s been ten years since the lads from Clap Clap Riot left the Garden City for the bright lights and big noise of Auckland, taking the NZ music scene by storm on the way. Cityscape caught up with the boys ahead of their anniversary tour. Congrats on reaching a decade of firing out top-notch tunes! How would you say the music scene has changed since you first started out? A lot has changed in ten years, especially the way bands release, promote and earn an income from material. Our recording process is one thing that has stayed the same. You guys originally started out with the band name ‘Band Theft Auto’, what prompted you to drop that and take on ‘Clap Clap Riot’? Working with The D4’s Jimmy Christmas on our first EP, the style of our new music didn't particularly suit the name. We were also in the process of...

Getting set to embark on their first ‘proper’ tour, the Wellington lads that make up Anxiety Club are ready to lay it all out for Christchurch audiences. Following the release of their first studio EP, Black Heart, last year and a new single early February that is set to become a New Zealand summer staple, Anxiety Club are bringing their alt-indie-Americana sound to the Garden City. Cityscape caught up with lead singer Kev Fitzsimons. How did you guys get together? I’d been doing a lot of vocal work for various projects when I was living in the UK and Ireland and when I got home I put an ad in the Musicians social page and a group of guys responded and we got together. Weirdly enough, we all just hit it off, which is really unusual for a first off. But we all had that same idea of making good music and...

The country’s fixation with musical nostalgia continues next month with the arrival of Canadian rocker Bryan Adams. The Summer of ’69 and Everything I do (I do for you), will bang out the sounds in Hagley Park on St Patrick’s Day alongside Kiwi classics Jordan Luck and Dave Dobyn. Cityscape caught up with Adams and found out which other Kiwi he’s keen to play with. You’re heading back to NZ within a year of your last tour where you played some pretty cool venues. Do you have a favourite city/place to perform? Any performances that stand out? We had the extremely good fortune to be taken up the coast of New Zealand in a helicopter to Matakana. The gig was great, the country was breathtaking. It’s no wonder all the billionaires want to buy land there. It’s no wonder the NZ government won’t let them! Your foundation does incredible work for...

If you're still pumping from the weekend's Nostalgia Festival and you've got some time on your hands, head North! Nostalgia has been collaborating with fellow funky festival, Coastella, to ensure the future for these independent, unique and innovative music events is solid. What started with a conversation between Nostalgia festival founder, Johnny Gibson, and Coastella Festival founders, Paul Brown and Gerry Paul, blossomed into a thriving mentorship grounded in the mutual passion they all have for creative collaboration, event sustainability and uniting communities. Catch Coastella Festival on the Kapiti Coast when it drops on February 23. Coastella Festival,Southward's Car Museum, Kapiti Coast,coastella.co.nz

It’s Fri-yay! Which means it’s time to lock in plans for the weekend, and what a feast of things to get out and see and do… Cityscape’s top picks for this weekend: 1. Nostalgia Festival, Saturday Feb 16, FerrymeadFeaturing Trinity Roots, Soaked Oats, Mama Kin Spender and so many awesome musos, coupled with fab food and oodles of refreshments in the beautiful Ferrymead Historic Park. Head down to Blue Smoke afterwards for more fun from Soaked Oats – free entry for festivalgoers! 2. Sparks, Saturday Feb 16, Hagley Park, 7.30pmA Christchurch tradition. Pack up the kids, the picnic hamper and the cushions and be blown away by the spectacular Christchurch Symphony Orchestra’s programme of traditional classics to modern favourites. Rounded off, of course, by a sensational fireworks display around 10pm. 3. Night Noodle Market, until Sunday Feb 17, Hagley ParkIf you can’t be bothered with a picnic for Sparks, cure the...

Cityscape chats with Welsh songstress Cate Le Bon ahead of her performance at Blue Smoke on February 21. Your February show will be the first time you’re performing in Christchurch, what can the audience expect? It's something a bit different from how I usually tour. It will be myself and a piano with some background tinkerings from my buddy and band mate, JT. Songs old and new, maybe a cover here and there. We recently did a small run in the UK and it was an intimate and warm affair. How did you establish your unique style of music? The Gorky's and SFA taught a generation, in Wales especially, how to ignore scenes and do what your heart desires. Where has been your favourite place to perform? There is an old pornographic cinema in St Gallen, Switzerland which makes for a spectacular and eerie show. It feels like nowhere else in the world exists other...

Grammy Award-winner Bryan Adams – the talent behind your fave go-to guilty pleasure tune ‘Summer of ’69’ – has set his sights on the city and will bring the noise when he takes over Hagley Park on March 16. No stranger to the music scene, Adams has racked up a fair amount of accolades in his illustrious career and his string of hits has cemented him as one of the most highly acclaimed singer/songwriters. We caught up with the Canadian rocker ahead of his performance and chatted about his collabs with Jennifer Lopez and Ed Sheeran; crafting Broadway musical Pretty Woman and who he’d love to join forces with in his next album (hint: she’s Kiwi music royal-ty). Keep your eyes peeled for when the full convo drops in the autumn issue of Cityscape. Bryan Adams: Shine A Light TourHagley Park, March 17bryanadams.com

The ‘King of Romance’, Engelbert Humperdinck, has been making records – and smashing world records – for more than fifty years. He’s bringing his biggest and best hits to New Zealand next month, along with a slew of new songs from his The Man I Want To Be album. Cityscape caught up with the legendary crooner ahead of his pacific tour. You’re still recording new albums after 50 years in the business. Does it feel that long? It doesn’t feel that long. I’ve done 81 albums altogether, including compilations. I’ve recorded 53-54 brand new. When I first started in the business and my career took off like a speedboat, it was wonderful to have people want my music. In those days we’d do two albums a year. Do you still get a kick out of singing your hits? Does it get old? I do, I love it. I’m still touring the world,...

Indie-folk muso Dave Baxter – the talent behind wildly popular Kiwi band Avalanche City – is making tracks for Blue Smoke (March 14), to launch his new album MY BABYLON. Having dominated the New Zealand music charts with top tunes ‘Insight Out’ and ‘Love Love Love’ – the latter scooping up a Silver Scroll Award at the APRA Silver Scroll Awards – you can bet his new release will have some catchy tunes which are sure to soar on major music streaming giants.  Avalanche City, March 14Blue Smokeavalanchecity.com Image: Claire Mossong