Stories

MOTTE, AKA Anita Clark is a violinist and composer hailing from Ōhinehou Lyttelton, whose atmospheric, expressive instrumentals and haunting vocals play on your heartstrings like, well, a violin. With a new album out and a tour to follow, Cityscape caught up with her to find out a little more about her many projects. We love the Cold + Liquid album. How are you feeling about it all? So stoked and also relieved that the album is being released to the world, and very grateful that Ben Goldberg’s Ba Da Bing! Records wanted to pick the album up. The ‘Only I’ video is beautiful and conceptual – what’s the feeling you’re looking to convey here? The video was a collaboration between me and dancer Jareen Wee, she absolutely had the reins with how she wanted to move to that song in the filming. Aside from that, I have the conceptual notion that...

It will another great summer of art in Ōtautahi this year, with eight nationally and internationally renowned artists bringing works to the central city for SCAPE Public Art Season 2022. Each artist’s work will showcase their unique interpretation of this year’s theme, Sweat Equity, a compelling conclusion to Managing Curator Jamie Hanton’s overall vision of Fictions, which has tied together SCAPE Public Art Seasons 2020-2022. The artists will be contributing both newly commissioned works and pre-existing works across different media, including digital moving image, sonic art, augmented reality and sculpture. The Season 2022 artists are Hye Rim Lee, Wendelien Bakker, Scott Flanagan, Jon Jeet, Pacific Sisters, Eddie Clemens, Young-Hae Chang Heavy Industries and Dr Jo Burzynska. Hanton says of the line up: “I’ve chosen this diverse group of artists because their work reflects the many ways our bodies, minds, and hearts are impacted by, and respond to, the late capitalist environment...

A moist and flavourful loaf that fills your house with glorious Christmassy aromas while it’s baking, this is one of Grain Coffee’s most popular cabinet treats. Perfect served warm or cold with a little butter. This loaf also freezes well, so you can keep one out and save one for later. Makes: 2 loaves | Prep. time: 10 minutes | Cook time: 1 hour 15 minutes | Dish deets: Vegetarian INGREDIENTS ·         370g salted butter, chopped into pieces ·         2 cups golden syrup ·         3 cups plain flour ·         1½ cups soft brown sugar ·         1½ tsp baking powder ·         1½ tsp baking soda ·         2½ Tbsp ground ginger ·         1 tsp mixed spice ·         1 tsp nutmeg ·         2 tsp cinnamon ·         4 free-range eggs, lightly beaten ·         380ml full-fat milk MAKING IT HAPPEN 1.      Preheat oven to 150°C fan bake. Line and grease two large loaf tins. 2.      Melt the butter...

Cityscape went along to the first performance of the national tour of Call of the Huia, an exploration of lost Aotearoa art songs. Musical historian Michael Vinten acts as our guide for this performance, which spans different styles and eras of pre-1950s songs by Kiwi and immigrant composers. The show starts off with a piece by wāhine Māori musician Erima Maewa Kaihau. Maewa Kaihau is the writer of ‘Haere Ra’; te reo Māori version of ‘Now is the Hour’; and it is fantastic to hear a less famous and equally beautiful work, ‘Akoako a Te Rangi’. The first part of the performance is a celebration of the ‘Maoriland’ style of sung poetry from the early colonial period. We move through six sections of three short songs each, in which the talented singers, Oliver Sewell, Catrin Johnsson and Wade Kernot take turns performing in their own style accompanied by pianist Bruce Greenfield....

This is Paul’s special take on the classic French stew. Rustic, rich and full of flavour. Serves: 4 | Prep. time: 30 minutes | Cook time: 3 hours Ingredients Lamb ·         1kg diced lamb or 1 shoulder of lamb (deboned and cut into 2-inch pieces) ·         100g garlic cloves ·         1.5 chicken stock ·         10 baby turnips (or use 2 parsnip if turnips are hard or come by) ·         1 carrot (peeled and diced to 2cm) ·         150g haricot beans (or use cannelini beans) ·         3 Tbsp tomato paste ·         1 bouquet garni ·         350ml white wine ·         2 Tbsp mint ·         2 Tbsp parsley ·         2 Tbsp marjoram Anchovy crumb ·         1 Tbsp olive oil ·         40gm butter ·         8 anchovy fillets, drained and chopped ·         1 cup panko breadcrumbs ·         2 Tbsp flat leaf parsley ·         1 small lemon, zest only ·         Salt and pepper, to taste  Making it...

