CHART - Southern Pre-Amp!

Southern Amp Festival Weekend

((Chart)) is warming up for the big day by hosting several industry
peeps in the lead up to the South Island's largest outdoor festival.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday, Nov 8th

Live Music Around Town
Atlas w/ Gasoline Cowboy @ Al's Bar (8pm, Tickets from Ticketek)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Friday, Nov 9th

Southern PreAmp!
Fri, 9th Nov, 6pm
A gathering of Christchurch talent on the eve of their Southern Amp AMI Stadium debut. The bands' chance to meet some of the key industry players that can help them shape their futures.

Live Music Around Town
The Eastern Lunctime gig @ Cathedral Square (12:15pm)
Charlie
Ash w/ The Tiger Tones & The O'Lovelys @ The Dux (9pm, Free)
She'll Be Right Records Showcase @ The Loons, Lyttelton (8.30pm)
feat. Trillion & The Incredible Braking Wheel, Ragamuffin Children,
Andy Gibson, The Eastern, Mustard and John White.
The Insurgents @ The Wunderbar, Lyttelton (8:30pm)
The Checks @ Al's Bar (9pm, Tickets from Ticketek))
Liam Finn w/ Dictaphone Blues @ St Michaels & All Angels Church, 84 Oxford Tce (All Ages, 9pm)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday, November 10th

((Chart)) RDU98.5FM Christchurch Music Stage

The
third and newest stage at Southern Amp 2007 is a specifically dedicated Christchurch Music Stage presented by ((Chart)) – The Christchurch Music Industry Trust and local radio station RDU98.5FM, both of whom actively support and are heavily involved in the growing local music scene in Christchurch. Only artists based in Christchurch, or of true Christchurch origin were allowed to apply to perform otthis stage through the Southern Amp website (www.southernamp.co.nz). Over 60 acts applied for the 12 slots on this stage.

The Christchurch Music Stage at Southern Amp 2 will feature (in no particular order):

PUMPKINHEAD – (hard rock) www.wildsiderecords.com/artist.cfm?i=34
Reforming
especially for Southern Amp 2 this iconic Christchurch rock band with be playing their first full show since 1996, almost exactly 11 years ago to the day! Pumpkinhead’s 1995 album “Sloth” may still be the loudest piece of music to come out of New Zealand! PUMPKINHEAD reinvented the two minute-something song with their grunge-strained, high crunch factor pop. They toured nationally, supported and played with Shihad, Supergroove, opened for Faith No More on both their NZ tours, supported Fugazi, Primus and played the BIG DAY OUT in 1995 and 1996! For a slice of pure NZ rock history, DO NOT miss this monster of Christchurch music-past at Southern Amp 2.

NEIL ROBINSON – (pop) www.myspace.com/neilfuckingrobinson
Three completely unsupervised teenagers, the band was formed in honour of a national treasure of the same name in 2006. Neil Robinson combine melt-in-the-mouth pop tunes with wild, almost inappropriate, energy and a live show that's bound to want to make your girlfriend dump you!

BANG! BANG! ECHE! – (new wave post punk) www.myspace.com/bangbangeche
Winners of the 2007 RDU FM Round-Up band competition this weekend past at the famous Dux de Lux in Christchurch earned themselves the unparalleled distinction of opening the first ever Christchurch Music Stage at Southern Amp 2! Previous SmokefreeRockquest finalists Bang! Bang! Eche! are 2 girls, 4 guys, lots of colour, playing a mix of house, post punk
new wave & J-pop. Think of Flying Lizards, B52’s and you’re not far
off…

BAND THEFT AUTO - (rock) www.myspace.com/bandtheftauto
Band Theft Auto offer up a fresh sound of driving sonic pop with a live show containing an explosive display of furious duelling guitars and a dance-grooved off-beat rhythm section. They throw a searing blast of energy into short sharp and catchy rock songs and put a real focus on making their show unique. BTA are currently working on a single with producer Jimmy Christmas (The D4) and are looking to get that out to major radio early 2008.

