ONmag caught up with the musical magnate Claire Cowan to find out the nitty gritty on All Is Full of Love – Blackbird Ensemble’s star-studded show which opens Björk’s songbook and makes it their own. Read ON to find out what inspires and drives Cowan, what’s in her fridge and where you can catch one of the Ensemble’s upcoming South Island gigs. […]

Following their debut album release from Arma Del Amor on May 11, the Onna Bugeisha tour sees the Wanaka-based live electronica band hit six intimate venues around New Zealand this June and July. Arma Del Amor will perform their meticulously crafted shows to connect with their audiences and share the spoils of their delectable new album. Securing number one on […]

Kody Nielson is a busy man. This year he has two new albums in the offing as well as a bunch of gigs lined up under his own moniker and with Unknown Mortal Orchestra. ONmag spoke to him as he prepares for Splore festival. So there’s a bit of a buzz on social media right now around your forthcoming album The […]

So you’ve nabbed your tix for one of world’s most beautiful boutique music and arts festivals – Splore 2018. Onmag has compiled a run-down of some key tips for maximising your Splore experience, whether you’re a rookie or longtime Splore lover.  Curate your outfit. Every year, Splore has a different theme. This year, it’s all about ‘Mystic Ritual’ so think “Magical. […]

ANNABEL WILSON attended the first stop of The Blue Moments ‘Blue Spaces’ three-town tour of  Otago and shares five reasons to catch their show. Because of the words. First, there was … the words. The Blue Moments Project (now in its third iteration following a 2015 development showing then 2017 Festival of Colour premiere) begins and ends with the fine words of Laura […]

Your best day of summer? New Zealand’s longest-running music festival, Rippon, served up a lot of people’s “best day of the summer” for a very long time. Held at Rippon Vineyard near Wanaka, Rippon was launched in 1998 and over the years became downright (sorry to say it) iconic (because it was). It was famous for the gobsmacker of a […]

ANNABEL WILSON drops into the Arts Centre’s refurbished Old Gym for Free Theatre’s Ubu night. Housed in the heart of old Christchurch, the Free Theatre is the vanguard of post-quake cool. The first arts organisation to return to the restored Arts Centre, the company have taken over The Gym where they produce experimental theatre (having just finished their successful season […]

Now into her fourth year of sending it deep at the South Island’s answer to a New Year festival, EMMA SIMPSON spills her secrets to a successful R&A.  Here are some of her lessons learnt (quite often the hard way) from Rhythm and Alps.  1) Do your admin. I know it’s Captain Obvious but you are one of around 7000 […]

Wellington musical wunderkind Cory Champion is pointing the compass south for New Year’s Eve, to play with Pacific Heights at Rhythm and Alps. ANNABEL WILSON gets the skinny on what keeps bringing him back to R&A, his obsession with cymbals and a few of his other favourite things… You’re becoming a mainstay of the Rhythm and Alps event. What brings […]

Rhythm & Alps revellers will be treated to an incredible experience of sound, light, optical illusion and art, thanks to world-leading stage technology. The highly-anticipated New Year’s party and music festival, held  on December 29-31 at Robrosa Station near Wanaka, has already achieved an outstanding international reputation for producing innovative stages. This year’s event will see the bar raised even […]