Do you adore a beautiful buttery Chard, or do you want to swish it all directly down the drain? As it turns out, this dry white grape is somewhat divisive. The recent WineFriend Great NZ Wine Census show that Canterbury’s favourite white wine is Chardonnay, with a quarter of the votes going the way of this classic variety. And our least favourite white wine is… Chardonnay! More than a quarter of Cantabrians hate it. So what is it about Chardonnay that gives Canterbury wine drinkers such strong opinions? We asked wine reviewer and WineFriend chief tasting officer Yvonne Lorkin, and her answer was, well, she doesn’t know. She’s a dyed-in-the-wool Chardonnaylien and wants to be embalmed in 2014 Sacred Hill Riflemans Chardonnay when she dies. “However some folk are very much in the ‘I can’t stand it’ camp and that’s fine,” she says. “It takes all sorts, right? Perhaps they just...

We've been waiting (im)patiently since the Rocket Man's last New Zealand shows were cut short at the beginning of 2020, and now our patience has finally been rewarded. Elton John is returning to New Zealand in January 2023 for his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, and he's added an extra show right here in Christchurch. This will be the first time Elton John has performed in Christchurch for thirty years, a special thank you to fans who have been waiting years for his return to Aotearoa. Elton John is the most successful male performing solo artist of all time, and this incredible worldwide tour is the last-ever chance to see an absolute legend perform live. Hailed by fans and critics worldwide, the Farewell tour has left audiences universally spellbound, a truly daring and intimate celebration of an incredible 50-year career. Elton embarked on his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour in September...

Devin Abrams is an Ōtautahi boy, a founding member of Shapeshifter, successful music producer, and mastermind behind the solo project Pacific Heights. Cityscape Zooms him from his home studio in Hawkes Bay to talk about new music and good old times. Tell us about your new album, The Waters Between. It’s definitely a departure from previous Pacific Heights records but I have quite a history of doing that. My back catalogue has been some pretty sharp turns. The last one I did, Borne Together, was very much a conceptual record based on a dream I had, and then I scripted the whole thing when I woke up. And every decision, lyrically, sonically, stylistically, the visuals, was all based on this dream. Whereas this record is a lot freer in that sense. The only anchor that I’ve had, loosely, is that The Waters Between is about the distance that ironically we’ve faced...

Polish street and fine artist Bartek Świątecki, AKA Pener, is in Ōtautahi for an exhibition of his works at Fiksate Studio & Gallery. Cityscape catches up with him on a cold, rainy morning as he stretches the last of his canvases in preparation. Welcome to Christchurch, how are you finding the weather? It’s the only one time gap that I have this summer. We’ve got, in Poland, 34 or 36 degrees right now. We apologise on behalf of our city. Tell us a little about your show at Fiksate, Vacation From Reality. Vacation From Reality is a key phrase that can be read in various ways. For me, my paintings are an escape from the reality that surrounds me. They are such a dive into emotions, shapes, a different world where you can feel safe, where you can relax. On the other hand, there is also the context of the times...

As we gear up to welcome Guns N' Roses back to New Zealand this December, we're stoked with the great news that local legends Alien Weaponry are going to be bringing the noise as special guests for the gig.They'll be joined by Australian punk rockers The Chats, and the main event Guns N' Roses will feature the classic band lineup of Axl Rose, Slash, and Duff McKagan. Safe to say the Auckland and Wellington gigs are going to be big nights. Recently hailed as the "future of metal” by esteemed music bibleMetal Hammer, and “one of the best young metal bands in the world right now” byRevolver Magazine, Alien Weaponry have taken their raw energy and unique sound on the road around the world. Combining thrash and metal with lyrics in te reo Māori has gained the band huge fan and media acclaim around the world. Since the release of their...

As if the beautiful bright lights of New Regent Street aren’t enough to draw you in, then come with us as Cityscape takes you Downstairs. Emma Mettrick and Paul Howells are at it again with this swanky new bar, and sister to their highly acclaimed restaurant Twenty Seven Steps . It launched in the space directly downstairs from the restaurant, in the centre of New Regent Street, and it’s a wine-focussed bar to add to the street’s growing number of speciality establishments. Ōtautahi’s newest offering features a slick bar and intimate seating across divided spaces. The moody atmosphere is lit up with cracked glass globe pendant lights throughout, which define the inside and beam out onto the street. We sit at a street-side table offering the privacy of frosted glass windows, and we still feel like we were a part of the vibe. The maître d’ is one of Christchurch’s best...

Known for its wicked scones, this grab-and-go eatery nestled in the city is one of the best on the block. As I make my order, Grain owner Belinda just has time to utter the words “They come for the scones and we have daily call-ins to put one aside,” before another customer comes in search of one. This customer announces that she has a constant craving for Grain scones, and... she isn’t wrong. They are delicious. Sliced, toasted and served with a side of butter. Heaven. The vibe in this cool spot is set by the eclectic interior. A massive red gantry and an oversized hook in the ceiling are reminiscent of the café's previous life as The Wasp Factory, which many will remember as Christchurch's Vespa and scooter repair specialist and, before that, an old rubber moulding factory. The energy is good – a modestly modern space, clean lines, minimalist art,...