TAINTED - (metal) www.myspace.com/taintednz
Tainted has become one of New Zealand’s premier metal bands since bursting onto the stage mid-2005 blowing audiences away with their relentlessly energetic performances. In this time they have released their first Album “The Awakening” (which debuted in the top 10 New Zealand independent charts) and have started work on the second album with Clint Murphy at York St Studios with the first single alr eady receiving play on the Rock Radio Station (album is due for release 2008). Tainted have toured with the likes of Blindspott, Sinate, 8 Foot Sativa, State of Integrity (Australia) and continue to grow their fan base where ever they play.

CHARLIE ASH - (electro pop) www.myspace.com/charlieash
Ambition is certainly a trait. Forces joined in September 2004, Charlie ASH has already played umpteen gigs and created their own award winning musical
called BOX for the Fringe Festival 2005. Charlie ASH has a corker of a live show, combining sword, sweat, costume and volume. Neo New Wave Post Punk they call themselves, living with memories of Debbie, Souixie and Cyndi - Dave alone has Motley Crue. With their chocolate rhythm locked in tight, Jean Pompey and Mailee Mathews lay down delicious groove, Dave Prendergast, from six strings, displaces angular art icing and Rosie Riggirs singing circles a'top like some kind of eagle soaring. Charlie ASH have electric energy, incredible costuming and catchy ass songs.

HEAVY JONES - (alt country rock) www.myspace.com/heavyjones
Heavy Jones Trio hail from Christchurch, but are now based in Auckland as a four-piece. Lead man, vocalist and songwriter Kelly Horgan was one half of the duo Love Soup in 1995. The other half was Bic Runga. There are some tracks in NZ On Air music archives. Horgan also fronted local teenage sugar popsters The Tardigrades. Drummer Myles Allpress, also of The Tardigrades, previously drummed for The Puffins before forming the vivacious live three-piece, The Sundance Kids, with guitarist Ben Eldridge. Steve Shaw joins the band after stints with Garageland and Smoothy...

GASOLINE COWBOY - (indie pop) www.myspace.com/gasolinecowboy
Gasoline Cowboy are an original three piece who play their own distinct style of minimalist melodic rock. Originally from Christchurch, the trio formed
after a fusion of seminal local acts Slim and Fuce. Gasoline Cowboy had been gestating since the late 90's in singer/songwriter Jolyon Mulholland, as a side project alongside his involvement in Fuce. Long time friends Scott Mason (drums/Vocals) and Greg Hillier (Bass/Keys) joined with Jolyon's project in 2003, giving birth to a band that has
become highly respected amongst musicians and industry.

THE ENRIGHT HOUSE - (ambient/experimental) www.myspace.com/theenrighthouse
The Enright House is probably something of chimera in terms of sound: instead of being one third lion, one third she-goat, and one third serpent, however, we are probably more one part indie-pop, one rather large part post-rock and one rather not-so-large part electronica. The press have described their sound as anything from "pop as pop should be" to "skittery percussion, ethereal drones with metallic resonances, and disturbingly atmospheric sounds...". Think Death Cab For Cutie meets Mogwai. Sigur Ros meets Pinback. Philip Glass meets a distortion pedal. Poetry meets numbers. Up meets down. Light meets the drain-pipe. In performance, The Enright House incorporates live and mechanized drums, synths, field recordings, poetry and a lot of guitars, the latter of which are typically manipulated with bows, screws, bottle caps, glass rods, chopsticks, copper wire, stainless steal picks, some love, some violence, and a handful of derelict effects.

FLYING SOLO - (power pop punk) www.myspace.com/flyingsoloband
Flying Solo are a power pop/ punk band. Their energetic live performance,
combined with their ability to include and entertain the audience with
a well rounded show is turning heads and is responsible for their
rapidly growing fan base. The trio formed in late 2004 and since their
signing to local indie label Broken Hill Records the band has started
to make headways in New Zealand Music. In the last year since their
signing Flying Solo has played a number of high profile shows with
local national and international bands including The Valves, 48May,
Cold by winter, Quater2 and Strike Anywhere. After touring the South
Island, Flying Solo went straight into the studio to record their debut
Ep “Letting Go” featuring the much anticipated single “letting go” as
well filming the songs video. The Ep, single and video were all
released in April 2007 and have all been well recieved. Flying Solo's
success is set only to grow and the chrisrtchurch trio are certainly
set for a big future!!

