Christchurch hip-hop artist Maitreya plays in Dunedin at Refuel on Thursday this week, with King Kapisi, before swinging through the Lakes District.
Maitreya's single Whakakotahi Rangatahi was recently confirmed as a finalist in this years APRA Maioha Award (recognising excellence in contemporary Maori music).
The winner will be announced at the APRA Silver Scroll Awards, at Christchurch Town Hall on Thursday, September 17.
Another Maitreya single, Lotaluv, was one of the Top 20 songs this year nominated for a Silver Scroll - New Zealand's top songwriting award - making Maitreya the first artist to be nominated in both categories in the same year.
• The Pixies have announced their first New Zealand gig in Auckland next year.
The American alternative rock band announced they will play one date at Auckland's Vector Arena on March 12 as part of their 20th anniversary Doolittle Tour.
The Pixies will perform all of the songs from their 1989 Doolittle album and its related B-sides, as well as classics such as Debaser, Wave of Mutilation, Here Comes Your Man, Hey, and Gouge Away.
The group - Black Francis, Kim Deal, Joey Santiago and David Lovering - will also play in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth after the Auckland gig.
"We wanted to do something special for Doolittle's 20th anniversary," The Pixies songwriter and singer Black Francis said.
"We thought this was a good opportunity to play all of the songs from that album, something we don't normally do at a regular gig."
Tickets will go on sale through Ticketmaster on September 12. - NZPA
• Swell Cafe on St Clair's Esplanade is fashioning itself as a new home for jazz music in the city.
Calder Prescott ushered in the new regime last night, while Trevor Coleman plays tonight from 6.30pm-9.30pm.