Cityscape wants you to avoid the blues, and our Winter Wellness series is just the cure. We’re featuring a range of diverse ways to embrace exercise and wellness around Ōtautahi Christchurch, in a way that is so brand new to you. First up: 9Round Papanui. I have lived my life by a few tenets, and one of those is that exercise is essential. The problem is that I get bored quickly and need change to refocus my fitness regime. 9Round’s 30-minute full-body workout, incorporating boxing and kickboxing, is brand new to me and was just the awakening I needed after a bit of sports stagnation. Stagnant sport not to be named. Easy parking is the first real win, without even throwing a punch. Good start. I know from my brief that my certified personal trainer will be the award-winning Manager of the Year JJ Naude, which is obviously quite intimidating. But...

Late '90s smash hit band Stellar* are heading our way this month for Go Live Festival at the Christchurch Town Hall. Cityscape caught up with bassist Kurt Shanks to get the low-down. Are you amped for your first Go Live Festival? We heard so many great things from friends in Christchurch about the previous Go Live Festival, so we were delighted to be asked to be part of this year’s event. I’m particularly looking forward to checking out a lot of the new bands playing, and wandering around the various rooms. It’s shaping up to be an indoor all-local Big Day Out type vibe. Lots of fun. We’re also keen to meet some new faces at the seminars during the day. How do the Christchurch crowds treat you? Christchurch crowds have always been great to us. Boh and Andrew are obviously originally from Christchurch, and there’s some fans who remember them...

Featuring mainstays of the Kiwi music industry alongside some of the best up-and-coming talent, the Go Live Festival is set for two huge nights at the Christchurch Town Hall this July. Bringing together a wide range of musical genres, festival-goers can expect everything from drum and bass through to rock, pop and alternative sounds. New Zealand music royalty Jon Toogood (of Shihad fame) and Stellar* are headlining the two-night spectacular, lighting up the Town Hall with their chart-topping hits from the ‘90s to today. The festival also showcases some of the best up-and-coming talent Ōtautahi has to offer. Fresh from touring her debut solo album, Spit, Emma Dilemma is sure to deliver a high energy alt-rock set. Indie darlings Imperial April are releasing a brand new single ‘9.30’ on the eve of the festival and are hitting the Radio Hauraki Stage just before Stellar*. Synth-pop princess PRINS will bring the dance...

Gnocchi – soft pillows of potato pasta – may be one of the most comforting of Italy’s many comfort foods. This recipe incorporates activated charcoal powder for a striking dark colour and detoxifying properties.Serves: 2 | Prep. time: 30 minutes | Cook time: 30 minutes | Dish deets: Vegetarian Ingredients Gnocchi 2 large Agria potatoes2 cups 00 flour (or strong flour)1 egg1 tsp salt3 Tbsp activated charcoal powder Sauce 4 Tbsp olive oil10 cherry tomatoes¼ cup edamame beans1 cup baby spinachSalt and pepper, to taste¼ cup ricotta cheese3 Tbsp macadamia nuts, toasted and crushed Making it happen 1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. 2. Peel potatoes, cut into big cubes and add to pot. Cook until tender but still firm, about 15 minutes. Drain, cool and mash with a fork. 3. Combine mashed potato, flour, egg, salt and activated charcoal powder in a large bowl. Knead...

Homegrown indie folk singer-songwriter Mel Parsons is at it again with a new album and tour dates. She catches up with Cityscape to talk Lyttelton, laughs and lawn mowing. The title track of the new album Slow Burn sounds great. What can we expect from the songs that aren’t released yet? It’s quite a mix I think. It’s still me writing songs, so I don’t think it’s any great departure from what people know of my music already, but there are a a few more upbeat songs on there that head towards a bit of indie-new-wavey kind of a vibe. Tell us about your experience recording this album. We made the record at LOHO Studio in Christchurch, with my band and a few guests. Being local was actually really awesome, getting to head home and regroup at the end of each session made it really relaxed process. We had a lot...

All the entertainment you'll need for the month of July on the small and big screens, plus books to lose yourself in and new albums to rock out to. Viewing on the big screen Thor: Love and Thunder Taika Waititi’s sequel to the greatest Marvel film of all time, the synth-and-technicolour Thor: Ragnarok. We’re in no doubt that the next chapter of Thor’s story will be as witty and action-packed as the last. This instalment sees Thor’s post-Endgame retirement interrupted by a villain who wants to bring about the extinction of the gods. Millie Lies Low It should have been one of the greatest days of Millie’s life, heading from Wellington to New York to start an internship at a prestigious architecture firm. But when a moment of panic causes her to miss her flight, she ends up going into hiding in her own home town, pretending to her family and...