THE UNDERCURRENTS - (indie rock) www.myspace.com/theundercurrentsnz
What The Undercurrents lack in technique they make up on the spot - the
hardest working band in all of Phillipstown, Christchurch, they've been
compared by one influential Wellington taste-maker and early-adopter to
Metallica crossed with the Pogues...()... Swaying dangerously from
artrok meditations at volume to faux country and good old kiwi doo-wop
harmony pop til you drop in between they leave no hair unrazed.

ED MUZIK - (new wave / electro) www.myspace.com/muziked
While part of Christchurch's vibrant indie-electro scene, Ed Muzik's musical
influences lie more with international artists such as Cansei de Ser
Sexy, LCD Soundsystem and the Knife. His lyrical content and delivery,
however, are all his own. Ed Muzik's debut EP, Microarray, was
self-released last August. A long-playing follow-up is in the works,
featuring songs that look at the changing nature and myspace-ification
of the music industry, but end up finding that the age-old core values
of ego, bluster and pretence are still as important as ever. In less
than a year, Ed Muzik has moved his live show from the bedroom to the
living room to the bar room, honing his skills by playing gigs all
round town with the likes of Charlie Ash, Frase+Bri, the Shocking Pinks
and Pig Out, as well as mixing up a storm in cahoots with the Mixtape
Connection's Dr Hitchcock. Don't miss out on the party when the Ed
Muzik mobile disco rolls into Southern Amp!

THE TIGER TONES - (electro punk) www.myspace.com/thetigertones
The Tiger Tones are a three-piece Christchurch band who have stirred up a
great deal of attention; getting the police called to their very first
gig, and winning RDU98.5FM’s 2006 original band competition, RounDUp,
as a wild card entry. Drummer Andy Frost and vocalist/lead guitarist
Mark Holland formed a band in high school called Three Point Turn. They
met their future bassist/keyboardist Ashlin Raymond playing at a party,
and as they say, the rest is history. They met up at Mark’s house,
started a band and within three days had a full set. Part shoe gaze,
part distorted art rock, The Tiger Tones have been compared to Joy
Division, The Mint Chicks and most often the Shocking Pinks. An EP
release is out soon so check out their sound for yourself at Southern
Amp.

4MANBOB - (ska) www.myspace.com/4manbob
With six years and two international tours under their belt, this 6-piece
band continues to turn audiences on with their driving, energetic
sound. Combining rock anthems with an all female horn frontline produce
an original and exciting vibe, creating loyal fans the world over.
Consisting of a line up that crave a higher quality of entertainment in
NZ, 4ManBob have been at the forefront of Christchurch music since
their 2001 inception. Working with local music forums they have spent a
lot of time with young bands and musicians over the years, mentoring
and playing alongside them to help develop their skills and
performances at an earlier age. Local fans will be excited to see
4ManBob return to the stage at Southern Amp 2 after a roller-coaster
year of writing. Following their first headline tour of Europe in mid
2006, energetic trumpeter Haley was diagnosed with Leukemia, forcing
the high-energy 4Man to take a breather – time that was well used to
write and prepare a batch of new material that, with Haley back on
deck, the band are keen to unleash.

ARTISTS of SHE’LL BE RIGHT RECORDS - www.myspace.com/shellberightrecords
Including the Ragamuffin Children, John White, Andy Gibson, Mustard, The Eastern & The Trillion Band. She'll Be Right Records began in Christchurch in 1997 with the release of an album called Shadows on a Flat Land. Ten years later, and the
label is only just picking up speed. With about 20 releases, and a
rosta of about as many acts, things are shaping up for She'll Be Right
Records to be the biggest active record label in Christchurch. In the
beginning there was a strong focus for the label to promote music which
had a local voice and a natural accent. Although this is still
important, the most important focus now is to build a supportive label
community and make lasting friendships. Southern Amp is the kick start
of the first She'll Be Right showcase tour which will see core acts
Trillion & The Incredible Braking Wheel, Ragamuffin Children and
The Eastern travel NZ performing alongside other label mates located in
other cities.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other Christchurch acts performing on the day are...

