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Posts Tagged New Zealand

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April 12, 2022 by Simon Sweetman

X: Film

X Director: Ti West A24 / Little Lamb / Mad Solar Productions Once in a while a film comes along, and you have very high expectations indeed. Almost so much so that it is a bit of a worry. But then, it’s movie night – and not only no worries, your high expectations are shot […]
Posted in Blog, Reviews · Tagged A24, Brittany Snow, Chelsea Wolfe, Film, Film Review, Horror, Jenna Ortega, Martin Henderson, Mia Goth, Movie, Movie Review, New Zealand, Slasher, Texas, Ti West, To follow me in all the right places check out the Linktree right here. And to subscribe to my Substack newsletter “Sounds Good” click here, Tyler Bates, Whanganui, X, X: Film ·

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October 3, 2021 by Simon Sweetman

The Great Kiwi Love Song

I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life. E Ipo by Prince Tui Teka is The Great New Zealand Love Song. E Ipo was written by Tui with the help of Ngoi Pewhairangi, a Maori educator, translator, teacher, custodian for the culture. She also wrote the lyrics for Poi-E for The Patea Maori Club. But Pewhairangi wrote […]
Posted in Blog, Miscellany · Tagged E Ipo, Love Song, Missy, New Zealand, Ngoi Pewhairangi, NZ, Prince Tui Teka, The Great Kiwi Long Song, Tui Teka, Want more? Check out my Substack You can also support Off The Tracks via PressPatron ·

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September 13, 2021 by Simon Sweetman

Poem: There’s No Name Suppression In New Zealand

There’s no name suppression in New Zealand There are no privileged without charms There’s no name suppression in New Zealand We all know who you are But everybody’s talking about Covid-19 Cause everybody’s talking about Covid-19 But we’re as safe as can be so move us to level three! We have no restrictions We have […]
Posted in Blog, Miscellany · Tagged Blam Blam Blam, Kiwi, Name Suppression, New Zealand, NZ, Poem, Poem: There’s no name suppression in New Zealand, Song, There Is No Depression in New Zealand, There’s no name suppression in New Zealand ·

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April 24, 2021 by Simon Sweetman

Authors I Admire: # 17 Owen Marshall

I’ve been thinking about Owen Marshall a bit lately. I feel like, in some way, I’m often thinking about him, have been since I was about 15 or 16. That’s when I met him – er, on the page, that is. I’ve never met him. I’d like to. I’d love to interview him one day. […]
Posted in Blog, Miscellany · Tagged #17, Admiration, Author, Authors I Admire, Authors I Admire: # 17, Authors I Admire: # 17 Owen Marshall, Authors I Admire: Owen Marshall, Kiwi, Marshall, New Zealand, Novel, Novels, NZ, Owen, Owen Marshall, Poem, Poetry, Short Stories, South Island, Timaru, Want more? Check out my Substack You can also support Off The Tracks via PressPatron, Writer ·

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July 26, 2020 by Simon Sweetman

Ten of My All-Time Favourite Kiwi Songs

When I wrote these notes I was planning for the start of my book about favourite NZ songs. All of these songs made it into that book – and were written about in further detail. In most cases I spoke with the songwriters or key players/producers involved with the music. On Song featured 30 tunes, […]
Posted in Blog, Miscellany · Tagged Blog, Kiwi, New Zealand, NZ, On Song, Songs, Ten of my All-Time Favourite Kiwi Songs, You can support Off The Tracks via PressPatron ·

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September 1, 2019 by Simon Sweetman

Don’t Fight It – It’s Bigger Than The ID

We don’t know how lucky we are. The music that means the most to me from New Zealand artists is barely ever the product of a funding body, doesn’t have corporate sponsors, isn’t major label-endorsed. It’s the battlers. It’s about brave hearts and (sometimes) troubled souls. It’s about an energy. An anger. A feeling. It’s […]
Posted in Blog, Miscellany · Tagged Battleship Grey, Blam Blam Blam, Blog, Concert, Doledrums, Don't Fight, Don't Fight It Marsha It's Bigger Than Both Of Us, Don’t Fight It, Don’t Fight It – It’s Bigger Than The ID, Gigs, Heavenly Pop Hit, It’s Bigger Than The ID, Kiwi, Leather Jacket, Luxury Length, Music, New Zealand, New Zealand Songs, NZ, NZ Music, Pink Frost, Purple Pilgrims, The Chills, The Male Monster from the ID, The Others Way, There's No Depression In New Zealand, We Don't Know How Lucky We Are, Weekend, You can support Off The Tracks via PressPatron ·

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January 1, 2019 by Simon Sweetman

The Vinyl Countdown # 345

Michael Houstoun, Piano (1979) This is my favourite $1 op-shop find. For now at least. I love Michael Houstoun – amazing talent, I feel lucky thinking about the number of times I’ve seen him perform. He threatens retirement this year but I always enjoy his playing. I love classical piano and Beethoven too – so it’s […]
Posted in Blog, The Vinyl Countdown · Tagged 1979, Beethoven, brand new discoveries and old-old favourites; extremely pre-loved, Classical, Instrumental, Kiwi, LP, Michael Houstoun, New Zealand, NZ, Pianist, Piano, previously abandoned or with the shrink-wrap having just been removed it’s all here at The Vinyl Countdown, Record, The Vinyl Countdown # 345, The Vinyl Countdown is a document of every LP I listen to, Viyl ·

