Great North & The Bads

Overview

For the second time, Auckland alt-folk band Great North have taken out the New Zealand Music Award for Folk Album of the Year.

The band's third full length release, Up In Smoke, was produced, mixed and mastered by the band’s long-time collaborator David Parker of Little Monster Studios and received a glowing response from local media, including a (sort of) comparison to Bruce Springsteen and four stars from the NZ Herald. It also turned the heads of the judging panel thanks to a diverse mixture of instrumentation, choir vocals and lyrics which explore disillusionment and spiritual uncertainty.

While the feat happened in January of this year, the band are still in celebration mode and will hit the road once again this NZ Music Month. This time they're taking along The Bads, a somewhat legendary Auckland duo who just so happen to be mates with Radiohead. In time gone, by the group have have toured twice with the band and even contributed vocals to a B-side and dueted with Thom Yorke on a song that was included on the Japanese version of The Bends.

Make a day of it and catch Great North and The Bads at the Leigh Sawmill Cafe on May 2.