The Rock Main Stage

Southern
Amp 2 brings to Christchurch some of the best live bands from both sides of the Tasman. On The Rock Main Stage this year Christchurch bands due to perform include:

THE VALVES - (hard rock) www.myspace.com/thevalvesband
Harking from the restless city of Christchurch, New Zealand, The Valves are an
exciting new band who deliver a high octane rock sound. The band formed
about three years ago, and were forged out of the fires of Wildside
legends, Pumpkinhead and Slim. The band has been described as: “One of
the most and interesting and passionate bands to explode on our shores.
Not only do they know how to deliver a dynamic killer sound, they have
the sensibility to expose a subtle and well crafted fragility.” The
Valves have just finished working on their debut album ‘Liberty Angel’,
recorded at York St. Studios, N.Z, and mixed in Paramount Studios, L.A.
The album, released through indie label Broken Records, was produced
and mixed by The Feelers frontman, James Reid and rock music guru
Malcolm Welsford. With a list of supports including Shihad, The
Datsuns, The Feelers and The D4, The Valves have their sights set
firmly on their future goals, as well as the drive and desire to take
their sound to a global stage.

DUKES - (country rock) www.myspace.com/dukestheband
There's just one thing we ask of you, one little thing. Bring your hands
together like this, smack those sweaty palms together. Very easy. Come
on. That's it." Dukes are at the bar and the request is that you move.
Please, we'd prefer you to not lounge against the back walls, drink in
hand. Jump around and spill it on someone. Moonwalk across the floor,
or two step around your buddy. Who cares, as long as you're smiling and
having fun. Give in to pop music, in the shape of guitars, country
licks, r&b rhythms and a female diva. Leave with pieces of song
wedged in your head like a pesky splinter.

ATLAS - (rock) www.myspace.com/atlastheband
Atlas exploded onto the New Zealand music scene with a number one chart
performance not experienced since 1987's 'Slice of Heaven'. From April
2007 'Crawl' charted for seventeen weeks and owned the top position for
seven weeks. The band's music pedigree gives it a killer punch. While
the genesis is perhaps in Zed which had a nine year run as a leading
New Zealand act up until 2004 and featured Ben Campbell and Andy Lynch
, Atlas was conceived at the legendary Knitting Factory in Los Angeles.
Ben and his sister, Beth were there working with friends Robert Lamm
(Chicago) and, LA based producer, Hank Linderman (The Eagles, America,
Chicago) discussing solo album concepts. Hank introduced them to
American performer, Sean Cunningham, who hails from Hank's home state
of Kentucky, thinking that they may combine their talents to write
songs for separate solo careers. Cunningham needed little persuasion to
head half way around the planet to Christchurch where Atlas started to
take shape through a number of development line ups while the inventory
evolved. 'Is This Real', a mix of searing vocals over guitars charted,
followed by the ground-breaking 'Crawl'. When ATLAS re-located to
Auckland, Andy Lynch settled into his edgy lead guitar slot and the
line up was completed with the discovery of drummer, Joe McCallum who
was extracted from Christchurch. The debut album, 'Reasons For
Voyaging' will be released in November 2007.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Ministry Of Sound Annual Stage

Ministry of Sound is the most recognisable dance music brand in the world. MOS
Australia will host their own Stage once again this year at Southern
Amp 2 featuring some of the best NZ & Australian live club acts
including Christchurch acts such as:

