In support of his new solo album Apocalyptic Love, which is out next week, Slash will play two arena shows in New Zealand this August with Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators. Tickets for both shows are on sale May 22.

August 17 – Vector Arena, Auckland – Tickets available from Ticketmaster
August 19 – CBS Arena, Christchurch – Tickets available from Ticketek

Slash was last in New Zealand two years ago for the G-Tarankai music week.

Auckland based alt-country band Great North will follow-up 2010′s Newfoundland with new album Halves, due out on May 26. They’ll play a release show at Grey Lynn Library Hall that same day, with support from Tono and the Finance Company before heading out on a six-date national tour in June concluding with another Auckland show at the Wine Cellar. The band once again recorded the album with producer Dave Parker at Little Monster Studios (you can view an album teaser here, and we also have their first single ‘Lead Me To The Lights’ available to download below.

Tour dates:

South Island
June 21: Wunderbar, Lyttelton
June 22: Darkroom, Christchurch
June 23: Taste Merchants, Dunedin

North Island
June 28 Yot Club, Raglan
June 29: Meow, Wellington
June 30: Wine Cellar, Auckland

Opossom (Kody Nielson, Bic Runga and Michael Logie) who will finally release their debut album Electric Hawaii locally on June 1, have announced a small tour including a three-date stand at Auckland’s Lucha Lounge.

Lucha Lounge, Auckland
Thurs 31st May / Fri 1st June / Sat 2nd June
Tickets: $20+bf from undertheradar.co.nz

San Fran Bath House, Wellington
Fri 8th June
Tickets: $20+bf from undertheradar.co.nz

Ghostface Killah, who played in Auckland back in 2009, has announced that he is heading back our way for an Auckland show on June 7 at the Powerstation. Tickets are available Monday May 7th from Ticketmaster. Limited Early birds $50+bf, and then 65+bf.

Watch ’2Getha Baby’ from Ghostface’s most recent album Apollo Kids below.

The Black Keys have announced that they will play two New Zealand dates in Auckland and Wellington this November. The band were scheduled to play the Auckland leg of the Big Day Out back in 2011, but canceled citing exhaustion; this will be their first visit here since 2008.

Saturday 3rd November, Vector Arena, Auckland via Ticketmaster
Monday 5th November,TSB Bank Arena, Wellington via Ticketek

After reforming to play two benefit shows in October — minus Peter Hook who slammed the rest of the band, saying “Everyone knows that NEW ORDER without PETER HOOK is like QUEEN without FREDDIE MERCURY, U2 without THE EDGE, SOOTY without SWEEP!” — New Order have announced that they will play one show at Auckland’s Vector Arena on February 27. The current lineup of the band is Gillian Gilbert (keyboard, guitar), Stephen Morris (drums), Bernard Sumner (vocals, guitar), Phil Cunningham (guitar, keyboards), & Tom Chapman (bass). Tickets are on sale online only from Dec 16th at Ticketmaster and on sale Dec 18th from all outlets including Real Groovy.

Explosions In The Sky, who play Auckland and Wellington late next week will be joined by support acts The Golden Awesome and Ghost Wave. Full details below and you can read our Q+A with the band right here. 

Thursday 15^th December @ The SFBH, Wellington
w/ The Golden Awesome

Friday 16^th December @ The Kings Arms, Auckland
w/ Ghost Wave

Tickets available from Real Groovy, Slowboat Records and Under The Radar.

In support of his latest album How Do You Do?, Mayer Hawthorne has announced that he will play two shows in Auckland and Wellington this February.

Mayer Hawthorne
+ DJ Marek
22nd February – SFBH – Wellington
Tickets: www.1night.co.nz & all 1night outlets – on sale 9am Friday 2nd December

Mayer Hawthorne + special guests
23rd February – The Powerstation – Auckland
Tickets: www.ticketmaster.co.nz – on sale 9am Friday 2nd December

In support of their latest album Days, New Jersey band Real Estate have announced that they are heading to New Zealand for two shows in March 2012.

AUCKLAND
Thursday 15 March 2012 – Kings Arms,
Tickets on sale Wednesday the 7^th December
from www.undertheradar.co.nz
& Real Groovy Records

WELLINGTON
Friday 16 March 2012 –San Francisco Bath House,
Tickets on sale Wednesday the 7^th December
from www.undertheradar.co.nz 
& Slow Boat Records

As Stuff reports, Florence and The Machine are heading back to New Zealand for one show on May 28 2012 at Vector Arena. Tickets will be available via Ticketmaster from December 7.