The Best Gigs in Wellington This March

Even though we live in one of the most isolated places in the world, the spread of musical acts that make the journey to our fine country is more than impressive. In this month alone you can go out and experience everything from: guitar-led earworms, mind bending white noise, indie-pop based around long-form journalism, playful/intelligent rock and shredding.

Mogwai

Scottish post-rock act Mogwai are known for their dynamic soundscapes and excessive volume. At their 1999 concert in Auckland they were recorded at a sound level of 132 decibels, somewhere in between the level of a jet engine and a gun shot. Attendees can expect to hear material from each of the group’s eight albums, encompassing: melodic textures, mind-bending white noise and hard-hitting riffs. Bring earplugs.

When: Friday, March 6

Where: James Caberet

How much: $75

Anthonie Tonnon

As part of a 12-date tour to celebrate the release of his new album Successor, Dunedin-by-the-way-of-Auckland songwriter Anthonie Tonnon will stop by Wellington’s Moon. Having previously released two EPs, a full-length album and touring under the moniker Tono and the Finance Company, Successor will be the first release under his own name. Recorded in various locations around Auckland with band member Jonathan Pearce and his arsenal of analogue equipment, the album is spearheaded by Tonnon’s trademark wit and features a lyrical style based around long-form journalism. For his Wellington show he will be joined by his suitably named backing band The Successors, as well as Teeth - the side project of The Phoenix Foundation member Luke Buda, and Auckland indie-pop act Fazerdaze.

When: Saturday, March 7

Where: Moon

How much: $15

Jim Beam Homegrown

The only music festival to shine a spotlight squarely in the eyes of New Zealand will take over the Wellington waterfront on March 7. Jim Beam Homegrown has been held annually in the capital since 2008, selling out all of the 15,000-odd tickets every year. Equipped with 7 stages, Homegrown 2015 will feature a whopping 57 acts, spanning genres: Rock, Dub, Roots, Pop, R&B, Electronica and everything in between. Festival-goers can expect to catch local drum and bass heavyweights Shapeshifter, iconic rock band Shihad, Auckland-rapper David Dallas, rock/roots band Six60, a rare coming together of rap collective Deceptikonz, one man electronica machine Concord Dawn and plenty more.

When: Saturday, March 7

Where: Wellington Waterfront

How much: $109

Newtown Festival Fair Day

For the past 18 years, people have flocked to the Newtown streets and come together in a celebration of diversity, culture and community. What started off as a public celebration for the new tree planting and street improvements by the City Council has now turned into New Zealand’s largest free outdoor street concert. As many as 80,000 people attended in 2014, and it is only expecting to be even bigger and better this year.

Seven blocks of central streets are closed for vehicles to make room for 11 music stages, 3 fairground sites, 350 stalls and a busking pitch. The mixture of musicians and bands range far and wide and extend out to the wider Wellington community. Local businesses stay open to bask in the festivities and a wide range of community groups and colourful street characters move about the streets. Free and open for all ages the Newtown Festival Fair Day is an all day event on 8th of March. Check out the music timetable on their website, prepare your taste buds for some delicious bites, and get ready to dance the day away.

When: Sunday, March 8

Where: Newtown

How much: Free

Parquet Courts

Last here in January 2014, Brooklyn’s Parquet Courts are heading back our way to play four headline shows around the country. The four-piece are a prolific unit – in three years they’ve released five albums chock full of guitar-led earworms, young-dude frustrations and American casualness. Joining the band on the road will be hand-picked Christchurch trio Salad Boys.

When: Tuesday, March 10

Where: San Fran

How much: $30

A Movement

Tireless advocate of underground music and the man behind the A Low Hum beast, Blink, will host not one but 25 great events throughout March. To celebrate his visual essay and film A Movement seeing the light of day, Blink will host a string of events in the nation’s centres. Events include a return to the home of Camp A Low Hum, with 20 acts in tow; influential Auckland trio Xanadu playing their first shows in more than 12 years; Liam Finn performing the work of Betcahdupa; and Sarah Mary Chadwick playing the material of Batrider. See the full list of Wellington gigs here.

When: Thursday, March 12 - Tuesday, March 17

Where: Various

How much: $0 - 55

Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks

Celebrating the release of their latest album, Stephen Malkmus will perform four shows with his band The Jicks. Malkmus is best known as the frontman of seminal ‘90s group Pavement, though formed the new group in the 2000s after they disbanded. The band consists of keyboardist and restauranteur Mike Clark, bassist and Quasi member Joanna Bolme and Jake Morris. The band released their sixth album, Wig Out at Jagbags, in early 2014. It has been boasted as “playful, intelligent indie rock/pop music with a lyrical sophistication and depth that is unmatched in modern music.”

When: Friday, March 13

Where: James Cabaret

How much: $60

Gary Clark, Jr.

Since picking up the gat at age 12, the blues guitar showman nicknames “The New Hendrix” has received kudos from fellow maestros Buddy Guy and Eric Clapton and worked with everyone from Alicia Keys to the Foo Fighters and The Rolling Stones. By 17, his hometown of Austin, Texas even dedicated a day to his name. His major-label debut album Blak And Blu and subsequent live album managed to move beyond old blues licks and work in elements of hard rock, funk, soul and hip-hop. The last time New Zealand audience got to witness his brand of new-age shredding was when he opened for The Red Hot Chili Peppers in January 2013.

When: Sunday, March 29

Where: Shed 6

How much: $60