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March 13, 2018 by Simon Sweetman

NZ Festival Writers & Readers: CK Stead – In Full Stride

CK Stead: In Full Stride Circa 2, Circa Theatre Saturday, March 10 This Writers & Readers session, featured CK Stead in conversation with Steve Braunias. The reason for the talk was Stead’s latest novel, Necessary Angel; reviewed well, largely, received well, Braunias joked in his intro that it should be boring, shouldn’t work but somehow […]
Posted in Blog, Reviews · Tagged 2018), Author Talk, Carl Stead, Circa 2, Circa Theatre, CK Stead, CK Stead - In Full Stride, Conversation, Critic, Essayist, In Full Stride, Interview, March 10, Necessary Angel, New Zealand, Novelist, NZ, NZ Festival Writers & Readers, NZ Festival Writers & Readers: CK Stead - In Full Stride, Readers, Reviewer, Saturday, Steve Braunias, Wellington, Writers, Writers & Readers, You can support Off The Tracks via PressPatron ·

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March 13, 2018 by Simon Sweetman

Marching To The Beat Of Their Own Drums: Short Interviews With Ari Hoenig, Anthony Donaldson and Dave Weckl

There are drummer jokes for most musical occasions but almost all of them feature a punchline mocking the drummer’s intelligence. Talk to a good player and they’ll be thoughtful and wise; focussed and passionate. I talked to three great drummers – all set to be the star of the show for a few moments or […]
Posted in Blog, Miscellany · Tagged American, Ant Donaldson, Ari Hoenig, ARTicle, Dave Weckl, Drummer, Drumming, Drums, https://www.festival.co.nz/article/marching-beat-their-own-drums/, Jazz, Jazz Festival, Kiwi, Marching To The Beat Of Their Own Drums, Marching To The Beat Of Their Own Drums: Short Interviews With Ari Hoenig Anthony Donaldson and Dave Weckl, New Zealand, NZ, Percussion, Republish, Short Interviews With Ari Hoenig Anthony Donaldson and Dave Weckl, USA, You can support Off The Tracks via PressPatron ·

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March 12, 2018 by Simon Sweetman

NZ Festival Writers & Readers: Francis Spufford & Elizabeth Knox Talk About God

Francis Spufford & Elizabeth Knox Talk About God Circa One, Circa Theatre Saturday, March 10 This Writers & Readers session featured a conversation about God between long-time correspondents Francis Spufford (UK) and Elizabeth Knox (NZ). It was, if you’ll pardon the pun, a spirited conversation. It was lively, funny and often irritating. For a start, […]
Posted in Blog, Reviews · Tagged 2018), Author Talk, Christianity, Circa, Circa One, Circa Studio, Circa Theatre, Discussion, England, Francis Spufford & Elizabeth Knox, Francis Spufford & Elizabeth Knox Talk About God, God, March 10, New Zealand, Non-FIction, Novel, Novelist, NZ, NZ Festival, NZ Festival Writers & Readers: Francis Spufford & Elizabeth Knox Talk About God, Readers, Religion, Richard Dawkins, Saturday, Talk, Talk About God, UK, Wellington, Writers, Writers & Readers, You can support Off The Tracks via PressPatron ·

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January 14, 2018 by Simon Sweetman

The Vinyl Countdown # 449

V/A, Heed The Call! (Whakarongo, Nga Tamariki): Soul, Funk & Disco From Aotearoa, 1973-1983 (2017) This is a new release, or was at the end of last year – I guess it was my Christmas present to myself.  A must-have just for the long version of Dalvanius & The Fascinations’ Voodoo Lady. But so much […]
Posted in Blog, The Vinyl Countdown · Tagged 1973-1983 (2017), 2017), A House For Sale, Dalvanius & The Fascinations, disco, Funk, Funk & Disco from Aotearoa, Heed The Call! (Whakarongo, https://offthetracks.co.nz/va-heed-the-call-whakarono-nga-tamariki/, Kiwi, LP, Mark Williams, New Zealand, Nga Tamariki) Soul, NZ, Record, Reissue, Soul, The Vinyl Countdown # 449, V/A, Various Artists, Vinyl, Voodoo LAdy ·

Archive

December 13, 2017 by Simon Sweetman

Playlist: Great Kiwi Driving Playlist

There are several great Kiwi roadtrip albums that I always pack for a trip – but how about a single playlist? Well, ahem, For Today, I thought this would do…50 songs that should get you from A to B with even enough time if you plan to head on to C or have to pull […]
Posted in Blog, Miscellany · Tagged Driving, For Today, Great Kiwi Driving Playlist, Kiwi, Music, New Zealand, NZ, Playlist, Playlist: Great Kiwi Driving Playlist, Roadtrip, Spotify ·
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