SCRIBE - (hip-hop) www.myspace.com/scribedirtyrecords
Scribe
is the shining star of New Zealand's much celebrated hip-hop scene. His
debut single "Stand Up" reached number 1 in the NZ singles chart after
only 3 weeks, staying there for a further 12 weeks (making it the
longest running Number One single in NZ history). It has since reached
sales in excess of Double Platinum. His second and third singles, Not
Many – The Remix and Dreaming both went Gold and peaked at # 2 and # 1
respectively on the Singles Chart. With the release of his debut album
The Crusader, Scribe became the first and only New Zealand artist to
occupy the Number 1 spot on both the Singles and the Album charts
simultaneously. The Crusader sold Gold on its first day of release and
Platinum by the end of its first week, making it one of the fastest
selling New Zealand records to date. An icon of the Christchurch
musical community, Scribe spent his youth honing his skills alongside
local groups Beats'n'Pieces and Polynesian theatre company Pacific
Underground. His rap style is at once witty, conversational, emotive,
and inspiring. He oozes charisma and delivers enthralling live
performances at every turn, captivating audiences throughout
Australasia. Scribe's second album, Rhyme Book, is out now

YUHEI KUBO - (electro/breakbeat) www.myspace.com/yuheikubo
Dj/producer
Yuhei Kubo has been envolved in music from a young age. Although his
love for rock never died, but with his older brother influencing his
taste in music, he soon turned from the road of rock to the road of
dance. He started mixing when he was sixteen and since then never
turned back. Already by the age of 21 he has supported artists such as,
Phill Reynolds,Illogik, Hed Khandi and Greg Churchill to name a few.
After spending two years at MAINZ, he soon realised that Djing wasn't
where his passion truly lay. Being bored with just Djing with other
peoples tunes, he decided to produce his own sound. Slaving away for
just over two and a bit years he has unleashed his first release - a
remix of New Zealand's very own Greg Churchills new release "Mulcha".
Mulcha is being released on the label "Cosmonote Blue" which is run by
the man Matteo Esse and has artists such as Shiloh, Dave Roberston,
Katherine Ellis, Greg Churchill and Angela Fisken.

RARE SHOT BLUE - (electro/trip hop) www.myspace.com/rareshotblue
Rare Shot Blue is live electronica. Mainly 2 monkeys and a butterfly.
probably one more guest monkey for Southern Amp. All of them have
amazing talent in moozik. They are going to drop massive tunes for the
opening of Ministry of Sound tent/ sounthern amp on the day. Their
debut album (CD +DVD) due early next year.

Links to their MySpace sites are also at www.christchurchmusic.org.nz/artists so have a listen to their music & check some great Christchurch music at SAmp 2.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Get Ready!

It has been two years in the making but Southern Amp is back bigger and
better! Get prepared for a great day out on Saturday 10th November 2007
at AMI Stadium in Christchurch including thrill rides, great
hospitality in a safe and secure world class venue, and most
importantly, with 35 live acts on 3 stages performing, 12 hours of
fantastic live music!

Tickets
Southern Amp 2 is a 15+ age restricted event, under 15’s will be
required to be accompanied by a parent or guardian to gain admittance.
Tickets are on sale at all Ticketek outlets nationwide. General advance
sale tickets are $99.50 and on sale now! (all prices exclude booking
fees). Tickets will be on sale through Ticketek at usual ticketing
outlets or online at www.ticketek.co.nz, and Real Groovy at www.realgroovy.co.nz.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday, November 10th

Post
Amp!
Ministry Nightclub, Lichfield St, 11pm
The Official Southern Amp Afta-party has now been confirmed at Ministry in Lichfield Street, Chch starting at 11pm featuring performances by Pitch Black, Sticky Fingaz, Blackplanet, DJ Hide and
many more + some guest appearances! This is an R18 do – door sales (with your Southern Amp wristband still intact…) are just $25, everyone else who hasn’t been to Southern Amp and wants to get in will pay more so keep your wristband on and that the place to be after the big day at
the Stadium is at Ministry Lichfield Street for POST AMP – we’ll all be
there!!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contacts:
Media – Carla Potter: Tel – 027 4249749, Email – carlabrat@ihug.co.nz
General Event Info – Southern Amp Ltd: Email – info@southernamp.co.nz

Websites:
Southern Amp Festival – www.southernamp.co.nz
MySpace profile – www.myspace.com/southernamp
((Chart)) Christchurch Music Industry Trust – www.christchurchmusic.org.nz